Let's notice Spoon was vitally involved on both interceptions. He knocked Eman's loose. Also I am developing a deeper appreciation for the connection Darnold must have with his receivers. I've wondered why we don't see a wide array of our guys getting targeted. It is more than throwing at a body. We are finally hearing MM harping on intensity to corral contested catches. I do believe it is this that has DK in Pittsburg.
129 yards rushing and we're talking about it as a bad day. No one player was dominant, no one play stood out, but the team quietly gained 129 yards on the ground. Keep pounding the rock and good things happen which is why I hated the first offensive drive with its wide passes for losses.
What stood out? The Seahawks have an embarrassment of talent...players, coaches, coordinators AND GM...and they all showed up for the second half! The first half left me mumbling expletives in my popcorn...then "Hey, just kidding! It's another blowout!" the second half. There were so many positives in that game, that what stood out was the Debbie Downer stuff. The first half...slow start for offense...run game was just OK. If Kubiak were to ask me (as likely as being struck by lightning...twice...on the same day) I'd lose the quick passes in the flat behind the line of scrimmage that so often seem to get negative yardage. Also, more snaps for Charbonnet please. If Kubiak needs an annoying sidekick (circa John Candy), I'm available...and I'll work for sliders and beer.
GREAT recollection of all those tipped interceptions in the Legion of Boom days — happened all the time, defense always swarming around the ball, just like these guys are now. I sure hope they can keep this nucleus together and give it at least another year of gelling, keeps getting better and better.
That said: I literally wondered if we just came off the bus flat or overconfident, bc as you say, Seattle was not the best team on the field in the 1st half and was lucky to come away 6-6. In particular I was disappointed with the OL, Darnold under pressure immediately and most of the running plays getting strung out or jammed. It’s like someone had watched the Vikings film and once again Darnold was getting swarmed. We cannot get away with a half like that against the Rams, party’s over if we repeat this, and their players and their coaches are better than Falcons and Vikings. We’d better get our shit together.
Same with Darnold, uncharacteristic accuracy — missed several guys in the first half on the few occasions when he did have the time or when he went into movement (which you called, sir!!). In particular the rollout miss of JSN was disappointing (and he missed badly, wasn’t close).
But then we just go apeshit again, completely different game in the 2nd half. And a completely different Darnold. I hear you that there are no “halftime adjustments” but there must’ve been some sort of wake up call bc it was like two different games altogether. Glad we are capable of that, and two halves of that would be games in the 50’s which I guess is unrealistic, but man, I so prefer the smothering starts to games and then coasting in the 2nd half, those are the ones where we appear truly dominant. The Falcons score suggests we were dominant but that’s not how it felt to me.
On the KR TD, there was some really great blocking all over. I see Morris and Kallerup, Knight, Okada, O'Connell, Thomas, and Russell all engaging and controlling their man so Shaheed could find a way through with Ebiketie only getting his fingertips on him because Bobo got him enough to knock him off course. What were Bell and White doing? Why, running next to Shaheed to keep him clean on the way down, of course. Perfect execution by all 11 players on the field. I've been saying this since like week 2: This ST unit is really special.
Kallerup is like what Pete hallucinated Bellore was. Kallerup is a heck of a blocker and effort giver. He could easily lock down ST captain position and be a team staple for a decade. He's fast becoming my favourite player of the year!
I am not scared anymore. With the 37-9 win the Hawks express the right mindset by not allowing inferior teams back into the game. I can't wait to watch the Seahawks play and dominate the Rams one week from this coming Thursday.
Is there a universe where the Hawks crush the Rams in a nationally televised game? YES! Deck the halls with L.A. mutton while visions of the Superbowl dance in my noggin.
My take on the game: The Hawks came out of the locker room after halftime, looked at the Falcons and said "yeah, that first half -- we were just kidding."
If we get the 2nd half version of this offense, I like our chances against anybody. Including the Rams. The Seahawks defense made LA look like the Titans. Winning out is a tall order but this team is special. Health trumps all, but barring an injury disaster scenario I can’t pick another team as a bigger favorite to hoist the Lombardi this year.
