Again - I have been gone from here for quite awhile due to health issues - That being said - I called out before preseason the Hawks should go 10-7 at worst-! That is what they did - and should have been 12-5! worst case 11-6. BUT they are who they are and coached how they were coached etc. - etc. -IF , A Big If --- they finally do what is needed on the O-line they should be no worse than 11-6 next season if not maybe two games even better than that-!!! GO HAWKS!!!
Seeing E Jones is talking the contract talk. Of course he’s said similar before. Earned 3.1 this year. See what his demands will be. Fill the roster with chips on their shoulders please.
The season was generally what I expected, other than the 3-0 start. Expected the D to improve during the year, although expected the takeaway numbers to improve significantly......which they didn't. I didn't know what to expect from the offense with Grubb coming in, but I was certainly underwhelmed with how they performed in the back half of the year. In Grubb's defense, when the o-line gets pushed off of the line on most running plays, and can't protect on many passing plays, I'm not sure what OC would have much success. That said, a good OC works with the limitations it has, and he might have done a better job at that. But, first year in the NFL, so I suppose we should cut him some slack.
I giggled at Mike MacDonald's press conference the other day. The press were asking him a lot of 'what went wrong' questions, and his usual patience was wearing thin. He was getting more and more exasperated as these questions were asked many different ways and his answer kept coming back as 'fellas, the season is not over, and now is not the time for a forensic analysis of 2024'. You can tell that failure does not suit him, which I love about the guy. He was absolutely the right coaching hire, and I'm 100% content to let him lead this team moving forward.
Beat the snot out of the Rams (starters or backups) and then get on with improving the team in any way possible. We don't have to get that much better to be a playoff concern next year.
One thing I'm relatively certain about, a tank season is not in the cards next year to get positioned for one of the 2026 QB's in the draft. It's not in the DNA of Mike Mac or JS. If they draft a QB, it will be in the mid/late part of the 1st round or later rounds.
The weaknesses seem pretty clear, but I am certain that the intricacies of football are beyond my fan level of knowledge and am aware how easily I'm swayed by those I trust understand it more. While I can stomach having a Harbaugh on our coaching staff, I do remember that we had a special teams coach known as one of the best in the league, and didn't retain him because it seemed important that we weren't retaining anyone. I didn't care for that from ownership. House cleaning doesn't have to mean burning the whole house down. Keep the good pieces. They just kept Ivan. And we've had a pretty healthy season, so "Ivan the Terrible" is not quite the dunk it used to be. But for the love of grilled hamburgers KEEP Larry Izzo!
We can at least somewhat fix the OL in free agency and the draft if we make smart choices. We can acquire a better TE and #3 WR without much cap space or capital.
I am not confident that there's a QB in this draft (at all, let alone in the mid-late teens where we pick) who will become a star, but those who rate them are often wrong. If JS took a swing, I'd start watching his college tape (YouTube game videos) and probably largely focus on the good plays to reinforce my excitement. But I do think that 2026 is where the franchise guy at QB likely exists, and I would take another season without a playoff win to have one of those.
The Seahawks more or less met my expectations this year. They got better on defense but became such a shit show on offense at crucial times that it almost outweighed that. I don't know where the blame should lie, but my frustration over and over was on them not running the damn ball, even when it had been working. And there seems to be a play a game like that awful screen to a #6 WR or a veteran lining up beyond the LOS. And the red zone picks may ultimately come down to Geno, but who drew up the play and protection? Who coached the players rep after rep (presumably) or these plays they botched?
I'll watch us play the Rams 2nd stringers and root for a touchdown every play. But if we do win, it will feel hollow to me and I believe we should have performed better. It was the first season for a lot of important pieces (and arguably the most important). JSN made a big leap and others made small ones. I love Murphy and expect at least "very goodness" next year. We just need to make a few more of the right crucial decisions that I'm not sure we've been great at in previous years. I'm over Grubb but I'm sure he's a smart guy who can learn from 2024 and I will root for him should they retain him. And I always feel bad for firings. But they are as important as hirings in this league, and production leads to wins, and wins lead to keeping your job and getting paid.
Go Hawks, and let's absolutely destroy the Rams backups.
Consistency sake helps. Weird seeing Bellore last Sunday night helping his new team win and keeping his old team from potential og playoffs before Week 18.
