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Right after the free agency/draft period, one of the SSJ gang commented of how no one was talking about Seattle other than just in passing. The start of what Lombardi was alluding too, I also think Lombardi (that family knows a little football) is more objective and informed than some of the other celebrity talking heads. With all that said I wanted to see if I couldn’t get a bit better idea of who Seattle might be this year under the new staff and with the roster adjustments.

I did some follow up on the draft rating/team improvement with Dugar and where he feels each NFL team is after the draft. Nothing in depth but one comment he made about Seattle I found interesting. "The Seahawks are better in the trenches after this draft. That alone could make this a successful season, considering the struggles on both sides of the line of scrimmage in recent years." He feels they are a better team going into this season for this reason alone. The next question I had in mind was what about the OC? I found out a few things I wasn't aware of. Again from "The Athletic” regarding the 2023 Huskies offense: " And the difference in philosophy is clearer: The Huskies’ offense is built not on explosivity, but on efficiency. The explosive plays are a direct result of the efficiency. And they’re doing so with little reliance on the run game." The Huskies ranked 102 nationally in running yards but still put up an average of 569.4 yards per game. The last college team to have that kind of per game average yards was Texas Tech with Kingsberry and Patrick Mahomes. What was his average (Pennix) yards per pass? 9.2 yards. With that said I started thinking about McDonald's DNA coaching exposure. Two Harbaughs. So, what does this mean? Does Seattle have the tools to run the ball which has been the mainstay of the Michigan and Baltimore offenses. I think they do. Let me see if I get what you’re saying here. Seattle uses more of a ball control running and efficient passing game to open up big plays and eat up the clock. It would make since considering the ingredients in the pot. This is also why they invested in their O-Line. (FYI-The Huskies O Line was ranked 5th nationally in 2023.) This also incorporate getting the ball out of Geno's (?) hand quickly and using play action. Hmmm. Now WASH was never much of a running threat but with Seattle Play Action could become a real weapon again if the trenches improve as management’s investment prioritizes it. For all the talking heads this is just not a “sexy” draft for Seattle. Or as Barkley might say “Sexy don’t win Championships.”

So, what about this Leslie Frazier guy. Well, let’s see he's a defensive guy (undrafted) played with the Bears including the 85 team) who worked under Andy Reid, Marvin Lewis, Tony Dungy and John Harbaugh to name a few and had a short stint at head coaching. This is his second assistant head coach gig. From Wikipedia, “On March 4, 2020, Frazier was promoted to assistant head coach. In Frazier's first year as assistant head coach, the Bills won both their first AFC East title and playoff game since 1995 and made their first AFC Championship Game since 1993,” Now in 2023 Frazier decided to step away from coaching for a year. He was not fired by Buffalo. He came back to work after a year off to work with a young man he helped to mentor, namely Mike McDonald. Frazier’s forte in defense is the secondary where he has been pretty successful with a variety of teams accordingly.

“The British are coming the British are coming.” Never mind they’re here! Aden Durde via NFL Europe (player and coach), International practice squad program and Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. His position with Dallas, Defensive Line Coach 21-23. So, what’s his connection to Seattle and the new head coach(s)? None. He doesn’t have any connection here so why the hire. His work with Dan Quinn. What was Dan’s specialty? D Line. Indirectly he has a connection to JS because of Quinn who was taking him to WASH with him most likely but he got a better offer in short order. Zoom Call to meeting to hire. He obviously is the guy Mac/Fraiz wanted. He brings D Line and LB success with him. He also played with the NFL Europe World Bowl Championship team in 2007. Defensive Ranking in Points Against with Dallas was 7th, 5th and 5th from 21-23.

This is a young staff with fresh ideas, with a savvy veteran assistant coach providing years of NFL experience and success.

I have thought for the last 2 years that Seattle had a better roster than their winning percentage. What does Durde think of McDonald? He’s “ultra smart”. His impression of the organization is that it’s even more impressive now that he’s part of it and he sees it from the inside out.

