As I post this, the Seahawks signed Tyler Mabry and Cody White to the 53-man roster, so White COULD play this weekend actually. Seattle elevated Patrick O'Connell and Ty Okada from the practice squad for this game.
Also, I moved a sentence up and then it didn't make sense: DK Metcalf has caught 8 of 25 in his last 3 games against the 49ers, not his last 3 games overall. In his last 3 games, DK has caught 11 of 25 targets.
Watching my 2nd favourite team play the kind of smash-mouth football the LOB era Seahawks played, is fun! The Jags are completely out matched by the Lions, who are showing no mercy.
You know what the lost season can do? Beyond playing young guys, start taking risks! Make it fun for these guys! Seriously, if you cannot win, make it interesting while you die trying. There's zero reason not to, because losing by 8 or whatever the line is or losing by 20 is still losing, and if you're not 0 blitzing or never punting ever again when you're already down by 17 in Q2 or however badly it's going, I don't get it. Make yourselves unpredictable at least, because right now Seattle cannot even do this part right. And that means you're also learning less because you're putting less on the page to learn from.
I think almost as much as anyone, Grubb needed a break. He needed a reset. Sit there and watch tape and re configure how exactly he wants to attack the NFL with the players he has.
IMO, it’s been a rough start for him with some bright spots. But it is hard to say that the Hawks are better offensively this year than last year with more or less the same players.
And the guy he replaced? Has essentially been fired and drug through the mud.
Grubb has gotten a pass for whatever reason (I think he should get some time too) but it is not good enough. Getting shielded from blame because of the O-line ..: we had the worst o line last year also! Got to figure out a way forward. Waldron figured it out last year - will Grubb?
Overall, my problem with the: let’s blame Geno for everything crowd is not only that I don’t think it’s true but also it deflects from the actual conversations that should be going on.
The line is now over talked about.
But what about Grubb? He hasn’t been good. Blaming the QB for his play calls muddies the issue.
I’m sticking with him but think he has had a rude awakening to the NfL
What about K9? Why is he so bad at picking up first downs? (No one talks about it but he potentially costs us the rams game by not getting the first of third which every other back would have. Of course, the fans/bloggers/writers etc just blame the O line or Geno somehow)
I don’t think he will ever get better at this for whatever reason. Can he be your number 1 if he can’t get a yard?
What about Mike Mac? Is he the right man to lead the future of this team?
I’m sticking with Mike Mac.
JS has finally caught some heat. But he should be talked about.
Geno is a positive player for the Hawks but gets the bulk of the criticism for some reason. Why? I think that is the main issue many people have with this narrative
Nothing is “proven” in exchanges of opinion such as these, Mike. And once again you denigrate the way I evaluate the game. Based on everything I have seen in Geno’s game, at his age, he is not the QBOTF for the Seahawks. His history is the definition of average.
I could, however, change my mind! Let’s see if Geno can break his streak against the Niners. That would be a start!
But to reply to your comment ... I have always said I am on board with getting Howell (or drafting Penix/a rookie QB). But I would not start Howell until we are eliminated from the playoffs.
If and once that happens. I see it as a win win situation (although the reality is probably not). Either Howell comes in and is better than or equal to Geno (very unlikely) and you can move forward with him. Or, Howell shows just how good Geno is in a tough situation.
The other problem with Howell is that he is a different QB than Geno. Howell is more like Russ, so the offense should change to suit his skills if he is going to play any games.
The QB (Geno) that carried a lame duck Offensive Coordinator (Waldron) to a top ten offense in 2023 … you want to fire?
And replace with a guy (Howell) that is inaccurate, turns the ball over, and gets sacked at a high rate? Also, a guy who’s old team is 7-4 and looking like a top team in the NfC in large part because he left?
To be fair, Howell looked much more contained in the preseason where he got substantial playing time. He is a young guy and has a lot to learn and to prove on the field. The Seahawks need to find out what he can do in Grubbs scheme in real time on the field.
Geno has made it pretty darn clear he is not “the guy”. The only way that would change at this point is if he goes back to back to back games with no picks/fumbles with multiple TDs. Could he do it? Maybe, but his history suggests not likely.
Going to be a fascinating opening series on both sides of the ball tomorrow night. Will we see lessons learned over the bye week? Or floundering of a directionless team?
