Seattle’s new offensive coordinator is baiting defenses with heavy formations—and torching them through the air
Klint Kubiak didn’t come to Seattle to run a flashy offense. He came to run a smart one. And so far, he’s delivering exactly that. With the Seahawks sitting in the thick of the NFC playoff race, their success isn’t just about talent—it’s about the way Kubiak is outsmarting defenses with his play design and personnel usage.
At the center of it all is his use of 12 personnel—one running back, two tight ends. Traditionally, that formation signals a run-heavy approach. Defenses see it, check into base, and bring extra weight into the box. That’s the trap. Kubiak is counting on it.
Instead of pounding the ball, he’s flipping expectations. He’s using those two-tight end looks to force defenses into base packages, then throwing against them. That’s where the mismatches start showing up—linebackers in coverage, safeties drawn down, corners isolated outside. The playbook doesn’t have to change much, but the structure of the defense does. And that’s where Kubiak is finding the edges.
The deception lies in the consistency of the formation. Seattle might line up the same way five straight plays—sometimes it’s a toss to the weak side, sometimes it’s wide zone, but then it’s a deep play-action shot, or a bootleg that turns into a cross-field crosser. From the defense’s point of view, it all looks the same until it’s not.
This isn’t new ground for Kubiak. His background with the 49ers, Vikings, and Saints gave him a system built on wide-zone runs, play-action passes, and personnel that looks run-heavy but isn’t. What he’s doing in Seattle is taking that blueprint and cranking up the disguise. The Seahawks are using motion and tight end shifts to sell one look while executing another. And because the base defense is on the field, the chances of catching a linebacker in a mismatch go way up.
This strategy is especially effective when defenses don’t want to risk getting caught in nickel against the run. So they stick with three linebackers. That’s exactly what Kubiak wants—more size on the field, less speed. He’s not just calling plays; he’s manipulating defensive tendencies before the ball is even snapped.
The results speak for themselves. Seattle is generating chunk plays through the air despite a ground game that’s still finding consistency. Kubiak isn’t leaning on a dominant rushing attack. Instead, he’s using the threat of the run to pull defenders downhill, then attacking the space they leave behind. Middle-of-the-field throws, crossers, and boot-action passes have become staples—not just because they work, but because they hit where the defense is soft.
This approach doesn’t require a superstar quarterback or elite weapons. It requires discipline, execution, and a plan that makes defenses wrong. And that’s exactly what Kubiak has built. His offense isn’t overwhelming teams with tempo or volume. It’s winning by creating doubt—by forcing defenders to hesitate, then punishing them for it.
There’s still room for the run game to improve, and Seattle will need more consistency on the ground if they want to keep the full playbook open. But for now, the Seahawks are thriving in a space where the threat of the run is more valuable than the run itself.
Kubiak’s scheme is working because it’s one step ahead. It’s not revolutionary—but it is calculated, deliberate, and effective. That’s what makes it dangerous. And that’s what makes Klint Kubiak, right now, one of the smartest offensive minds in football.
Check Out All EasySportz NFL Content Here!
Jaguars Season Preview, A Look Back!
