Brian Fleury Recaps Week 8 & Discusses Drew Lock Getting The Start vs. Cardinals

Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury discusses Drew Lock getting the start, expressing confidence due to Lock's previous success in two games this season against the same opponent (0:14). Following Monday's loss to the Bears, the coordinator identifies third down execution as the primary issue, noting the Bears are the best third down defense in football and that coaches and players share responsibility for the struggles (1:02-1:22). Regarding offensive line changes with Quenton Nelson and other personnel moves, the coordinator acknowledges the transition wasn't perfect but expresses satisfaction with their communication and performance given the circumstances (1:34-1:44). With running backs Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price returning, the coordinator explains their workload will be managed based on conditioning phases and specific game plan situations (4:22-4:40). The coordinator reveals he sensed Sam Darnold was dealing with something unusual during Monday's game despite Darnold's reassurances (4:56-5:01), and regarding Grey Zabel's challenging start at guard, confirms there was no consideration to start Anthony Bradford instead as they felt Zabel gave them the best chance to win (6:21-6:23).

Seahawks defensive Coordinator Aden Durde discussed managing defensive line reps without Leonard Williams late in the game, praising the strong performances of Nose Tackle Jarran Reed, Defensive Tackle Byron Murphy II, and Defensive End Rylie Mills (00:31). (01:01) Addressing the defense's red zone struggles, Defensive Coordinator Aden Durde emphasized the need for better gap assignments, alignment, and fundamentals when the field condenses (01:45), while also explaining how game flow impacts Linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. in the absence of Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and commending Linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence inside Head Coach Mike Macdonald's culture (01:27, 02:34). (03:36) Additionally, Defensive Coordinator Aden Durde highlighted Cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett for tracking down a big screen play (04:53), moved past a previous sequence involving Safety Julian Love (04:40) and Safety Nick Emmanwori (05:39), and noted that defending deep play-action routes requires a stronger marriage of pass rush and coverage rather than falling solely on Cornerback Josh Jobe (06:28).

Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock confirmed his elbow is feeling much better after dealing with an injury for a couple of weeks, and he's preparing to start against the Cardinals (0:10). Lock revealed he could tell early in the previous game that Sam Darnold had cracked his rib and praised Darnold as "an absolute soldier" for playing through the injury, demonstrating his care for the team (1:34). The veteran quarterback expressed gratitude for the opportunity to start again eight years into his career, calling it "pretty amazing" to be the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks with two kids and a wife (5:56). Lock emphasized the team's mindset at 4-4, stating they have a chip on their shoulder and are excited to prove themselves, noting "it's fun to feel that, be in that room and excited to go out on Sunday and try to prove that to ourselves" (8:46). He also highlighted the development of Jalen Milroe, who has moved into the backup role, stressing that getting reps and experiencing game preparation is crucial for quarterback development (7:00).

Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence evaluates the Seahawks' 4-4 midseason standing, noting that he and Head Coach Mike Macdonald emphasize playing complementary football one play at a time. (01:07) He expresses confidence in the defense's fundamentals, speed, and tenacity while stressing the importance of creating takeaways and capitalizing on special teams field position (01:33). (03:25) Addressing the team's defensive struggles in the red zone, DeMarcus Lawrence takes personal responsibility for honing his awareness and controlling the C gap against opposing run schemes (05:58). (03:49) He also discusses the importance of adjusting on the fly when backup quarterbacks like Quarterback Drew Lock step into a game (04:02), and (07:17) highlights the value of personal ownership, brotherhood, and team connection as the squad works to clean up small details and play with greater consistency (08:10).

Seahawks guard Grey Zabel addressed the challenges of switching from left guard to right guard in just five days before facing one of the league's best defensive tackles, Jeffrey Simmons (0:13). He compared the transition to switching from being right-handed to left-handed, noting that while the playbook remained mirrored, the mechanical adjustments with hand usage and footwork were significant (1:34, 2:48). Zabel praised Quenton Nelson's seamless integration into the team after only 4-5 days, highlighting Nelson's exceptional preparation and execution (4:10). He expressed deep respect for Sam Darnold's toughness in playing through injuries and confidence in Drew Lock's ability to step in as quarterback (6:00, 6:44). Zabel emphasized the importance of building chemistry with Abraham Lucas and acknowledged he needs to improve through practice and coaching to become a better player on the right side (0:54, 1:08).

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald announced that Sam Darnold suffered a quad injury at the end of the previous game and will be out week-to-week, though not placed on IR (0:20-0:32). Macdonald revealed that Darnold played the entire game with a cracked rib sustained on the second play, demonstrating exceptional toughness (0:50-1:04). Drew Lock will start at quarterback with Jalen Milroe backing up, though Lock is still working back from an elbow injury sustained during a rain practice and will have his throwing managed throughout the week (0:34-1:55). The team may add another quarterback, with both Lock and Milroe expected to split practice reps (1:55-2:09). Macdonald expressed confidence in the offensive line's future, particularly praising Quenton Nelson's debut performance despite the unit's ongoing adjustments, and emphasized the need to improve the running game and red zone defense through better practice structure and earlier problem-solving in the week (3:36-16:06).

Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas discusses the offensive line's film review following Monday's game and expresses utmost confidence in Quarterback Drew Lock stepping in while Quarterback Sam Darnold rehabilitates after Head Coach Mike Macdonald shared his status (00:30, 00:39). (01:03, 01:11) Abraham Lucas explains the importance of adaptability and communication alongside Guard Grey Zabel (01:43), while praising Quarterback Sam Darnold's toughness (02:46) and Guard Quenton Nelson's knowledge and grit (03:10). (05:14) Furthermore, Abraham Lucas highlights the strong efforts of Running Back Zach Charbonnet, Running Back Jadarian Price, Running Back Emanuel Wilson, and Running Back George Holani, before emphasizing his commitment to the team's daily process (06:50) and his offseason workouts (07:34).

Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas discusses the urgency of improving the team's red zone defense through tighter coverage, aggressive downhill run stopping, and rapid week-to-week film corrections (00:04, 00:17, 01:51). Addressing Head Coach Mike Macdonald's emphasis on constructive film study, Thomas highlights the need to maintain a process-based mindset and accountability rather than dwelling on past scores (02:10, 02:22). Looking ahead to the upcoming matchup against the Cardinals, he breaks down Arizona's expected offensive approach and explains how defensive pass coverage responsibilities adjust to extra blockers and chip releases (02:56, 03:28, 03:40).