My 2024 Offseason Roadmap

[Maelstrom787]

I'm literally just bored and doing my own full offseason roadmap. Spitballing, not meant to be taken as a strict "This is what they should do!" and I'm moreso just exploring possibilities. Feel free to expand or do your own in this thread, but I just feel like writing. Not comprehensive at all, just a general framework.

Beginning by posting the coaching staff I put in my Craft Your Own Staff thread - https://www.seahawks.net/threads/craft-your-own-staff.193596


Head Coach: Pete Carroll

Offensive Coordinator: Aaron Kromer
Quarterbacks/Pass Game Coordinator: Byron Leftwich
Running Backs: Duce Staley
Receivers: Bobby Engram
Tight Ends/Assistant HC: Mike Shula
OL: Scott Peters

Defensive Coordinator: Chris Shula
DL: Todd Wash
LB: Ken Norton Jr.
Cornerbacks/Safeties (either separate or as a single DB coach): Marquand Manuel, Al Harris

Special Teams Coordinator: Larry Izzo

OPTIONAL SPECIALISTS:
Assistant Quarterbacks - Kerry Joseph (retained)
Assistant Secondary - Deshawn Shead (retained)
Defensive Assistant - Neiko Thorpe (retained)
Pass Rush Specialist - Darryl Tapp
Assistant DL - Jeff Zgonina
Defensive Passing Coordinator - Karl Scott (retained)
Offensive Assistant/Game Management Assistant - Nate Carroll


OFFSEASON PERSONNEL MOVES:

Release:
Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Will Dissly, Bryan Mone, Nick Bellore, D'Wayne Eskridge, Jason Myers. Designature post-June 1st as needed. Geno Smith can be retained, but... needs to restructure somehow? I dunno. I'd like to keep him on roster. Let Lock, Lewis, Evan Brown, Dallas, Darrell Taylor, Devin Bush, and Noah Fant walk.

Re-sign/Extend:
Re-sign Leonard Williams and Mario Edwards. Myles Adams and Jake Curhan can be brought back for minimum as depth pieces.
Extend Jarran Reed.
Gotta retain a tight end. Get Colby back for cheapsies.

Sign:
David Edwards (OG). Has been a Kromer guy the whole way. Bills backup LG who also plays a swing role as sixth lineman. (~1.5-2.5 million APY)
Dalton Risner (OG). Decent enough starter. (~3 million APY)
Oli Udoh (RT). Swing tackle that may be forced into action with Lucas having a possibly degenerative knee. (~3 million APY)
Kyle Dugger (SS). Versatile strong safety with an attractive physical profile. Well-regarded by New England's fanbase. (~4 million APY).
Tyrel Dodson (ILB). Dodson is a former UDFA who has been a middling linebacker for Buffalo, but has had a tremendous improvement in 2023. Not as good as his near-90 PFF grade according to the fan temperature on him. (~4 million APY)
Greg Zuerlein (K). Still has it. Likely upgrade over a spotty Myers, and likely cheaper. (~2.75-3.5 million APY)


Sign a few other roster fillers to minimum contracts to plug holes as needed.


Draft:

Michael Penix Jr. and then try to fill some future needs from there, leaning heavy defense. You need an ILB, some DL depth, a safety, and a corner wouldn't hurt. You also need another guy on the OL. A WR wouldn't hurt in the mid rounds, and a late tight end to go behind Parkinson with a vet minimum TE would be good.

Michael Penix Jr. would come in and compete with Geno. If he's ready, he's ready. If not, we have average-at-worst QB play but likely a much better offense and thus a better Geno with a concrete plan of succession for after the 2024 season.

Penix has won me over. His arm is positively rare, he's a dawg, and he's got "it." He needs to rework some things, get some time in acclimating to the NFL, etc. and would likely benefit from that year behind Geno if he doesn't immediately seize the job by being undeniable. With my listed dream staff, he'd have Byron Leftwich coaching him and coordinating the pass game, which is an amazing fit and bodes well for development.

