May 6, 2025 • 18 mins
Gary Kubiak, former NFL Head Coach and father of new Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak, joins Dave Softy Mahler and Hugh Millen to talk about why Klint has moved around, the personnel, centers in the zone scheme, and Jalen Milroe.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The podcasting live from the R and R Foundation Specialist
broadcast Studio. Now back to Softie and Dig powered by
Emerald Queen Casino, the Betty and Capital of the Northwest
on Sports Radio ninety three point three kJ Rlie.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
If you're gonna be successful in the zone scheme, it
all starts with having an elite center, having a dang
Goods center that can move and is intelligent and can
make calls, and so it all starts from him. And
that's the most important part of our team is the
offensive line.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
That is the voice of Clint Kubiak.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Back on the thirteenth of February, you may have heard
Hugh he's the brand new Seahawk offensive coordinator, joining us
on the air from the vMac after his introductory press conference.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
And I think we tried a few weeks ago to
get his dad.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
On the air, Gary Kubiak, the former Super Bowl winning
head coach quarterback of the Denver Broncos. But I didn't
realize and apparently neither did you, that the Hamsters were
on strike that day and the fall.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Lines weren't working.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
So we've we've reached a d with the roadents to
get the phone lines back up working again, so we
can try.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
That's what Gary take too, right now.
Speaker 6 (01:06):
Yeah, and I'll tell you what Dave an interesting thing
about Koob So he was either an offensive coordinator head
coach for twenty four seasons in the NFL. Eighteen of
those twenty four his offense was top ten in passing
or total offense, twelve of the twenty four in the
top five. So this guy knows his offense and he's
(01:28):
the dad, as you said of our current offensive coordinator,
coub Great to have you here with us.
Speaker 7 (01:35):
Hey, guys, thanks for having me a little better this time.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
I can hear you get good.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
That's always important, by the way, So we're glad that
that's working.
Speaker 6 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So Gary, just kind of tell
us right now from your perspective, we get Clint Kubiak,
and maybe give us an idea about what facets of
the game you think are really most important. I assume
all offensive coordinators say, hey, we want to be physical
(02:04):
in the run game, we want to be in the
passing game, we want to be explosive in the past game,
blah blah blah. But there's got to be some tenants
where you say, hey, this is really more important to
us even Well, how would you answer that?
Speaker 7 (02:18):
Well, I tell you what, the biggest thing that I've
told coordinators, not just my son, but the coordinators that
you know I went on that that it worked for me,
is you have to really be tied with your offensive
line people. I mean, that's that's the most important thing.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
You know.
Speaker 7 (02:35):
Me as a young coordinator, I was tied to Alex
Gifts and Alex controlled you know, the run game. Uh
basically gave me uh ways on Friday. Hey, Coop, I
can protect a quarterback if you keep me in this
formation or keep me in this protection. So you really
have to be tied and guys, and what has happened
(02:58):
and what Mike has done a great out there in Seattle.
There's really not one. There's three there. So you got
you got Rico, you got John benn and you got
who was with Clinton Denver who has done a great job.
So you have a lot of strength tied to the
offensive line when you have a young coordinator. That's extremely important.
Speaker 6 (03:20):
Yeah, and you mentioned Alex gibbson of course many know
he's the godfather so called of the outside zone. And
there's a lot of feeling now and and me as
an analyst, I'm trying to tell our fans about, Okay,
what what's that going to look like? And what do
we expect to see that? And last year with the
Saints Gary comparing it to Seattle. Seattle was number twenty
(03:42):
four in the percentage of out zones a year outside
zone a year ago, the Saints were number two with
Alvin Kamara. So maybe just talk to us about why
Gibbs love the outside zone and what Seahawk fans are
liable to see this this year with an increase in
that play.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
Well, the biggest thing use that you know in football,
you know, how can I run something a lot and
be good at it? But how can I mask it?
So you know, the zone is something you teach and
then you know you go out you run it. Oh
god man, you know a thousand different ways throughout the
course of the season. So if I'm a fan and
(04:21):
I'm sitting in the stands, you think it's a different play,
But just by formation motion, those type of things in theory,
it's really not. So it's a it's a way of
getting continuous reps, continuous steps for an offensive lineman, continuous looks,
but really not being that complicated. Did that make sense?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Well, Gary Kubiak is with us former coach of our
friend Hugh Millen. Gary, it's softy here and fire up
to see what your son can do for the Seahawks.
