Agree on Milroe. To cook properly, the pan should be seasoned. Milroe is smart and a hard worker so add improving (accuracy and decision making?) to his natural strengths (could be an RB in the NFL) and I can see a huge upside in the future. We're on our 2nd QB who needed seasoning before being great for us. I am ever impressed with John Schneider's strategic planning.
The complexities of possible outcomes leading to the playoffs, while well explained (I think), boggles my old noggin a bit. My default old cermudgeon perspective is "kill'm all and let God sort'm out" to wind up the regular season
All due respect, but I have this squirrel out my window who thinks Mr. Suzuki's assertion of "we invented invented the idea of a future" is packed with human hubris. Even so, if there's a universe where Schrodinger's Panther survives next Sunday with a win, I want no part of it. Enjoying the ONLY moment that's real. We're leading the toughest Division in football and #1 NFC seed! My general take on time is that the very moment that 'when' becomes 'now', 'now' becomes 'then'. 'Now' is elusive and whips by at warp speed but I'm wallowing in it! It's been a minute since the Hawks have had me doing my happy dance. 'NOW' ROCKS!. GO HAWKS!!
See, here's another example of why SSJ is such a screaming value.
First, we get clear perspective on what the scenarios are around our Panthers match-up. How to think about that game amidst the morass of betting sites and probabilities and Frelunds and the like. A really good Seaside Joe for a Monday morning.
But second, we get an equally or even more interesting treatise on the development of Jalen Milroe who just maybe we can develop as he says, the right way. I watched Malik Willis just now and while he's not the second coming of Lamar Jackson, he's also not nearly as bad as some of the other QB's being trotted out there. And he's clearly developing, who knows how good he is next year, or in 2028 when Jordan Love has a $75m cap number and $59m cap savings. Might the 'Hawks be thinking that far ahead? Very interesting thought piece.
And then lastly, the poll result on our 2-pointer which honestly if this were any other site, would be today's article bc it's a holiday week. If we got an article at all (we all know we wouldn't have).
Best sports chat in the country, any team/any sport, bar none.
I love the team commitment to each other, with defense picking up offense after a bad series and vice versa. The SB winning LOB had that also with the, "who's got your back, I have your back" mantra. Unfortunately it's a hard attitude to maintain in a salary cap league full of young men with short careers. At some point, and rightly so, they want to make enough money to retire on and nurse the aching bodies they abused as young men. The real trick is being able to replace those departing players with young, cheap, capable players. The Seahawks have been better than most at that for 15 to 20 years, but have yet to reach the Patriot, Chiefs level. Hopefully that day is arriving!!
That team commitment is a force multiplier for sure. Been a soldier and a cop and played football for five years. There is no greater motivation in the fourth quarter when you're exhausted or when the shit hits the fan than giving your all for the person sharing the load next to you...and knowing he or she is doing the same. That feeling from Jody to the young lady holding the water bottle on the sideline is the edge that wins the tough ones.
I will be at the Panthers game next week, wearing so much Seahawks apparel that it will be obnoxious. Really hoping for a win, also for selfish reasons such as not having to leave that stadium to razzing. Unless we sit guys or really regress, I don't see an L there though.
I voted "no" on the 2 point conversion but only because I didn't *think* we would make it or not. I figured the conversion rate is south of 50% so...
I'm surely not alone in being elated since that game. It's wild how the outcome of a professional football game can impact my mood for the next week. Here's to resting up and whipping the Panthers and 49ers and winning 2 home games to go to the Super Bowl!
It's so awesome to see the 12's travelling team at away games! Especially true since I found out the Hawks can't hear me screaming at the TV. KUDO's to the road 12's!! One more Superbowl win please...I'm getting old here.
So, while our esteemed host has a channel to sell (understandably and said with affection for your work) the BLUF is:
Just go win. That's the message, control what you control and go win. No matter who or what it may mean or not mean because winning is all there is. It's the only thing that matters, and people can talk about their processes and perfection in post-game interviews and whatnot and how they cling to it for stability and assurance which is all well and good.
