There are two ways Russell can mess up in his first game. 1. His over-abundant ego, or 2. Nerves over being on the Hawks field knowing the history of the win record & the energy of the 12s. He's going to have to hope he can see over the defensive players fast enough to get a ball in the air before his bum is on the ground. One thing's for sure. The Hawks are going to have a LOT more fun than the Broncos.
Thanks for the write-up, Kenneth, and I agree with you - both scenarios are definitely plausible; and while a season-opening MNF win over the Wilson-led Broncos would be my fondest birthday, Christmas, and Arbor Day wish come true, you’ve helped convince me that the QBs in the 2023 draft are worth sucking for… is it too much to ask for a 1-0 start, and then to be ridiculously competitive in the next 16 games while PCJS sorts out the team, but only win 2-3 more along the way to get a Top-5 pick? Dream scenario… but then I read an article like this, and I get so hyped for the the ‘Hawks to win!
Defense will keep most games close, but unless they get an upgrade at QB. ( Jimmy G., Mayfield or Minshew) they won't go far with a 3 year bust and career back up at the most important position in the NFL.I still believe the starting QB is to be determined.
Then, maybe Geno won't be burdened by the unpleasant nag of having Wilson sitting on the bench watching him. One thing that's pretty straightforward is that people often perform at the level that's expected of them. I trust the coaches will treat Geno much differently this season with Wilson gone.
Totally agree with this - and Wilson wasn’t just sitting on the bench either, he was constantly mugging the sideline like a cat being kept off a mouse. He even ruined Jake Luton’s sole career highlight by also going out and calling the coin toss for overtime, normally the preserve of the back-up QB. He was a major, major distraction, and I was impressed that Geno could go out there and perform at any level with the horribly limited playbook he was forced to use until the trusted him to just go win the Jags game.
He won’t be great, but the players - especially DK - seek to really like and respond to him. It’s the time of off-season delusion, but I can see a real return to the chip on the shoulder, ‘we all we got’ mentally of the start of Pete’s reign and scratching and fighting for every blade of grass. That seems a lot more plausible than the team going out there and just laying an egg every week.
I agree 2022 Hawks will live and die with the new and mostly unproven 3-4 D.
I agree future QB is TBD, for good reason: Hawks don't want a blue-chip QB to get killed by an offensive line that will learn by burning. Even if rookie tackles do well, Hawk OL is at minimum a quality center short of a quality OL.
At this point in his career, Geno probably is who everyone thinks he is.
But there are competing narratives about Drew Lock. Many people think he's a proven bust, while others think he's been the victim of bad coaching and circumstances. Time will tell who is right. If he starts or even plays a significant number of snaps instead of Geno, I think we'll have a clearer picture by the end of September. I'm willing to give him a chance and will be rooting for him to prove the doubters wrong.
If we upgrade at QB, 3-0 isn’t out of the question. If we don’t, 0-3 isn’t. I’d like to think we beat the Falcons though. From all the OTA pressers, it sounds like Geno is ahead of Drew. All the players and coaches praised Smith with hardly a mention of Lock.
One player I think could benefit the team most by having a breakout season is Dee Eskridge. If Ken Walker is as good as I expect and we have a dynamic wr3, that’s going to make this offense very potent with even decent qb play.
YEAH , I agree. Week one may be a surprise. I am wondering if they set up for a 3-3-5 heavy nickel as a base ( thus 3 starting safeties with 3 backups ).
WE KNOW Wilson does not like 2 deep safeties. Put a 3rd in the box as well to spy QB and RB? ( you know who ) .
May 29, 2022·edited May 29, 2022Liked by Seaside Joe
I'm not going to make a prediction because who knows. But I think 1-2 is more likely than 2-1. If there were an over under, I'd place it at 1-2 after the first three games. The off season always breeds optimism. A sober analysis has to place us in the bottom half of the NFL.
I agree that Lance hasn't proven anything but Garropolo may start. I'm not convinced San Francisco is going to trade or cut him. Also, Lance may not be great but he could still be good enough to beat us. I'd like to think Lock can be decent. Hopefully he can be. But there's no evidence of it yet. Maybe Walker can be so great, he takes over and carries the team. Again, not likely. But who knows.
I doubt we beat Denver. Under the big lights against his old team, with lots of time to prepare, my guess is Wilson probably cuts our defense to ribbons. If Denver's run game is solid, I don't think we'll have a chance. Unless Walker turns out to be the next Barry Sanders. Then all bets are off. But how likely is that. I'm not sure Barry Sanders in today's NFL would be Barry Sanders.