You know, I do want to ask you two questions
kind of one is an analyst and a football mind,
and then maybe also as a dad, talk to me
about why you think Clint has bounced around so much.
I mean, obviously there's a vagabond lifestyle that is typical
(05:05):
of an NFL coach, college pro whatever. We all get that, right,
But this is now the fifth stop for Clint in
the last five years.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
What do you think that is?
Speaker 7 (05:15):
Well, I think there's a couple of things that go on,
you know. I mean, as you're the business has changed.
Guys move around a lot more. There's a lot more
change in coaching stats just in general, just like there
are players now move around much more than they did,
you know, twenty years ago. So that's that's part of it.
But you know, when you go somewhere you have success,
(05:40):
you get the next job, you know what I mean,
You go somewhere and the head coach gets let go
or something, then all of a sudden, you're looking for
the next other. There's so many factors that go into
those type of things. We'd all like to have careers
like I had. I mean, I think I really am there.
He had two jobs Denver and Houston, except for up
to stop in Baltimore. But it just doesn't exist that
(06:03):
way like it did years ago. So, uh, you know,
it's tough on family life. He's got four hits. It's
been really, really difficult. But Danby lands in a great organization.
He's got a good group of guys with him. So
I hope that you guys would be nice to him.
He can hang out there for how about that.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Hey, it's not it's not me. You gotta worry about you.
By the way, all right to talk.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
To h here, Uh, super Bowl winning coach with us
Gary Kubiak and Koob. Let's talk about the personnel group
and I'm sure you had an eye on the Seahawks
draft this year. You know, a lot offensive guys in there,
but one of them was a tight end drafted high.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (06:41):
The Saints last year were number one in the use
of two or more tight ends. Now I know the
Saint receivers Chris Olave and Resid Shahid. There's injuries that
and maybe you're gonna tell me that was a big
part of it, but just kind of your thought about
the philosophy of more use of those double tight ends, Well, yeah.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
In New Orleans, they went through a lot losing all
those receivers. You so, hell, they were just trying to
figure out week the week, you know, So I think
they ended up playing a lot of tight end football.
But the biggest, the biggest reason, uh, from my perspective,
the reason you like playing with those guys you widen
the edges and and pro football, one of the hardest
things to do is to protect your quarterback because those
(07:24):
guys rushing off the edges make as much as those
quarterbacks do, you know. I mean, that's the way the
game is built. But when you have tight ends on
each side and you're chipping these guys and you're frustrating them,
it really kind of widens the pocket a little bit,
really really helps, you know, helps you protect your quarterback
in a lot of ways. It also gives you versatility.
(07:44):
I mean, you can run two back schemes by putting
one tight end in the backfield, you can run one
back schemes. By spreading them out, you can you can
go to empty and those type of things when they're
good receivers. So, uh, just versatile players that help you
be a little bit more up.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Gary Kubiak is our guest on the radio show. Used
to be a Hughes quarterback coach in Denver, by the
way super Bowl winner beat Cam Newton beat Carolina in
that in that famous game back in the day. He
is the father of Clint Kubiak, the new Seahawk offensive coordinator.
And Gary, I'm curious about that clip that we played
coming in and I hope that you caught it. It
(08:21):
was the voice of Clint when he was on the
air with us back in February talking about the outside
zone and how the center is the most important spot
on that offensive line. Can you kind of put it
into maybe Clint terms, if you will, why he believes
that and maybe why you believe that, Well, he's a quarterback.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
I mean that's really what he is. I mean, the
center runs the show. He helps a quarterback run the show.
When it comes to identifying front's identifying, you know, Mike
lonbackers for protection schemes and no types of things. So
that's so extremely important. I mean, just go back and
look in New Orleans last year guys at All Pro Center,
(09:01):
and he played. I think he played six games last
year and I think they were five and one when
he played, and there was not good when he didn't play.
So that's extremely important. I know when I was in Denver,
Mike and I had Tommy Nalan running the show for
us for about four or thirteen years. So that's extremely important.
