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Just reread this article (from the recent link), and now I want to like it all over again.

This quote in particular is subtle brilliance: "However, [not discussing Geno's future as the starter] would be like not being allowed to tell you what I think Seattle should do about Quandre Diggs or Al Woods even though most fans wouldn’t take issue with giving opinions on non-quarterbacks who are on the roster. Because non-quarterbacks do not invite controversy anywhere to the degree of quarterbacks, which is why I’m certain that most of us agree how important that position is in football. Whether a fan knows it or not."

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I'm kinda where you are as to the non-exclusive tag, would like another year under our belts, but think Geno has shown something else (leadership and locker room maturity) that maximizes everyone else. I also think he's shown Top 10 QB accuracy in a clean pocket, also has executed planned roll-outs, and has several Wilson-like throws to Lockett and a few others. That's worth your earlier 3-yr/$100m deal with an out in Yr 3, if it allows Seattle to clean up the pocket and strengthen the running game (Yr 2 of our tackles, and a good-to-great center). Starting to like Marquis as a WR3 but need bench strength at WR. But would hope Seattle gets a center, a WR and another RB out of this draft

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I had to look up Non Exclusive Francise Tag and this is what stuck out to me. "allows a tagged player to negotiate a deal with a new team. A tagged player's original team has the options to match or refuse the new team's offer or refuse it and be rewarded two first-round picks."

Of course Ken's statement "and pray another team wants him" regarding the tag. That seems completely logical. Seattle is coming off of a great draft. They have excellent draft capital going into 23 and another year (24) of draft capital seems to match all of your young rebuild players within 3 years of each other. There are 15 QB's listed as draft worthy from Draft Wire with three believed to be most NFL ready. Saying all of that I don't want to look at the QB draft, but how teams build winning franchises.

When you look at the Pats, 49ers, Seattle, Giants, Dallas, even Philly this year QB has always played a role, but defense seems to be a prime building block. As I remember Seattle built a solid defense throught the draft and FA in the 2010's. After beating the number one offense in the SB, Denver followed suit defensively the following 2 years and the return was two SB's, same as Seattle's. Belichick was a defensive coach, like Pete. Many of the more successful head coaching jobs these days seem to be going to DC's for the most part. As Ken so accurately pointed out, Seattle still has a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball. Seattle has spent most of it's premium defensive draft capital on the secondary, LB and never DL. Ol until this year has been slim. Seattle first needs to right the defensive ship. How many SB's does Rodgers have. How many does Brady have. Brady always had good defenses under both Bill B and Ariens. He always had a running game. Dallas spent draft capital on O-Line for years and defense. So did the 49ers (back to Walsh) as well as some FA adds.

How Seattle prioritizes it's resources the next two years will dertmine their relevance the next 4-6 years. Since investing in the O-Line last year, I think it would be smart they should look to add a center, guard and swing tackle. (Unger was inherited by Pete). D Line needs interior help and LB (interior). Edge is a need but should be accomplished through the LB skill set with the 3-4. Safety has a chunk of the FA money and Seattle may need to renegotiate some of Adams contract next year and Diggs in 24 to free up funds for other positions. There are some good LB options coming out in FA this year that would put Seattle in a better place than their current roster affords. Safety would almost require some more FA money and possbile draft pick. This is primarily part of the depth need due to injury history. The very least resign Neal. The DL has Ford's contract ending, Collier ending, and decsions need to be made on Woods, Harris and Jefferson. There has to be better options for a veteran and youth on Seattle's DL line.

Offensively Seattle could get a good QB prospect in round 2 and if they end up with the #2 overall pick somebondy out there will be willing to sell the farm for a QB including first round picks plural and 2nd round. The offensive line interior needs attention. Seattle's centers are FA next year. Swing tackle and guard should also be evaluated.

RB is simple. Keep DJ, draft 3rd round to go with Walker. There are a lot of FA possibilities next year to make a decision on Holmer.

WR Locket is good for another year and Seattle needs to make a decision on some of the late round and UFDA guys. I still think Seattle has some hidden talent not playing. The OL can make any receiver or QB for that matter better along with a sound running attack. TE decesions have to be made after Will D. Fant is a substantial cap hit next year (either active or dead cap same amount).

QB? depending on what happens on the Tag you either let Geno walk and take the picks or sign him to the Tag next year and Draft a QB as mentioned earlier. I wouldn't use the 2nd pick for that or the other first round pick. If you have to resign Lock do it as part of the rebuilt.

QB is important but have a sound surrounding cast on both sides of the ball can be the best determining factor on future success of a franchise. If you can win a SB with a game manager because your team has sound players around them, maybe that ought to be the plan until lady luck provides you with the next franchise guy.

Geno is not Seattle's savior. Much earlier this year I wrote that Seattle made great strides on their rebuilt in this years draft but it might take until 2024 and good moves the next two years to see real fruition to the plan. There is no magic bullet in the NFL. Coaching, talent assesment and depth appears to be the best foundation for success.