2024 Hawks exceeded my optimistic 8 & 9 expectation - I'd be ok w/6 or 7 wins.
MM is mature, straight forward and sideline seems in control, plays get in on time vs. '23 PC.
More grousing than I'd expect for a 2024 transition year - who thought 2024 would be "Ravens West", either side of the ball?
With inherited & scrounged Hawk personnel & new staff in 1st time NFL positions, it could have been way worse. Be happy w/2024 Hawks and "trust the process" in 2025.
For the "ditch JS", "ditch Geno", "ditch Grubb" folks - here's a few counterpoints:
1. JS: Post PC, JS is now the senior operations partner - he needs > 1 season to prove he can do better (hint: don't expect a miracle in 2025, not many picks to fill MANY O & D holes)
2. Geno: 2022 - good O line/very-good Geno, 2023 - so-so O line/ok Geno, 2024 - horrible O line/spotty Geno. See a pattern? Geno's a "system QB" a la Hasselbeck. No O line, no system.
SSJ did a good dollars & cents look at why Geno could be cut in '25. If it allows Hawks to curate a Holmgren-style "O line UNIT" for the next "Hasselbeck", I'd like that. Just don't ask me to believe there's a QB "savior" that could overcome '24 O line.
3. Grubb: Who thinks Grubb hand picked this 2024 nightmare of an O line? Anyone remember '23 Husky O line? Think Grubb might have had something to do w/Husky line?
"Grubb needs to mix in more runs..." right.
How many replays do we need to see of goal-to-go & short 1st down repeated stuffings of O line in straight-ahead run attempts? Opponents game plan based on those stuffings.
'24 Hawk O line CAN'T RUN BLOCK & occasionally gets lucky pass blocking. Opponents know Hawks can't run. Opps overplay the pass ALL THE TIME without consequence; knowing Hawk pass game is their only hope in '24.
O line problem is not a "Cross is ok, maybe Lucas' knee is ok, Olu's getting reps, all we need is 'a guard' " thing. That's "Pete Carroll think" and is how Pete presided over the breakup of the curated UNIT of Jones, Hutchinson, Unger, et al (too lazy to look up).
2025 Expectations:
I'm trusting the process; few expectations of who stays or goes - retool as needed.
Remember fan displeasure when PC/JS let Hasselbeck walk? Better times followed.
2025 Hopes:
I hope the new regime transforms Hawks to more structured 1st tier team:
a. emphasis on building from O & D line back. '24 D line wasn't that good either. Inconsistent pass rush (as usual), trouble w/run-heavy teams.
b. Hawks hit on FA & drafts more consistently (not too original but they need so much...)
c. I don't see '25 Hawks as NFC contenders. I hope the staff leverages '24 lessons learned & roster improvement continues enough so that we fans don't have to call for coaches heads 2 years into what is hopefully transformation to a 1st tier organization. (won't be in yr. 2, 2025!)
Great summary Mike A, agree with the whole thing. And, esp bc I agree there isn't going to be a QB savior any time soon, let's make sure Geno is around for a few more years (via a reasonable extension that allows us to pick up some topflight guards in FA), go ahead and try to find the next QB (like the Howell experiment), or perhaps another 3rd round pick on yet another too short/too old prospect
Hope you're right about signing high quality O-line FAs, instead of one-&-dones.
SSJ articles on how to free $90mil(?) cap space and/or maybe cutting Geno made me think JS/MM can go many ways.
Signing Jones mid season surprised me. MM needed LB, JS produced - that's good coordination. I'll trust a JS/MM rebuild-while-driving model.
I know Hawks need more than O & D line. But I look at Ravens, Buff, Minn, GB - they don't get pushed around at O or D line-of-scrimmage. Their QB stay mostly clean.
That's why "we need 1st rd QB savior" (to sacrifice behind a wet TP O line) bugs me.
Hawks need LBs assuming Nwosu's cut. Jones will be expensive too.
What's it leave for QB? I bet you're right Hawks draft a QB "value pick"+ UDFA QB.
After Russ + Trey Lance vs. Brock Purdy, I've given up projecting draft QBs - if the pro's can't do it, I sure can't! ;-)
Not saying Grubb will survive. But watching Hawk RBs run into walls over and over and over and over (insert Marshawn-level "overs" here) again, on first downs, on short yardage downs, etc. got truly infuriating to this fan. And yet many complained that Grubb wasn't calling enough play actions (!) Play actions work if and only if the run game is at least half decent. Linebackers need to respect the run for play action to get anywhere at all. And our run game wasn't even quarter decent, let alone half.