Team looks somethin' like:

QB - Geno Smith, Michael Penix Jr.
RB - K9, Charbonnet, McIntosh
FB - Whoever. Probably good to have TE3 in this role.
WR - DK, Lockett, JSN, Jake Bobo, draftee
TE - Colby Parkinson, Draftee, vet minimum guy. David Edwards can be 6th lineman.
LT - Cross, then Forsythe or Udoh
LG - Risner, Edwards
C - Oluwatimi, then a late draftee or vet minimum signing
RG - Bradford, Edwards
RT - Lucas, then Forsythe or Udoh

DL - Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams, Mario Edwards, Cam Young, Mike Morris, Dre'Mont Jones, Myles Adams. Room for draftee or depth signing to force way into rotation, likely sending Myles out.
OLB/EDGE - Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, draftee or depth signing
ILB - Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, plus a couple of draftees/depth signings (perhaps Drake Thomas)
CB - Spoon, Riq, Mike Jackson, Tre Brown, Coby Bryant/Depth/Draftee
FS - Love, sign or draft backup
SS - Dugger, Coby Bryant, Jerrick Reed

K - Greg Zuerlein
P - Michael Dickson
KR/PR - Competition winner between McIntosh and whoever else has the skillset.

Several roster spots left to fill as desired. Competition in 2024 offseason will dictate and change much.

Competent, experienced coaching should help. An OC like Kromer would have the OL putting out some real results given his track record. Run game stands to improve majorly. Leftwich would be a stud hire as the passing coordinator and QB coach to ensure we're not falling behind on the air attack. Chris Shula at DC is a relative unknown, but he's surrounded by experience and that alone likely restores our ability to play sound football and control the gaps again on defense. Really looking good at QB with an heir apparent behind Geno, and Geno would stand to improve significantly with better line play and a true run game to release pressure.

This offseason would have us poised to be outside competitors to win a playoff game or two in 2024 if all goes well, and would furthermore have us set up perfectly for Pete stepping away. Lot of great coaches on the staff and a young QB for the next guy.

 

[flv2]

"Offensive Coordinator: Aaron Kromer"

Kromer wore out his welcome with McVay and the Rams. He wasn't officially fired...but he was fired. It should have happened at least 1 year earlier than it did. Awful talent evaluator.

 

[JPatera76]

Deshawn Shead .. is such a head scratch for me still the day it happened.. he didn’t play a lot, and since he’s been internally hired from player to assistant secondary the secondary after 1 yr here the player falls off. Same with Thorpe.. his career as a player was absolutely abysmal.

 

[Maelstrom787]

"Offensive Coordinator: Aaron Kromer"

Kromer wore out his welcome with McVay and the Rams. He wasn't officially fired...but he was fired. It should have happened at least 1 year earlier than it did. Awful talent evaluator.

He's not a perfect candidate, but he feels like what the doctor ordered for this team. I don't attribute McVay's success to him, but he's done more to maximize the OL at every stop in his career than any current OL coach not named Callahan.

Succeeded in several different stops under several premier offensive minds and even had great success to start with flameout Marc Trestman.

He seems to probably be a bit of an asshole, personality wise, but a quiet one. Not a Rex Ryan or Gregg Williams. I dunno. He does such a fantastic job otherwise with what he has at pretty much every stop his career has had, and it feels like his exact background of assuring stout line play that opens up a variety of options offensively could be a fast and effective remedy for Seattle's offensive ills. Pair him with an Arians disciple and former quarterback to help craft the air attack and I think we're heavy and rollin'.

If not Kromer, I'd primarily want a guy with a background in OL in my dream OC scenario for this team. Time to play some man football.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Deshawn Shead .. is such a head scratch for me still the day it happened.. he didn’t play a lot, and since he’s been internally hired from player to assistant secondary the secondary after 1 yr here the player falls off. Same with Thorpe.. his career as a player was absolutely abysmal.