The reason we watch and follow football is we never know if we will cheer or be throwing bricks at the tv. Really do not know how the season will start or end? Good write up!
I think '...the entire San Francisco offense is kind of just “in theory”.' applies to the entire 2022 Hawk O & D - not just players but coaching and scheme.
I interpret PC comment about being "arrogant", applies to himself, for not giving O & D coordinators enough autonomy. PC will try to turn into "chairman of the board"/chief strategist and challenge O & D coordinators to scheme to his strategy.
New Hawk O line will learn by seat of pants, still have a speed bump for center. Hawk QB's will run for their lives. In theory, power run game complements quick release passing?
In theory, defense new 3-4 scheme works: New Hawk D line generates a pass rush, injured DBs & S come back healthy, Brooks-Barton inside LB and 2 TBD OLBs work well. A LOTTA THEORY ;-)
Broncos win September 12. Bronco OL gives Russ time to be Russ unlike past Hawk OL scrap heaps, in theory. 49rs & Falcons are toss-ups for me.
I thought the consensus was that the Broncos also had a bad offensive line. Most places I can see a rating for the unit as a whole (like PFF) have them as below average, but better than that Hawks by a bit. If any real part of why (not even most of why, just a part of why big enough to notice) the Hawks O line always looks so bad was Russ holding onto the ball forever, he's gonna have just as bad a time in Denver.
On the other side of that coin, the Broncos OL pushes Russ back 30 yards in Offensive Holding penalties trying to protect him long enough to get a ball in the air. Russ had a really difficult time keeping the Offensive on the field last season. Muscle memory may well guide his play next season. LOL
The way the Broncos are promoting Russ on social media they are going to have to lower that pedestal they've got him on by at least 30 yards to make sure his ego doesn't lead them to a season of hot shot bungles.
Pete Carroll teams often get off to slow starts and there are too many new pieces to integrate to expect a quick getaway this year—a new defensive scheme, as many as three new offensive lineman, plus of course the situation at QB.
Denver (home): The Broncos already have one of the NFL’s better defenses, and now have Russell Wilson to take a middle-of-the-pack offense to the next level. After the first quarter, the emotions will wear off and talent will come to bear.
SF (away): I might feel differently were this game in Seattle. As it is, it’s hard to see a Geno Smith/Drew Lock offense accomplishing much this early in the season on the road against one of the NFC’s best defenses.
Atlanta (home): First win. If we lose this game, it will a *very* long season.
The SF game is interesting, but that's a team Wagner always seemed to play a bit above himself against. Sometimes in sports there are just teams you have success against, and that was SF for Bobby. I expect that to continue, but now the the lambies benefit.
SF runs the ball well, and that might be a new challenge for these Hawks.
May 29, 2022·edited May 29, 2022Liked by Seaside Joe
I don't have any idea about their record in Sept; I just really don't have a clue about how the offense may perform. I do think the we have a good chance to hold the Broncos scoring down in the 1st game, for the very good reason you mention, but also because I think that there will be a lot of guys on D who have been going up against Russ every practice for years, and they'll all be real fired up. Russ will be, too, and for much the same reason, I think he'll just be quite outnumbered in that regard. Sure, everyone on the field will be pumped for a new season, MNF in Seattle and all that (I expect the rookies on each side are going to be gob-smacked), but I think our D is just going to really be out there that much more. We may very well still lose (see my 1st comment), but I think our D is really going to try to show for this one.
Week 1 the Hawks offense struggles mightily and Javonte Williams, not Russell Wilson, is the game's MVP. It's an easy win for Denver and Russ disappoints his fantasy owners.
Week 2 is really fun because the two teams combine for 500 rushing yards, five different players take at least one snap, and the winning team's defense outscores its offense.
Weeks 3 is a low-scoring and ugly affair, but DK does something cool.
It's hard to say at this point who Seattle is offensively or defensively but Kenneth is right about catching Wilson early, and possibly without Jeudy. Seattle has a chance but i think the game has to stay close. I think Seattle won't find a way in SF with new QB. I like Seattle over Atlanta at home. I think they are in the same boat as Seattle and I have never been overly impressed by Mariota as an NFL QB. I have Seattle at 1-2. The one caveat that could change that would be Seattle really being on the map defensively out of the gate which might be a little much to ask.
There are two ways Russell can mess up in his first game. 1. His over-abundant ego, or 2. Nerves over being on the Hawks field knowing the history of the win record & the energy of the 12s. He's going to have to hope he can see over the defensive players fast enough to get a ball in the air before his bum is on the ground. One thing's for sure. The Hawks are going to have a LOT more fun than the Broncos.
