Sounds like seaside Joe is saying let’s hope that Sam Donald is good enough.
The NFL is full of quarterbacks that are” good enough”, it reminds me of a great line from an old black-and-white movie. The king is trying on a jacket that doesn’t quite fit and says well”
“ I think that’s good enough” The other player replied” there is nothing quite so bad as something that is good enough” it’s a long season so we shall see.
Just adding an excerpt from Macdonald's press conference that gives me some added hope:
Macdonald said he has spent more time over the past few weeks studying his team’s offense than other teams’ defenses.
This is cool bc when you have a defensive genius analyzing your offense, he can tell you right away how good you are at disguising, how effective a given play is going to be. Hadn't thought about it till I read his comment, but of course that would be a phenomenal contribution he could provide to Kubiak: "yep, you fooled me, wasn't expecting the TE post route" or conversely "that's clearly going to be run off-tackle, we'll be there before the back hits the hole".
Been posting everywhere I can and so absolutely love today’s and the recent OLine article from you SJ. Why? If Vikes OLine was so great then why did they go out and replace all 3 IOLs, including giving one guy a sum that equals all 5 Hawks starters? Because there OLine wasn’t that good but was “ranked” upper half last year. 22 pressures in a single game? Hey all. Geno have 22 pressures single game his stats would’ve been just as bad. Olu was better than Vikes center. Even sieve known as Laken was better. The revolving door at RG and RT were why. But starting 7 guys at those 2 positions then yeah I expect it to be that bad. FYI the highly sought G Becton better than our collective RGs, which included 2 rookies, but per percentage attributed of pressures, he was only 5% better.
If #1) the coaches are as good as we hope they are, #2) the offense improves (run game & pass pro) as we hope it will, and #3) the defense is as good as we think it should be, then #4) Sam Darnold will be in the Pro bowl and the 'Hawks will be in the NFC Championship game, MM will be Coach Of The Year and JS will be totally ignored once again.
I do feel you are right, and that Darnold will be “good enough” this year. If we have a top 5 defense this year, all we need is a top 12 offense to be very competitive. If our offense is balanced, protects the ball, and wins TOP, I think we can hit those team ranking numbers on both offense and defense. Two months ago I did have a feeling we were a division winner and still do. I currently feel we will win 12 games. We may only need to hit on either Darnold or Milroe, as you say, but there is a chance, be it a very small chance, that both will hit. Geno was (is) a very talented QB. Probably more so than Darnold, But I’d wager KK likes Darnold’s fit for the system he wants to run. I’ve felt that ever since they let Geno go so easily after the combine. I like our QB room this year far better than our QB room last year.
The one thing I like about the Darnold signing is it’s clear (at least to me) that it’s part of an overall plan rather than just who’s available. Or, it’s clear the Darnold signing has been accompanied by logical complementary moves:
- the new OC will add lots of pre-snap action and lots of play-action. Things that may buy Darnold an extra 0.5 secs back there
- especially bc of a clear intent to run the ball — another thing that may buy him an extra 0.5 secs
- clear focus on the OL, including an apparently slimmed down and more physically prepared Lucas and Bradford, and drafting a Rd 1 guard which is so far out of character for Schneider that it forces you to acknowledge it was part of a broader strategy
- and drafted a 275lb fullback, yes for the run game but also a guy who’s as big or bigger than most edges, despite FB being pretty much a dying breed in modern NFL. Again, appears to be another piece of a broader strategy.
- the signing of Cooper Kupp who along with JSN gives us two of the best short/middle distance route runners in football. Sure seems to be part of a broader plan built for a quick-release passing game.
Said another way, it seems Darnold is coming into an offense built to his strengths, as opposed to holding the ball for 4 secs hoping for deep routes from…MVS? No. That’s not the plan. It’s Point Guard Darnold, strong running game and 5-15 yd routes where releasing in 2.5 secs or less is feasible.
That’s what I’m hoping for anyway. That all these moves including the Darnold signing are part of a grand plan for an offense that’s ideal to match up with a ferocious defense. Ball control, pounding the rock, long drives, rested defense.
I have the sense that both Geno and DK felt disregarded and disrespected by the last OC. Grubb came out of college and, perhaps, wasn't accustomed to veteran players expecting input in the gameplan -- and probably he didn't have bandwidth for it. If that's right, probably some of that dissatisfaction spilled over to the HC as well.
I think MM was happy to let DK go because DK isn't a fit for the culture he's trying to install.
And I wish I could remember where I read that Geno didn't like being under center. That seems to be an important part of KK's offense, adding another .5 seconds of uncertainty to the defensive quandry.
I could see Geno being successful in a similar offense as Darnold. Seems like JS could have certainly been, "no Geno anymore, who would we want to run an offense with the same goals we had of helping the defense and being holistically better? Hey, MM, KK, & staff, who would be your choice to work with? Darnold? You know him, like him, and are confident these things are his strengths? Even moreso than Geno?? Let's go get him."
