Then when I asked the fans which HC candidate they would prefer, Kubiak or Saleh, Klint Kubiak garnered 68.2% of the votes.
Klint Kubiak joined the Seahawks staff on January 26, 2025, after one season serving in the same capacity for the New Orleans Saints. It will be his 12th season as an NFL assistant and 16th overall in the coaching ranks.
What kind of a fit would Klint Kubiak be with the Cardinals' current offensive personnel?
Seeing as his offense features a high volume of pocket and play action passes, there are strong reasons to believe that Jacoby Brissett could thrive in his system, much the way Sam Darnold has been thriving.
When one compares Jacoby Brissett's passing numbers to Sam Darnold's over the past 7 games, the results are impressive:
Brissett: 67.5% for 2,188 yards, 13-4 TD/int, 97.4 RTG
Darnold: 62.0% for 1,667 yards, !0-7 TD/int, 97.0 RTG
Note: There have been some games where the Seahawks have won big and thus Sam Darnold hasn't had to put up huge numbers, whereas Jacoby Brissett has had to pass more frequently.
QBs who could interest Klint Kubiak as system fits via trade or free agency:
QBs in the 2026 NFL Draft whom Klint Kubiak could endorse:
* Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
* Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati)
* LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
* Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
What kind of scenario could entice Klint Kubiak to take the Cardinals' HC job?
The most attractive scenario for new head coaches is to be matched up with a preferred choice as GM.
For Klint Kubiak two potential GM candidates come to mind:
* Nolan Teasley --- Asst. GM (SEA) --- John Schneider's right-hand man
* Khari Harley --- Asst. GM (NO) --- Mickey Loomis' right-hand man
Either Teasley or Harley would be a win for the Cardinals given the way they have been groomed by two iconic GMs who have won Super Bowls.
OC candidates?
* Rick Dennison? The venerable offensive line coach came with Klint Kubiak to SEA from the Saints. Dennison has done such a stellar job thus far that it's likely SEA will do all they can to keep him. However, Rick Dennison may wish to stick with Klint Kubiak.
Rick Dennison joined the Seahawks staff on February 18, 2025, bringing a wealth of offensive experience as run game coordinator/senior offensive advisor. Dennison has been part of 13 playoff appearances, five division titles, and three Super Bowl victories - Super Bowl XXXII, XXXIII and 50.
* Andrew Janocho --- he's been Klint's QB coach and seeing as Klint will be calling the plays, having Janocho as OC could be a win-win for Cardinals and Kubiak.
Andrew Janocko (pronounced juh-NO-co) joined the Seahawks as quarterbacks coach on February 11, 2025, after spending one season with the New Orleans Saints in 2024.(Comes with 13 years of NFL coaching experience).
DC Candidates?
* Joe Woods --- was the DC in NO opposite Klint in 2024.
Joe Woods joins the Raiders in 2025 as the pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach, bringing with him 33 years of coaching experience, including 21 years of coaching in the NFL ranks.
Woods enters his second stint with the Raiders after spending the 2014 season in Oakland as the defensive backs coach. This time, Woods joins the Silver and Black after spending the last two seasons (2023-24) with the New Orleans Saints as the defensive coordinator.
Over his two seasons in New Orleans, Woods' defenses ranked ninth in the NFL in third down conversion percentage allowed (37.7%) and fourth in the league in fourth down conversion percentage allowed (47.2%). His defenses also totaled 46 takeaways over the last two seasons, tied for the 12th most in the NFL over that span.
* Gus Bradley --- Nolan Teasley would have SEA ties to Bradley.
Gus Bradley is in his first season as the 49ers assistant head coach of defense. He joins the 49ers after spending the previous three seasons (2022-24) as the defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.
The 2024 Colts finished the season tied for the third-most forced fumbles (17) and tied for the fifth-most interceptions (16) in the NFL. LB Zaire Franklin earned Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after leading the NFL with 173 tackles. In 2023, Indianapolis ranked fifth in sacks (51) as DL DeForest Buckner earned the third Pro Bowl appearance of his career. In his first season in Indianapolis in 2022, Franklin set then-career highs in tackles (166), passes defensed (six), sacks (3.0) and forced fumbles (three).
* Dennard Wilson --- he is going to attract interest from a few teams this off-season given the strong job he's doing as DC of the Titans.
Dennard Wilson is in his second season with the Titans as defensive coordinator. He arrived in Tennessee with 12 years of NFL coaching experience, including nine seasons leading defensive back units.
During Wilson's first year in Tennessee, the Titans ranked second overall in total defense (311.2 opponent yards per game)—the team's highest ranking since leading the NFL in total defense in 2000. The 2024 Titans also finished second in passing defense (177.3), which also was their best ranking since 2000 (first). Wilson's defense tied for the fifth-fewest first downs allowed per game (18.5) and tied for the fifth-fewest opponent yards allowed per play (5.2) in 2024. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was named to the Pro Bowl, while a pair of rookies, second-round nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat and fifth-round cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., started 16 and 14 games, respectively.
