SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks open training camp Wednesday, as we push closer to the NFL regular season in September.
This year's team will be distinctly different from previous Seahawks teams, particularly among the coaching staff. Pete Carroll is out and so is the offensive coordinator.
On the field, though, the Seahawks return most of their core players. Many of the biggest questions are contingent on how the players adjust to schematic changes and coaching styles.
Here are three Seahawks storylines to watch for in training camp and beyond.
Will JSN's role increase in 2024?
We'll never know if the Seahawks changed their plans for its offense last season after Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke his wrist in the preseason.
Smith-Njigba played all 17 regular season games, but he was eased slowly into the Seahawks offense in the first month of the season. Seattle used the touted rookie primarily as a glorified tight end, content to throw him passes close to the line of scrimmage and little else. Smith-Njigba had just 62 yards on 12 catches by Week 5. He had fewer receiving yards than second-string tight end Colby Parkinson and his average depth of target was just 3.3 yards.
Smith-Njigba's role gradually increased throughout the season, allowing him the opportunity to flash the talent that made him the first wide receiver selected in the 2023 National Football League (NFL) Draft. Despite still being behind DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett in the hierarchy, Smith-Njigba corralled a game-winning touchdown to beat the Eagles on Monday Night Football and followed the performance with a pivotal catch to save the game against the Titans.
But even as the rookie was gaining confidence in the offense, he was still resigned to three wide receiver sets and conservative targets that did not give him enough time to generate chunk gains after the catch.
Will the Seahawks take the training wheels off JSN and push him up the Seahawks receiver pecking order?
How will Macdonald impact defense?
Mike Macdonald spent six seasons in total with the Ravens, moving from defensive backs coach to linebackers coach and ascending to defensive coordinator.
Here's how the Ravens fared in scoring defense during Macdonald's tenure:
- 2017: 6th
- 2018: 2nd
- 2019: 3rd
- 2020: 2nd
- 2022: 3rd
- 2023: 1st
It's difficult to sustain consistent defensive success unless you're the Ravens.
Now the Seahawks will add the defensive-minded Macdonald to a Seahawks unit that finished 25th in scoring defense in 2023 and 2022. Seattle has plenty of young talent on the defensive side of the ball, but they have been unable to realize any of its potential.
Can Macdonald be the guy that turns the trend around?
Geno Smith in a new offense
Smith followed the 2022 season that earned him Comeback Player of the Year with a drop off in passing yards, touchdowns and yards per attempt.
Yes, the numbers represented an overall decline across the board, but Smith was still productive as the signal caller, leading the league with five-game winning drives and four fourth-quarter comebacks. The Seahawks scratched and clawed their way to several close wins, a formula that nearly got them back into the postseason in 2023.
But they'll likely need Smith to be closer to 2022 to be a playoff contender again. The organization is hoping former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb can revitalize Smith in his 11th NFL season.
Grubb's played a big part in devising a scheme that catapulted Michael Penix Jr. from an often-injured journeyman to a Heisman contender and, eventually, a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.