Success for me would start with opening cap space by getting rid of all the overpaid players on the team ( Geno, Adam's , Diggs Mone, Fant and E. Brown) and using FAs and the draft for a
QB.Safety ,Nose tackle, athletic LB. and interior Oline .
Calling the old schemes vanilla is an understatement. How can the screen plays be any worse than in the past?
This will be a rebuild but getting the Hawks back to SB contenders is do able. I love the Grubb hire.
To me it is how he works with John and they begin to transition to getting better. Hopefully ( I believe it will) it is with getting better up front on both sides of the ball! They get a Top notch center, draft another tackle for protection issues(health), they get a nasty NT on the D line side ( someone like Vita Vea(sp)) Resign the right people and then fill in the LB corp and away they go! They can be very good next year with a few really good moves and Draft! That will show immediately and then show at the end of the year and hopefully into the playoffs!
YES - the last two teams I wanted in the SB were KC and the Whiners! BUT, i have never missed watching a World Championship/Super Bowl since they began ,not starting now!
A good Year 1 for MM - By Week 18 have the team showing what it's identity on the field is. Be within reach of the playoffs going into Week 16/17. And overall display those early signs of progression we lacked under Caroll.
Year two and beyond all depends on how good Year 1 is. I'm not going to set the bar too high as the team is about to enter a much more honest rebuild. Lets just have the 'Hawks be a team other teams don't want to play. Last two, three, five years, it felt like everyone was perfectly ok to play us.
In year 1 I'd be happy with just establishing what this team is all about. What are we about on offense? What are we about on defense? If that starts to become clear, and it makes sense, then I'll take that as a win in year 1.
Year 2 it should really start to come together. Better execution, competitive games, and some big wins. If we get into the playoffs, all the better. If not, hopefully it's because we didn't win some close games.
Year 3 we'll hopefully be dominating at home, getting into the playoffs, beating bad teams handily, and have 2 or more blue chip players on both sides of the ball. Competitive playoff games that we hopefully win, but in the playoffs who knows......any given day and all that.
If it all happens faster than that I'll take it, but I think it will take another couple of drafts to really get the team put together the way they want it. Mike Mac and JS have a lot of work to do. Just watched 'The Sound' episode, and you can see how overwhelmed Mike is at what is in front of him. Excited, but he's not kidding himself about the challenges ahead. One day at a time though.
The expectations are what worry me most. I expect Vegas will put the over under for the Seahawks at 7.5 wins next year. Exceeding that is going to be tough. The most improved team next year in the division is likely to be the Cardinals. They played more rookies than any other team in the NFL and were most of games into the 4th quarter they just didn’t know how to win. The Rams who everyone thought were going to be awful turned things around remarkably fast and turned out to be the 5th best team in the NFC. The 49 ers will still have the best roster in football. The Seahawks from a personnel perspective are likely to be weaker. My hope is that in 2025 they turn the corner and in 2926 they are one of the f
Three best teams in the NFC and have home playoff games..
I hear you but what I hoped for is what the Bills did in their first three years with McDermott. The dark possibility is they could easily do what the Giants have done since Tom Coughlin left their organization.
Sorry Joe, I have to point out your Super Bowl prediction is impossible. If a team scores a TD in OT, they don't kick the XP because the game is over. There's no way to win in OT by 1 point. Change the score to 24-21 and have Jones block the tying FG attempt, then it would work.
Totally agree about your “ad”. I read other posts that cut off but I’m only paying for your content because 1 who you write about but 2 you are consistent. Only a couple of people I follow here are writing daily. I’ll pay for daily otherwise I’ll piece my own thoughts from other free content even if they don’t “think” through things as clearly as you. I’ll basically never read Baldwin though. Loved how he blocked me on Twitter for correcting his clearly inaccurate post.
I think you have a strong case to be made to the Seahawks for a subsidy. You very much encourage more fans, but more importantly, you encourage a passionate, educated fan base. It is very much in their interests to sustain it. No doubt the cost will be a rounding error in the promotional budget.