Interesting that this style may also suit an up and coming 3rd rounder with duel threat potential. The MVS over the top threat has to be there and will be a go to a few times per game (rather than then dependent on as in previous years)…make me think that Melcalf would have been very unhappy in this offense.
In an interview that was shown on Before The Noise; season 2, Kubiak stated he is not bringing a "system". He said, "it is all about the players and doing what they do well. I am excited to see what they can do well and how we can take advantage of those things."
So, most likely, DK would have been in a different version of this offense. It's also part of the bigger plan that Zez sees in this post. KK is intentionally designing this offense around what and who JS & MM wanted. I am loving it!
Maybe it's not so much a system as it is a philosophy. Certainly his year in NOLA supports that. That said, his philosophy seems (from All_22) to be to use similar sets for a variety of plays, by way of concealing offensive intent, and to create as much horizontal chaos as possible within the defense. I don't think THAT is going to change with personnel. How he gets there will. But taking advantage of odd skillsets seems a hallmark of both MM and KK, and is perhaps why we should be less concerned about our WR room than most of the pundits are. Maybe!
KK had an interview a while back before he was with Hawks, said it's about putting people in conflict. Making defenders make a choice and when they guess A, we go B, if they guess B we go A. Making defenders think slows them way down, which I love. Giving us options regardless of what the defense chooses makes me think we've got the right line of thinking. I am super pumped to see this all unfold. Hope we jell fast and stay healthy.
Lately, the key seems to be strong connections between the QB and TE. Brady went so far as wait for Gronkowski to come out of retirement before they went to the Buccaneers. We've got KC, Philly, Niners and the Lions... My bet is they develop a rhythm, like Zez's 2.5 seconds: BoomBoom BoomBoom Wham! Or any Neil Young song: BoomBoomTap. BoomBoomTap Whatever. It all takes time. A whole new group is a Big Ask given such a short time to train.
I'm cool with Darnold/Kubiak moving the ball 4 yards at a time instead of 2 downs of long incompletions to set up another 3rd and 10 like Geno/Grubb. Take 6-8 minutes a drive, score 20 points a game and let the D rest and only give up 15 points a game.
Sounds like seaside Joe is saying let’s hope that Sam Donald is good enough.
The NFL is full of quarterbacks that are” good enough”, it reminds me of a great line from an old black-and-white movie. The king is trying on a jacket that doesn’t quite fit and says well”
“ I think that’s good enough” The other player replied” there is nothing quite so bad as something that is good enough” it’s a long season so we shall see.
Just adding an excerpt from Macdonald's press conference that gives me some added hope:
Macdonald said he has spent more time over the past few weeks studying his team’s offense than other teams’ defenses.
This is cool bc when you have a defensive genius analyzing your offense, he can tell you right away how good you are at disguising, how effective a given play is going to be. Hadn't thought about it till I read his comment, but of course that would be a phenomenal contribution he could provide to Kubiak: "yep, you fooled me, wasn't expecting the TE post route" or conversely "that's clearly going to be run off-tackle, we'll be there before the back hits the hole".
I have a similar feeling. Darnold seems more like an outsider than a Seahawk. That could change, but probably not this month.
Seahawks starting QBs since the first game I went to:
John Friesz
Jon Kitna
Warren Moon
Brock Huard
Matt Hasselbeck
Trent Dilfer
Charlie Whitehurst
Tavaris Jackson
Russell Wilson
Geno Smith
Drew Lock
Sam Darnold
If Darnold doesn’t work out, they’ll bring in someone else who won’t be as good as Russell. It’s all about perspective.
Been posting everywhere I can and so absolutely love today’s and the recent OLine article from you SJ. Why? If Vikes OLine was so great then why did they go out and replace all 3 IOLs, including giving one guy a sum that equals all 5 Hawks starters? Because there OLine wasn’t that good but was “ranked” upper half last year. 22 pressures in a single game? Hey all. Geno have 22 pressures single game his stats would’ve been just as bad. Olu was better than Vikes center. Even sieve known as Laken was better. The revolving door at RG and RT were why. But starting 7 guys at those 2 positions then yeah I expect it to be that bad. FYI the highly sought G Becton better than our collective RGs, which included 2 rookies, but per percentage attributed of pressures, he was only 5% better.
If #1) the coaches are as good as we hope they are, #2) the offense improves (run game & pass pro) as we hope it will, and #3) the defense is as good as we think it should be, then #4) Sam Darnold will be in the Pro bowl and the 'Hawks will be in the NFC Championship game, MM will be Coach Of The Year and JS will be totally ignored once again.
I do feel you are right, and that Darnold will be “good enough” this year. If we have a top 5 defense this year, all we need is a top 12 offense to be very competitive. If our offense is balanced, protects the ball, and wins TOP, I think we can hit those team ranking numbers on both offense and defense. Two months ago I did have a feeling we were a division winner and still do. I currently feel we will win 12 games. We may only need to hit on either Darnold or Milroe, as you say, but there is a chance, be it a very small chance, that both will hit. Geno was (is) a very talented QB. Probably more so than Darnold, But I’d wager KK likes Darnold’s fit for the system he wants to run. I’ve felt that ever since they let Geno go so easily after the combine. I like our QB room this year far better than our QB room last year.