Just a couple of low-tier assistants. Neiko might be better helping coach ST, he was a stud gunner. Shead, though, he was versatile between safety and CB and obviously was decently cerebral.

I don't think Shead and Neiko have any large influence on the overall development of the players currently and I'd like to keep it that way, but having a common thread tying the LOB era to the new coaches isn't the worst idea.

Also, Neiko wasn't a terrible player, he was just a depth player. Nothin' wrong with that. He existed on high effort and making himself indispensable on special teams, and that's exactly the kind of player I'd peg as a future coach. He couldn't just coast like the crazy natural talents could.

Marquand Manuel, if he could be had, would also be excellent as he personally coached the LOB before jumping to Quinns staff in Atlanta. Al Harris and Manuel together would be a dream pairing to head the secondary.

 

[BirdsCommaAngry]

Cool thread. Thank you for putting this together.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Cool thread. Thank you for putting this together.

I'm just bored, dawg. If Madden was still playable I'd just get my team-building kicks there, but it's unplayable these days so I gotta write my thoughts down like an 18th century peasant.

 

[Cyrus12]

A lot of work to do this so well done. I couldn't even begin to put something that detailed together. I do know if Pete stays at min I want new coordinators. Agree with your cuts. I think Dodson and Dugger get big money somewhere not in Seattle. This team is famous for picking up one year fill ins and suspect the same happens here. I prefer Parkinson at tight end even now. Dissly was a collosal over pay. Haven't looked too much at available free agents other than there is going to be a lot of rbs which is something we don't need to address really. Not sure what happens with Geno...

But I do know we better not go after Fields in a trade....I just got a bad feeling we could be interested..Not a fan.

 

[Ozzy]

Good exercise. I want to keep Waldron who when I looked into the advanced metrics has actually been better than I thought. He's improved some problem areas recently ie 3rd downs, Red zone stuff even with the OL being a mess. I think with an improved offensive line and another year and the offense could be really, really good.

I love adding Penix and keeping Geno and would be stoked about that.

I probably move on from Lockett unless he restructures because his salary next year is 20+ I think? I could be wrong but no way he's worth that especially with some glaring holes we need to aggressively fix and if we go Penix early we need to get creative in how we attack some of these spots.

 

[nanomoz]

Pete's had three failed attempts at DC. Each one an uninspired internal promotion.

It's time to move on. No one gets this much runway. The defense has gotten progressively worse for four years.

Nostalgia, fear, and a misplaced sense of obligation aren't reasons to retain a coach that is so utterly failing.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Pete's had three failed attempts at DC. Each one an uninspired internal promotion.

It's time to move on. No one gets this much runway. The defense has gotten progressively worse for four years.

Nostalgia, fear, and a misplaced sense of obligation aren't reasons to retain a coach that is so utterly failing.

I can understand your viewpoint, and would probably feel the same as an outside observer. I try to be honest and objective with myself, but I don't know how much my implicit bias clouds my judgment.

I do have to point out, though - a good few coaches do get similar levels of runway. Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin, and John Harbaugh were all spotted about a decade of not-doing-much by their teams (our definition of not much, that is. as in, not including simple regular season success.)

The runway worked out for both parties in Philly/Andy Reid, but not together. Both went on to nearly immediate success AFTER the dissolution of their partnership.

The runway hasn't worked out for Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin, who has no playoff wins in 7 years now and has only had a single 10 win season since 2018.

The runway HAS worked out for Baltimore and John Harbaugh, who has that team absolutely pounding the competition now. But check out this absolute desert of overall playoff success in the past decade after their Super Bowl win. No way we wouldn't have wanted that dude fired in the most agonizing way from 2015 through 2017. 2019, with an MVP quarterback and 14 wins and immediately loses? I can't even IMAGINE the reaction we'd have here.