Infuriating carryover from the so-called PC "run 1st" era. "Why didn't you run more Pete?" "because I cheaped out on an O line that can't block their grandmas..."
2024 is still the 2023 PC O line model: Cross + 4 guys in a revolving door.
Can Hawks assemble a Buff, GB, Minn quality line in 2025?
Too many questions on 2024 unit!
Suppose Cross is a solid LT who's ability is diluted by always helping a weak LG. That makes 4 of 5 starters questionable: Are any guards NFL starter quality? Is Olu starter quality? (then why didn't Olu beat out WIlliams?) Is Lucas' knee NFL starter quality? Hard to believe its just guards. Opponents find the weak guy(s) and exploit them.
JS at GB, MM at Balto have seen O lines done "the right way" - it'll take time, $ to undo the PC O line "model" but I trust they'll do it.
I keep going back to Holmgren - an offensive QB-centric coach. He knew how to build a cohesive, well choreographed UNIT. Then Holmgren said "I need a better QB" and got Hasslebeck AFTER he had a decent O line.
re RBs running into walls - I saw the same and its a waste of talent & health hazard:
The Marshawn successors, Rawls, Carson, (I hope not K9) blew up their bodies trying to overcome lack of O line push, running through non-existent holes.
My initial expectation was a 9 win season with marked improvements as the season progressed. But after starting 3-0, I raised my expectations slightly to double digit wins. While the net effect of the season was essentially "expectations met", I can't help but feel like we lacked some of the improvements we all hoped for (especially on offense). I'm not saying I would fire Grubb, but a short leash might be in order. I can't wait to see what the new regime does this off-season and in the draft. To me, this is the last chance for JS to get it right. JS has had too many misses for me to keep being forgiving. We need better scouting for O-line, period. I would like to see us get a couple pieces on defense, corner, Edge, LB. On offense I think we need a QB and upgrades along the line and a few new receivers and a TE to pair with Barner. Not sure hot to go about getting the QB situation figured out. We will need to take a chance on a QB at some point and I think JS has his plan. I would be taking a shot this year (mid round most likely) and if it doesn't pan out we may end up with a solid pick next year to really go after a top pick. Overall, I like the direction we are heading but I still want to see more high quality linemen in the building. Now that money will be freed up, I don't see any reason we wont make the O-line a priority. Cut all the dad weight we've all been agreeing on. Keep DK but only if the price is right. I honestly hoped DK had turned the corner last season with his antics, but it seems they are not going anywhere. I am OK if DK leaves for more money, receivers seem to be getting easier to find in the draft. I am OK with moving on from Geno too, need to try something new. And in the draft, BPA all the way. I know we have needs but please just try to find hall-of-famers, all pro's, pro-bowlers regardless of position. Happy new years and GO HAWKS!!
We know that Geno is not a playoff quality QB, so why waste 40 million and another 1 to 2 years on an aging QB that led the league in red zone interceptions and threw one less pick than TDs?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Let's stop the insanity and find another QB.
As far as Grubb is concerned, we needs to see what he can do with a QB that can run his offensive scheme and an Oline that doesn't resemble sieve!
The draft has some intriguing QB sleepers plus we could get some good reclamation projects on the cheap, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance etal.
I saw Cam Ward play at WASU and seeing him projected as a high 1st round pick boggles my mind. 3rd round at best.
Is there anyone between Jody Allen and PS?? In other words a Football Team President or Administrator, evaluating the evaluator?? If not… THAT IS ONE HELL OF A PROBLEM…Help, does anyone know the answer to that ??
Really enjoyed today's main article and lots of the comments.
Strongly disagree about replacing Grubb.
I'd like to see a breakdown of known great O.C.s and how they did in their 1st year. I know that there's at least one fired ex-Seahawks O.C. still successful in the NFL.
But it doesn't matter that I haven't given up on Grubb.
What matters is that Grubb, if he leaves, feels like he was given a fair shot! Because the Seahawks want to attract top talent at all levels, they need to look attractive to top talent - fair treatment and compensation and a fun place to work. Top talent doesn't need sticks to motivate them, they already show up driven to seek the top. And salespeople everywhere will tell you that the best advertising is word of mouth.