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Maybe we need to follow the Indy model, hire former players with no experience as coaches.

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Here is a little table of the qbs SF has beaten in the last 7 games

Date Team QB comp/att % rate td/int yds rate 2022 rating

10/30/22 Rams Matt 22/33 66.7% 1/0 187 91.4 87.4

11/13/22 Chargers Justin 21/35 60.0% 1/1 196 73.0 2 qbs 93.2

11/21/22 Cards Colt 24/34 70.6% 0/1 218 75.4 2 qbs

11/27/22 Saints Andy 18/29 62.1% 0/0 204 83.1 2 qbs 96.2

12/04/22 Fins Tua 18/33 54.5% 2/2 295 79.7 2 qbs 108.2

11/12/22 Bucs Tom 34/55 61.8% 1/2 253 63.7 88.9

12/15/22 Seahawks Geno 31/44 70.5% 1/0 238 90.9 105.3

In those games, by the stats, Geno has played as well or better than anyone. That includes the GOAT, another SB winner and two QBOTF. And we did better than the first SF game. Except for that first SF games all of our losses have been less than one score. With a top tier qb maybe we would have won a few more but I think we have more problems than just qb. Maybe with more talent in other areas and better coaching we would have a better record also. I watch this team this team and wonder how unprepared they seem to be at times. In the SF game, Deebo is out. That means their best receiver is Kittle. He burned us not once but twice! You think Geno is our problem? We just lost to Mr. Irrelevant, he's a better qb than Geno? Maybe.

Geno ain't perfect. He gets sacked. So does Burrow and Hurts. He throws picks. So does Allen and Mahomes.

I am not advocating for a big, long term contract for Geno. But if they are going to move on from him start someone else so we can see if he can be a bridge quarter back. And if he goes don't be surprised if we find out how little talent we have and how bad our coaches really are. Isn't that what they were saying before Russ left? LOL.

If SF can find a qb in the 7th round why can't we? LOL.

Ok, we draft a qb high. How do we fix our other problems?

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One of the lessons if this year I think is that QBs aren't as important as we collectively thought. There's a lot more guys out there who can play the position well enough to have success on a good team, who can play efficiently on a good offense, than we gave credit for. There are some awful QBs out there and they really do harm the team's chances of winning, but they aren't "everybody who's not a top 10 guy."

Additionally I no longer see a even truly great QB being able to put the team on his back alone and save them from a bad season. I think that a truly great QB can elevate a team about one tier: from playoff caliber to championship caliber, from .500 to playoff caliber, and so on. None of the real contenders this year are QB-only teams. Actually never mind contenders, every playoff team looks like a strong TEAM in some notable way.

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I was thinking after Thursday’s game that I see Geno as a very competent, but not a game changing quarterback. I thought a two year contract at 50 million guaranteed was a good offer. Not as much money as two franchise years, but guaranteed so maybe Geno would be interested. He’s put in many years and deserves a big payday as much any number of other QBs who’ve already got theirs. This is a lot of money to us mere mortals, but is only mid tier QB pay in today’s NFL. They should also sign Lock and draft a QB of the future (regardless of Geno’s decision), but probably not with the Denver #1 pick, that’s for a monster DL. If Geno bites, great, if not then wish him a happy life with many thanks from Seahawks fans for making this season way more entertaining and successful than anyone expected at the start of the year.

After reading your thoughts, I like your plan even better, but I’d still be ok with mine.

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It ain't Geno!!!!!

That the 3-4 defense has never worked this season and the 4-3 has worked extremely well seems like the kind of head-slapping objective evidence that should tell them exactly what to do. .... and now I'm hip to the same observation regarding the offense and the use of Tight Ends. When we were winning THIS SEASON, we primarily used the 4-3 Defense (old) and a 3 Tight End set on offense (new). Starting in Germany the 3TE set has consistently gotten called less as the season has gone on, whereas when we ran it Geno shined and we won games. I understand that no game plan can run one offensive look the entire time and I'm talking percentages here, but as of Mid-November we ran 3 tight ends more than any team in the NFL. That look hasn't been called in the last month anywhere near the same consistency as before. Dissly's number hasn't been called at all. Fant is a gem, and actually The Big Cheese-The Pusher-Colby Parkinson is my favorite current Seahawk. But all biases aside I'm standing in the same amazement that we had a scheme on offense that worked outstandingly this year that we have abandoned, as well as one on defense. I am squarely in the camp of blaming the schemes, not the players.

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"HOWEVER, if the Seahawks give Geno Smith the non-exclusive franchise tag and allow him to conversate..."

No Joe, just no!! Geno can have a conversation, but he can NOT conversate. People don't conversate, they converse. Conversate is not a real word.

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I hope Geno gets a boatload of money and a 4 year contract but not with the Hawks. If the goal is to win the Super Bowl and be competitive for a few years the Seahawks team is not ready to pay Geno what he deserves.