And it keeps you, it keeps a Coheathon Nessa mounts
(09:24):
the offensive line.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
So Coob, you're down in the Houston area and you're
Aggie's of course are now in the SEC. So you've
seen a lot of Jaln Milroe. Now he's a Seattle Seahawk,
and you watch the Saints and how they use Taysom Hill.
Maybe you see some similarities there, maybe you don't, but
just kind of talk about how you think you might
use mill Row if you're coaching the Seahawks this year,
(09:48):
and by extension, how you think Clint might use him.
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Well, I listened to Mike the other day and I
think he's got a great view on it. You know,
I mean, Dayalen's there to play quarterback, and you've had
all the skills to do that. Now, you know, being
a great INNERFL quarterback, you nobody knows that better than
you do. But you know, there's a there's another step
to take. You can be a great college quarterback, but
(10:13):
being a great pro quarterback, there's another gear you gotta
go get. So, uh, they're all talented, but you find
out real quickly in their first year or two whether
they're gonna take another step and become a great professional quarterback.
So I think you're just throwing him in there turning loose.
He's extremely talented. What do you call a bad play?
(10:33):
He can go save you. And it's nice to have
guys like that, you know. And but the bottom line
is let him learn from Sam, let him get his
seat wet, and put a good football team around him.
And I think that's what they plan on doing.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
If you were, if you were coordinating this offense, Gary
there and again Gary Kubiak with us father at Clint Kubiak,
would you have a package of short yardage plays for him?
Like you know, I I guess to be honest, Gary
is a longtime Seahawk fan. I'm kind of hopeful that Hey,
fourth and six from the Seahawks thirty eight yard line.
Maybe instead of kicking the ball away and playing conservative
that Mike McDonald says, let's bring in the rookie. Let's
(11:09):
get a little push, push going. Let's get our free
six inches and our free set of downs and and
keep going. Could you see that kind of maybe reality
unfolding out here with him.
Speaker 7 (11:19):
Well, I think in the NFL, first off, the number
of guys you suit up on game that you better
have versatility, you know what I mean. So when you've
got players like that, they give you some versatility. That's
a that's a great comfort zone as a football coach.
But you know, I can't speak for Mike, and I
think the world of him. He's a he's a great
young coach. But I know when he was watching that film,
(11:42):
you know he's looking at it from a defensive perspective
and in his mind saying, damn, these guys are hard
to defend against because the minute on top of play
or I call the right defense, they take off on
me and go get a first down. So, uh, you know,
it'll be fun to watch. But I hope to get
up there in this or spring or a should tell
you the OG eight and.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
Come watch from work a couple of minutes more with
Gary Koobiak and koob I'm gonna tell a story from
back in our time that you can relate with. And
so the year's nineteen ninety four. Now you're still with
the forty nine ers winning a Super Bowl as a
coach there. But that I was the scout team quarterback
backing up John Elway, and we had this center that
(12:24):
had been taken.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
He was a rookie in the seventh.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
Round, kind of short, kind kind of smallish under two
ninety and kid was from BC and so I had
played for the Patriots. We had this New England thing going,
and he was as far as I was concerned, he
was just a scout team center. And his name was
Tommy Nalen, right, And you guys came in and there
was something you saw from the limited time that he
(12:49):
had or the practice reps or whatever, and he said,
you know, I think we have something here. And then
next scene is the guy's a two time All Pro.
He's like a four or five time pro bowler, and uh,
what is it that you saw? And I think it's
particularly noteworthy story because Rick Dennison was on that staff
with you, and now he's the run game coordinator for
(13:11):
this season's Seattle Seahawks, So I would I would assume
there's some some synergy there in the philosophy. So just
kind of talk about that and whether or not maybe
whether it's Christian Haynes or somebody else might have a
similar ascension to you know, you know, just kind of
what you saw and what makes a great lineman in
this system.
