The Seattle Seahawks’ loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday proved a few things. On the positive side, this team is a legitimate contender that can hang with the best heavyweights in the NFL this year. We also got reminders of their remarkable talent and depth at wide receiver and cornerback, among other key positions.
However, what’s also becoming clear is that there are plenty of areas to improve, especially execution on offense. As potent as they are on this side of the ball, Seattle’s performance on third down and in the red zone this season warrant some real soul searching – specifically by one guy: offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who’s as responsible as anybody for this week’s loss. Here’s what fans are tweeting about him.
Shane Waldron deserves as much (or more) blame for this loss as anyone else.
– No rollout or bootlegs either in the game plan or as an adjustment when pressure became an issue
– Lots of slow-developing patterns, intermediate-to-deep
– Nothing schemed open in the red zone
— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) October 16, 2023
I think last week was more of the o line injuries and a bad game from geno. Honestly I blame Shane waldron and geno smith but I think JSN played better. I still think Tyler’s gonna get his 1K and DK is gonna hit 1100+ but I wanna see JSN get going
— CJ (3-2) (@Seahawksfan3000) October 16, 2023
Shane Waldron is inexperienced as an O Coordinator in Elite big time Scenarios. Didn’t run any screen or pitches in the middle. Had Zero Answer for what the Bengals Defense had cooking for Geno and Waldron and Pete
— AnonJ (@GeorgeB55989714) October 16, 2023
Defense can hang with anyone when they are fully healthy .. why can’t Shane Waldron open up the pass game and go spread looks more ???.. we have the weapons to be lethal .. I think pass pro is an easy cop out .. Curhan shut down Aidan Hutchinson ..
— Zack Nixon (@zacknixon7) October 16, 2023
shane waldron today looked like matt canada. they haven’t really gone deep that much this season but when they did this game it worked. the redzone offense as u stated has been horrible today and all season. definitely a game we should’ve won but not a game to dwell on
— TwoWaySpike (@5209Vs) October 16, 2023
And the O-line and Shane Waldron. I agree Geno was not up to par. But that performance from the O-line and play calling were both atrocious
— 🥶49er (@seahawksgeno) October 16, 2023
Also don’t understand why Geno is holding the ball so long. Considering where Shane Waldron came from you’d think that getting the ball out quickly would be somewhat of a hallmark of this offense like it is in LA. Very odd play calling and personnel groups in red zone today
— Zach Abraham (@KYRRadio) October 16, 2023
3rd down success isn’t caused by Geno, we are almost always in third in long, that can’t happen but it’s caused by Shane Waldron or penalties
— Nic (@genoenjoyer) October 16, 2023
the most frustrating part is most of the drives where there was opportunity to score was in the RZ. Questionable play calls that I question Shane Waldron on, but some of that falls on Geno as well. You cannot hold on to the ball and a sack on first and fourth & goal..
— seahawkrealm (@seahawkrealm) October 16, 2023
My thoughts on the #Seahawks after the #Bengals game:
– This loss is 50% on Geno, 25% on the O-Line, and 15% on Shane Waldron.
– Tre Brown and Devon Witherspoon looked phenomenal. Riq Woolen had a rough start but ultimately got back on track.
– THAT DEFENSE IS INSANE!— Depressed Seahawks Fan (@DSFNFL) October 16, 2023
If Seahawks fans wondered if Geno has the CLUTCH Gene. News Flash!!! HE DOES NOT. Shane Waldron is also terrible at scheming red zone success and creativity
— AnonJ (@GeorgeB55989714) October 15, 2023
Dude is yapping if this is what pushed yall from Russell Wilson y’all never liked Russ in the first place.
The blame really should be on Shane Waldron but instead y’all are watching one player and not the team one bad game from Geno Smith and this is what you’re saying? Fuck up https://t.co/kTWZX47dow
— 𝗭a𝘆 🤾♂️ | 7/11 SZN (3-2) (@ZaySZN__) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron was a big negative today, especially in the RZ. No creativity at all.
— c dot (@c2TheDot) October 15, 2023
After 3 bad throws? I get he didn’t look at DK multiple times when he was wide open but Geno smith is still good. It was one bad game and to be fair he was getting 0 help from any of our WR’s or Shane Waldron. We would’ve won if we kicked the field goal on 4th before the 2 min.
— seahawks (@seahawk61493073) October 15, 2023
Our defence was IMPRESSIVE. But our redzone offence was trash. I’m not off on Geno, but he needs to take this one. Abe Lucas and Damien Lewis coming back can help him. Shane Waldron needs to step it up too. Not too down but there’s work to do.. #Seahawks #GoHawks #OTTN
— #OG3 (@christodafur) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron has zero imagination. Put your damn Tight ends in the game!
— sharon wright (@sharonw50676227) October 15, 2023
That has to be on Shane Waldron, his play calling doesn't adjust to what's going on #Seahawks
— Damon (@damondmitri1) October 15, 2023
Beats me why Shane Waldron got away from the run after the first touchdown drive. It just put more pressure on Geno Smith, and he wasn't able to hold up under it. Five trips into the Cincy red zone yielded a single touchdown. That sums it up.