Prior to joining the Titans, Wilson spent the 2023 campaign as the defensive backs coach with the Baltimore Ravens, working with head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The Ravens defense ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth overall (301.4 yards allowed per game), sixth in pass defense (191.9 yards per game), seventh in third-down percentage (36.4), first in sacks (60) and third in interceptions (18). Second-year safety Kyle Hamilton earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after totaling 75 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions.
Before he joined the Ravens, Wilson spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs (2022) and a defensive backs coach (2021). In 2022, his defensive backs led the way as the Eagles ranked first in the NFL in pass defense (179.8 yards per game), third in opposing quarterback rating (81.6) and had the fourth-most takeaways (17 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries) en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. James Bradberry and Pro Bowler Darius Slay were the only cornerback tandem to each produce 14 passes defensed and three interceptions. Bradberry, a second-team All-Pro, posted the NFL's third-lowest passer rating allowed (55.9) and the third-most passes defensed (17) among players targeted at least 50 times.
* Taking Klint Kubiak away for the Seahawks
* One of the brightest offensive minds in the NFL
* Has strong ties to experienced DC candidates
* Has a year under his belt coaching in the NFC West
* Would be highly beneficial to have him choose which QBs he wants
What could give the Cardinals the best chance to hire Klint Kubiak?
Allowing him, like the Jaguars have done with Liam Cohen, to pick his top choice as GM.
With the HC interest, Klint Kubiak is going to attract, the Cardinals, in order to have a chance, would have to feather his nest.
Thanks to the Cardinals' fans who voted in the polls.
Do you think this outline of a hiring plan is a good one?
This is a solid plan, at this point-there will be additional candidates by the end of the season. Certainly fixes the inexperience that keeps this staff and team underachieving.
ReplyDeleteThe most important requirement for hiring the new staff (AGAIN), is the HC candidate's ability to attract a solid experienced successful staff. No more JG KK disjointed, ineffective hiring of staff they don't know, inexperienced and friends without resumes.
Maybe the most damaging and insightfully sad summary of the coaching staff's ineptitude was HC Todd Bowles making that all they had to do was look at film that told the entire story of how and what plays the Cards would undoubtably run in certain situations. Basically this uncreative offense can't adjust and call situational football but is devoted to repetition of a scheme systems.
ReplyDeleteI went back and watched alll the game since JB started as QB and there are too many "tells" of the plays DP would run as follows:
• Shotgun vs. Under Center: The most prominent tell was the strong correlation between formation and play type.
o Shotgun: The Cardinals were overwhelmingly likely to pass out of the shotgun formation (around 68.6% of the time). The Buccaneers could anticipate a pass play when Jacoby Brissett was in shotgun.
o Under Center: Conversely, the offense almost always ran the ball when lining up under center (around 75% of the time).
• Second Down Pass Heaviness: The Cardinals' playcalling on second down was very pass-heavy (around 81.8% pass plays with Brissett at QB). Defenses were able to key in on passing situations, particularly on medium distances.
• Third-and-Short Runs: On third down with short yardage (1-3 yards to go), the Cardinals were highly predictable, running the ball about 80% of the time. The Buccaneers could stack the box and prepare for a run in these situations.
• Red Zone Pass-First Mentality: The offense favored passing plays in the red zone (around 66.7% of the time). This allowed the Buccaneers defense to focus on pass coverage and limit rushing opportunities, contributing to the Cardinals' red zone struggles.
Personnel and Alignment Tells
• Specific Personnel: Certain players on the field signaled a likely pass play. The presence of specific pass-catching running backs on third and short situations was a major tell for the defense.
• Lack of Variation: The offense generally ran standard, non-varied plays (e.g., inside zone runs without misdirection) which made it easier for the defense to anticipate and disrupt, especially when facing interior pressure.
Staff gotta go!
Post of the year, right here! Bravo, 61!
DeleteI like Klint Kubiak as HC, keeping Brissett as the starting QB and fixing the OL before worrying about the QB of the future. For me, the worst thing this team could do is use a high draft pick on a QB in 2026. That said, I don't think Bidwill could stomach moving on from Kyler and Gannon in the same year plus MB would then have 3 HC's on the payroll. I think this coaching staff gets one more season.
ReplyDeleteKubisk or Chris Shula defensive coirdinator from the Rams would be good candidates from inside the division. They would both be a step up on what needs to be done to win in division. Keep getting reports Gannon and Monti are secure for next year. Cant imagine another year with Gannon.
ReplyDelete