Spend the money on Free Agents with proven track records.

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With the 30+ million they don't spend on Geno they could get solid help in the trenches.

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At the first of the year you disliked Geno.

Then you liked him.

Now you dislike him again? If somehow he won the last three games would you change your mind again?

FWIW, with this bad defense, bad o-line, bad running game, what current QB could be doing a better job than Geno? And why does it seem you are giving the coaches a pass? What happens if we keep this coaching staff, draft a QB high and nothing changes? Frank Reich is out there. Would he consider an assistant job with the Seahawks?

You may be wrong but you may be right (hey, I could write music!).

We have problems, I don't know how simple the solution is. SF did like LA last year and during the season they got an important part of their team that may help them make it to the super bowl. When we ran into them they had him integrated into their team and they are playing really well.

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After last night's game my entire outlook on qbs radically shifted. Particularly when it comes to the draft. Just watching both Geno and McGillicutty (was that his name?), and with Russ's performance this year in view, it just struck me as so clear that, while qbs certainly differ in their strengths and weaknesses, none of it... like NONE OF IT matters if the O-line can't protect.

If some kid is good enough to make it onto a damn nfl team, they are a pretty freakishly good athlete. And if you give that athlete a bunch of time to throw to a slew of other freakishly good athletes he is going to be able to deliver.

You just gotta go out and draft or trade for great O-line players, who, even if they are paid well, are cheaper than top $ qbs. Also great D-line players who can fuck up the plans of all the teams who have blown all their draft capital and/or cap on the hero qb who is going to make their "team" great (see Denver).

I'm probs totally wrong, what the hell do i know. But it sure doesn't feel like it after watching that shit last night

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I'm fine with this. The Hawks need to get younger and they need some more talent. I feel confident in saying that Pete and John like Lock so why not get what you can for Geno?

One team that I think that may be in the running for Geno that might surprise folks is the Rams. Stafford's neck injury could be a career ender.

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I really like the way Geno plays and he would have been perfect for the 2013 Seahawks. Imagine how good Geno would be in San Francisco. Unfortunately, we're not the Niners and won't be for a couple of years. Equally as untimely, there's only one QB in this draft that warrants a top ten pick and Bryce Young will be a Houston Texan. Drew Lock may be our QB next year.

Let's face it, Diggs is good, just not good enough. If we're going to use Adams as our x-factor that plays in the box we need a reliable, instinctive, and fast free safety and we can't afford to pour more money into that bucket. The answer is Brian Branch or Kelee Ringo; Branch is my favorite but Ringo has that speed. Diggs moves to nickel which gives us an additonal guy against the run and matches up well with TEs. We might have to use our second first round pick to get Branch. I still like Jalen Carter but I rather trade down and pick up a another second round pick.

Positions I'm looking for:

DE (2) - Gap penetrators that are big enough to anchor against the run. Ex. Brian Breese

FS - Fast enough to play single high safety, consitent tackler. Ex. Earl Thomas

Rush linebacker - Can rush and contain. Ex. Uchenna Nwosu

IOL - Coverage skills are required. Ex. Fred Warner

C - Big guy with lateral quickness. Ex. Creed Humphrey

G- Mauler to play left guard. Ex. Steve Hutchinson

WR - Can create separation, able to run after catch, big enough to run block. Ex. Cooper Kupp

RB - Tough yards banger, receiver, pass blocker. Ex. Najee Harris

Players I'm currently high on are:

Brian Breese DE

Siaki Ika NT

John Michael Schmitz C

Cody Mauch G

Jaxon Kirkland G

Jahmyr Gibbs RB

Rachee Rice - WR

Demarvion Overshown - LB

Kenny McIntosh - RB

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Nice thanks, some new Names to Check.

I also like

Tyree Wilson - DE

Jared Verse - DE

Trenton Simpson - LB

Noah Sewell - LB

Mazi Smith - DI

J.L. Skinner - S

Darnell Wright - OL

Marvin Mims - WR

Jalin Hyatt - WR

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I'm familiar with all but Wright. At 6'6", he might be a bit tall to move inside to guard. He looks like a right tackle for the KC Chiefs taken at the end of the second round. Wilson looks better than Verse. Simpson over Sewell but either one would help. Skinner looks good but he might be more of a box safety. Hyatt over Mims. Mims reminds me of Eskridge which probably isn't fair to Mims.

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I watched some Tape of Demarvion Overshown, he looks very fast and athletic.

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Can't say I disagree with you at all. It may seem disrespectful to some players but Geno may take it as a compliment because he gets $32 mil and either is the starter here or somewhere else that just gave up 2 first rounders for him. Quite the stroke of the ego for a guy who a year ago thought he would never start again.

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I think the plan was to hold a competition between Geno and Lock throughout the season to find out who would be the better bridge QB to roll out next year. It just happened that Geno showed he is a *premium* bridge, and will charge the appropriate toll.

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