My point being that this staff arrived with a roster in place and a whole new set of work descriptions for everybody. They instantly found out that a lot of paid employees were not capable of performing their new job responsibilities. And they were given a few rookie replacements on each side of the ball.
Then they spent a little to go after the worst holes.
Now they have had a complete season for a reality check and should get a chance to prove themselves, starting from the same moment as everyone else, time they didn't get last year at this time, because they were involved in trying to win CHAMPIONSHIPS for other teams. Fans might think they're America's Team, but top coaches won't consider working there.
If you fire Grubb without giving him a chance to put his stamp on the offense, you might be sending a message to the next coach that you want to hire that this won't be a comfortable place for him.
Exhibit A is the merry-go-round in Dallas that can't figure out how to separate ownership from general management.
“I'd like to see a breakdown of known great O.C.s and how they did in their 1st year.”
Does this actually mean that much? Last year, first-year OC Bobby Slowik was a wunderkind so highly regarded that his elevation to head coach was thought to be a matter of time. This year, the Texan offense regressed so much that Slowik’s job is in jeopardy.
Taking out head coaches who do the offensive play calling (e.g., McVey), Ben Johnson is the senior OC in the league. He’s been in Detroit since 2022. I.e., aside from Johnson there aren’t any known great OCs who are still OCs. Basically, OCs get promoted or fired within a year or two. Grubb didn’t show why he should be an exception.
Well Ben Johnson first year as OC, after being in the NFL for a bit before that, 10 years in NFL before becoming OC, the Lions were, 9-8. While not a specific comparison, but you’ve got a guy in NfL 10 years, moved himself up, learning at this level, and team is 9-8. Grubb first year NFL, same record. Different circumstances, but Johnson was giving time.
WHAT SHOULD BE THE SEAHAWKS NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS?
Be a team that's feared again.
Hire SJ as an analyst / recruiter.
Play winning football at home.
Top 10 OL. Draft a QB.
Win more.
I’m all about simple resolutions.
Again - I have been gone from here for quite awhile due to health issues - That being said - I called out before preseason the Hawks should go 10-7 at worst-! That is what they did - and should have been 12-5! worst case 11-6. BUT they are who they are and coached how they were coached etc. - etc. -IF , A Big If --- they finally do what is needed on the O-line they should be no worse than 11-6 next season if not maybe two games even better than that-!!! GO HAWKS!!!
Seeing E Jones is talking the contract talk. Of course he’s said similar before. Earned 3.1 this year. See what his demands will be. Fill the roster with chips on their shoulders please.
I guess we find out next week? Hmm. I guess I'll let space and time answer my Qs for me from now on.
The season was generally what I expected, other than the 3-0 start. Expected the D to improve during the year, although expected the takeaway numbers to improve significantly......which they didn't. I didn't know what to expect from the offense with Grubb coming in, but I was certainly underwhelmed with how they performed in the back half of the year. In Grubb's defense, when the o-line gets pushed off of the line on most running plays, and can't protect on many passing plays, I'm not sure what OC would have much success. That said, a good OC works with the limitations it has, and he might have done a better job at that. But, first year in the NFL, so I suppose we should cut him some slack.
I giggled at Mike MacDonald's press conference the other day. The press were asking him a lot of 'what went wrong' questions, and his usual patience was wearing thin. He was getting more and more exasperated as these questions were asked many different ways and his answer kept coming back as 'fellas, the season is not over, and now is not the time for a forensic analysis of 2024'. You can tell that failure does not suit him, which I love about the guy. He was absolutely the right coaching hire, and I'm 100% content to let him lead this team moving forward.
Beat the snot out of the Rams (starters or backups) and then get on with improving the team in any way possible. We don't have to get that much better to be a playoff concern next year.
One thing I'm relatively certain about, a tank season is not in the cards next year to get positioned for one of the 2026 QB's in the draft. It's not in the DNA of Mike Mac or JS. If they draft a QB, it will be in the mid/late part of the 1st round or later rounds.