And given the mindset of this team, they will be highly motivated against the Rams. I know that Macdonald tries to focus them on the process over the results, and for good reason, but there is no way they don't get a little extra juice for the Rams game.
I watched part of the Rams’ destruction of the Cardinals today and there was a Stafford rollout that looked a lot like Sam’s rollout, running away from pressure than then…. Stafford sees his receiver is covered and throws the ball at the dirt. I know, I know, this win was as comfortable as an old sweater. But…. For those calling for Sam to take the next step, that’s the next step. If he doesn’t see K9 open, that’s not a sin. What is a sin is not seeing his man completely blanketed. Imagine it’s all tied up in the 4th quarter and Seattle is driving and Sam does that…. And it’s the playoffs. That blindness is his last remaining issue. Geno had a more critical blindness; he’d often never see the closing DB and telegraph his throw rather than look that guy off. So far, that’s not Sam’s issue. It’s throwing to someone who is clearly not open when (almost always) he’s under duress. I don’t know how you coach this. But when he sees the film of that pic from the All-22 he has to see that Aroyo was NOT open. Now, unfortunately, it sounds like he won’t be open for quite some time.
All that said, I don’t understand the game plan for the first half at all. This team has been run-to-open-passing and they just trashed that to start this game. Why? Even though they didn’t have a great day running, they could’ve had a better one by… let’s see…running the ball!
Part of me thinks they’re trying to keep a bunch of play designs off the film for when the games “really” matter. Part of me even hopes that. Like, you know, handing off to the fullback when nobody is expecting that. Remember Mack Strong, anyone? Great hands, awesome blocker. Unless Oetz has hands of stone (maybe?) or cannot be trusted with the football, is there a reason that mix is out of the mix?
Anyway, I’m being hypercritical, because I never thought this team was going to get to 10 wins with a chance at a No. 1 seed. Chance, however, is only that. They have to beat the Colts, ideally without harm, even, ideally, better than that. Like the way the Colts lost today…. And even more ideally, the Lions at least make the Rams work for a win. The Lions’ D is a mess right now. I don’t see them winning that game, but please, make the Rams work hard to win. And then the two real tests come. And there, Sam has to play mistake-free. Yes, take sacks. Yes, throw the ball into the seats. Today’s runs from Sam were consequential, not just for the gains, but especially for the decisiveness. Hopefully there’s more of that; movement, creativity, and getting out of harm’s way.
It's an overall weekly game plan, but interesting comment about saving plays for bigger games vs. tougher teams. It felt like that vs. Vikes last week, especially 1st half it was like "let's pretend JSN can't get open...how do we run the O in that scenario?".
Sam's working on that next step. Glad to see him scramble for positive yards and avoid big hits. He looked gun shy 1st half after the pick.
Last week the Vikes DC said "we're gonna be blitzing him..." NFL knows, after Vikes/Rams '24 playoff - 'blitz to confuse Sam & force bad passes'. So the next step for Sam is beat 49rs & Rams without throwing 4 ints. Which is why Hawks may hide some of their more creative anti-blitz schemes to surprise McVay & co. Hawks are gonna need all the savvy plays they can come up with because 49rs & Rams don't self destruct like Vikes & Falcons.
I hope on Thursday we see Sam roll out away from pressure and pass downfield, but KK needs to put it in the game plan. I hope you’re right and this has been saved for the Ram game.
JSN is a DB magnet...which opens up a plethora of other playmakers at WR, TE, RB AND FB. Ever notice how hard Cooper is to bring down AFTER the catch? Blitz? OK, so little time...but so many weapons.
Coach tried to cover for Sam on that pass to Arroyo, implying Arroyo should have caught it, and Sam himself said he needed to throw the ball lower. But what he needed to do was not throw that ball at all. Arroyo wasn't even a half-step open when Sam threw.
It was nice to see Sam run with it a couple of times later, though. He's not a gangly giraffe, like Brady was, when he runs. He can make himself a weapon this way, even if he uses it rarely.