“Don’t do that… don’t give me hope!”
Thanks for the write-up, Kenneth, and I agree with you - both scenarios are definitely plausible; and while a season-opening MNF win over the Wilson-led Broncos would be my fondest birthday, Christmas, and Arbor Day wish come true, you’ve helped convince me that the QBs in the 2023 draft are worth sucking for… is it too much to ask for a 1-0 start, and then to be ridiculously competitive in the next 16 games while PCJS sorts out the team, but only win 2-3 more along the way to get a Top-5 pick? Dream scenario… but then I read an article like this, and I get so hyped for the the ‘Hawks to win!
Defense will keep most games close, but unless they get an upgrade at QB. ( Jimmy G., Mayfield or Minshew) they won't go far with a 3 year bust and career back up at the most important position in the NFL.I still believe the starting QB is to be determined.
Then, maybe Geno won't be burdened by the unpleasant nag of having Wilson sitting on the bench watching him. One thing that's pretty straightforward is that people often perform at the level that's expected of them. I trust the coaches will treat Geno much differently this season with Wilson gone.
Totally agree with this - and Wilson wasn’t just sitting on the bench either, he was constantly mugging the sideline like a cat being kept off a mouse. He even ruined Jake Luton’s sole career highlight by also going out and calling the coin toss for overtime, normally the preserve of the back-up QB. He was a major, major distraction, and I was impressed that Geno could go out there and perform at any level with the horribly limited playbook he was forced to use until the trusted him to just go win the Jags game.
He won’t be great, but the players - especially DK - seek to really like and respond to him. It’s the time of off-season delusion, but I can see a real return to the chip on the shoulder, ‘we all we got’ mentally of the start of Pete’s reign and scratching and fighting for every blade of grass. That seems a lot more plausible than the team going out there and just laying an egg every week.
I agree 2022 Hawks will live and die with the new and mostly unproven 3-4 D.
I agree future QB is TBD, for good reason: Hawks don't want a blue-chip QB to get killed by an offensive line that will learn by burning. Even if rookie tackles do well, Hawk OL is at minimum a quality center short of a quality OL.
Best move they made this year is dumping Ken Norton
Right. They haven't had a quality center since Max Unger. Trading him for Graham was a huge mistake.
At this point in his career, Geno probably is who everyone thinks he is.
But there are competing narratives about Drew Lock. Many people think he's a proven bust, while others think he's been the victim of bad coaching and circumstances. Time will tell who is right. If he starts or even plays a significant number of snaps instead of Geno, I think we'll have a clearer picture by the end of September. I'm willing to give him a chance and will be rooting for him to prove the doubters wrong.
Bad coaching didn't throw all the incompletions and picks. By the end of Sept. we could be 0 and 4.
If we upgrade at QB, 3-0 isn’t out of the question. If we don’t, 0-3 isn’t. I’d like to think we beat the Falcons though. From all the OTA pressers, it sounds like Geno is ahead of Drew. All the players and coaches praised Smith with hardly a mention of Lock.
One player I think could benefit the team most by having a breakout season is Dee Eskridge. If Ken Walker is as good as I expect and we have a dynamic wr3, that’s going to make this offense very potent with even decent qb play.
YEAH , I agree. Week one may be a surprise. I am wondering if they set up for a 3-3-5 heavy nickel as a base ( thus 3 starting safeties with 3 backups ).
WE KNOW Wilson does not like 2 deep safeties. Put a 3rd in the box as well to spy QB and RB? ( you know who ) .
I'm not going to make a prediction because who knows. But I think 1-2 is more likely than 2-1. If there were an over under, I'd place it at 1-2 after the first three games. The off season always breeds optimism. A sober analysis has to place us in the bottom half of the NFL.
I agree that Lance hasn't proven anything but Garropolo may start. I'm not convinced San Francisco is going to trade or cut him. Also, Lance may not be great but he could still be good enough to beat us. I'd like to think Lock can be decent. Hopefully he can be. But there's no evidence of it yet. Maybe Walker can be so great, he takes over and carries the team. Again, not likely. But who knows.
I doubt we beat Denver. Under the big lights against his old team, with lots of time to prepare, my guess is Wilson probably cuts our defense to ribbons. If Denver's run game is solid, I don't think we'll have a chance. Unless Walker turns out to be the next Barry Sanders. Then all bets are off. But how likely is that. I'm not sure Barry Sanders in today's NFL would be Barry Sanders.
The reason we watch and follow football is we never know if we will cheer or be throwing bricks at the tv. Really do not know how the season will start or end? Good write up!