"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving." Lao Tsu
The weaknesses seem pretty clear, but I am certain that the intricacies of football are beyond my fan level of knowledge and am aware how easily I'm swayed by those I trust understand it more. While I can stomach having a Harbaugh on our coaching staff, I do remember that we had a special teams coach known as one of the best in the league, and didn't retain him because it seemed important that we weren't retaining anyone. I didn't care for that from ownership. House cleaning doesn't have to mean burning the whole house down. Keep the good pieces. They just kept Ivan. And we've had a pretty healthy season, so "Ivan the Terrible" is not quite the dunk it used to be. But for the love of grilled hamburgers KEEP Larry Izzo!
We can at least somewhat fix the OL in free agency and the draft if we make smart choices. We can acquire a better TE and #3 WR without much cap space or capital.
I am not confident that there's a QB in this draft (at all, let alone in the mid-late teens where we pick) who will become a star, but those who rate them are often wrong. If JS took a swing, I'd start watching his college tape (YouTube game videos) and probably largely focus on the good plays to reinforce my excitement. But I do think that 2026 is where the franchise guy at QB likely exists, and I would take another season without a playoff win to have one of those.
The Seahawks more or less met my expectations this year. They got better on defense but became such a shit show on offense at crucial times that it almost outweighed that. I don't know where the blame should lie, but my frustration over and over was on them not running the damn ball, even when it had been working. And there seems to be a play a game like that awful screen to a #6 WR or a veteran lining up beyond the LOS. And the red zone picks may ultimately come down to Geno, but who drew up the play and protection? Who coached the players rep after rep (presumably) or these plays they botched?
I'll watch us play the Rams 2nd stringers and root for a touchdown every play. But if we do win, it will feel hollow to me and I believe we should have performed better. It was the first season for a lot of important pieces (and arguably the most important). JSN made a big leap and others made small ones. I love Murphy and expect at least "very goodness" next year. We just need to make a few more of the right crucial decisions that I'm not sure we've been great at in previous years. I'm over Grubb but I'm sure he's a smart guy who can learn from 2024 and I will root for him should they retain him. And I always feel bad for firings. But they are as important as hirings in this league, and production leads to wins, and wins lead to keeping your job and getting paid.
Go Hawks, and let's absolutely destroy the Rams backups.
Consistency sake helps. Weird seeing Bellore last Sunday night helping his new team win and keeping his old team from potential og playoffs before Week 18.
2024 Hawks exceeded my optimistic 8 & 9 expectation - I'd be ok w/6 or 7 wins.
MM is mature, straight forward and sideline seems in control, plays get in on time vs. '23 PC.
More grousing than I'd expect for a 2024 transition year - who thought 2024 would be "Ravens West", either side of the ball?
With inherited & scrounged Hawk personnel & new staff in 1st time NFL positions, it could have been way worse. Be happy w/2024 Hawks and "trust the process" in 2025.
For the "ditch JS", "ditch Geno", "ditch Grubb" folks - here's a few counterpoints:
1. JS: Post PC, JS is now the senior operations partner - he needs > 1 season to prove he can do better (hint: don't expect a miracle in 2025, not many picks to fill MANY O & D holes)
2. Geno: 2022 - good O line/very-good Geno, 2023 - so-so O line/ok Geno, 2024 - horrible O line/spotty Geno. See a pattern? Geno's a "system QB" a la Hasselbeck. No O line, no system.
SSJ did a good dollars & cents look at why Geno could be cut in '25. If it allows Hawks to curate a Holmgren-style "O line UNIT" for the next "Hasselbeck", I'd like that. Just don't ask me to believe there's a QB "savior" that could overcome '24 O line.
3. Grubb: Who thinks Grubb hand picked this 2024 nightmare of an O line? Anyone remember '23 Husky O line? Think Grubb might have had something to do w/Husky line?
"Grubb needs to mix in more runs..." right.
How many replays do we need to see of goal-to-go & short 1st down repeated stuffings of O line in straight-ahead run attempts? Opponents game plan based on those stuffings.
'24 Hawk O line CAN'T RUN BLOCK & occasionally gets lucky pass blocking. Opponents know Hawks can't run. Opps overplay the pass ALL THE TIME without consequence; knowing Hawk pass game is their only hope in '24.
O line problem is not a "Cross is ok, maybe Lucas' knee is ok, Olu's getting reps, all we need is 'a guard' " thing. That's "Pete Carroll think" and is how Pete presided over the breakup of the curated UNIT of Jones, Hutchinson, Unger, et al (too lazy to look up).
2025 Expectations:
I'm trusting the process; few expectations of who stays or goes - retool as needed.
