49 Comments
User's avatar
Chris H's avatar

Even if only 1 of Woolen, Spoon, or Love are back for Monday night, I think that will be a huge help to the secondary. Having all 3 back after the bye to play along with Emmanwori would be a handful for any team. The turnovers are coming at some point if the front keeps the pressure on, and we get some DB's hunting footballs.

Encouraging to read the f-bomb. Well done. 1000 pts for Kenneth.

The Seahawks are becoming DVOA darlings again. Ranked 4th on offense, 4th on defense, and 1st on special teams. They are also leading the league in looking at 8 man (or more) boxes. Some of that is teams just trying to take away the run, and some of that is a response to multiple TE's in close formations, and the defense just mirroring. Either way, it's not surprising the running yards are hard to come by. But, I keep thinking there should be more opportunities in the middle of the field if Teams continue to do this. I don't recall an Arroyo up the seam play yet (at least not a completed one) so looking forward to that when it happens. The play to Barner (61 yarder late in the game) is an example of what can happen when teams over commit at the LOS.

The Houston game is totally winnable. Their defense is tough, so have to have another game where we're avoiding the turnovers. Take what they give.

Expand full comment
Bob Bryan's avatar

Interesting stat about leading the league in seeing stacked boxes. Curious if anyone has seen a good film study on the Seahawks running game lately.

Side notes on the Houston game, which I agree should be winnable - Kubiak played them twice in the NFC South last year, so he knows the D a little better than usual, plus they padded their D stats a bit in the last two games against the Titans and Ravens. Also shut down the rush and forced the pass in both those games (4 INTs), so more stacked boxes for us but they’ll face a much better QB this week. Also, we’ve both lost close games to the Bucs, so those games are worth comparison.

Expand full comment
Stephen Pitell's avatar

OK, I am convinced. I saw the all - 22 youtube and now I listen to SSJ and his readers, my misgivings, which were lacking in research, have been allayed. Thanks to everyone. I am ready to fall in love with the MAN. em MAN wori will affect football games like John S. has always said, he wants "field tilters". Thank goodness we've gotten some in recent drafts. JSN being undeniable. Zabel no sacks, and almost no pressures is a gem.

However, I watched a few plays where Leonard Williams was making things easy for Murphy and Kwosu and D. Law. They were all eating on the leftovers while Leo Williams was eating double teams and still affecting the plays. Leo chased down a guy downfield after someone else missed a tackle, Okada, I think.

Expand full comment
West Seattle Tim's avatar

Great article. I was sold on him watching his tape during the draft. I loved Kam and was sad to see him leave after 2017. Having another Kam type of player makes me very happy, and to see his progression in basically 2 games is pretty awesome. Looking forward to seeing how much better he is in 3 more weeks in his 4th game!

Expand full comment
PNWRider's avatar

We need to remember PC had total control of the Seahawks coaches and even the draft as well as trades. I suspect some of these bad picks may well have been PC saying “ I like this guy bettter “

I do wonder who warned Adams that bad. Seeing that he is a raider makes me believe who was behind that trade.

Expand full comment
Charlie Gage's avatar

You hit the nail on the head. I think (and have always thought) that JS was getting blamed for Pete's mistakes in the draft.

Expand full comment
zezinhom400's avatar

Carroll was always a DB guy -- we saw it in the Legion of Boom and I think he thought Adams could have been the enforcer back there

Expand full comment
JIMMY JOHNSON's avatar

Seems Woolen took his toys and went home when Spoon dominated the Spotlights. Spoon strikes me as someone who couldn't give a fuk who gets the attention.

Expand full comment
Scott M's avatar

Emmanwori has impressed me so far. All the predraft analysis about any shortcomings he may have, or had, are mostly neutralized. Poor pursuit angles, inconsistent tackling technique, undisciplined eyes, etc...all seem to be a thing of the past. He looks great and I think he's the type that will keep getting better.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Supposedly he’s very eager to get better and hounds the coaches for feedback. So his attitude is in the right place.

Expand full comment
Randall Murray's avatar

And from a BR article “According to FTN Fantasy (h/t Steven Patton), Zabel has also been the best rookie pass-protector by allowing the lowest percentage of pressure among the interior linemen.” So one on offense and one on defense. But I’m curious about missed tackles because sure thought Nick missed one on Sunday.

Expand full comment
Grant's avatar

He did miss a tackle on Travis Hunter, but that doesn't count because Hunter is also a defensive back. Football math!

Expand full comment
Randall Murray's avatar

lol.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Yeah, against their two way player. (12)

Expand full comment
Randall Murray's avatar

At this point I would rather have Zabel and Nick than a two way player.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Definitely!