So I mean, the results are pretty mixed when it comes to giving leeway to your legendary coaches, ya know? There are a few closely comparable situations, and they've all ended up quite differently. Only common thread is the fan majority every one of those teams wanted/wants their coach fired (For Andy Reid, I'm talking Philly fans at the end of his tenure there. For Harbs, I'm talking about during the drought of 2013-2021, and probably grumbles in 2022 too.)

I'd like to give this another try with Pete, but... basically with Vulcan forcing John and him to hire more competent coordinators/positional coaches that aren't simply young dudes that they want to promote from within. Bring in a strong support structure on the coaching staff and work together to get the team to follow suit in adapting a new air of confidence. If that methodology doesn't show immediate improvement in the following season, well... at least we tried the last realistic thing we could end this thing the right way, and we move to the new era with bright eyes having watched another year of middling-to-decent football.

 

[Ozzy]

It’s a valid argument but the only difference is Pete is 72 I believe? He doesn’t have a lot of runway left in a sense. I guess that’s why I lean towards moving on now rather than just treading for a year or two.

I still think if they hit on the offensive line and make some defensive changes they’re not far off from competing at the highest level so I understand keeping him as well. Maybe it’s boredom but I’m just ready for the former and fresh eyes on this team

 

[Maelstrom787]

It’s a valid argument but the only difference is Pete is 72 I believe? He doesn’t have a lot of runway left in a sense. I guess that’s why I lean towards moving on now rather than just treading for a year or two.

I still think if they hit on the offensive line and make some defensive changes they’re not far off from competing at the highest level so I understand keeping him as well. Maybe it’s boredom but I’m just ready for the former and fresh eyes on this team

Yeah, it's ending either way soon. My preference would be to give it another shot with a serious ultimatum that we have to do things differently before the reputation of the organization in league circles starts taking real damage. Pete's way hasn't worked. He deserves some credit on a human level for being so focused on doing right by his guys, but we're in it to win it at the end of the day, so that's my compromise. Bring in real coaches who have had real success before to help right this ship, or this needs to end. We can't spend another year after this adrift.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Brown, Lewis, and Dallas have been solid for us. If they can be reasonably retained, we should make the effort.

Edwards hasn't earned a second look. Nor have Jones and Myles Adams once their time comes. We've got some DL talent in Cam Young, Derick Hall, Mike Morgan, etc. but I'm increasingly worried that they're just more of the same later-round flotsam Pete kept coming up with after 2013.

I am not sold on Penix, but I do agree we need a QBOTF. I would also draft high on WR as Lockett is not going to last forever.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Brown, Lewis, and Dallas have been solid for us. If they can be reasonably retained, we should make the effort.

Edwards hasn't earned a second look. Nor have Jones and Myles Adams once their time comes. We've got some DL talent in Cam Young, Derick Hall, Mike Morgan, etc. but I'm increasingly worried that they're just more of the same later-round flotsam Pete kept coming up with after 2013.

I am not sold on Penix, but I do agree we need a QBOTF. I would also draft high on WR as Lockett is not going to last forever.

I agree that WR is a bigger need than most think it is. Felt the same in 2021. Probably not the time to address it in the first round, but if someone like Nabers is there and Penix isn't available/is off our board?

In the words of Bob MacDuff Wilson...



Also, I'm just assuming Lewis costs too much for some reason. If he comes in at like 4m, I'll take him. If it's like 6 or 7 though, I'm good. We're probably gonna be a bit tight on money. I didn't do any cap calculations with my FA haul, so I have no idea where we'd be overall on money.

 

[Maelstrom787]

But Penix man. I don't know. Something about him.

I'm not even a UW fan. I have no ties to Washington other than the Seahawks. Never even been within 1000 miles of the state. But Penix's arm is the type of thing I salivate over. Massive hands, lot of control over the ball... droolworthy. I can feel myself getting suckered in, but I'm not sure I don't want to be suckered in by that type of natural talent.