Remember fan displeasure when PC/JS let Hasselbeck walk? Better times followed.
2025 Hopes:
I hope the new regime transforms Hawks to more structured 1st tier team:
a. emphasis on building from O & D line back. '24 D line wasn't that good either. Inconsistent pass rush (as usual), trouble w/run-heavy teams.
b. Hawks hit on FA & drafts more consistently (not too original but they need so much...)
c. I don't see '25 Hawks as NFC contenders. I hope the staff leverages '24 lessons learned & roster improvement continues enough so that we fans don't have to call for coaches heads 2 years into what is hopefully transformation to a 1st tier organization. (won't be in yr. 2, 2025!)
Great summary Mike A, agree with the whole thing. And, esp bc I agree there isn't going to be a QB savior any time soon, let's make sure Geno is around for a few more years (via a reasonable extension that allows us to pick up some topflight guards in FA), go ahead and try to find the next QB (like the Howell experiment), or perhaps another 3rd round pick on yet another too short/too old prospect
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10140261-dillon-gabriel-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-for-oregon-qb
but with Geno flying air cover in case the experiments don't pan out.
Thanks Zez,
Hope you're right about signing high quality O-line FAs, instead of one-&-dones.
SSJ articles on how to free $90mil(?) cap space and/or maybe cutting Geno made me think JS/MM can go many ways.
Signing Jones mid season surprised me. MM needed LB, JS produced - that's good coordination. I'll trust a JS/MM rebuild-while-driving model.
I know Hawks need more than O & D line. But I look at Ravens, Buff, Minn, GB - they don't get pushed around at O or D line-of-scrimmage. Their QB stay mostly clean.
That's why "we need 1st rd QB savior" (to sacrifice behind a wet TP O line) bugs me.
Hawks need LBs assuming Nwosu's cut. Jones will be expensive too.
What's it leave for QB? I bet you're right Hawks draft a QB "value pick"+ UDFA QB.
After Russ + Trey Lance vs. Brock Purdy, I've given up projecting draft QBs - if the pro's can't do it, I sure can't! ;-)
Not saying Grubb will survive. But watching Hawk RBs run into walls over and over and over and over (insert Marshawn-level "overs" here) again, on first downs, on short yardage downs, etc. got truly infuriating to this fan. And yet many complained that Grubb wasn't calling enough play actions (!) Play actions work if and only if the run game is at least half decent. Linebackers need to respect the run for play action to get anywhere at all. And our run game wasn't even quarter decent, let alone half.
Infuriating carryover from the so-called PC "run 1st" era. "Why didn't you run more Pete?" "because I cheaped out on an O line that can't block their grandmas..."
2024 is still the 2023 PC O line model: Cross + 4 guys in a revolving door.
Can Hawks assemble a Buff, GB, Minn quality line in 2025?
Too many questions on 2024 unit!
Suppose Cross is a solid LT who's ability is diluted by always helping a weak LG. That makes 4 of 5 starters questionable: Are any guards NFL starter quality? Is Olu starter quality? (then why didn't Olu beat out WIlliams?) Is Lucas' knee NFL starter quality? Hard to believe its just guards. Opponents find the weak guy(s) and exploit them.
JS at GB, MM at Balto have seen O lines done "the right way" - it'll take time, $ to undo the PC O line "model" but I trust they'll do it.
I keep going back to Holmgren - an offensive QB-centric coach. He knew how to build a cohesive, well choreographed UNIT. Then Holmgren said "I need a better QB" and got Hasslebeck AFTER he had a decent O line.
re RBs running into walls - I saw the same and its a waste of talent & health hazard:
The Marshawn successors, Rawls, Carson, (I hope not K9) blew up their bodies trying to overcome lack of O line push, running through non-existent holes.
