Seahawks request Interview with Grant Udinski

[nanomoz]

It's funny that Jefferson called him out for Red Zone issues, but Minnesota was top 10 in converting Red Zone TDs.

I mean, getting called out like that by your star receiver isn't good... but what he was getting called out for wasn't the real issue, either. So was Jefferson not getting the targets he thought he needed in the RZ? Or was he more frustrated with the season in general? Or does Kubiak just not have a good rapport with his players?


It's certainly something to be aware of. Minnesota's overall offense in 2021 was just average. Not great, but not bad by any means. As you noted though, they did have issues on 3rd down... and so did the Saints this year.

Derek Carr's success rate compared to league average is an up and down affair, so it might not mean much that he was below average this year. Cousins, though, typically has a good success rate. The only season he was below average out of the last 5... was 2021, with Klint Kubiak as his OC.

I'm still pretty ok with this choice (if the Seahawks go that way) because he hits multiple boxes I want (NFL play calling experience, good pass-to-run ratio, decent play-action rate) but it's not a clear homerun by any means.

Good post. I think people had Mike Zimmer fatigue throughout that building, and throughout MN. That team felt very stuck in mediocrity.

 

[hawks85]

Shit, hire all 3 of them

 

[toffee]

Sign Udinski!!!! Retreads are a dime a dozen, but boy wonders are hard to find! At 28yo and no family, Udinski can spend 18 hours a day on the job.

Here's what I like about Grant:

1. He was not naturally gifted as a football player or an athlete, he learned everything the hard way, having to switch positions, which is invaluable as a coach.
   He began his college football career for the Davidson Wildcats where he was a backup tight end as a freshman in 2015, recording one reception for 10 yards. After his lone season at Davidson, Udinski transferred to the Towson Tigers as a walk-on in 2016, eventually earning a scholarship. He switched to defensive end at Towson and sat out the 2016 season due to transfer rules. He totaled 15 tackles in 2017 and then made 28 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a senior while playing all 12 games.
   
   
2. He was book smart, a reading man, willing to acquire and not resist knowledge.
   He was also a top student at Towson, being named CoSIDA Academic First-Team All-American, for posting an undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.94 with a master's level GPA of 4.0.
   
   
3. Passion for the sport!
   He worked under head coach Matt Rhule and assisted defensive coordinator Phil Snow at Baylor. He moved in with Snow during the year, after initially having lived in his car in a Walmart parking lot
   
   
4. Worked with multiple QBs
   In addition to Cousins, Udinski assisted in preparing rookie Jaren Hall, Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens, who each started multiple games for the Vikings throughout the season. Minnesota won three consecutive games with a different starting quarterback in Weeks 8-10 (Cousins, Hall and Dobbs) and finished the season fifth in the league in passing yards per game (256.4).
   
   
5. Young enough to address our own young Macdonald as Uncle Mikey.

I am sold on Grant!

 

[toffee]

Sign Udinski!!!! Retreads are a dime a dozen, but boy wonders are hard to find! Here's what I like about Grant:

1. He was not naturally gifted as a football player or an athlete, he learned everything the hard way, having to switch positions, which is invaluable as a coach.
   He began his college football career for the Davidson Wildcats where he was a backup tight end as a freshman in 2015, recording one reception for 10 yards. After his lone season at Davidson, Udinski transferred to the Towson Tigers as a walk-on in 2016, eventually earning a scholarship. He switched to defensive end at Towson and sat out the 2016 season due to transfer rules. He totaled 15 tackles in 2017 and then made 28 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a senior while playing all 12 games.
   
   
2. He was book smart, a reading man, willing to acquire and not resist knowledge.
   He was also a top student at Towson, being named CoSIDA Academic First-Team All-American, for posting an undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.94 with a master's level GPA of 4.0.
   
   
3. Passion for the sport!
   He worked under head coach Matt Rhule and assisted defensive coordinator Phil Snow at Baylor. He moved in with Snow during the year, after initially having lived in his car in a Walmart parking lot
   
   
4. Worked with multiple QBs
   In addition to Cousins, Udinski assisted in preparing rookie Jaren Hall, Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens, who each started multiple games for the Vikings throughout the season. Minnesota won three consecutive games with a different starting quarterback in Weeks 8-10 (Cousins, Hall and Dobbs) and finished the season fifth in the league in passing yards per game (256.4).
   