The year, however, is far from lost. Yes playoffs are unlikely, but reaching them was never this year's bar for success. I still stand by the fact we've seen a lot more positives than negatives from the coaches. A rebuild year it's fine, and we didn't do anything silly to financially limit ourselves next year. Plenty of weeks left to keep laying foundations of a new era.
I'm not bought into this "lost season" stuff. Maybe it's just my DNA, but no. MM is making his adjustments. Once the guys are in place, watch out. Lots of football yet to be played. I like that he throws new guys and rookies in without a safety net. Demands focus? You bet. If there is a Champion in you, he'll find it. If not, then go play somewhere else. We will get heroic play without heros. That's Geno. If nothing else, it is different.
“The Seahawks haven’t had to trudge through a lost season for a long time.”
Veteran trudger here, with indelible memories of Christmas carols spontaneously breaking out among the 12’s in the Kingdome, as we wiled away the hours together, watching a mediocre team play for no competitive stakes whatsoever.
Not too long ago, I paused to appreciate the astonishingly long run of meaningful/exciting/wildly competitive December games we all enjoyed together in Carroll Era.
For a from-the-beginning fan, it was great, great fun.
What? Recent? Define recent? Ok Pat Mcafee is well know. Adam Vinateri for the Colts. Packet fans know Crosby. Viking fans remember Blair Walsh, although not fondly.
Agreed. Those Behring years were agonizing. Our early years were bad but lots of fun. Patera knew how to give the fans an event. Largent of course. But Efren’s antics etc.
Him and Ray Guy. Totally agree with you Paul. Why they are in the HOF. Only other, Morton. Well Blanda but he was there for the 25 positions he played :-).
Real fans do remember players from different eras and positions. Real fans that grew up with a team remember lows and it makes the highs that much more exciting. I remember high fiving and hugging 60-70 year old men I didn’t really know when we crushed Carolina and Steve Smith for that first SB win. I remember John Elway crying like a spoiled baby to the Ref because Kingdome was so loud he couldn’t get the play call out. I remember my man Jacob Green making crushing sacks. Largest knocking Harden into next week. Remember Dr Dan getting first downs on 3rd down repeatedly. Real fans of a team remember the characters, the elite players (Easley and Tez and Big Walt and Mack Strong).
One of my all-time favorites. Loved his stuff arm. I miss high quality FB’s. Mack Strong. John L. Leonard Weaver had a beautiful stiff arm. But yeah I couldn’t list all those guys. Just remember as a kid. It’s 3rd down. We all knew Dr Dan was getting the ball. And he still get the FD.
You’re the one who implied fans don’t remember kickers. You implied fans only remember winners. So, yes, I can say “real fans”. Fans that were still there during the losing seasons. Dealing with trash like Behring. Yes real fans still cheered during a 2-14 season.
I am a lot more interested in this game than I was after the loss to the Rams two weeks ago, mainly to see the young guys play.
Now if only the guy whose name causes so much controversy could be replaced by Howell to see what he can do lol!
Honestly I don’t see how the Seahawks win this game unless *everything* goes right for them including a plus 3 in turnover margin. But if the kids do well it might be a close game.
I kind of, sort of, agree. I want the Seahawks to win out, go the the playoffs and win the SuperBowl. OK, but how about if playing actual games counts? What if the Seahawks lose the next six of seven games? It could happen.
As I post this, the Seahawks signed Tyler Mabry and Cody White to the 53-man roster, so White COULD play this weekend actually. Seattle elevated Patrick O'Connell and Ty Okada from the practice squad for this game.
Also, I moved a sentence up and then it didn't make sense: DK Metcalf has caught 8 of 25 in his last 3 games against the 49ers, not his last 3 games overall. In his last 3 games, DK has caught 11 of 25 targets.
I’m glad White was elevated. He’s looked promising.
White looked like a guy who really wanted to play and, more important, wanted to make plays. Fun player!
lol came to post and saw you did. Oops
Watching my 2nd favourite team play the kind of smash-mouth football the LOB era Seahawks played, is fun! The Jags are completely out matched by the Lions, who are showing no mercy.
HooYeah! Go Lions! Also, I'm enjoying watching Russ master his Loft Ball deep. Down and distance means nothing to him. Eat crow, Peyton.
Seahawks will win today and we will go to the playoffs. Coming out of bye week on a roll. I believe.
Got Az next week, coming off their bye... Cool. MM likes to throw in new hires and rookies without a net. Nothing better for great athletes...
