The Seattle Seahawks haven’t played a preseason or regular season game, but quarterback Russell Wilson is already hyped about the new offense under offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
The Seahawks played a mock game on Sunday, and Wilson seems to be adapting nicely to Waldron’s uptempo offense.
Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense got in and out of the huddle and to the line of scrimmage much faster. Wilson, given the freedom to change the original play-call from Waldron, called audibles quickly. Some of the pass routes were quick moving, with Wilson’s getting the ball out of his hand faster as a by-product.
Wilson called all the plays during the first series for the offense and led the squad on a 82-yard scoring drive against the second-team defense. Wilson also led the offense to field goals on two other series.
Waldron’s offense is designed to move faster. Mission accomplished, for the most part, during the mock game.
“I liked the rhythm that we played with. I thought it was really obvious that we were really moving with rhythm and adjusting it as we went,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game. “We are moving quicker (and) more consistently. We worked really hard to develop our sense of tempo so we can change it as we want to.”
This is the offense Carroll and Wilson hoped to see after Waldron came on board. Former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was fired after Carroll and Wilson indicated the offense had become stagnant following their loss to the Los Angeles Rams in a Wild Card playoff game last season. The Seahawks were unable to adapt to how defenses started dropping a second safety deep into the center of the field to take away Wilson’s long passes during the second half of the 2020 season.
Another benefit of Waldron’s offense is the freedom for Wilson to change plays at the line of scrimmage.
“I think you guys saw how fast we were playing up at the line of scrimmage,” Wilson told reporters after the game. “To be able to do it all is what we really want to be able to do … still take our shots, get the ball out quick too in terms of play calls.
“I think we can be the number one offense in football. I don’t see why not.”
— Geoffrey C. Arnold | @geoffreyCarnold