This is a new chapter in Seahawks Football as we know it. How you morph with the times and find a “new vision” is Seattle finally adapting to something that may have passed them by the last 5 years or so.

My way to early perspective on this season and beyond is that Seattle reloaded the upper echelon with some well thought out hires (Don’t forget about Norman Teasley’s promotion to Assistant General manager last year from director of professional personal 2018-22. Probably later 30’s, a Central Grad) Youth with directional experience. I think MacDonald is a very cool customer that crosses the T’s and Dot’s the I’s and will leave no doubt by the end of this season who’s in charge. McDonald is smart enough to hire good people around him that have similar ideas but are still equipped and allowed to share “a different perspective”. I think Lombardi was right about the media’s perception of Seattle as a team and their offseason transitions (plural). There are two people that I believe are taking Seattle very seriously, namely McVay and Kyle Shannahan. There will be growing pains but I haven’t felt this optimistic about this organization for some time. Sometimes you have to peel the onion, and when you do; I think you’ll find that Dad’s Oldsmobile has left the driveway and something more contemporary now owns that parking place. Seahawk Football and anticipation is so welcome in 2024.

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If the Seahawks are overlooked (which they probably are, even by a segment of their fan base), I'm quite ok with that. Let them develop their own expectations, and let the media put larger chips on their shoulders. I want them to play mad, so this would just help them do that.

I do not have expectations yet. A complete change of coaching staff and scheme just throws too much uncertainty into things to know where the floor and ceiling are for me. They have a number of teams on the schedule that people expect to be good, so even if the team is better, it doesn't mean their record will be.

I agree with a comment below by Rusty, that I think the first few games will be a settling in period. Maybe even the first half of the season. Then hopefully they'll start looking like a team that is flowing and playing tough football. We could easily dig ourselves a hole early that will make being in the playoffs a tall order. I'd love for them to look good right from the jump, but that seems a little unrealistic given the new scheme, coaches, and player turnover.....doesn't it? But I'd be perfectly ok with them going 5-2 in their last 7 games, miss the playoffs, but are now ready to really take off in 2025.

Have another excellent draft next year, and then you have the talent to be highly competitive for years to come.

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The NFC West is always overlooked. No-one outside of Arizona cares about the Cardinals, Seattle is always forgotten about in everything.

The 49ers get mentioned for historical reasons. The Rams only now get talked about because they moved to LA and LA gets noticed. Move the Rams back to St Louis. Replace the 49ers history with that of the Bengals for example and no-one would ever talk about the NFC West.

Luckily we have SSJ to keep us informed and keep highlighting smart podcasts and other resources!

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founding

I am anticipating the Seahawks season to be as much of a surprise as the Rams were last season. We won’t know until it happens.

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So, if that’s the metaphor, then betting on the defense improving seems like easy money. It would be impossibly awful to have gotten worse. And if you’re walking through a sunlit path on a rainy day, you could be high enough on life to think their offense will also be improved. They didn’t add much, but they were decent at times, and mmmmaybe the offensive line is good-ish? The trenches (sunny side!) will be better on both sides of the ball. Right? But there’s only generational talent a few spots on this team, and if you look at SF and at the surging Rams it’s hard NOT to see generational talent. And even if the governor on the 9ers will always be Purdy, is he worse than Geno? And no way you don’t take Stafford over Geno. Though you also wonder when the mileage catches up to that golden arm.

Back to the bet—8-9 is probably an optimistic “smart money” way to think. Because even if you split the division they also play the Bills, Fins, GB and Lions. Which of those games are you betting the blue and teal? There are some more beatable seeming teams there… the Bears, Pats and Jets….. But just do the basic math and you get to 6-7 probable losses. Sorry to be a buzz kill many months before the season starts, but keep your wallet in your pocket. Bet on them building the foundation rather than always trying to never start over. They’re starting over. It’s going to be fun to watch, even when they suck. Because at least they’ll suck differently and be great differently, too.