Made our annual trip to an away game this year to ATL. To my eyes the OL struggled a lot in Q1 & 2 which I did not enjoy seeing. Falcons had their best pass rusher out and yet they dominated until the 2nd half. The Hawks made the necessary halftime adjustments and then everything seemed far easier. The Falcons are a lost cause and they quit by Q4.
The thing about Witherspoons interception was that he first moves the outside linebacker inside, then fills the hole, then tips the ball up… and then gets the INT. He did everything to create that play. Awesome.
It looked cool. Haven't re watched, what I think I saw was the Hawk D from that side, including Witherspoon, sold a fake blitz to Cousins, who passed to where he thought the "blitzer" would no longer be, except they didn't blitz. The game within the game...
The 'Hawks won big time, the Bears lost, and the Colts (next week's opponent) suffered key injuries.
The Thursday night game with the Rams in week 16 is setting up to be the biggest game of the NFL season, and if the 49ers continue to win, the week 18 matchup with the 49ers will be even bigger. Go'Hawks!
Sam needs to play the whole game with INTELLIGENCE. Offensive line can help him out a lot more. Same with Kubiak. A little less talk and a lot more action from Sam otherwise he’ll be known as a White version of Geno Smith. Harsh I know but as Bill Parcells one said, “you are what your record says you are”. Leading league in interceptions won’t get it done in playoffs
Poor Sam! There is a reasonable chance he could go 28-6 over two regular seasons with two different teams, but if he doesn't lead his current team to at least one, probably two, playoff wins, he'll be judged as a career loser. Horrably unfair.
Let's notice Spoon was vitally involved on both interceptions. He knocked Eman's loose. Also I am developing a deeper appreciation for the connection Darnold must have with his receivers. I've wondered why we don't see a wide array of our guys getting targeted. It is more than throwing at a body. We are finally hearing MM harping on intensity to corral contested catches. I do believe it is this that has DK in Pittsburg.
Pittsburg, you say ? ! You're not saying that the Hawks are gonna trade Spoon to the Steelers are you ?
... joke.
129 yards rushing and we're talking about it as a bad day. No one player was dominant, no one play stood out, but the team quietly gained 129 yards on the ground. Keep pounding the rock and good things happen which is why I hated the first offensive drive with its wide passes for losses.
What stood out? The Seahawks have an embarrassment of talent...players, coaches, coordinators AND GM...and they all showed up for the second half! The first half left me mumbling expletives in my popcorn...then "Hey, just kidding! It's another blowout!" the second half. There were so many positives in that game, that what stood out was the Debbie Downer stuff. The first half...slow start for offense...run game was just OK. If Kubiak were to ask me (as likely as being struck by lightning...twice...on the same day) I'd lose the quick passes in the flat behind the line of scrimmage that so often seem to get negative yardage. Also, more snaps for Charbonnet please. If Kubiak needs an annoying sidekick (circa John Candy), I'm available...and I'll work for sliders and beer.
GREAT recollection of all those tipped interceptions in the Legion of Boom days — happened all the time, defense always swarming around the ball, just like these guys are now. I sure hope they can keep this nucleus together and give it at least another year of gelling, keeps getting better and better.
That said: I literally wondered if we just came off the bus flat or overconfident, bc as you say, Seattle was not the best team on the field in the 1st half and was lucky to come away 6-6. In particular I was disappointed with the OL, Darnold under pressure immediately and most of the running plays getting strung out or jammed. It’s like someone had watched the Vikings film and once again Darnold was getting swarmed. We cannot get away with a half like that against the Rams, party’s over if we repeat this, and their players and their coaches are better than Falcons and Vikings. We’d better get our shit together.
Same with Darnold, uncharacteristic accuracy — missed several guys in the first half on the few occasions when he did have the time or when he went into movement (which you called, sir!!). In particular the rollout miss of JSN was disappointing (and he missed badly, wasn’t close).
But then we just go apeshit again, completely different game in the 2nd half. And a completely different Darnold. I hear you that there are no “halftime adjustments” but there must’ve been some sort of wake up call bc it was like two different games altogether. Glad we are capable of that, and two halves of that would be games in the 50’s which I guess is unrealistic, but man, I so prefer the smothering starts to games and then coasting in the 2nd half, those are the ones where we appear truly dominant. The Falcons score suggests we were dominant but that’s not how it felt to me.