There is something people forget in this modern era. PROCESS is the end result of searching for repeatable reliable and stable results - WINNING results. Process is and will always be the slave of WINNNING always has been always will be.
Just go win because if your process isn't winning you aren't.
With a Seasoned Team, the Guys KNOW the plays and the Coaches KNOW exactly what to call. Right now, we don't put our best foot forward fast enough, either because 11 men don't have the steps to that particular dance down perfect or the Coaches are giving them their best guess. I voted YES to our 2 pointer after Herbstreet pointed out early that MM had just directed Kubiak to find our best 2-point play. We had TIME to filter through every coach and advisor for a consensus on which play that would be. No coin flip. It was 6 for 6, with no dissent. The Call was made, the huddle formed and FuknA! was felt by every Heart. Resolve set in and we crushed it. Every day, every week, we become Seasoned. Who did we throw to? Saubert. The Seasoned Guy.
Belated birthday wishes to SSJ! December birthdays are .... unique.... I say with mine on the 24th, plus close family birthdays on the 26th, 21st, 2x 2nd Jan and 4th Jan - This time of year is bananas for my family!!
Love seeing all the comments, ALL of them. They are always so good!! Genuinely one of the nicest communities on the internet where we can actually talk, exchange views and even argue - and it's all pleasant and respectful.
Keep this up Seasiders. Compassion, respect, thoughtfulness. The world is crazy, we can make this place a beacon of what's sports fandom should be!!!
Happy Birthday KHammarling! Soak up all those happy birthdays and Christmas with the family...ya only get so many. I feel ya on December being "bananas"... especially this year. My wife's birthday was the 18th (bittersweet this yr...my old dog and best bud passed away on the 17th). My younger brother was made in Japan (Yokahama) on Christmas day. I was seven then but have since forgiven him for f**king up MY Christmas. And he has forgiven me for the scar tissue he accumulated when we were kids.
Right on about the Seaside Joe community. It's great...the only place I can share my Seahawk obssession and the folks around me don't get all glassy eyed (my wife, bless her, does nod and smile for up to 3 minutes before sliding into a Seahawk minuetia induced coma).
"John Schneidinger’s cat". A tip of the cap to you, sir. Did you come up with the line first, and then write the newsletter, or the other way 'round?
The philosophy that Mike Macdonald has been espousing all year will work perfectly over the next couple of weeks. Next game. Focus on themselves. Focus on the process. Play the next game. Rinse, repeat. Don't worry about all of the scenarios (that they don't control), don't worry about the 'what if's', don't worry about the weather. Just show up and play the game in front of you to the best of your ability. Move on to the next opponent. That's the perfect mindset for this time of year, where it would be easy to get caught up in the hype.
The Rams and Seahawks have played two full games plus 7+ mins of overtime, and are separated by one yard of offense, and 1 point. That's about as close as two teams can be. I'm not sure that they are the best 2 teams in the NFC, but they could very well be. How the best AFC teams stack up against us is TBD. Denver is very solid. So are the Chargers. So is New England. Both the NFC and the AFC will be a dogfight to get to the Super Bowl. The playoffs will be fun. But more fun if the Seahawks win.
I think it helps us against the Panthers to have played our worst defensive game of the year on Thursday night. The players will not want a repeat of that performance, as there is too much pride for that to go over well. They'll hate watching the first half tape especially. It's a copycat league, so the Panthers will undoubtedly try their luck with those deep crossing routes, and the Seahawks will need to have answers.
I still can't stop thinking about Thursday night's game and all the implications. Are we seeing the most-evenly-matched top two teams in league history? And in the same division, nonetheless?
The two league leaders in point differential, separated by six points (then 48 points till third place.) They are a combined 21-5 against the rest of the league. Just domination.
In the two games they have played so far, each ended on a single, decisive, win-or-lose play. 2 point conversion is a coin flip, 61 yard FG in 2025 is perhaps more like a 1/3 chance (lots of games come down to a final Hail Mary, but the chances of that play succeeding are a lot lower than either of these.)