   
5. Young enough to address our own young Macdonald as Uncle Mikey. At 28yo and no family, Udinski can spend 18 hours a day on the job. Even after he excels as our OC, no one will hire a 30yo HC, Ukinski will be here for at least 4-5 years.
   
   
6. If Ukinski comes, will Darnold follow?

I am sold on Grant!

 

[GetNjigbaWithIt]

At this point, no one is ecstatic over any other OC candidate they've interviewed. With Udinski & Fraley, they don't have any play calling experience, with Kubiak, his resume doesn't inspire confidence to most fans. So why not just go with the upside of Udinski?

The way he's earned respect from the league means someone is gonna eventually give him a chance, and if he truly is the next offensive wunderkind, they'll be kicking themselves for letting him get away. So again, if we're not really gonna get excited over anyone, why don't we just hope they take a risk on the guy with the highest upside?

 

[keasley45]

I think i would rather take a chance on Grant than Kubiak.

 

[HOF Hater]

I just read up on him, he gives me McVay vibes

 

[Hawkinaz]

Wasn't Grubb more of a timing hire, so late in the offseason cycle and all?

It has been theorized that Schneider had been targeting Grubb before Pete got fired and just stayed with him after MM was hired. When I first heard about it I thought “ that makes a lot of sense” I always thought the MM/Grubb marriage never made sense

 

[OneLofaTatupu]

I’m jealous the way peeps get jacked n pumped over this stuff.

Wasn’t grubb raw ?

Either way fresh meat to bitch about

 

[Fresno Hawk]

I might be in the minority here, but every time I read up on one of these guys for OC I keep thinking why are we not going after someone who is alot more experienced. To me the only one who is truly intriguing is Fraley. And it's only because of his impact that he could possibly make with the oline. Him not calling plays is what i don't like.

 

[OneLofaTatupu]

Apparently, this guy lives and breathes football and is regarded as a high IQ guy, as long as he has those traits, I'm willing to trust MM if he ends up hiring him.

I would hope any coach has those traits

 

[toffee]

Grant Udinski is the RUDY of nfl coaches. He has no family connection, no playing career as a stepping stone, he is a guy who slept in his car for months for the love of football.

 

[James in PA]

It has been theorized that Schneider had been targeting Grubb before Pete got fired and just stayed with him after MM was hired. When I first heard about it I thought “ that makes a lot of sense” I always thought the MM/Grubb marriage never made sense

So you're saying Schneider has the same eye for OC talent that he does for guards?

 

[OneLofaTatupu]

Until other coaches volunteer their playbooks so that he can use his, I’m not buying it

 

[keasley45]

It would be hilarious if all the hype was just propaganda to try to get us to hire dead weight from their staff. The vikings v hawks cold war has been going on since Hutch-gate.

Udi could be the ultimate poison pill, lol.

 

[OneLofaTatupu]

It would be hilarious if all the hype was just propaganda to try to get us to hire dead weight from their staff. The vikings v hawks cold war has been going on since Hutch-gate.

Udi could be the ultimate poison pill, lol.

Now we’re talkin

 

[toffee]

It has been theorized that Schneider had been targeting Grubb before Pete got fired and just stayed with him after MM was hired. When I first heard about it I thought “ that makes a lot of sense” I always thought the MM/Grubb marriage never made sense.

I always thought Grubb was a Schneider hire, I even started a thread sometime ago to discuss the Schneider influence in hiring Grubb:

Was Grubb a Schneider or a Macdonald hire?

Not sure if I remember the timings right, but weren't we the last team to hire a head coach last off season? then we waiting quite awhile to name that OC? Please correct me if wrong. I am wondering if Grubb was a Schneider hire or a Macdonald hire. It really ought to be Macdonald's decision...

www.seahawks.net

 

[OneLofaTatupu]

Grant Udinski is the RUDY of nfl coaches. He has no family connection, no playing career as a stepping stone, he is a guy who slept in his car for months for the love of football.

So he will be good for one play at the end of one game but really love the game……

 

[Scout]

Another thing to note is that Kubiak had a whole slew of injuries on offense last year. Was playing with a backup rookie QB, backup RB and 4th, 5th and 6th WR's and made them look halfway decent. He made MVS with no prep time look like an all-pro some games. To me that says a lot. I think Rattler is garbage and Kubiak made him look serviceable most games as long as you throw out the GB game.

Saints defense was a shell of its former self as they looked old at multiple spots and they lacked enough pieces to be able to help out the offense. The cap crunch caught up with the Saints in 2024.

 

[94Smith]

comes from a great football tree.

Damn good tree!