Expand full comment
Randall Murray's avatar

I thought so as well.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

You say, “Emmanwori is ranked up there with the best athletes in the sport’s history, but he had a lot to prove as a football player…” I’ve commented several times that some people are athletes who play football, and some people are football players. DK is an example of an athlete who plays football, and people always think his superstar breakout is around the corner. Kupp is an example of a football player who shocked people with his production given his athletic profile. I’ve always felt it better to have a football player over an athlete who plays football. But the best of all worlds is a football player who is also an athlete. Emmanwori looks that part. Let’s go Hawks!!

Expand full comment
Bob Bryan's avatar

While we’re at it, let me just add to the list: (angry) Doug Baldwin

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Yes indeed! More draft picks and UDFAs like this!

Expand full comment
zezinhom400's avatar

Jake Bobo another example of a football player. So was Jerome Kearse -- will never forget that TD he scored in the Super Bowl where he broke like 7 tackles, bouncing off defenders and busting through arm tackles. LOVE football players!

Expand full comment
Charlie Gage's avatar

The play I most remember by Jermain Kearse was in the back to back super bowl against the Patriots. He went up to catch a pass from Russ,, tipped the ball, was knocked flat on his back and still caught the ball to set up Beast Modes's big run to the half yard line. Totally amazing.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Exactly, when it comes to filling out the roster with quality players, you want FOOTBALL players. Guys who can play the game at a decently high level without breaking the CAP bank. No team can afford pro bowlers everywhere. It’s like playing chess trying to figure out where to spend big and where to go cheap. I’m in the “draft an edge is round 1” camp and hope he turns out better than Mafe, assuming Mafe doesn’t make a big jump soon.

Expand full comment
JIMMY JOHNSON's avatar

I've adopted that outlook when first mentioned, Danno. Thnx.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

There’s a lot of value in guys that don’t light up the underwear Olympics, but are very good football players. Ouzts is a guy who might have gone in the 7th round if the Hawks didn’t “reach”for him. But despite not having high athletic numbers, he’s one hell of a football player. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a pro owl FB next year.

Expand full comment
IdahoFred's avatar

Looking forward to seeing the pro owl, does he only come out at night?

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar
15hEdited

Hopefully Monday Night! ;) I never really learned how you type. In my job, I had a secretary. All I had to do was talk into a rose recorder and she would type it up on an IBM Pro Selectric! The good old days.

Expand full comment
IdahoFred's avatar

Got the IBM in the next room, not the pro.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Does it have the round ball of letters and numbers? Moving at lightning speed?

Expand full comment
IdahoFred's avatar

Still looking for the Clark pic.

Expand full comment
Seaside Joe's avatar

I consider this the one time I use the F word on SSJ in 2025. You get one per year and I guess this was it for me.

Expand full comment
Dale's avatar

And it actually stood out like dogs’ balls (How is Clark going, by the way?).

I love how it had such an affect. Very punchy and with obvious passion. How does that hawk call go…..becaw!?

Expand full comment
Shaymus McFamous's avatar

You can always euphemize or dance around it with similar affect...

FAFO

AF

F-Word

MFer

Funk

Phuck

F*CK

Fu*K

FCK

Among others

Expand full comment
JIMMY JOHNSON's avatar

Oooff. Solar plexus shot. The Horror...

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

All you guys who’ve got a problem with it need to change sports and follow women’s tennis. Drink tea with your pinky extended and sit down with your legs crossed.

Expand full comment
Charlie Gage's avatar

Hey, women's tennis is pretty entertaining. Some really good players and lots of dynamic rallies.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Yes, but it is not the NFL ;)

Expand full comment
BEASTMODE808's avatar

Nothing wrong with women's tennis!

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

I support the idea of women’s sports, even tennis. If it’s your “cup of tea.” ;)

Expand full comment
JIMMY JOHNSON's avatar

Dressed for Cricket and clapping quietly. "Capital play. Simply capital".

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

Jolly good show!

Expand full comment
JIMMY JOHNSON's avatar

Yeah! Hear-Hear!

Expand full comment
Grant's avatar

If you watch enough women's tennis you'll eventually hear the F-bomb in like 30 different languages.

Expand full comment
Danno's avatar

I stopped watching tennis when they got rid of wooden rackets.

Expand full comment
Grant's avatar

Substack-MA

Expand full comment
Randall Murray's avatar

I was shocked just now.

Expand full comment
Coco McShevitz's avatar

Sometimes you just gotta say what the fuck

Expand full comment