Compared to each other, the Rams have a significant advantage on offense, which has been almost perfectly balanced by the Hawks' significant advantage on special teams and less-significant advantage on D.
All of the above just makes for spectacular football. The potential playoff matchup is tantalizing, just can't see how the winner if that game doesn't go on to win it all.
Just to note that the Rams’ special teams coach has apparently been fired. I don’t mean to chortle. A human being lost his job. He’ll get another, but it still sucks.
Also, I’ve watched the DHall thing a couple times, still not sure what I’m seeing. In one version he’s a jerk I don’t want on the team. In another, it’s just a stumble…
The NFL, coaches and players, is a Darwinian world. A win or perish circle of life kinda thing that all participants know going in. Just hope their Special Teams dude wisely accumulated a little nest egg and has a stress free happy holiday with family. Pretty sure there's another team, maybe college (?), where he wil land. Tough business for sure.
To me it looked like a short step to avoid stepping on him, then a long step over the guy to avoid him. If he was really trying to stomp on him, it was a terrible attempt.
Yeah one of the things non-SSJ’s miss out on is the writing. It’s a genuine pleasure, and so rare in sports writing — I remember him even from the Field Gulls days as being differentiated.
Agree on Milroe. To cook properly, the pan should be seasoned. Milroe is smart and a hard worker so add improving (accuracy and decision making?) to his natural strengths (could be an RB in the NFL) and I can see a huge upside in the future. We're on our 2nd QB who needed seasoning before being great for us. I am ever impressed with John Schneider's strategic planning.
The complexities of possible outcomes leading to the playoffs, while well explained (I think), boggles my old noggin a bit. My default old cermudgeon perspective is "kill'm all and let God sort'm out" to wind up the regular season
All due respect, but I have this squirrel out my window who thinks Mr. Suzuki's assertion of "we invented invented the idea of a future" is packed with human hubris. Even so, if there's a universe where Schrodinger's Panther survives next Sunday with a win, I want no part of it. Enjoying the ONLY moment that's real. We're leading the toughest Division in football and #1 NFC seed! My general take on time is that the very moment that 'when' becomes 'now', 'now' becomes 'then'. 'Now' is elusive and whips by at warp speed but I'm wallowing in it! It's been a minute since the Hawks have had me doing my happy dance. 'NOW' ROCKS!. GO HAWKS!!
Watching Rivers pick apart SF. Too bad their D can't stop Purdy. OGs rock. Good schooling for young guys.
See, here's another example of why SSJ is such a screaming value.
First, we get clear perspective on what the scenarios are around our Panthers match-up. How to think about that game amidst the morass of betting sites and probabilities and Frelunds and the like. A really good Seaside Joe for a Monday morning.
But second, we get an equally or even more interesting treatise on the development of Jalen Milroe who just maybe we can develop as he says, the right way. I watched Malik Willis just now and while he's not the second coming of Lamar Jackson, he's also not nearly as bad as some of the other QB's being trotted out there. And he's clearly developing, who knows how good he is next year, or in 2028 when Jordan Love has a $75m cap number and $59m cap savings. Might the 'Hawks be thinking that far ahead? Very interesting thought piece.
And then lastly, the poll result on our 2-pointer which honestly if this were any other site, would be today's article bc it's a holiday week. If we got an article at all (we all know we wouldn't have).
Best sports chat in the country, any team/any sport, bar none.
Right on! ...and I DO think Schneider thinks that far ahead.
I love the team commitment to each other, with defense picking up offense after a bad series and vice versa. The SB winning LOB had that also with the, "who's got your back, I have your back" mantra. Unfortunately it's a hard attitude to maintain in a salary cap league full of young men with short careers. At some point, and rightly so, they want to make enough money to retire on and nurse the aching bodies they abused as young men. The real trick is being able to replace those departing players with young, cheap, capable players. The Seahawks have been better than most at that for 15 to 20 years, but have yet to reach the Patriot, Chiefs level. Hopefully that day is arriving!!