What is it with the 3 year thing? It seems a few people are looking to that. I think 3 years would be warp speed for a new coach to win a SB. Not that I’d complain if it happens of course. It just seems a bit of a hard task and maybe a bit unfair (& a lot of pressure). I actually know how hard it is. I’ve been involved with a local football club (in Australia) where we had a 3 year plan to turn it around from being perennial bottom-dwellers. We were 1/2 successful to our ultimate plan. It took a lot of hard work, time and effort and we still didn’t quite make our full goal.
I think as long as there’s improvement each season, then I’d be satisfied coz if improvement persists, it will eventually lead to a SB. Even if it takes 5-6 years.
In saying that though, I wouldn’t be surprised if we took a slight step backwards next season while MM finds his footing before moving forward.
I think the 3 year thing has less to do with football and more to due with the limits of human patience. With a new job or a move to a new city, you might give yourself a five year plan. With your favorite football team, they only get to have a three year plan.
Turns out Schneider was in the locker room after the games to listen to what the guys were saying. This group expected to do better this year than last. The 'why' of it not happening is what drove his decision for change. Mick is getting a team on the rise. If they find a belief in him, we can expect exceptional efforts made next year. We have every reason to be excited.
Oh, I’m excited to what may happen. But I’m also reserved in that excitement. It’s too early at this stage to get too excited. Who knows what game plan / style that MM is gonna run with. Hell, we haven’t even got all of our coaches yet. Syncing it all together will likely take some time, no matter how disappointed the players were last season (those that are kept), or how much effort they intend to put in.
In short, I’m just trying to keep a lid on it and not set myself up for disappointment. I’d rather expect less and be pleasantly surprised than to expect a lot and be let down (due to my own high expectations).
Those are some pretty incredible Substack stats. I've enjoyed reading your daily newsletter, and appreciate the thought that goes into it. Even if my own personal opinion tweaks one way or another, I can always follow your logic, and you certainly keep things entertaining and refreshing. You might cover a popular rumor one second, but then will do a deep dive into the track record of coaches the next. I do wonder what the history of QBs in the NFC has been though. The AFC has been dominated by 4, but it seems the NFC hasn't had a truly dominating QB in the same way as the AFC.
Great logic. Yeah, I'm not going to measure success by the Super Bowl, as really great teams get beat by other really great teams. I'm looking for top half of the league in offense next year, and top half in defense, too. I think even a single conference Champ game in the 1st 3 years would be plenty of success. Anything beyond that will depend on continued good drafting and/or finding a transcendent QB.
Also, it's only 23 years since '01, since you're counting beginning with the season starting in '01, and the season starting in '24 hasn't happened yet.
I'm less optimistic short-term, but more optimistic long-term. I'm ok with this being another reset. Pete got his chance to build another champion and the powers that be decided it wasn't going to happen. Agree or disagree, that's ok. This is where we are now. My expectation for next season is roster churning and discovering a new identity. We should not expect instant success, but we should hope to see signs of progress in building something special. Whether we win 4 games or 12, success for Macdonald in 2024 should be a cohesive team that displays good discipline and relentless competition. That's what he can take control and ownership of right away.
With a few smart moves and some team building ( Tackling first thing) I truly believe we can have a very competitive team next year. As long as improvement in the right areas shows up the first year I will be good with that! Second year we will know if JS or Pete was an issue with drafting on the Lines ,Both sides - That will tell us allot!
Whoa! That link reminded what great call Joe made on the SB (Joe: Chiefs 24-23; actual: Chiefs 25-22), right down the missed XP.
Success for me would start with opening cap space by getting rid of all the overpaid players on the team ( Geno, Adam's , Diggs Mone, Fant and E. Brown) and using FAs and the draft for a
QB.Safety ,Nose tackle, athletic LB. and interior Oline .
Calling the old schemes vanilla is an understatement. How can the screen plays be any worse than in the past?
This will be a rebuild but getting the Hawks back to SB contenders is do able. I love the Grubb hire.
Interesting times ahead.
To me it is how he works with John and they begin to transition to getting better. Hopefully ( I believe it will) it is with getting better up front on both sides of the ball! They get a Top notch center, draft another tackle for protection issues(health), they get a nasty NT on the D line side ( someone like Vita Vea(sp)) Resign the right people and then fill in the LB corp and away they go! They can be very good next year with a few really good moves and Draft! That will show immediately and then show at the end of the year and hopefully into the playoffs!