Speaker 7 (13:28):
Yeah, you you know you I think he's a Hall
of Famer, That's how much I think of him. But anyway, uh,
you know what, there was another guy who was on
that practice squad with Tommy.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Rod Smith.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
I mean, uh yeah, I mean these guys, you know
a lot of times when you have staff changes, uh
you know, press set eyes come in and watch players
and and look at young guys and they see things
a little different, you know, and uh, kids can get
caught up in staff changes and stuff. So really it's
a different set of eyes getting on them. It's also
(14:03):
a press new look saying hey, hey, let's give this
get a chance. Let's throw him in there. I think
he's capable of doing it, and you know, you never
know what these guys can do you know that all
these kids that come into pro football from college are
all talented and it's almost like you just don't know
what new gear they're going to reach until they get
(14:25):
an opportunity. And at your job as a coach, you know,
advise your practices and stuff in the off season so
that you do get a chance to look at all
these kids because you never know who's gonna step up
and say, hey, I can do this. I'm gonna be
a hell of a player, And until you get an
opportunity to do it, you know, you never know.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
My last question for my old quarterback coach, Gary Kubiak,
can't let you go without commenting on the quarterback change
Gino Smith out, Sam Darnold in and you know, I
know you're gonna say nice things about Sam don Arnold
because he's the quarterback here, but maybe give us something
that that we hadn't thought of in terms of how
(15:07):
you think about that transition. What's going to be important?
What did you like about Darnold? What's what's a factor
that maybe we're not talking about with regard to that
quarterback change this year?
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Yeah, first off, I think you know the hell of
a player. You know, and then he'll be fun to
watch him work there and in Vegas with Brady and
all those new guys. This spy tech, spy tech work
for me in Denver, so you know, it'll be fun
to see. But I think the thing that's great it's
really interesting about Sam is Guys, you know, look what
this guy has went through and he's come out the
(15:41):
other side. And a lot of times in football nowadays,
and these young quarterbacks get drafted really high, they go
through a rough time, they never come out of it,
and uh, well, he's come out of it. He's been
around some really good coaches tass the last couple of years.
He goes he goes to Chrisco and he's there with
Kyle and Clinton, my son Clay, they were all there together.
Then he goes to Minnesota, and I think Kevin's doing
(16:04):
as good a job in football as there is. Uh
So he has come out of the back end of this.
There's some really good coaching and some hard work on
his part, So it's a it's a great opportunity for him.
Uh They've put some good pieces around him, and if
they run the ball that helps him even more.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
So.
Speaker 7 (16:21):
Just kind of exciting to watch you, but you get
you've got a root per guy who's uh, he's kind
of you know, he stood the tenth of time, so
to speak, and he's he's right there battling to be
one of the top guys in the league, and uh,
you know he didn't look that way a few years ago.
So really proud of him.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
Yeah, well, Gary, listen, it's great to have you on.
We appreciate this. Uh, despite your history with Hugh, you
still agreed to come on his radio show, So we
we really appreciate that. And I know, I mean, look,
all of us have faced challenges in our life, there's
no question about that. But of all the of all
the challenges that you face, both personal, uh and professional,
how big a challenge? How big of a pain in
(16:56):
the ass? Honestly, just tell us what's coaching humor?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
And in Denver?
Speaker 7 (17:01):
Oh no, he was great man. I had been to
deal with John and you you know, I mean, uh,
those were the good days. I wish, I wish I
could do it again. So hey, guys, great talking to
you all. Tell her by hello over there. And know
a lot of them coaches on that staff, and I
hope to say hello when I come to town.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Well, those are great memories for me.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
You were just a couple of years older, but you
had all the uh, the knowledge, and because you'd played
the position, you had the temperament and the psychology, so
I knew you had big things ahead of you and
you accomplished it.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
So great to have a visit with you.