You know what the lost season can do? Beyond playing young guys, start taking risks! Make it fun for these guys! Seriously, if you cannot win, make it interesting while you die trying. There's zero reason not to, because losing by 8 or whatever the line is or losing by 20 is still losing, and if you're not 0 blitzing or never punting ever again when you're already down by 17 in Q2 or however badly it's going, I don't get it. Make yourselves unpredictable at least, because right now Seattle cannot even do this part right. And that means you're also learning less because you're putting less on the page to learn from.
This is it … this is the game. Nothing else matters. Season on the line. Can you go into SF and win?
IMO, yes and they will.
Go Hawks
I think almost as much as anyone, Grubb needed a break. He needed a reset. Sit there and watch tape and re configure how exactly he wants to attack the NFL with the players he has.
IMO, it’s been a rough start for him with some bright spots. But it is hard to say that the Hawks are better offensively this year than last year with more or less the same players.
And the guy he replaced? Has essentially been fired and drug through the mud.
Grubb has gotten a pass for whatever reason (I think he should get some time too) but it is not good enough. Getting shielded from blame because of the O-line ..: we had the worst o line last year also! Got to figure out a way forward. Waldron figured it out last year - will Grubb?
I think he will.
Maybe he needs a different QB running his offense.
Overall, my problem with the: let’s blame Geno for everything crowd is not only that I don’t think it’s true but also it deflects from the actual conversations that should be going on.
The line is now over talked about.
But what about Grubb? He hasn’t been good. Blaming the QB for his play calls muddies the issue.
I’m sticking with him but think he has had a rude awakening to the NfL
What about K9? Why is he so bad at picking up first downs? (No one talks about it but he potentially costs us the rams game by not getting the first of third which every other back would have. Of course, the fans/bloggers/writers etc just blame the O line or Geno somehow)
I don’t think he will ever get better at this for whatever reason. Can he be your number 1 if he can’t get a yard?
What about Mike Mac? Is he the right man to lead the future of this team?
I’m sticking with Mike Mac.
JS has finally caught some heat. But he should be talked about.
Geno is a positive player for the Hawks but gets the bulk of the criticism for some reason. Why? I think that is the main issue many people have with this narrative
The easiest way to test the hypothesis is that Geno is not the problem is to try Howell.
Actually your comment and lack there of, just proved my point.
The people that want to blame Geno do not want to analyze any other players or coaches. The QB receives all the blame.
Nothing is “proven” in exchanges of opinion such as these, Mike. And once again you denigrate the way I evaluate the game. Based on everything I have seen in Geno’s game, at his age, he is not the QBOTF for the Seahawks. His history is the definition of average.
I could, however, change my mind! Let’s see if Geno can break his streak against the Niners. That would be a start!
Ok. Your comment addressed nothing I wrote.
But to reply to your comment ... I have always said I am on board with getting Howell (or drafting Penix/a rookie QB). But I would not start Howell until we are eliminated from the playoffs.
If and once that happens. I see it as a win win situation (although the reality is probably not). Either Howell comes in and is better than or equal to Geno (very unlikely) and you can move forward with him. Or, Howell shows just how good Geno is in a tough situation.
The other problem with Howell is that he is a different QB than Geno. Howell is more like Russ, so the offense should change to suit his skills if he is going to play any games.
Let me get this straight…
The QB (Geno) that carried a lame duck Offensive Coordinator (Waldron) to a top ten offense in 2023 … you want to fire?
And replace with a guy (Howell) that is inaccurate, turns the ball over, and gets sacked at a high rate? Also, a guy who’s old team is 7-4 and looking like a top team in the NfC in large part because he left?
That is your strategy?
Look at Geno’s stat line this year and tell me he is that different from Howell last year.
Geno is starting today but if he plays like he did last week with 3 INTs what is there to lose by starting Howell?
Yes … Look at the stats. That would be a great idea.
He is so far from Sam Howell it’s not even close. Hopefully Sam progresses but it is a long shot.
Here is Robert Mays talking about it:
https://www.youtube.com/live/pV15q_kD2hk?feature=shared
About 27 minutes in.
To be fair, Howell looked much more contained in the preseason where he got substantial playing time. He is a young guy and has a lot to learn and to prove on the field. The Seahawks need to find out what he can do in Grubbs scheme in real time on the field.
Geno has made it pretty darn clear he is not “the guy”. The only way that would change at this point is if he goes back to back to back games with no picks/fumbles with multiple TDs. Could he do it? Maybe, but his history suggests not likely.
