Seattle Seahawks Are Designing Gadget Plays for Thrilling Rookie QB

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Seattle Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe

The Seattle Seahawks knew they have been including a singular chess piece after they chosen Jalen Milroe within the third spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft.

When Milroe was a redshirt freshman on the University of Alabama, a video circulated displaying him power-clean 335 kilos. It’s unusual to see 19-year-old quarterbacks toss round such weight with ease. When Milroe was a senior, he ran a blazing 40-yard sprint time of 4.37 seconds at his Alabama Pro Day. For comparability, Lamar Jackson ran a 4.34.

With his mixture of velocity and power, it’s no surprise Milroe acquired a 99th percentile athleticism rating in his NFL.com scouting profile. And it seems the Seahawks aren’t losing any time using that athleticism.

On Aug. 25, head coach Mike MacDonald introduced that Milroe will obtain “regular work” with the beginning offense this season, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. “We’re going to have plays for Jalen in the game plans, and he’s going to rep those with the ones [on offense]. And however we build the package for him going into games, he needs those reps in walk-through and full speed, so that’s going to be important,” MacDonald mentioned.

The hope is that Milroe’s designed performs will make the Seahawks’ offense extra dynamic and environment friendly, whereas including a part that opposing defenses should scheme towards each week. In truth, MacDonald said he desires opponents to know Milroe might be concerned in offensive packages. That approach, they need to spend time planning for it.

What The Designed Plays Will Look Like

MacDonald didn’t specify what Milroe’s designed performs would appear to be (nor ought to he). However, it’s secure to imagine the performs will concentrate on short-yardage and goal-line conditions. Fans seemingly acquired a sneak peek of Milroe’s function within the offense when he transformed a “tush push” in a preseason sport towards the Chiefs earlier this month.

Gadget performs within the NFL can actually be used for photographs down the sphere and selecting up huge features–look no additional than Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit final season–however they’re sometimes centered on short-yardage effectivity. The Seahawks have been center of the pack in third-down conversion proportion and red-zone scoring proportion final season, rating No. 21 and No. 14, respectively. Those numbers may improve with Milroe on the staff.

A doable template for Milroe is New Orleans Saints’ jack-of-all-trades participant Taysom Hill. He’s been utilized in distinctive passing and operating performs all through his NFL profession, usually in short-yardage conditions. And now there’s connective tissue between the Saints’ and Seahawks’ offenses. Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks’ new offensive coordinator, was the OC in New Orleans final season. He has expertise designing performs that may make the most of Milroe’s versatility.

Milroe’s arm expertise additionally far surpasses Hill’s, and he confirmed flashes of his potential this preseason. He accomplished 22 of 39 passes in three preseason video games, throwing for 255 yards, one landing, and nil interceptions. He added 87 speeding yards on 15 carries as properly.

How Milroe’s Role Affects RB Fantasy Value

It’s unclear how ceaselessly Milroe might be utilized in designed performs this season. However, it shouldn’t increase any alarm bells on drafting operating backs Kenneth Walker III or Zach Charbonnet in your fantasy leagues. At least, not but. The solely fantasy-related worry is that the Milroe “tush push” turns into so efficient that it repeatedly vultures goal-line touchdowns from the Seahawks’ operating backs.

On the opposite hand, there’s an equal probability it advantages Walker and Charbonnet. The best-case state of affairs is that Milroe makes your complete offense extra environment friendly, resulting in extra alternatives for each Seahawks talent participant.

Derek Rose is a sports activities journalist protecting the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. His reporting focuses on his native Seattle Seahawks, in addition to the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans. He has over seven years of expertise in digital media, writing for websites that embrace Forbes, SPY, and Angi. Derek acquired a B.A. in Journalism from Marist University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. More about Derek Rose