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Am I the only one who doesn't see generational talent on the Rams roster? Aaron Donald is gone, Cooper Kupp fell off a cliff and Stafford is simply an above average QB provided he doesn't hit the wall.

Go back and look at the Rams season last year, they were 3-6 until their bye and then played just 2 good teams in the 2nd half of the season. They lost to the Ravens and then beat SF in week 18 because the 49ers were resting everyone. Their best wins all year were against the Colts and the Browns.

I struggle to see how they win 6 games this season.

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founding

Before I dive into my comment, just remember, I’m not a “glass half full” guy. It’s at LEAST 3/4 full in regard to the Seahawks.

To me, the floor of this team is 7-10, the ceiling is 13-4, and I think 10-7 is likely.

I know…you’re thinking “hold on fawning fan boy” but the Seahawks went 9-8 with nearly the absolute worst defense in the league, and an offense that had a hard time scheming the WRs open, and an offensive line that was…offensive. Lucas sat out more than half of the season and Cross battled turf toe. Replacements sucked and that’s being generous.

Now we have a starting quality backup at tackle (Fant) and a likely better interior O line. Olu and Bradford have a full season of experience.

Additionally the team has an OC that has a record of scheming his WRs open all the time.

I love Bobby Wagner, but the old version was a liability. Our rookie LB has been compared to a young Wagner and even if he’s not near that, he’ll move quicker than the old version.

And most importantly, we’ll have a modern defensive scheme and just the right person to implement it.

The first 4 games of so could be rough, with players having to think instead of react. But by late in the season, I expect the D to be a top 15 defense.

Yeah, maybe I see a glass that’s 3/4 full but what the heck. I’ve followed this team from day one and the current version is much more likely to be good than at least 30 of the previous rosters.

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I completely agree with this. I think the Hawks have better talent and I think they'll be coached better as well. I'm looking forward to this season.

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I'm optimistic because the defense and O line can't get any worse than last year. OC Waldron and DC Herrd were so predictable most high school football coaches could call the plays and an attacking defense will give our O more drives to put points on the board.

My sons always ask me who's going to the SB and I always tell them, " tell me who gets injured and I'll tell you who's in the SB."

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Seems our OC Grubb is the big gamble this year. A pure GM/coaching decision. I recall Russell Wilson had a hand in bringing us Waldron, making me wonder what that was all about. It had a feel for trying to re-invigorate his loose wild playing style we saw in the glory years- find a guy who could run schemes conducive to what Russ seemed to demand. A Wunderkind working with another Wunderkind. 10 years ago, we watched the Johnny Manzell phenomenon rock college ball, sending modern coaching theory into fits. Bottling that would be a sure-fire road to the Super Bowl. Within a few years, we'll know the inside-baseball story for what was really happening in these last years with Carroll and Wilson, so it is just my take on the direction it will be going. Before succumbing to drugs and alcohol, Manzell was showing us what a QB can do off script. Hiring Waldron was meant to try to put some form and structure to that kind of play. No surprise his change-agent ways got Manzell a rude reception by his fellow football players. Still, it was a helluva run. Of course Pete and John would take notice.

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In the other thread I said you can make a strong case for either end of 4 wins or 12 wins, and Lombardi is outlining why 12 could be the future this season for the Seahawks. It could happen!

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May 6Liked by Seaside Joe

This was a refreshing take on our off-season activity. Really haven't seen a lot from this perspective.

Not sure how optimistic I really am about the season at this point but I'm still excited for it

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May 6Liked by Seaside Joe

I was going to comment on Lombardi's memory but I forgot what I was going to say. 😎

Thanks for posting this. He makes some great points. I believe the Seahawks defense is going to be a lot better and if they are, it is a game changer. The odds makers think the Seahawks won't win 8 games? Nonsense. If you are a better, take those odds.

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I think I will. Last year, I put $100 on the Lions getting to the Super Bowl at 22 to 1. A good bet gets my focus going and this ain't too bad.

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