YES - the last two teams I wanted in the SB were KC and the Whiners! BUT, i have never missed watching a World Championship/Super Bowl since they began ,not starting now!
A good Year 1 for MM - By Week 18 have the team showing what it's identity on the field is. Be within reach of the playoffs going into Week 16/17. And overall display those early signs of progression we lacked under Caroll.
Year two and beyond all depends on how good Year 1 is. I'm not going to set the bar too high as the team is about to enter a much more honest rebuild. Lets just have the 'Hawks be a team other teams don't want to play. Last two, three, five years, it felt like everyone was perfectly ok to play us.
Criteria for successful seasons in Years 1&2:
- No blowout losses (losing by 17+ points)
- Go 1-1 or better in each divisional series
- Winning record both years
- At least 1 playoff appearance
Criteria for success in Year 3:
- No blowout losses
- Sweep at least 1 divisional rival
- Win division
- Win playoff game (ideally against a team that isn't destroyed by injuries, but I'll take what I can get)
Non-W/L Criteria:
- Develop younger players (those currently on rookie contracts/incoming rookies) into plus players at their position
- Help DK channel his energy more effectively and eliminate low production games
- Develop sports science/strength and conditioning programme which consistently reduces non-contact injuries to below league average
- Maintain winning culture and bring "Always Compete" back in a meaningful way (verbiage/nomenclature may differ)
So, nice and easy really.
In year 1 I'd be happy with just establishing what this team is all about. What are we about on offense? What are we about on defense? If that starts to become clear, and it makes sense, then I'll take that as a win in year 1.
Year 2 it should really start to come together. Better execution, competitive games, and some big wins. If we get into the playoffs, all the better. If not, hopefully it's because we didn't win some close games.
Year 3 we'll hopefully be dominating at home, getting into the playoffs, beating bad teams handily, and have 2 or more blue chip players on both sides of the ball. Competitive playoff games that we hopefully win, but in the playoffs who knows......any given day and all that.
If it all happens faster than that I'll take it, but I think it will take another couple of drafts to really get the team put together the way they want it. Mike Mac and JS have a lot of work to do. Just watched 'The Sound' episode, and you can see how overwhelmed Mike is at what is in front of him. Excited, but he's not kidding himself about the challenges ahead. One day at a time though.
The expectations are what worry me most. I expect Vegas will put the over under for the Seahawks at 7.5 wins next year. Exceeding that is going to be tough. The most improved team next year in the division is likely to be the Cardinals. They played more rookies than any other team in the NFL and were most of games into the 4th quarter they just didn’t know how to win. The Rams who everyone thought were going to be awful turned things around remarkably fast and turned out to be the 5th best team in the NFC. The 49 ers will still have the best roster in football. The Seahawks from a personnel perspective are likely to be weaker. My hope is that in 2025 they turn the corner and in 2926 they are one of the f
Three best teams in the NFC and have home playoff games..
WOOF!
I'm not sticking around until 2926 just to find out if THAT comes true!
I hear you but what I hoped for is what the Bills did in their first three years with McDermott. The dark possibility is they could easily do what the Giants have done since Tom Coughlin left their organization.
Charlie! 2926! 2-NINE-26? I cannot hang around that long!
Flash Gordon could be their 1st rd pick in 2926, maybe THEN then can beat Ming the Merciless and the Saturn Francisco 40Ringers!
I hope they hold out for Duck Dodgers.
Sorry Joe, I have to point out your Super Bowl prediction is impossible. If a team scores a TD in OT, they don't kick the XP because the game is over. There's no way to win in OT by 1 point. Change the score to 24-21 and have Jones block the tying FG attempt, then it would work.
Totally agree about your “ad”. I read other posts that cut off but I’m only paying for your content because 1 who you write about but 2 you are consistent. Only a couple of people I follow here are writing daily. I’ll pay for daily otherwise I’ll piece my own thoughts from other free content even if they don’t “think” through things as clearly as you. I’ll basically never read Baldwin though. Loved how he blocked me on Twitter for correcting his clearly inaccurate post.
