New Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes what he sees, keeps mum on Walter Jones

RENTON — Jeremy Bates, Seahawks new offensive coordinator, is 33 years old with three dogs, a résumé that includes coaching stints under Super Bowl winners Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan, and he has a singular focus when it comes to coaching.

He didn't want any windows in his office.

But when it came to the future of tackle Walter Jones, Bates didn't offer any more of a view than you would find in that windowless office.

"He's just so special," Bates said of Jones, "One of a kind ... We're not, though, going to get involved with talking about what route we're going. All I know is he has been a special Seahawk for a long time."

Jones indicated Sunday on his Twitter account that he decided to retire, but there has been no subsequent confirmation of that decision. He remains on the Seahawks' roster, and there was no indication Jones has filed any of the paperwork necessary to retire.

As for Seattle's plans at that position? The Seahawks' new offensive coordinator wasn't going to offer much clarity beyond his praise of Jones.

"We need someone that we feel great about and protect Matt," Bates said. "It's the blind side. I think left tackle is an important position just like a lot of other ones."

But while that building-block position of left tackle remains a question, Bates did sketch out the shape of the rest of the offense, which is going to resemble what Bates learned under Shanahan in Denver, right down to the terminology.

"The base is going to be coach Shanahan's," Bates said. "We're going to be a zone-running offense."

That makes sense considering the heritage of Seattle's offensive coaching staff. Bates worked with quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch and tight-ends coach Pat McPherson in Denver. Offensive-line coach Alex Gibbs was gone from Denver by the time Bates arrived in Denver in 2006, but it was with the Broncos that Gibbs earned acclaim for the zone-blocking scheme he installed.

Gibbs had two different stints in Denver. The second term spanned 1995 to 2003, and the Broncos had three different players surpass 1,500 yards rushing over those nine seasons: Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Clinton Portis. None of those three backs were chosen in the first round. Davis and Anderson went in the sixth round while Portis was a second-round choice.

Will this offense require backs specifically suited to the zone scheme or can you mold a back to the scheme.

"Denver has proven that they've gotten a lot of great running backs late in the rounds," Bates said. "A lot of people say you've got to go to the first round and pick up that running back. I think if the offensive line, the tight end and the running backs all work together, all believe in the system, all know who they're reading and believe in 4 yards, 4 yards, 4 yards, they can be successful."

The Seahawks return their top two rushers from last season. Julius Jones led Seattle with 663 yards rushing, but back Justin Forsett averaged 5.4 yards per carry compared to Jones' 3.7. How does Bates assess the rushing talent he inherits on the roster?

"I'm excited," Bates said. "I think both of them can play right away and they have been for years. I think they both fit in the zone system."

Just who will be blocking in that system remains a question that will be answered over the next few months, however.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com