— JASmius (@JASmius) October 15, 2023
i hope shane waldron gets a hc job so he can leave this team
— 00 (@0PIUM0D) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron should be on a short leash…
— Haha🦹🏾♂️🧙🧟♂️ (@SpankyyyLu) October 15, 2023
Biggest Winners and Losers of Today
Winners ✅
Kenneth Walker 📈
Devon Witherspoon📈
Tre Brown 📈
Jamal Adams 📈Losers ❌
Shane Waldron 📉
Geno Smith 📉
Offensive Line 📉(Thread) #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/z7a8376h9n
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron. I will stick by you. However, we are on the 7 on First and Goal after not converting on the previous redzone drive. PLEASE RUN THE BALL @Seahawks. I love this organization and I always will but that game was so winnable. I love the heart but we have to fix RZO.
— Cole Canteenwalla (@ColeCanteenwal3) October 15, 2023
Geno Smith/Shane Waldron y la OL pic.twitter.com/aIumO9270u
— Yago 🇲🇽 (@Yago_J16) October 15, 2023
It might be time for an uncomfortable discussion about Shane Waldron and this red zone offense the last couple of years
— Shane ✍🏾🩸 (@_sw253_) October 15, 2023
shane waldron play calling was terrible right along w/ geno’s decision making.
— BV (@bvuitton__) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron was decidedly not in his bag today. And off of a bye week?
— Parker (@ParkerLewisNFL) October 15, 2023
Fire Shane Waldron
— Not Poona Ford (3-1) (@PoonaFord) October 15, 2023
Geno played terrible. DK made massive mistakes. K9 with a couple awful penalties. But once the bengals D adjusted to the game plan, Shane Waldron couldn’t dial up anything to get guys open. Lastly everyone failed in the red zone
— CML (@Cmlandin9) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron drafts up one cute formation until teams figure it out, and has like 4 other plays.
— Jack **no longer tuned in** (@Javema3715) October 15, 2023
I'm not sure what's more annoying, Geno's lack of awareness, the O-Line incompetence or Shane Waldron inability to adjust the play calling. Either way the Seahawks dropped a very winnable game and a damn good defensive performance.
— RJ (@FinalQueue) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron after calling the same inside draw to Ken walker pic.twitter.com/3DBFkBz1jD
— Justin🖤 (@Justin28151) October 15, 2023
shane waldron has to go!
— BV (@bvuitton__) October 15, 2023
Boo Shane Waldron and Boo Geno Smith five amazing completions is not enough in the passing game.
— Kyle Waldron (@KyleWaldron12) October 15, 2023
He had a lot of time, on a LOT of drives and missed a LOT of reads it’s really that simple. Shane Waldron is more to blame imo
Seahawks fans are just gonna use the lazy argument that Geno Snith played awful 😴 https://t.co/Yex2ElZ0fS
— 𝗭a𝘆 🤾♂️ | 7/11 SZN (3-2) (@ZaySZN__) October 15, 2023
Bad game from Pete, Geno, the o line, and Shane Waldron
— HopelessNotRomantic (@BrianUnbothered) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron’s playcalling has no identity. It’s awful
— connor (Deathrow KP) (@keithpricetrut1) October 15, 2023
This #Seahawks loss is all on Shane Waldron. Horrible play calling! Defense in the second half stifled Cincy offense.
— Rick Rebel (@rick_rebel4) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron has had some bad red zone play calling over the last few years, but that game might take the cake for the worst of the bunch. #Seahawks
— HollywoodStro (@HollywoodStro) October 15, 2023
Shane Waldron has been about as big of a disappointment as many of our terrible 1st rd. draft picks. Rams seemed to play so quick, got ball out quickly when he was there, could have used that so many times today.
— TheDubC (@TheDubCM) October 15, 2023
Like Shane Waldron should be fired into the sun.
— TOUGH Hawks 🔨 (@12thManNorth) October 15, 2023
Watching Shane Waldron and Geno fold to this juggernaut Bengals defense over and over and over and over. #seahawks pic.twitter.com/xhhQcWiEiW
— FatnastySports (@FatnastySports) October 15, 2023
Nice work Hawks, Shane Waldron and Geno Smith to blame in this one. Absolutely pathetic after the defense bailed us out SO many times today. Such a joke coming after a bye. 👎🏻 #Seahawks
— Matt Sweeney (@DaSween67) October 15, 2023
The more of Shane Waldron I see the more I want him sent to the gulag.
— Brandon (@brandonthesimp) October 15, 2023
Epic failure by Shane Waldron today. You just can’t call all these plays where there’s no movement in the red zone. So so so so bad
— Savage (@RW_Savage) October 15, 2023
Fire Shane Waldron imo
— Jake BoBOakes (@EthanLudlam) October 15, 2023
No more Shane Waldron please. Unimaginative playcalling. #GoHawks
— G1ANT KILLERS (@G1antKillers) October 15, 2023
Can we all agree Geno is just not the guy to take us to the next level. Several crucial mistakes today costing 10-14 pts.
Also didn't we hire Shane Waldron to make much better play calls in some of these scenarios. Ball needs to come out quick on that 4th and goal play
— TheDubC (@TheDubCM) October 15, 2023