Speaker 6 (17:33):
Hopeful we'll get another visit and soon when your son
gives us reason to be barking about them.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
All right, so thanks so much for your time too.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
All right, guy, a great day.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Thanks.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Okay, you've met man. That's good stuff. Gary Kubiak, you're
former coach UH in Denver. A lot to unpack there, right,
we've got to break and talk about what we heard
from the father of the offensive coordinator. Used to be
we talked to moms and dads of Husky quarterbacks. Now
we're talking to fathers of Seahawk offensive coordinators. We're going
to respond to all that next on ninety three three
kje A RFM
The podcasting live from the R and R Foundation Specialist
broadcast Studio. Now back to Softie and Dig powered by
Emerald Queen Casino, the Betty and Capital of the Northwest
on Sports Radio ninety three point three kJ Rlie.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
If you're gonna be successful in the zone scheme, it
all starts with having an elite center, having a dang
Goods center that can move and is intelligent and can
make calls, and so it all starts from him. And
that's the most important part of our team is the
offensive line.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
That is the voice of Clint Kubiak.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Back on the thirteenth of February, you may have heard
Hugh he's the brand new Seahawk offensive coordinator, joining us
on the air from the vMac after his introductory press conference.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
And I think we tried a few weeks ago to
get his dad.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
On the air, Gary Kubiak, the former Super Bowl winning
head coach quarterback of the Denver Broncos. But I didn't
realize and apparently neither did you, that the Hamsters were
on strike that day and the fall.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Lines weren't working.
Speaker 4 (00:58):
So we've we've reached a d with the roadents to
get the phone lines back up working again, so we
can try.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
That's what Gary take too, right now.
Speaker 6 (01:06):
Yeah, and I'll tell you what Dave an interesting thing
about Koob So he was either an offensive coordinator head
coach for twenty four seasons in the NFL. Eighteen of
those twenty four his offense was top ten in passing
or total offense, twelve of the twenty four in the
top five. So this guy knows his offense and he's
(01:28):
the dad, as you said of our current offensive coordinator,
coub Great to have you here with us.
Speaker 7 (01:35):
Hey, guys, thanks for having me a little better this time.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
I can hear you get good.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
That's always important, by the way, So we're glad that
that's working.
Speaker 6 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So Gary, just kind of tell
us right now from your perspective, we get Clint Kubiak,
and maybe give us an idea about what facets of
the game you think are really most important. I assume
all offensive coordinators say, hey, we want to be physical
(02:04):
in the run game, we want to be in the
passing game, we want to be explosive in the past game,
blah blah blah. But there's got to be some tenants
where you say, hey, this is really more important to
us even Well, how would you answer that?
Speaker 7 (02:18):
Well, I tell you what, the biggest thing that I've
told coordinators, not just my son, but the coordinators that
you know I went on that that it worked for me,
is you have to really be tied with your offensive
line people. I mean, that's that's the most important thing.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
You know.
Speaker 7 (02:35):
Me as a young coordinator, I was tied to Alex
Gifts and Alex controlled you know, the run game. Uh
basically gave me uh ways on Friday. Hey, Coop, I
can protect a quarterback if you keep me in this
formation or keep me in this protection. So you really
have to be tied and guys, and what has happened
(02:58):
and what Mike has done a great out there in Seattle.
There's really not one. There's three there. So you got
you got Rico, you got John benn and you got
who was with Clinton Denver who has done a great job.
So you have a lot of strength tied to the
offensive line when you have a young coordinator. That's extremely important.
Speaker 6 (03:20):
Yeah, and you mentioned Alex gibbson of course many know
he's the godfather so called of the outside zone. And
there's a lot of feeling now and and me as
an analyst, I'm trying to tell our fans about, Okay,
what what's that going to look like? And what do
we expect to see that? And last year with the
Saints Gary comparing it to Seattle. Seattle was number twenty
(03:42):
four in the percentage of out zones a year outside
zone a year ago, the Saints were number two with
Alvin Kamara. So maybe just talk to us about why
Gibbs love the outside zone and what Seahawk fans are
liable to see this this year with an increase in
that play.
Speaker 7 (03:58):
Well, the biggest thing use that you know in football,
you know, how can I run something a lot and
be good at it? But how can I mask it?
So you know, the zone is something you teach and
then you know you go out you run it. Oh
god man, you know a thousand different ways throughout the
course of the season. So if I'm a fan and
(04:21):
I'm sitting in the stands, you think it's a different play,
But just by formation motion, those type of things in theory,
it's really not. So it's a it's a way of
getting continuous reps, continuous steps for an offensive lineman, continuous looks,
but really not being that complicated. Did that make sense?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah, totally.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Well, Gary Kubiak is with us former coach of our
friend Hugh Millen. Gary, it's softy here and fire up
to see what your son can do for the Seahawks.