On the KR TD, there was some really great blocking all over. I see Morris and Kallerup, Knight, Okada, O'Connell, Thomas, and Russell all engaging and controlling their man so Shaheed could find a way through with Ebiketie only getting his fingertips on him because Bobo got him enough to knock him off course. What were Bell and White doing? Why, running next to Shaheed to keep him clean on the way down, of course. Perfect execution by all 11 players on the field. I've been saying this since like week 2: This ST unit is really special.
Kallerup is like what Pete hallucinated Bellore was. Kallerup is a heck of a blocker and effort giver. He could easily lock down ST captain position and be a team staple for a decade. He's fast becoming my favourite player of the year!
I am not scared anymore. With the 37-9 win the Hawks express the right mindset by not allowing inferior teams back into the game. I can't wait to watch the Seahawks play and dominate the Rams one week from this coming Thursday.
Kupp spoke to the psych beat down we gave them in the second half. Before that opening TD, the Falcons were playing some damn tough football.
Is there a universe where the Hawks crush the Rams in a nationally televised game? YES! Deck the halls with L.A. mutton while visions of the Superbowl dance in my noggin.
Double rec 4 this one, Bob.
... but how do i get that out of my head ?
Deck the Halls with LA Mutton !
LA LA LA LA La ! LA LA LA LA !
A holiday brain worm right? You're welcome.
They did it to the 49ers in 2012.
My take on the game: The Hawks came out of the locker room after halftime, looked at the Falcons and said "yeah, that first half -- we were just kidding."
If we get the 2nd half version of this offense, I like our chances against anybody. Including the Rams. The Seahawks defense made LA look like the Titans. Winning out is a tall order but this team is special. Health trumps all, but barring an injury disaster scenario I can’t pick another team as a bigger favorite to hoist the Lombardi this year.
And given the mindset of this team, they will be highly motivated against the Rams. I know that Macdonald tries to focus them on the process over the results, and for good reason, but there is no way they don't get a little extra juice for the Rams game.
I watched part of the Rams’ destruction of the Cardinals today and there was a Stafford rollout that looked a lot like Sam’s rollout, running away from pressure than then…. Stafford sees his receiver is covered and throws the ball at the dirt. I know, I know, this win was as comfortable as an old sweater. But…. For those calling for Sam to take the next step, that’s the next step. If he doesn’t see K9 open, that’s not a sin. What is a sin is not seeing his man completely blanketed. Imagine it’s all tied up in the 4th quarter and Seattle is driving and Sam does that…. And it’s the playoffs. That blindness is his last remaining issue. Geno had a more critical blindness; he’d often never see the closing DB and telegraph his throw rather than look that guy off. So far, that’s not Sam’s issue. It’s throwing to someone who is clearly not open when (almost always) he’s under duress. I don’t know how you coach this. But when he sees the film of that pic from the All-22 he has to see that Aroyo was NOT open. Now, unfortunately, it sounds like he won’t be open for quite some time.
All that said, I don’t understand the game plan for the first half at all. This team has been run-to-open-passing and they just trashed that to start this game. Why? Even though they didn’t have a great day running, they could’ve had a better one by… let’s see…running the ball!
Part of me thinks they’re trying to keep a bunch of play designs off the film for when the games “really” matter. Part of me even hopes that. Like, you know, handing off to the fullback when nobody is expecting that. Remember Mack Strong, anyone? Great hands, awesome blocker. Unless Oetz has hands of stone (maybe?) or cannot be trusted with the football, is there a reason that mix is out of the mix?
