The Seahawks ended the season with a dud. They lost three of their last four games. The Rams games was a complete and total embarrassment. It was probably one of the worst performances in a big time game (at home against a division rival in the third to last week of the year) that I have ever seen. The Seahawks are clearly a team with problems that need fixed. This week Pete Carroll took the first step in righting the wrongs by firing Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell and Assistant Head Coach Tom Cable. Personally I understand these firings, especially Cable, but similar to Matt Calkins I hope they aren't the end of the turnover.
In Bevell's defense the team was essentially missing half the offense. No running back showed consistency or goodness. At times different people looked good, but nobody was able to carry the load. Additionally the offensive line failed to run block as often as they opened holes. Seeing a running back tackled in the backfield mere moments after the hand off was a frequent sight in Seattle. Because of the personnel the team had Bevell was essentially unable to call run plays effectively. He had to pass often, which, as Pete Carroll frequently reminded us, is what this team wants to be.
None of that is to say Bevell was free of blame. He struggled at times to call plays that optimized the skills of the players on his team. His offenses took way to long to adapt to the other teams. It was a regular occurrence for the Seahawks to struggle throughout the first half only to look like a completely different team in the second. Nothing highlights this more than Russell Wilson's ridiculous splits in 2017. In the first half of games DangeRuss had 270 pass attempt for 1659 yard and 8 INT. In the second half of games he had 282 pass attempts for 2318 yards and 26 touchdowns.
By far the best criticism I have heard of Bevell is that the offenses most effective play was the scramble drill, after whatever had been called had broken down. Russell Wilson was at his best improvising, either during hurry up drills or scrambles. Wilson's ridiculous splits between halves show this as well. When the pressure was on and it became do our die Wilson turned to improvisation to get it done. That doesn't look good for the offensive coordinator, the guy calling the plays.
To summarize I don't think firing Bevell was a bad decision, but I am afraid whoever comes next will struggle just as much unless the o line and running backs are improved. I really don't want to be sitting in front of my TV next year listing to all my friends jumping on the fire offensive coordinator Joe Blow band wagon. With this current roster that is a major possibility.
Tom Cable is a different story. The man's official titles were Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach, but it has been reported that Cable was essentially the co-offensive coordinator. In this role he was tasked with setting up blocking schemes to make the passing and rushing attack work. Cable was also tasked with developing the offensive lineman that the Seahawks brought in to Seattle.
When it comes to developing blocking talent Cable must be considered a bust. The Seahawks have drafted 15 offensive lineman (if you include JR Sweezy) since 2010. Of these only Justin Britt and Russell Okung have turned into above average professional players (admittedly there is still time for Ethan Pocic). The success of any offense largely depends on the lineman's ability to block. Tom Cable knows this, it is what he was paid to improve it in Seattle. His coaching ability just wasn't up to snuff. The Seahawks need to blow up their entire offensive line strategy and try again. That means the main man in charge of the offensive line, Tom Cable, needs to go too.
2017 was a disappointing season for the Seattle Seahawks. They missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. Their offense struggled mightily and their once great defense was hobbled by injuries and penalties. The first moves to right the ship were the firings of long time coaches Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable. These were probably the right move. Cable had failed completely over the last few years to develop offensive line talent. Bevell was the play caller in an offense that performed best when everything broke down and the called play wasn't followed. However, if these are the only major moves the Seahawks make it will be very disappointing.
Sources: Pro Football Reference
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