RENTON — Ryan Grubb is used to having the best quarterback in his level of the sport.
He’s just months removed from having Michael Penix Jr. lead major college football in passing yards, spark the University of Washington on a 21-game winning streak, Pac-12 title and into January’s national championship game — all while leading Grubb’s offensive system.
Now Grubb is two months of offseason practices and meetings into his new job as the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator.
What does he think of his first NFL quarterbacks, Geno Smith and Sam Howell?
“They are awesome. They are freakin’ awesome,” Grubb said Monday, following Seattle’s seventh of 10 organized team activities practices (OTAs) at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Smith is the clear starter. He’s been that the last two Seahawks seasons, making the Pro Bowl after replacing traded Russell Wilson.
Howell is the former Washington Commanders starter Seattle acquired this offseason in a trade. He again ran the second offense in a practice heavy in 11-on-11 drills in the red zone and in 2-minute offense Monday.
“They are intelligent, and I know it means a lot to them,” Grubb said of Smith, 33, and Howell, 23. “I think their leadership in the room and how they react and work together says a lot about the kind of guys they are and are in the team concept. …
“I couldn’t be more happy with where we are at.”
Where are the Seahawks in the final days of voluntary offseason work and before the mandatory team minicamp over three days next week?
“I would say we are closing in on 50% of our installation,” Grubb said.
“I think early on we tried to do a good job on both sides of the ball of getting some of the critical exchanges and all the things we need to know and understand about the nuances and broad vision of the offense. …
“I think the guys have done a really good job, especially in the last week and a half, of getting that where we could feel good about building on top of some of those things.”
Grubb said of the offense being about half installed: “I think we’re right on schedule. I think we’re in a good spot.”
Late last month, following the second OTA practice, new head coach Mike Macdonald estimated he had installed about 20% of his new Seahawks defense.
Between that and Grubb’s assessment Monday, it’s clear these remade Seahawks will be learning and growing within their entirely new systems well into training camp. That begins July 26.
“It’s a challenge right now,” Macdonald said. “We’re chasing execution.
“It’s this constant chase of what we want.”
Macdonald and Grubb have been giving Seahawks more no-contact, 11-on-11 scrimmaging, to hasten the assimilation on how the new systems work. OTA practices over the last three weeks have been predominantly 11-on-11 work, with relatively less time devoted to 7-on-7 and other group drills of previous Seahawks offseasons and preseasons.
For the final session of practice Monday, Macdonald had the players take off their helmets. At one end of the field, Smith and the starting offense walked through plays and looks against the starting defense. At the opposite end, Howell and his No. 2 offense did a walk-through of plays against the second-team defense.
It’s all about looks now, to understand the new systems. The execution of it through hitting, blocking and tackle will come in August, in training camp.
“I think the more communication you can have and the realistic looks for a quarterback I think are always important. You have a rush in front of you and things like that,” Grubb said.
“The more of those situations you can bring up for the guys that they have to communicate and execute with full vision, I think is always better.”
Seahawks offensive line
Nothing Grubb calls in the 2024 season will work the way he wants if Seattle’s offensive line doesn’t improve. That’s in pass protection, for all the short, medium and deep passes Grubb is layering into the Seahawks’ offense. And it’s in run blocking for lead backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet.
The starting line during OTAs has been Charles Cross at left tackle, Laken Tomlinson the left guard, Olu Oluwatimi at center, McClendon Curtis at right guard and George Fant the right tackle.
Rookie third-round pick Christian Haynes was again a second-team guard Monday. But the Seahawks drafted the 48-game starter at Connecticut with their first pick on day two with the belief he could start as a rookie. Anthony Bradford started 10 games in 2023 at guard as a rookie fourth-round pick. He’s been sidelined by injury during OTAs.
The line meshing with Smith and Walker is so important new offensive line coach Scott Huff, who arrived with Grubb from UW this offseason, has been beginning OTA practices having the starting QB and lead back in with the starting linemen doing drills on run fits and pass-protection calls.
“We’ve got a little ways to go there,” Grubb said of the offensive line.
“That’s the next step for us is continuing to build continuity within that group. And we’re coming.”
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