Drafting a quarterback with two ACL tears on the same knee in the first is probably a "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes" type of deal, though.

 

[flv2]

He's not a perfect candidate, but he feels like what the doctor ordered for this team. I don't attribute McVay's success to him, but he's done more to maximize the OL at every stop in his career than any current OL coach not named Callahan.

Succeeded in several different stops under several premier offensive minds and even had great success to start with flameout Marc Trestman.

He seems to probably be a bit of an asshole, personality wise, but a quiet one. Not a Rex Ryan or Gregg Williams. I dunno. He does such a fantastic job otherwise with what he has at pretty much every stop his career has had, and it feels like his exact background of assuring stout line play that opens up a variety of options offensively could be a fast and effective remedy for Seattle's offensive ills. Pair him with an Arians disciple and former quarterback to help craft the air attack and I think we're heavy and rollin'.

If not Kromer, I'd primarily want a guy with a background in OL in my dream OC scenario for this team. Time to play some man football.

The Bills fired their OC mid-season and didn't give Kromer the job. That he's been with teams that have had OC vacancies but they didn't choose him should be a bit of a red flag.

 

[Maelstrom787]

The Bills fired their OC mid-season and didn't give Kromer the job. That he's been with teams that have had OC vacancies but they didn't choose him should be a bit of a red flag.

This is true. Although it makes sense contextually that the Bills would go to their young and pass-oriented QB coach for that role with the goal being to arrest a slide that Allen was on (besides the true goal of McDermott deflecting blame off of himself, that is).

 

[GemCity]

I'm literally just bored and doing my own full offseason roadmap. Spitballing, not meant to be taken as a strict "This is what they should do!" and I'm moreso just exploring possibilities. Feel free to expand or do your own in this thread, but I just feel like writing. Not comprehensive at all, just a general framework.

Beginning by posting the coaching staff I put in my Craft Your Own Staff thread - https://www.seahawks.net/threads/craft-your-own-staff.193596


Head Coach: Pete Carroll

Offensive Coordinator: Aaron Kromer
Quarterbacks/Pass Game Coordinator: Byron Leftwich
Running Backs: Duce Staley
Receivers: Bobby Engram
Tight Ends/Assistant HC: Mike Shula
OL: Scott Peters

Defensive Coordinator: Chris Shula
DL: Todd Wash
LB: Ken Norton Jr.
Cornerbacks/Safeties (either separate or as a single DB coach): Marquand Manuel, Al Harris

Special Teams Coordinator: Larry Izzo

OPTIONAL SPECIALISTS:
Assistant Quarterbacks - Kerry Joseph (retained)
Assistant Secondary - Deshawn Shead (retained)
Defensive Assistant - Neiko Thorpe (retained)
Pass Rush Specialist - Darryl Tapp
Assistant DL - Jeff Zgonina
Defensive Passing Coordinator - Karl Scott (retained)
Offensive Assistant/Game Management Assistant - Nate Carroll


OFFSEASON PERSONNEL MOVES:

Release:
Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Will Dissly, Bryan Mone, Nick Bellore, D'Wayne Eskridge, Jason Myers. Designature post-June 1st as needed. Geno Smith can be retained, but... needs to restructure somehow? I dunno. I'd like to keep him on roster. Let Lock, Lewis, Evan Brown, Dallas, Darrell Taylor, Devin Bush, and Noah Fant walk.

Re-sign/Extend:
Re-sign Leonard Williams and Mario Edwards. Myles Adams and Jake Curhan can be brought back for minimum as depth pieces.
Extend Jarran Reed.
Gotta retain a tight end. Get Colby back for cheapsies.

