I'm excited (and, admittedly, a little apprehensive) to see the Seahawks' offense under Fleury. There is so much potential there; Darnold's quick release and accuracy, the pressure put on opposing defenses by our WR's and TE's, and the prospect of an even more explosive run game with Price in the backfield. If the O-Line can take the next step, having played together most of last season, the offense will make the defense's job easy. <The balance of this post has been deleted, to avoid any negative energy>
No doubt the games against the Rams are going to be classics. They have a great defense on paper and I am going to look forward to them. Donald is a beast and having two years off is going to help him. He has always been in good shape. I very much look forward to seeing how teams scheme against the Rams. By the time, the Seahawks and the Rams play both will know each other very well based on prior games. It will be a chess match.
I'm not so sure that two years away from the game is going to be a plus for Donald. I don't think that football, especially at the NFL level, is only about being in good shape. When plays succeed/fail depending on a player's reaction to what the casual fan doesn't even see (just watch Coach DC's analysis of Avery Smith's preseason for a taste of this), two years can take a toll. I took a two-year hiatus from golfing after shoulder surgery. Granted I was not tour-ready, but as a 10-handicap, I liked to believe that I knew a little about the game. Despite fully recovering from the surgery, my "sabbatical" took me from a 10 to a 20+, and no matter what I did, I could not return to my peak-performance days. Today, the clubs are collecting dust in the shed, and my 78 at Chambers Bay is a distant memory. Two years can make a BIG difference.
The list of players who you mentioned are all second or third year players to watch and who we all expect to up their game a little or a lot is what gets me excited about this team. There were a lot of players on that list. And some we might not expect to elevate their games. Except, our competition may be tougher, too. Oh, well, such is life.
A Sam Darnold story from Hard Knocks if you didn't already see it.
Apologies if anyone already mentioned this. Blame it on my failing memory.
On one of the shows Sam talked about how he has made it a priority to put extra or more spin on the ball. I think this makes his throws more accurate and that is one of the reasons he is a good QB. I don't recall a QB ever emphasizing how much he spins the ball. One of the more interesting stories from Hard Knocks. I am really looking forward to the show tonight to see some of the behind the scenes about the roster cuts.
That slo-mo shot of the ball in the air spinning 47 times or whatever it was almost brought a tear to my eyes. I've been throwing a football a fair amount lately and since seeing that am trying to maximize spin, but I can only really do it by letting it roll off my fingertips (which pushes the direction of the pass). I'm probably too old to learn a new trick at this point but my niece is married to a former college QB and I want to get ready for the backyard come Thanksgiving. Last year, no joke, I hurt my wrist trying to zip one back to him. You know you're not young anymore when you injure yourself throwing a ball.
Interesting point about spin. I heard Manning pooh, pooh spin, as though it is overrated. Geno had a great spin on his balls as did Russell, and they were both pretty darn accurate throwers. I've got nothing against it.
Donald, Macdonald, Darnold, and Arnold, yet nobody on either roster with the first name of “Donald” (or “Arnie.”) And some people still call our coach, “McDaniel.”
I don't think JS has had a bad draft class at all, he's had what the rest of the League would consider a good class - if you take out the injuries, all three Day 1 & 2 picks were looking on track to potentially start Week 1. It's because of the last few years of EXCEPTIONAL drafts that we've forgotten even this planned success rate on picks 1-3 is not the NFL normal.
Nor is it the NFL normal to bring back quite so many of your 53, let alone so many of your Championship team.
The EXCEPTIONAL work of the past 4 years of JS makes this GOOD year look poor in comparison. It'd be nice to see all your picks make the team, but that usually means your team was pretty bad to begin with. Our team was stacked all over the place, and they did all still make the PS which is again better than a lot of other teams manage.
We are currently spoiled as fans, long may it continue!
I think we have to consider this draft class together with ‘27 because a lot of the strategy leads to that class, too. And with our second round pick out for the season…
It was not a great draft. Either one of the week has classes in a long time going into it. If we get 1 to 3 players that stick that would be a successful draft in my opinion. Next year, the class should have some very good players.
KH, so true! We have been totally spoiled by the last few classes, and the overall body of work by JS. It felt like at the end of the PC reign, Pete was putting his thumb on the scale of drafts too often, and not really developing young players like in his early years.
Since JS hired MM, drafting the right players and developing young players has been turbo-charged. It is so exciting to see these two work together and make magic!
In defense of Pete, the turnaround of drafting began while still under Pete, but I agree with your general take. But before Pete left, they had decided together that they would put more emphasis on leadership qualities and love of football. That part carried over, I believe.
I used to live in Ithaca, NY and the Bills are my second favorite team...and like you every year I think this is their year(last year I was joking with my wife about what I'd do if the Bills faced my favorite Hawks...but there'd be no contest in who I'd choose!!).