You know, I do want to ask you two questions
kind of one is an analyst and a football mind,
and then maybe also as a dad, talk to me
about why you think Clint has bounced around so much.
I mean, obviously there's a vagabond lifestyle that is typical
(05:05):
of an NFL coach, college pro whatever. We all get that, right,
But this is now the fifth stop for Clint in
the last five years.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
What do you think that is?
Speaker 7 (05:15):
Well, I think there's a couple of things that go on,
you know. I mean, as you're the business has changed.
Guys move around a lot more. There's a lot more
change in coaching stats just in general, just like there
are players now move around much more than they did,
you know, twenty years ago. So that's that's part of it.
But you know, when you go somewhere you have success,
(05:40):
you get the next job, you know what I mean,
You go somewhere and the head coach gets let go
or something, then all of a sudden, you're looking for
the next other. There's so many factors that go into
those type of things. We'd all like to have careers
like I had. I mean, I think I really am there.
He had two jobs Denver and Houston, except for up
to stop in Baltimore. But it just doesn't exist that
(06:03):
way like it did years ago. So, uh, you know,
it's tough on family life. He's got four hits. It's
been really, really difficult. But Danby lands in a great organization.
He's got a good group of guys with him. So
I hope that you guys would be nice to him.
He can hang out there for how about that.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Hey, it's not it's not me. You gotta worry about you.
By the way, all right to talk.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
To h here, Uh, super Bowl winning coach with us
Gary Kubiak and Koob. Let's talk about the personnel group
and I'm sure you had an eye on the Seahawks
draft this year. You know, a lot offensive guys in there,
but one of them was a tight end drafted high.
Speaker 7 (06:41):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (06:41):
The Saints last year were number one in the use
of two or more tight ends. Now I know the
Saint receivers Chris Olave and Resid Shahid. There's injuries that
and maybe you're gonna tell me that was a big
part of it, but just kind of your thought about
the philosophy of more use of those double tight ends, Well, yeah.
Speaker 7 (07:02):
In New Orleans, they went through a lot losing all
those receivers. You so, hell, they were just trying to
figure out week the week, you know, So I think
they ended up playing a lot of tight end football.
But the biggest, the biggest reason, uh, from my perspective,
the reason you like playing with those guys you widen
the edges and and pro football, one of the hardest
things to do is to protect your quarterback because those
(07:24):
guys rushing off the edges make as much as those
quarterbacks do, you know. I mean, that's the way the
game is built. But when you have tight ends on
each side and you're chipping these guys and you're frustrating them,
it really kind of widens the pocket a little bit,
really really helps, you know, helps you protect your quarterback
in a lot of ways. It also gives you versatility.
(07:44):
I mean, you can run two back schemes by putting
one tight end in the backfield, you can run one
back schemes. By spreading them out, you can you can
go to empty and those type of things when they're
good receivers. So, uh, just versatile players that help you
be a little bit more up.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Gary Kubiak is our guest on the radio show. Used
to be a Hughes quarterback coach in Denver, by the
way super Bowl winner beat Cam Newton beat Carolina in
that in that famous game back in the day. He
is the father of Clint Kubiak, the new Seahawk offensive coordinator.
And Gary, I'm curious about that clip that we played
coming in and I hope that you caught it. It
(08:21):
was the voice of Clint when he was on the
air with us back in February talking about the outside
zone and how the center is the most important spot
on that offensive line. Can you kind of put it
into maybe Clint terms, if you will, why he believes
that and maybe why you believe that, Well, he's a quarterback.
Speaker 7 (08:39):
I mean that's really what he is. I mean, the
center runs the show. He helps a quarterback run the show.
When it comes to identifying front's identifying, you know, Mike
lonbackers for protection schemes and no types of things. So
that's so extremely important. I mean, just go back and
look in New Orleans last year guys at All Pro Center,
(09:01):
and he played. I think he played six games last
year and I think they were five and one when
he played, and there was not good when he didn't play.
So that's extremely important. I know when I was in Denver,
Mike and I had Tommy Nalan running the show for
us for about four or thirteen years. So that's extremely important.
And it keeps you, it keeps a Coheathon Nessa mounts
(09:24):
the offensive line.
