NFL scheme expert deeply breaks down Klint Kubiak’s Seahawks offense

Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Want to learn more about Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offense? This is the article and video for you.

This latest HawksZone Rundown podcast episode is a must-watch, delivering expert insights on how Kubiak’s system will transform Seattle’s attack with new stars Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN). Special guest Bobby Peters is an NFL analyst, football coach, and published author who does extensive breakdowns of schemes and gameplans. You can check out his work

at Alert The Post.

The show begins by unpacking Kubiak’s Shanahan-style philosophy, blending zone running, play-action, and pre-snap motion for a balanced, efficient offense. Fans will learn how this approach sets the 2025 Seahawks apart from past schemes.

Bang Route

Bang Route

“The bread-and-butter early install Kyle Shanahan play-action route is what I call a bang route,” Peters said. “In some of their their terminology, it could be called drift. I’ve seen it called strike in some of theirs.

“And what it is, it’s basically a mini dig. It’s a seven-step dig from one of the receivers, usually in like a cut split. And they do a really good job of formationing it.

“This is a good example in 11 personnel. We’re going to return to orbit motion the slot receiver. We’re going to pull a guard going the other way and we’re trying to hit the X receiver, the receiver to the field on the bang route. Now, if that’s covered up, we’ve got a nice little curl flat combination to the boundary with our running back checking over the ball as well. So, we we’ve got we built like a full progression off of this for the quarterback. We’re trying to hit that quick in-breaker over the middle.

“You know, if you’ve watched the 49ers over the years, you know, Jimmy Garoppolo basically, a huge percentage of his production would be on on these plays on early downs, right? And if that receiver’s covered via double team or via safety robbing it, you know, there’s some sort of checkdown or that backside swirl route the quarterback can get to in this version.”

The discussion then explores roster fit, detailing how Kubiak maximizes Darnold’s rhythm-based passing, capitalizes on Kupp’s route-running precision, and unleashes JSN’s slot versatility alongside Tyler Lockett and running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. The episode’s highlight is a dynamic play-breakdown segment, where Peters uses diagrams to dissect Kubiak’s designs.

From a powerful outside zone run to a play-action pass creating explosive opportunities for Kupp and JSN, these breakdowns make the X’s and O’s accessible and thrilling. Peters also reveals a red-zone play that could boost Seattle’s scoring efficiency, addressing past challenges.

Lookie Route

Lookie Route

“The lookie route is that receiver, the X receiver there to the wide side of the field. So in [the 49ers] offense, the lookie route is basically like a four-yard option route. The receiver is either going to break out at four yards, run a slant, or he’s going to sit down if they’re avoiding the defense or they’re kind of bracketing him and trying to squeeze him.

“That gives Cooper Kupp a three-way go and if he gets a one-on-one, that ball should be going to Cooper Kupp. Now, in this diagram, we see the defense squeezing that route. And this is actually why I wanted to share this one, too, because this is a creative red zone variation out of 12 personnel where on the backside, we’re taking advantage of it with what’s called a stick nod route from the wide receiver there as the second read in the quarterback’s progression with the running back as the checkdown coming underneath on an angle route.

“So what we’re creating on the backside here is, okay, they squeeze that lookie route. Well, now we’re creating a high-low on that will linebacker and the stick route, the stick nod route wins on that free safety. You see that free safety in the diagram. I show him biting down on the stick route there. So, he’s going to win over the top. And I believe this was a red zone touchdown; I can’t remember what week it was for San Francisco last year, but this is a neat variation of a base concept that they’ve had success with over the years.

“And with the addition of Cooper Kupp, I think this stuff like this just makes a lot of sense to me.”

To close, Peters shares why he believes this offense could rank among the NFL’s top 15, with offseason acquisitions like Darnold and Kupp poised to succeed in Kubiak’s scheme.

Tune in to HawksZone Rundown for all your Seahawks news, analysis and breakdown of the upcoming season! You can find the HawksZone on YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcast and anywhere else you get your podcast! Also become a member of the YouTube channel for exclusive content! We’re almost at 2,000 subscribers!

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Video (Note: Recorded before Noah Fant’s release)

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