I think you have a strong case to be made to the Seahawks for a subsidy. You very much encourage more fans, but more importantly, you encourage a passionate, educated fan base. It is very much in their interests to sustain it. No doubt the cost will be a rounding error in the promotional budget.
Success to me will not be measured by a SB victory. That would be great, but my definition of success for MM would be:
1 - winning the NFC West. Because that entails winning against the 49ers and Rams.
2 - making Seahawks stadium a feared place to play again. No more than 1 home loss per year.
3 - having a defense that can tackle. So tired of the last 2 years when defenders simply didn’t wrap up who they were tackling.
These three things make a deep run in the playoffs MUCH more likely.
Yep. For the love of God, WTFU!
Amen, Rusty! So long as we aren't giving away outcomes, my joy comes from the passions in play.
What is it with the 3 year thing? It seems a few people are looking to that. I think 3 years would be warp speed for a new coach to win a SB. Not that I’d complain if it happens of course. It just seems a bit of a hard task and maybe a bit unfair (& a lot of pressure). I actually know how hard it is. I’ve been involved with a local football club (in Australia) where we had a 3 year plan to turn it around from being perennial bottom-dwellers. We were 1/2 successful to our ultimate plan. It took a lot of hard work, time and effort and we still didn’t quite make our full goal.
I think as long as there’s improvement each season, then I’d be satisfied coz if improvement persists, it will eventually lead to a SB. Even if it takes 5-6 years.
In saying that though, I wouldn’t be surprised if we took a slight step backwards next season while MM finds his footing before moving forward.
I think the 3 year thing has less to do with football and more to due with the limits of human patience. With a new job or a move to a new city, you might give yourself a five year plan. With your favorite football team, they only get to have a three year plan.
LOL 😂
Turns out Schneider was in the locker room after the games to listen to what the guys were saying. This group expected to do better this year than last. The 'why' of it not happening is what drove his decision for change. Mick is getting a team on the rise. If they find a belief in him, we can expect exceptional efforts made next year. We have every reason to be excited.
Oh, I’m excited to what may happen. But I’m also reserved in that excitement. It’s too early at this stage to get too excited. Who knows what game plan / style that MM is gonna run with. Hell, we haven’t even got all of our coaches yet. Syncing it all together will likely take some time, no matter how disappointed the players were last season (those that are kept), or how much effort they intend to put in.
In short, I’m just trying to keep a lid on it and not set myself up for disappointment. I’d rather expect less and be pleasantly surprised than to expect a lot and be let down (due to my own high expectations).
Those are some pretty incredible Substack stats. I've enjoyed reading your daily newsletter, and appreciate the thought that goes into it. Even if my own personal opinion tweaks one way or another, I can always follow your logic, and you certainly keep things entertaining and refreshing. You might cover a popular rumor one second, but then will do a deep dive into the track record of coaches the next. I do wonder what the history of QBs in the NFC has been though. The AFC has been dominated by 4, but it seems the NFC hasn't had a truly dominating QB in the same way as the AFC.
I will probably watch the puppy bowl. May the 12s be with you and Go Seahawks!
Great logic. Yeah, I'm not going to measure success by the Super Bowl, as really great teams get beat by other really great teams. I'm looking for top half of the league in offense next year, and top half in defense, too. I think even a single conference Champ game in the 1st 3 years would be plenty of success. Anything beyond that will depend on continued good drafting and/or finding a transcendent QB.
Also, it's only 23 years since '01, since you're counting beginning with the season starting in '01, and the season starting in '24 hasn't happened yet.
I'm less optimistic short-term, but more optimistic long-term. I'm ok with this being another reset. Pete got his chance to build another champion and the powers that be decided it wasn't going to happen. Agree or disagree, that's ok. This is where we are now. My expectation for next season is roster churning and discovering a new identity. We should not expect instant success, but we should hope to see signs of progress in building something special. Whether we win 4 games or 12, success for Macdonald in 2024 should be a cohesive team that displays good discipline and relentless competition. That's what he can take control and ownership of right away.
With a few smart moves and some team building ( Tackling first thing) I truly believe we can have a very competitive team next year. As long as improvement in the right areas shows up the first year I will be good with that! Second year we will know if JS or Pete was an issue with drafting on the Lines ,Both sides - That will tell us allot!