Speaker 6 (09:26):
So Coob, you're down in the Houston area and you're
Aggie's of course are now in the SEC. So you've
seen a lot of Jaln Milroe. Now he's a Seattle Seahawk,
and you watch the Saints and how they use Taysom Hill.
Maybe you see some similarities there, maybe you don't, but
just kind of talk about how you think you might
use mill Row if you're coaching the Seahawks this year,
(09:48):
and by extension, how you think Clint might use him.
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Well, I listened to Mike the other day and I
think he's got a great view on it. You know,
I mean, Dayalen's there to play quarterback, and you've had
all the skills to do that. Now, you know, being
a great INNERFL quarterback, you nobody knows that better than
you do. But you know, there's a there's another step
to take. You can be a great college quarterback, but
(10:13):
being a great pro quarterback, there's another gear you gotta
go get. So, uh, they're all talented, but you find
out real quickly in their first year or two whether
they're gonna take another step and become a great professional quarterback.
So I think you're just throwing him in there turning loose.
He's extremely talented. What do you call a bad play?
(10:33):
He can go save you. And it's nice to have
guys like that, you know. And but the bottom line
is let him learn from Sam, let him get his
seat wet, and put a good football team around him.
And I think that's what they plan on doing.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
If you were, if you were coordinating this offense, Gary
there and again Gary Kubiak with us father at Clint Kubiak,
would you have a package of short yardage plays for him?
Like you know, I I guess to be honest, Gary
is a longtime Seahawk fan. I'm kind of hopeful that Hey,
fourth and six from the Seahawks thirty eight yard line.
Maybe instead of kicking the ball away and playing conservative
that Mike McDonald says, let's bring in the rookie. Let's
(11:09):
get a little push, push going. Let's get our free
six inches and our free set of downs and and
keep going. Could you see that kind of maybe reality
unfolding out here with him.
Speaker 7 (11:19):
Well, I think in the NFL, first off, the number
of guys you suit up on game that you better
have versatility, you know what I mean. So when you've
got players like that, they give you some versatility. That's
a that's a great comfort zone as a football coach.
But you know, I can't speak for Mike, and I
think the world of him. He's a he's a great
young coach. But I know when he was watching that film,
(11:42):
you know he's looking at it from a defensive perspective
and in his mind saying, damn, these guys are hard
to defend against because the minute on top of play
or I call the right defense, they take off on
me and go get a first down. So, uh, you know,
it'll be fun to watch. But I hope to get
up there in this or spring or a should tell
you the OG eight and.
Speaker 6 (12:03):
Come watch from work a couple of minutes more with
Gary Koobiak and koob I'm gonna tell a story from
back in our time that you can relate with. And
so the year's nineteen ninety four. Now you're still with
the forty nine ers winning a Super Bowl as a
coach there. But that I was the scout team quarterback
backing up John Elway, and we had this center that
(12:24):
had been taken.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
He was a rookie in the seventh.
Speaker 6 (12:27):
Round, kind of short, kind kind of smallish under two
ninety and kid was from BC and so I had
played for the Patriots. We had this New England thing going,
and he was as far as I was concerned, he
was just a scout team center. And his name was
Tommy Nalen, right, And you guys came in and there
was something you saw from the limited time that he
(12:49):
had or the practice reps or whatever, and he said,
you know, I think we have something here. And then
next scene is the guy's a two time All Pro.
He's like a four or five time pro bowler, and uh,
what is it that you saw? And I think it's
particularly noteworthy story because Rick Dennison was on that staff
with you, and now he's the run game coordinator for
(13:11):
this season's Seattle Seahawks, So I would I would assume
there's some some synergy there in the philosophy. So just
kind of talk about that and whether or not maybe
whether it's Christian Haynes or somebody else might have a
similar ascension to you know, you know, just kind of
what you saw and what makes a great lineman in
this system.