Sign:
David Edwards (OG). Has been a Kromer guy the whole way. Bills backup LG who also plays a swing role as sixth lineman. (~1.5-2.5 million APY)
Dalton Risner (OG). Decent enough starter. (~3 million APY)
Oli Udoh (RT). Swing tackle that may be forced into action with Lucas having a possibly degenerative knee. (~3 million APY)
Kyle Dugger (SS). Versatile strong safety with an attractive physical profile. Well-regarded by New England's fanbase. (~4 million APY).
Tyrel Dodson (ILB). Dodson is a former UDFA who has been a middling linebacker for Buffalo, but has had a tremendous improvement in 2023. Not as good as his near-90 PFF grade according to the fan temperature on him. (~4 million APY)
Greg Zuerlein (K). Still has it. Likely upgrade over a spotty Myers, and likely cheaper. (~2.75-3.5 million APY)


Sign a few other roster fillers to minimum contracts to plug holes as needed.


Draft:

Michael Penix Jr. and then try to fill some future needs from there, leaning heavy defense. You need an ILB, some DL depth, a safety, and a corner wouldn't hurt. You also need another guy on the OL. A WR wouldn't hurt in the mid rounds, and a late tight end to go behind Parkinson with a vet minimum TE would be good.

Michael Penix Jr. would come in and compete with Geno. If he's ready, he's ready. If not, we have average-at-worst QB play but likely a much better offense and thus a better Geno with a concrete plan of succession for after the 2024 season.

Penix has won me over. His arm is positively rare, he's a dawg, and he's got "it." He needs to rework some things, get some time in acclimating to the NFL, etc. and would likely benefit from that year behind Geno if he doesn't immediately seize the job by being undeniable. With my listed dream staff, he'd have Byron Leftwich coaching him and coordinating the pass game, which is an amazing fit and bodes well for development.

Team looks somethin' like:

QB - Geno Smith, Michael Penix Jr.
RB - K9, Charbonnet, McIntosh
FB - Whoever. Probably good to have TE3 in this role.
WR - DK, Lockett, JSN, Jake Bobo, draftee
TE - Colby Parkinson, Draftee, vet minimum guy. David Edwards can be 6th lineman.
LT - Cross, then Forsythe or Udoh
LG - Risner, Edwards
C - Oluwatimi, then a late draftee or vet minimum signing
RG - Bradford, Edwards
RT - Lucas, then Forsythe or Udoh

DL - Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams, Mario Edwards, Cam Young, Mike Morris, Dre'Mont Jones, Myles Adams. Room for draftee or depth signing to force way into rotation, likely sending Myles out.
OLB/EDGE - Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, draftee or depth signing
ILB - Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, plus a couple of draftees/depth signings (perhaps Drake Thomas)
CB - Spoon, Riq, Mike Jackson, Tre Brown, Coby Bryant/Depth/Draftee
FS - Love, sign or draft backup
SS - Dugger, Coby Bryant, Jerrick Reed

K - Greg Zuerlein
P - Michael Dickson
KR/PR - Competition winner between McIntosh and whoever else has the skillset.

Several roster spots left to fill as desired. Competition in 2024 offseason will dictate and change much.

Competent, experienced coaching should help. An OC like Kromer would have the OL putting out some real results given his track record. Run game stands to improve majorly. Leftwich would be a stud hire as the passing coordinator and QB coach to ensure we're not falling behind on the air attack. Chris Shula at DC is a relative unknown, but he's surrounded by experience and that alone likely restores our ability to play sound football and control the gaps again on defense. Really looking good at QB with an heir apparent behind Geno, and Geno would stand to improve significantly with better line play and a true run game to release pressure.

This offseason would have us poised to be outside competitors to win a playoff game or two in 2024 if all goes well, and would furthermore have us set up perfectly for Pete stepping away. Lot of great coaches on the staff and a young QB for the next guy.

Who is this McIntosh fellow?.

I like it. The only major change I would make it is telling PC to take a walk.

But, that’s not happening.

Agree with Penix. He’s special.

 

[Bear-Hawk]

Looks good. I will be a little surprised if Curhan isn’t waived again. He’s on the bubble. If Lucas can’t come back 100%, we’ve got a problem there.