Go Hawks!
The one thing I like about the Darnold signing is it’s clear (at least to me) that it’s part of an overall plan rather than just who’s available. Or, it’s clear the Darnold signing has been accompanied by logical complementary moves:
- the new OC will add lots of pre-snap action and lots of play-action. Things that may buy Darnold an extra 0.5 secs back there
- especially bc of a clear intent to run the ball — another thing that may buy him an extra 0.5 secs
- clear focus on the OL, including an apparently slimmed down and more physically prepared Lucas and Bradford, and drafting a Rd 1 guard which is so far out of character for Schneider that it forces you to acknowledge it was part of a broader strategy
- and drafted a 275lb fullback, yes for the run game but also a guy who’s as big or bigger than most edges, despite FB being pretty much a dying breed in modern NFL. Again, appears to be another piece of a broader strategy.
- the signing of Cooper Kupp who along with JSN gives us two of the best short/middle distance route runners in football. Sure seems to be part of a broader plan built for a quick-release passing game.
Said another way, it seems Darnold is coming into an offense built to his strengths, as opposed to holding the ball for 4 secs hoping for deep routes from…MVS? No. That’s not the plan. It’s Point Guard Darnold, strong running game and 5-15 yd routes where releasing in 2.5 secs or less is feasible.
That’s what I’m hoping for anyway. That all these moves including the Darnold signing are part of a grand plan for an offense that’s ideal to match up with a ferocious defense. Ball control, pounding the rock, long drives, rested defense.
I wanted to believe a version of this until JS said the plan was to stick with Geno until Geno wanted out.
I have the sense that both Geno and DK felt disregarded and disrespected by the last OC. Grubb came out of college and, perhaps, wasn't accustomed to veteran players expecting input in the gameplan -- and probably he didn't have bandwidth for it. If that's right, probably some of that dissatisfaction spilled over to the HC as well.
I think MM was happy to let DK go because DK isn't a fit for the culture he's trying to install.
And I wish I could remember where I read that Geno didn't like being under center. That seems to be an important part of KK's offense, adding another .5 seconds of uncertainty to the defensive quandry.
I could see Geno being successful in a similar offense as Darnold. Seems like JS could have certainly been, "no Geno anymore, who would we want to run an offense with the same goals we had of helping the defense and being holistically better? Hey, MM, KK, & staff, who would be your choice to work with? Darnold? You know him, like him, and are confident these things are his strengths? Even moreso than Geno?? Let's go get him."
Yeah there’s so much positioning these guys do, hard to divine from what they say. Better to see what they do
Interesting that this style may also suit an up and coming 3rd rounder with duel threat potential. The MVS over the top threat has to be there and will be a go to a few times per game (rather than then dependent on as in previous years)…make me think that Melcalf would have been very unhappy in this offense.
In an interview that was shown on Before The Noise; season 2, Kubiak stated he is not bringing a "system". He said, "it is all about the players and doing what they do well. I am excited to see what they can do well and how we can take advantage of those things."
So, most likely, DK would have been in a different version of this offense. It's also part of the bigger plan that Zez sees in this post. KK is intentionally designing this offense around what and who JS & MM wanted. I am loving it!
Maybe it's not so much a system as it is a philosophy. Certainly his year in NOLA supports that. That said, his philosophy seems (from All_22) to be to use similar sets for a variety of plays, by way of concealing offensive intent, and to create as much horizontal chaos as possible within the defense. I don't think THAT is going to change with personnel. How he gets there will. But taking advantage of odd skillsets seems a hallmark of both MM and KK, and is perhaps why we should be less concerned about our WR room than most of the pundits are. Maybe!
KK had an interview a while back before he was with Hawks, said it's about putting people in conflict. Making defenders make a choice and when they guess A, we go B, if they guess B we go A. Making defenders think slows them way down, which I love. Giving us options regardless of what the defense chooses makes me think we've got the right line of thinking. I am super pumped to see this all unfold. Hope we jell fast and stay healthy.
Lately, the key seems to be strong connections between the QB and TE. Brady went so far as wait for Gronkowski to come out of retirement before they went to the Buccaneers. We've got KC, Philly, Niners and the Lions... My bet is they develop a rhythm, like Zez's 2.5 seconds: BoomBoom BoomBoom Wham! Or any Neil Young song: BoomBoomTap. BoomBoomTap Whatever. It all takes time. A whole new group is a Big Ask given such a short time to train.
I'm cool with Darnold/Kubiak moving the ball 4 yards at a time instead of 2 downs of long incompletions to set up another 3rd and 10 like Geno/Grubb. Take 6-8 minutes a drive, score 20 points a game and let the D rest and only give up 15 points a game.
Geno was the same with the previous OV as he was with Grubb. I think he realized he was on thin ice and decided to ask for the trade.
Let’s hear it for Sam Donald, rah,rah,rah. as for myself, I prefer to wait just a little bit till I see it in the field.