Interesting take Ken - and yes - optimistic!!!
I think '...the entire San Francisco offense is kind of just “in theory”.' applies to the entire 2022 Hawk O & D - not just players but coaching and scheme.
I interpret PC comment about being "arrogant", applies to himself, for not giving O & D coordinators enough autonomy. PC will try to turn into "chairman of the board"/chief strategist and challenge O & D coordinators to scheme to his strategy.
New Hawk O line will learn by seat of pants, still have a speed bump for center. Hawk QB's will run for their lives. In theory, power run game complements quick release passing?
In theory, defense new 3-4 scheme works: New Hawk D line generates a pass rush, injured DBs & S come back healthy, Brooks-Barton inside LB and 2 TBD OLBs work well. A LOTTA THEORY ;-)
Broncos win September 12. Bronco OL gives Russ time to be Russ unlike past Hawk OL scrap heaps, in theory. 49rs & Falcons are toss-ups for me.
I thought the consensus was that the Broncos also had a bad offensive line. Most places I can see a rating for the unit as a whole (like PFF) have them as below average, but better than that Hawks by a bit. If any real part of why (not even most of why, just a part of why big enough to notice) the Hawks O line always looks so bad was Russ holding onto the ball forever, he's gonna have just as bad a time in Denver.
On the other side of that coin, the Broncos OL pushes Russ back 30 yards in Offensive Holding penalties trying to protect him long enough to get a ball in the air. Russ had a really difficult time keeping the Offensive on the field last season. Muscle memory may well guide his play next season. LOL
If it bleeds, we can kill it. Heh, heh.
1-2 I think. Denver is going to be too good with Wilson, so is SF, but they do knock off the Falcons.
Whose fans prob have at Seattle as their 1st win of the season.
The way the Broncos are promoting Russ on social media they are going to have to lower that pedestal they've got him on by at least 30 yards to make sure his ego doesn't lead them to a season of hot shot bungles.
1-2.
Pete Carroll teams often get off to slow starts and there are too many new pieces to integrate to expect a quick getaway this year—a new defensive scheme, as many as three new offensive lineman, plus of course the situation at QB.
Denver (home): The Broncos already have one of the NFL’s better defenses, and now have Russell Wilson to take a middle-of-the-pack offense to the next level. After the first quarter, the emotions will wear off and talent will come to bear.
SF (away): I might feel differently were this game in Seattle. As it is, it’s hard to see a Geno Smith/Drew Lock offense accomplishing much this early in the season on the road against one of the NFC’s best defenses.
Atlanta (home): First win. If we lose this game, it will a *very* long season.
The SF game is interesting, but that's a team Wagner always seemed to play a bit above himself against. Sometimes in sports there are just teams you have success against, and that was SF for Bobby. I expect that to continue, but now the the lambies benefit.
SF runs the ball well, and that might be a new challenge for these Hawks.
vs Broncos WIN
vs 49ers LOSS
vs Falcons WIN
and may the Force be with me on these predictions!!
I think it will depend on how quickly the OL comes together. We can and I hope to finish September with a 3-0 record.
I don't have any idea about their record in Sept; I just really don't have a clue about how the offense may perform. I do think the we have a good chance to hold the Broncos scoring down in the 1st game, for the very good reason you mention, but also because I think that there will be a lot of guys on D who have been going up against Russ every practice for years, and they'll all be real fired up. Russ will be, too, and for much the same reason, I think he'll just be quite outnumbered in that regard. Sure, everyone on the field will be pumped for a new season, MNF in Seattle and all that (I expect the rookies on each side are going to be gob-smacked), but I think our D is just going to really be out there that much more. We may very well still lose (see my 1st comment), but I think our D is really going to try to show for this one.
Week 1 the Hawks offense struggles mightily and Javonte Williams, not Russell Wilson, is the game's MVP. It's an easy win for Denver and Russ disappoints his fantasy owners.
Week 2 is really fun because the two teams combine for 500 rushing yards, five different players take at least one snap, and the winning team's defense outscores its offense.
Weeks 3 is a low-scoring and ugly affair, but DK does something cool.
It's hard to say at this point who Seattle is offensively or defensively but Kenneth is right about catching Wilson early, and possibly without Jeudy. Seattle has a chance but i think the game has to stay close. I think Seattle won't find a way in SF with new QB. I like Seattle over Atlanta at home. I think they are in the same boat as Seattle and I have never been overly impressed by Mariota as an NFL QB. I have Seattle at 1-2. The one caveat that could change that would be Seattle really being on the map defensively out of the gate which might be a little much to ask.