Speaker 7 (13:28):
Yeah, you you know you I think he's a Hall
of Famer, That's how much I think of him. But anyway, uh,
you know what, there was another guy who was on
that practice squad with Tommy.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Rod Smith.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
I mean, uh yeah, I mean these guys, you know
a lot of times when you have staff changes, uh
you know, press set eyes come in and watch players
and and look at young guys and they see things
a little different, you know, and uh, kids can get
caught up in staff changes and stuff. So really it's
a different set of eyes getting on them. It's also
(14:03):
a press new look saying hey, hey, let's give this
get a chance. Let's throw him in there. I think
he's capable of doing it, and you know, you never
know what these guys can do you know that all
these kids that come into pro football from college are
all talented and it's almost like you just don't know
what new gear they're going to reach until they get
(14:25):
an opportunity. And at your job as a coach, you know,
advise your practices and stuff in the off season so
that you do get a chance to look at all
these kids because you never know who's gonna step up
and say, hey, I can do this. I'm gonna be
a hell of a player, And until you get an
opportunity to do it, you know, you never know.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
My last question for my old quarterback coach, Gary Kubiak,
can't let you go without commenting on the quarterback change
Gino Smith out, Sam Darnold in and you know, I
know you're gonna say nice things about Sam don Arnold
because he's the quarterback here, but maybe give us something
that that we hadn't thought of in terms of how
(15:07):
you think about that transition. What's going to be important?
What did you like about Darnold? What's what's a factor
that maybe we're not talking about with regard to that
quarterback change this year?
Speaker 7 (15:19):
Yeah, first off, I think you know the hell of
a player. You know, and then he'll be fun to
watch him work there and in Vegas with Brady and
all those new guys. This spy tech, spy tech work
for me in Denver, so you know, it'll be fun
to see. But I think the thing that's great it's
really interesting about Sam is Guys, you know, look what
this guy has went through and he's come out the
(15:41):
other side. And a lot of times in football nowadays,
and these young quarterbacks get drafted really high, they go
through a rough time, they never come out of it,
and uh, well, he's come out of it. He's been
around some really good coaches tass the last couple of years.
He goes he goes to Chrisco and he's there with
Kyle and Clinton, my son Clay, they were all there together.
Then he goes to Minnesota, and I think Kevin's doing
(16:04):
as good a job in football as there is. Uh
So he has come out of the back end of this.
There's some really good coaching and some hard work on
his part, So it's a it's a great opportunity for him.
Uh They've put some good pieces around him, and if
they run the ball that helps him even more.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
So.
Speaker 7 (16:21):
Just kind of exciting to watch you, but you get
you've got a root per guy who's uh, he's kind
of you know, he stood the tenth of time, so
to speak, and he's he's right there battling to be
one of the top guys in the league, and uh,
you know he didn't look that way a few years ago.
So really proud of him.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
Yeah, well, Gary, listen, it's great to have you on.
We appreciate this. Uh, despite your history with Hugh, you
still agreed to come on his radio show, So we
we really appreciate that. And I know, I mean, look,
all of us have faced challenges in our life, there's
no question about that. But of all the of all
the challenges that you face, both personal, uh and professional,
how big a challenge? How big of a pain in
(16:56):
the ass? Honestly, just tell us what's coaching humor?
Speaker 5 (16:59):
And in Denver?
Speaker 7 (17:01):
Oh no, he was great man. I had been to
deal with John and you you know, I mean, uh,
those were the good days. I wish, I wish I
could do it again. So hey, guys, great talking to
you all. Tell her by hello over there. And know
a lot of them coaches on that staff, and I
hope to say hello when I come to town.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
Well, those are great memories for me.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
You were just a couple of years older, but you
had all the uh, the knowledge, and because you'd played
the position, you had the temperament and the psychology, so
I knew you had big things ahead of you and
you accomplished it.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
So great to have a visit with you.
Speaker 6 (17:33):
Hopeful we'll get another visit and soon when your son
gives us reason to be barking about them.
Speaker 5 (17:39):
All right, so thanks so much for your time too.
Speaker 7 (17:42):
All right, guy, a great day.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Thanks.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Okay, you've met man. That's good stuff. Gary Kubiak, you're
former coach UH in Denver. A lot to unpack there, right,
we've got to break and talk about what we heard
from the father of the offensive coordinator. Used to be
we talked to moms and dads of Husky quarterbacks. Now
we're talking to fathers of Seahawk offensive coordinators. We're going
to respond to all that next on ninety three three
kje A RFM
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