My initial expectation was a 9 win season with marked improvements as the season progressed. But after starting 3-0, I raised my expectations slightly to double digit wins. While the net effect of the season was essentially "expectations met", I can't help but feel like we lacked some of the improvements we all hoped for (especially on offense). I'm not saying I would fire Grubb, but a short leash might be in order. I can't wait to see what the new regime does this off-season and in the draft. To me, this is the last chance for JS to get it right. JS has had too many misses for me to keep being forgiving. We need better scouting for O-line, period. I would like to see us get a couple pieces on defense, corner, Edge, LB. On offense I think we need a QB and upgrades along the line and a few new receivers and a TE to pair with Barner. Not sure hot to go about getting the QB situation figured out. We will need to take a chance on a QB at some point and I think JS has his plan. I would be taking a shot this year (mid round most likely) and if it doesn't pan out we may end up with a solid pick next year to really go after a top pick. Overall, I like the direction we are heading but I still want to see more high quality linemen in the building. Now that money will be freed up, I don't see any reason we wont make the O-line a priority. Cut all the dad weight we've all been agreeing on. Keep DK but only if the price is right. I honestly hoped DK had turned the corner last season with his antics, but it seems they are not going anywhere. I am OK if DK leaves for more money, receivers seem to be getting easier to find in the draft. I am OK with moving on from Geno too, need to try something new. And in the draft, BPA all the way. I know we have needs but please just try to find hall-of-famers, all pro's, pro-bowlers regardless of position. Happy new years and GO HAWKS!!
We know that Geno is not a playoff quality QB, so why waste 40 million and another 1 to 2 years on an aging QB that led the league in red zone interceptions and threw one less pick than TDs?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Let's stop the insanity and find another QB.
As far as Grubb is concerned, we needs to see what he can do with a QB that can run his offensive scheme and an Oline that doesn't resemble sieve!
The draft has some intriguing QB sleepers plus we could get some good reclamation projects on the cheap, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance etal.
I saw Cam Ward play at WASU and seeing him projected as a high 1st round pick boggles my mind. 3rd round at best.
Happy New Year to all!!
Is there anyone between Jody Allen and PS?? In other words a Football Team President or Administrator, evaluating the evaluator?? If not… THAT IS ONE HELL OF A PROBLEM…Help, does anyone know the answer to that ??
I had 0-7 wins
They will pay a fortune for Darnold for 4-5 years. Mabe
The "Fans might think " sentence was supposed to go last.
Sorry about the above comment! Somehow I lost a whole paragraph in the middle. Apologies!
Really enjoyed today's main article and lots of the comments.
Strongly disagree about replacing Grubb.
I'd like to see a breakdown of known great O.C.s and how they did in their 1st year. I know that there's at least one fired ex-Seahawks O.C. still successful in the NFL.
But it doesn't matter that I haven't given up on Grubb.
What matters is that Grubb, if he leaves, feels like he was given a fair shot! Because the Seahawks want to attract top talent at all levels, they need to look attractive to top talent - fair treatment and compensation and a fun place to work. Top talent doesn't need sticks to motivate them, they already show up driven to seek the top. And salespeople everywhere will tell you that the best advertising is word of mouth.
My point being that this staff arrived with a roster in place and a whole new set of work descriptions for everybody. They instantly found out that a lot of paid employees were not capable of performing their new job responsibilities. And they were given a few rookie replacements on each side of the ball.
Then they spent a little to go after the worst holes.
Now they have had a complete season for a reality check and should get a chance to prove themselves, starting from the same moment as everyone else, time they didn't get last year at this time, because they were involved in trying to win CHAMPIONSHIPS for other teams. Fans might think they're America's Team, but top coaches won't consider working there.
If you fire Grubb without giving him a chance to put his stamp on the offense, you might be sending a message to the next coach that you want to hire that this won't be a comfortable place for him.
Exhibit A is the merry-go-round in Dallas that can't figure out how to separate ownership from general management.
“I'd like to see a breakdown of known great O.C.s and how they did in their 1st year.”
Does this actually mean that much? Last year, first-year OC Bobby Slowik was a wunderkind so highly regarded that his elevation to head coach was thought to be a matter of time. This year, the Texan offense regressed so much that Slowik’s job is in jeopardy.
Taking out head coaches who do the offensive play calling (e.g., McVey), Ben Johnson is the senior OC in the league. He’s been in Detroit since 2022. I.e., aside from Johnson there aren’t any known great OCs who are still OCs. Basically, OCs get promoted or fired within a year or two. Grubb didn’t show why he should be an exception.
Well Ben Johnson first year as OC, after being in the NFL for a bit before that, 10 years in NFL before becoming OC, the Lions were, 9-8. While not a specific comparison, but you’ve got a guy in NfL 10 years, moved himself up, learning at this level, and team is 9-8. Grubb first year NFL, same record. Different circumstances, but Johnson was giving time.