Anyway, I’m being hypercritical, because I never thought this team was going to get to 10 wins with a chance at a No. 1 seed. Chance, however, is only that. They have to beat the Colts, ideally without harm, even, ideally, better than that. Like the way the Colts lost today…. And even more ideally, the Lions at least make the Rams work for a win. The Lions’ D is a mess right now. I don’t see them winning that game, but please, make the Rams work hard to win. And then the two real tests come. And there, Sam has to play mistake-free. Yes, take sacks. Yes, throw the ball into the seats. Today’s runs from Sam were consequential, not just for the gains, but especially for the decisiveness. Hopefully there’s more of that; movement, creativity, and getting out of harm’s way.
It's an overall weekly game plan, but interesting comment about saving plays for bigger games vs. tougher teams. It felt like that vs. Vikes last week, especially 1st half it was like "let's pretend JSN can't get open...how do we run the O in that scenario?".
Sam's working on that next step. Glad to see him scramble for positive yards and avoid big hits. He looked gun shy 1st half after the pick.
Last week the Vikes DC said "we're gonna be blitzing him..." NFL knows, after Vikes/Rams '24 playoff - 'blitz to confuse Sam & force bad passes'. So the next step for Sam is beat 49rs & Rams without throwing 4 ints. Which is why Hawks may hide some of their more creative anti-blitz schemes to surprise McVay & co. Hawks are gonna need all the savvy plays they can come up with because 49rs & Rams don't self destruct like Vikes & Falcons.
I hope on Thursday we see Sam roll out away from pressure and pass downfield, but KK needs to put it in the game plan. I hope you’re right and this has been saved for the Ram game.
JSN is a DB magnet...which opens up a plethora of other playmakers at WR, TE, RB AND FB. Ever notice how hard Cooper is to bring down AFTER the catch? Blitz? OK, so little time...but so many weapons.
Coach tried to cover for Sam on that pass to Arroyo, implying Arroyo should have caught it, and Sam himself said he needed to throw the ball lower. But what he needed to do was not throw that ball at all. Arroyo wasn't even a half-step open when Sam threw.
It was nice to see Sam run with it a couple of times later, though. He's not a gangly giraffe, like Brady was, when he runs. He can make himself a weapon this way, even if he uses it rarely.
Made our annual trip to an away game this year to ATL. To my eyes the OL struggled a lot in Q1 & 2 which I did not enjoy seeing. Falcons had their best pass rusher out and yet they dominated until the 2nd half. The Hawks made the necessary halftime adjustments and then everything seemed far easier. The Falcons are a lost cause and they quit by Q4.
The thing about Witherspoons interception was that he first moves the outside linebacker inside, then fills the hole, then tips the ball up… and then gets the INT. He did everything to create that play. Awesome.
It looked cool. Haven't re watched, what I think I saw was the Hawk D from that side, including Witherspoon, sold a fake blitz to Cousins, who passed to where he thought the "blitzer" would no longer be, except they didn't blitz. The game within the game...
Max Brosmer
Kirk Cousins
Riley Leonard
You can only play the teams on the schedule, but it sure is nice to face these guys towards the end of the season.
SSJ - please relay this suggestion to Elijah Arroyo…
“Stop photobombing Sam’s interceptions!”
Still waiting for the offense to consistently have an answer for the blitz.
What a great day for the Seahawks!!
The 'Hawks won big time, the Bears lost, and the Colts (next week's opponent) suffered key injuries.
The Thursday night game with the Rams in week 16 is setting up to be the biggest game of the NFL season, and if the 49ers continue to win, the week 18 matchup with the 49ers will be even bigger. Go'Hawks!
We control our destiny in the Division and conference! (1 seed)
Sam needs to play the whole game with INTELLIGENCE. Offensive line can help him out a lot more. Same with Kubiak. A little less talk and a lot more action from Sam otherwise he’ll be known as a White version of Geno Smith. Harsh I know but as Bill Parcells one said, “you are what your record says you are”. Leading league in interceptions won’t get it done in playoffs
Poor Sam! There is a reasonable chance he could go 28-6 over two regular seasons with two different teams, but if he doesn't lead his current team to at least one, probably two, playoff wins, he'll be judged as a career loser. Horrably unfair.
He seems to get flustered and make bad decisions when we are behind or tied, but he relaxes more and more as we gain the lead.
Can we have someone tell him we are winning so he stops throwing into coverage?