Good post!
SSJ
Just read that White is active. Signed to active roster as Fant went to IR, the tackle not TE. Mabry is the call up with Brady out.
So I just still see too much potential on this team as is to consign it to being a lost season. I AM an optimist.
Agree. It’s too soon to throw in the towel when no team in the division has played dominant football.
Going to be a fascinating opening series on both sides of the ball tomorrow night. Will we see lessons learned over the bye week? Or floundering of a directionless team?
The year, however, is far from lost. Yes playoffs are unlikely, but reaching them was never this year's bar for success. I still stand by the fact we've seen a lot more positives than negatives from the coaches. A rebuild year it's fine, and we didn't do anything silly to financially limit ourselves next year. Plenty of weeks left to keep laying foundations of a new era.
I'm not bought into this "lost season" stuff. Maybe it's just my DNA, but no. MM is making his adjustments. Once the guys are in place, watch out. Lots of football yet to be played. I like that he throws new guys and rookies in without a safety net. Demands focus? You bet. If there is a Champion in you, he'll find it. If not, then go play somewhere else. We will get heroic play without heros. That's Geno. If nothing else, it is different.
“The Seahawks haven’t had to trudge through a lost season for a long time.”
Veteran trudger here, with indelible memories of Christmas carols spontaneously breaking out among the 12’s in the Kingdome, as we wiled away the hours together, watching a mediocre team play for no competitive stakes whatsoever.
Not too long ago, I paused to appreciate the astonishingly long run of meaningful/exciting/wildly competitive December games we all enjoyed together in Carroll Era.
For a from-the-beginning fan, it was great, great fun.
Well, except none of them were, you know, recently.
What? Recent? Define recent? Ok Pat Mcafee is well know. Adam Vinateri for the Colts. Packet fans know Crosby. Viking fans remember Blair Walsh, although not fondly.
Agreed. Those Behring years were agonizing. Our early years were bad but lots of fun. Patera knew how to give the fans an event. Largent of course. But Efren’s antics etc.
People that follow wining franchises don't often remember what their kicker might have done. Seriously, Efeon who? What?
Guarantee you that old time Raider fans remember George Blanda and Ray Guy. Chief fans remember Jan Stenerud. Dolphin fans remember Garo Yepremian.
Jan Stenerud is among the very few players who changed the way the game is played. In my book, the best PKer ever.
Him and Ray Guy. Totally agree with you Paul. Why they are in the HOF. Only other, Morton. Well Blanda but he was there for the 25 positions he played :-).
Real fans do remember players from different eras and positions. Real fans that grew up with a team remember lows and it makes the highs that much more exciting. I remember high fiving and hugging 60-70 year old men I didn’t really know when we crushed Carolina and Steve Smith for that first SB win. I remember John Elway crying like a spoiled baby to the Ref because Kingdome was so loud he couldn’t get the play call out. I remember my man Jacob Green making crushing sacks. Largest knocking Harden into next week. Remember Dr Dan getting first downs on 3rd down repeatedly. Real fans of a team remember the characters, the elite players (Easley and Tez and Big Walt and Mack Strong).
and using John L. Williams as a FB pass catcher right up the middle for allot of yards and good plays.
One of my all-time favorites. Loved his stuff arm. I miss high quality FB’s. Mack Strong. John L. Leonard Weaver had a beautiful stiff arm. But yeah I couldn’t list all those guys. Just remember as a kid. It’s 3rd down. We all knew Dr Dan was getting the ball. And he still get the FD.
Well, OK...
But how dare you pretend to define "real fan"?
You’re the one who implied fans don’t remember kickers. You implied fans only remember winners. So, yes, I can say “real fans”. Fans that were still there during the losing seasons. Dealing with trash like Behring. Yes real fans still cheered during a 2-14 season.
Apparently I'm a Fake fan. Sorry to have taken up your Social Media space.
I am a lot more interested in this game than I was after the loss to the Rams two weeks ago, mainly to see the young guys play.
Now if only the guy whose name causes so much controversy could be replaced by Howell to see what he can do lol!
Honestly I don’t see how the Seahawks win this game unless *everything* goes right for them including a plus 3 in turnover margin. But if the kids do well it might be a close game.
I kind of, sort of, agree. I want the Seahawks to win out, go the the playoffs and win the SuperBowl. OK, but how about if playing actual games counts? What if the Seahawks lose the next six of seven games? It could happen.