I'm excited (and, admittedly, a little apprehensive) to see the Seahawks' offense under Fleury. There is so much potential there; Darnold's quick release and accuracy, the pressure put on opposing defenses by our WR's and TE's, and the prospect of an even more explosive run game with Price in the backfield. If the O-Line can take the next step, having played together most of last season, the offense will make the defense's job easy. <The balance of this post has been deleted, to avoid any negative energy>
No doubt the games against the Rams are going to be classics. They have a great defense on paper and I am going to look forward to them. Donald is a beast and having two years off is going to help him. He has always been in good shape. I very much look forward to seeing how teams scheme against the Rams. By the time, the Seahawks and the Rams play both will know each other very well based on prior games. It will be a chess match.
I'm not so sure that two years away from the game is going to be a plus for Donald. I don't think that football, especially at the NFL level, is only about being in good shape. When plays succeed/fail depending on a player's reaction to what the casual fan doesn't even see (just watch Coach DC's analysis of Avery Smith's preseason for a taste of this), two years can take a toll. I took a two-year hiatus from golfing after shoulder surgery. Granted I was not tour-ready, but as a 10-handicap, I liked to believe that I knew a little about the game. Despite fully recovering from the surgery, my "sabbatical" took me from a 10 to a 20+, and no matter what I did, I could not return to my peak-performance days. Today, the clubs are collecting dust in the shed, and my 78 at Chambers Bay is a distant memory. Two years can make a BIG difference.
The list of players who you mentioned are all second or third year players to watch and who we all expect to up their game a little or a lot is what gets me excited about this team. There were a lot of players on that list. And some we might not expect to elevate their games. Except, our competition may be tougher, too. Oh, well, such is life.
Most excited to see our trenches get even better given O-line continuity and a big pash rush year!
A Sam Darnold story from Hard Knocks if you didn't already see it.
Apologies if anyone already mentioned this. Blame it on my failing memory.
On one of the shows Sam talked about how he has made it a priority to put extra or more spin on the ball. I think this makes his throws more accurate and that is one of the reasons he is a good QB. I don't recall a QB ever emphasizing how much he spins the ball. One of the more interesting stories from Hard Knocks. I am really looking forward to the show tonight to see some of the behind the scenes about the roster cuts.
That slo-mo shot of the ball in the air spinning 47 times or whatever it was almost brought a tear to my eyes. I've been throwing a football a fair amount lately and since seeing that am trying to maximize spin, but I can only really do it by letting it roll off my fingertips (which pushes the direction of the pass). I'm probably too old to learn a new trick at this point but my niece is married to a former college QB and I want to get ready for the backyard come Thanksgiving. Last year, no joke, I hurt my wrist trying to zip one back to him. You know you're not young anymore when you injure yourself throwing a ball.
Every time I try my shoulder hurts for a few days!
Interesting point about spin. I heard Manning pooh, pooh spin, as though it is overrated. Geno had a great spin on his balls as did Russell, and they were both pretty darn accurate throwers. I've got nothing against it.
8 more days.
Yes and I am working at game 1 in Australia. Wait till you see the crowd that’s gonna be there. It’s gonna be huge.
Unfortunately I’m not gonna see the game though coz I’m rostered to traffic duties. 😣
Then again, they’ll probably have screens and stuff going on outside the stadium, so I might see some of it.
Donald, Macdonald, Darnold, and Arnold, yet nobody on either roster with the first name of “Donald” (or “Arnie.”) And some people still call our coach, “McDaniel.”
Yeah, I’m more than ready for Week 1 kickoff.
I don't think JS has had a bad draft class at all, he's had what the rest of the League would consider a good class - if you take out the injuries, all three Day 1 & 2 picks were looking on track to potentially start Week 1. It's because of the last few years of EXCEPTIONAL drafts that we've forgotten even this planned success rate on picks 1-3 is not the NFL normal.
Nor is it the NFL normal to bring back quite so many of your 53, let alone so many of your Championship team.
The EXCEPTIONAL work of the past 4 years of JS makes this GOOD year look poor in comparison. It'd be nice to see all your picks make the team, but that usually means your team was pretty bad to begin with. Our team was stacked all over the place, and they did all still make the PS which is again better than a lot of other teams manage.
We are currently spoiled as fans, long may it continue!
I think we have to consider this draft class together with ‘27 because a lot of the strategy leads to that class, too. And with our second round pick out for the season…
It was not a great draft. Either one of the week has classes in a long time going into it. If we get 1 to 3 players that stick that would be a successful draft in my opinion. Next year, the class should have some very good players.
KH, so true! We have been totally spoiled by the last few classes, and the overall body of work by JS. It felt like at the end of the PC reign, Pete was putting his thumb on the scale of drafts too often, and not really developing young players like in his early years.
Since JS hired MM, drafting the right players and developing young players has been turbo-charged. It is so exciting to see these two work together and make magic!
In defense of Pete, the turnaround of drafting began while still under Pete, but I agree with your general take. But before Pete left, they had decided together that they would put more emphasis on leadership qualities and love of football. That part carried over, I believe.
I used to live in Ithaca, NY and the Bills are my second favorite team...and like you every year I think this is their year(last year I was joking with my wife about what I'd do if the Bills faced my favorite Hawks...but there'd be no contest in who I'd choose!!).
Maybe this is the year😉