That team commitment is a force multiplier for sure. Been a soldier and a cop and played football for five years. There is no greater motivation in the fourth quarter when you're exhausted or when the shit hits the fan than giving your all for the person sharing the load next to you...and knowing he or she is doing the same. That feeling from Jody to the young lady holding the water bottle on the sideline is the edge that wins the tough ones.
Just win, baby! The rest will take care of itself.
I will be at the Panthers game next week, wearing so much Seahawks apparel that it will be obnoxious. Really hoping for a win, also for selfish reasons such as not having to leave that stadium to razzing. Unless we sit guys or really regress, I don't see an L there though.
I voted "no" on the 2 point conversion but only because I didn't *think* we would make it or not. I figured the conversion rate is south of 50% so...
I'm surely not alone in being elated since that game. It's wild how the outcome of a professional football game can impact my mood for the next week. Here's to resting up and whipping the Panthers and 49ers and winning 2 home games to go to the Super Bowl!
HooRah, Chuck. Be sure to wave to us. I'll be watching...
It's so awesome to see the 12's travelling team at away games! Especially true since I found out the Hawks can't hear me screaming at the TV. KUDO's to the road 12's!! One more Superbowl win please...I'm getting old here.
Chuck lives out there...
So, while our esteemed host has a channel to sell (understandably and said with affection for your work) the BLUF is:
Just go win. That's the message, control what you control and go win. No matter who or what it may mean or not mean because winning is all there is. It's the only thing that matters, and people can talk about their processes and perfection in post-game interviews and whatnot and how they cling to it for stability and assurance which is all well and good.
There is something people forget in this modern era. PROCESS is the end result of searching for repeatable reliable and stable results - WINNING results. Process is and will always be the slave of WINNNING always has been always will be.
Just go win because if your process isn't winning you aren't.
With a Seasoned Team, the Guys KNOW the plays and the Coaches KNOW exactly what to call. Right now, we don't put our best foot forward fast enough, either because 11 men don't have the steps to that particular dance down perfect or the Coaches are giving them their best guess. I voted YES to our 2 pointer after Herbstreet pointed out early that MM had just directed Kubiak to find our best 2-point play. We had TIME to filter through every coach and advisor for a consensus on which play that would be. No coin flip. It was 6 for 6, with no dissent. The Call was made, the huddle formed and FuknA! was felt by every Heart. Resolve set in and we crushed it. Every day, every week, we become Seasoned. Who did we throw to? Saubert. The Seasoned Guy.
Voted "hell yes!" on the 2 pointer also. I'm a beer stein half full guy where the Hawks are concerned.
I'm also partial to the Kiwi yard glass...
Belated birthday wishes to SSJ! December birthdays are .... unique.... I say with mine on the 24th, plus close family birthdays on the 26th, 21st, 2x 2nd Jan and 4th Jan - This time of year is bananas for my family!!
Love seeing all the comments, ALL of them. They are always so good!! Genuinely one of the nicest communities on the internet where we can actually talk, exchange views and even argue - and it's all pleasant and respectful.
Keep this up Seasiders. Compassion, respect, thoughtfulness. The world is crazy, we can make this place a beacon of what's sports fandom should be!!!
Happy Birthday KHammarling! Soak up all those happy birthdays and Christmas with the family...ya only get so many. I feel ya on December being "bananas"... especially this year. My wife's birthday was the 18th (bittersweet this yr...my old dog and best bud passed away on the 17th). My younger brother was made in Japan (Yokahama) on Christmas day. I was seven then but have since forgiven him for f**king up MY Christmas. And he has forgiven me for the scar tissue he accumulated when we were kids.
Right on about the Seaside Joe community. It's great...the only place I can share my Seahawk obssession and the folks around me don't get all glassy eyed (my wife, bless her, does nod and smile for up to 3 minutes before sliding into a Seahawk minuetia induced coma).
Love it, K-ling. Great observation. It's COMMUNITY, Friend. This Football Thing exercises it among us. Not just the players but the Fans. 12 as One.
"John Schneidinger’s cat". A tip of the cap to you, sir. Did you come up with the line first, and then write the newsletter, or the other way 'round?
The philosophy that Mike Macdonald has been espousing all year will work perfectly over the next couple of weeks. Next game. Focus on themselves. Focus on the process. Play the next game. Rinse, repeat. Don't worry about all of the scenarios (that they don't control), don't worry about the 'what if's', don't worry about the weather. Just show up and play the game in front of you to the best of your ability. Move on to the next opponent. That's the perfect mindset for this time of year, where it would be easy to get caught up in the hype.
The Rams and Seahawks have played two full games plus 7+ mins of overtime, and are separated by one yard of offense, and 1 point. That's about as close as two teams can be. I'm not sure that they are the best 2 teams in the NFC, but they could very well be. How the best AFC teams stack up against us is TBD. Denver is very solid. So are the Chargers. So is New England. Both the NFC and the AFC will be a dogfight to get to the Super Bowl. The playoffs will be fun. But more fun if the Seahawks win.
I think it helps us against the Panthers to have played our worst defensive game of the year on Thursday night. The players will not want a repeat of that performance, as there is too much pride for that to go over well. They'll hate watching the first half tape especially. It's a copycat league, so the Panthers will undoubtedly try their luck with those deep crossing routes, and the Seahawks will need to have answers.
Would be awesome to replay the Seahawks vs Bronco's Superbowl. Awesome Offense meets a Seahawks soul crushing Defense...an old 12's wet dream.
It is a copycat league for sure, but the Panthers don't have the personnel to copy the Rams. No worries. SEA 24-10.
I'm looking for a rest your starters in the 4th quarter blowout! A put Milroe in and see if the kid can throw a pss blowout! Too optimistic?
I still can't stop thinking about Thursday night's game and all the implications. Are we seeing the most-evenly-matched top two teams in league history? And in the same division, nonetheless?
The two league leaders in point differential, separated by six points (then 48 points till third place.) They are a combined 21-5 against the rest of the league. Just domination.
In the two games they have played so far, each ended on a single, decisive, win-or-lose play. 2 point conversion is a coin flip, 61 yard FG in 2025 is perhaps more like a 1/3 chance (lots of games come down to a final Hail Mary, but the chances of that play succeeding are a lot lower than either of these.)
Compared to each other, the Rams have a significant advantage on offense, which has been almost perfectly balanced by the Hawks' significant advantage on special teams and less-significant advantage on D.
All of the above just makes for spectacular football. The potential playoff matchup is tantalizing, just can't see how the winner if that game doesn't go on to win it all.
I feel like Seahawks are a "trap" for the Panthers as we're sandwiched between their Bucs games.
(If you can count the current #1 as a trap)
I did think the Hawks were going to pull off a win. I would have been more surprised if we hadn't gotten the conversion.
I said “no” because the answer wasn’t fully “yes”. I honestly needed the “I’m of both minds” option
That option resided in Schrodinger's box. Sounds like the cat didn't fair too well with your choice. It's ok, I'm a dog person.
Just to note that the Rams’ special teams coach has apparently been fired. I don’t mean to chortle. A human being lost his job. He’ll get another, but it still sucks.
Also, I’ve watched the DHall thing a couple times, still not sure what I’m seeing. In one version he’s a jerk I don’t want on the team. In another, it’s just a stumble…
The NFL, coaches and players, is a Darwinian world. A win or perish circle of life kinda thing that all participants know going in. Just hope their Special Teams dude wisely accumulated a little nest egg and has a stress free happy holiday with family. Pretty sure there's another team, maybe college (?), where he wil land. Tough business for sure.
To me it looked like a short step to avoid stepping on him, then a long step over the guy to avoid him. If he was really trying to stomp on him, it was a terrible attempt.
"John Schneidinger’s cat"
Impressive writing, sir!
Yeah one of the things non-SSJ’s miss out on is the writing. It’s a genuine pleasure, and so rare in sports writing — I remember him even from the Field Gulls days as being differentiated.