They do need leadership on this team. The team needs to elect captains. If players don’t step up and be the leaders then Coach Mcdonald will lose control. May the 12s be with you and Go Seahawks!
I was thinking after that fight on the side lines: Where’s Bobby Wagner? Is leadership one of the intangibles that doesn’t get factored in when considering ‘value’?
Nobody likes to see fights on a team but maybe that is exactly what they needed. Sometimes temper flare to all time high, almost like you have to get it out of your system. The next few weeks will give us more information.
Even though they don’t have “captains” I did hear Mac mention they have a leadership quorum/circle that I imagine encompasses those players we “don’t see”.
Go Hawks! I’m in it for the season to see what we learn.
The Zach Allen miss is so painful. He has been great and was great against the Hawks in week 1.
Great write-up.
The leadership questions/comments are interesting. Just in my opinion, J Reed was being a leader. It may not be the most pleasant thing, or it may look bad. But he was holding his teammate accountable. That is what you need/want out of veteran guys. Tom Brady called it right on the broadcast, emotions run high but at the end of the day they will come back together. They came back together and talked it out that game.
I also think there is a bit of a disconnect between the team and some fans. I think that the team and management believe they can beat anyone. That they have the guys here to win. This is not a rebuild or a scouting year, that this is a win now. Not saying the team is right and the fans are wrong, just saying that I think they see the situation differently.
Guys in the locker room like Leo Williams, Spoon, Cross, K9, DK, Geno, Riq ... These guys look around the locker room and have a strong belief that they are that good. So when things don't go their way on the field, they are going to get pissed off and frustrated and yes at times let it boil over when you think the guy hit you out of bounds, down 20 at home, and lose your cool for a second and throw the ball at the other team.
For me, at least Geno cares. The guy wears his emotions on his sleeves and you know he is in the game. When he yells at a guy for not lining up right ... it's because he expects greatness from his teammates. Accountability. Who else played like that? The guy in the booth, Tom Brady. TB12 was as emotional as anyone in football and constantly yelled at his teammates and yes at times it boiled over into personal fouls and yelling matches with the coaches. He is also a great QB. Many ways to lead but I do not have an issue with J Reed and Geno. If it happened every week, like DK to a certain extent, yeah that's an issue. But every once in a while? That's fine that is part of being an alpha.
Sorry Mike McD, but Geno’s sitting on the sidelines sulking (weekly it now seems) and throwing the ball at a player in a tantrum is not leadership. That’s not caring. Caring is accepting things aren’t going your way and lifting to make things better. Encouraging your players (like Wilson constantly did, energising many-a-comeback win). Not having a sook in the corner. I know you love Geno, and I don’t hate him, but come on man, he’s hasn’t been his best of late.
I don't see it that way. RW was not beloved by his teammates. You may consider him a great leader but he has plenty of smoke in that locker room. So much so that PC had to back him.
Geno Smith led the league in game winning drives.
I can't speak to sulking as I have not seen it.
Temper Tantrums? Here is a quick YouTube search of probably the best QB ever:
What I think? Is these opinions, which are fine and I respect, but they occur because the team lost and not because there is anything wrong with what happened. I would change my mind if the personal fouls happened every week but I can't remember another personal foul on Geno. Maybe there have been but I just don't remember one off the top of my head.
I appreciate your perspective, as I do everyone’s. However, a couple of points…
Whether there was smoke or not, I don’t think anyone can deny that Wilson brilliantly and consistently used to rally his troops on the field for good results (the majority of the time).
I have been concerned for Geno’s body language for a few weeks now. Frankly it’s been quite ordinary and he appears to be letting things get to him. Regardless of once leading the league in game winning drives, he’s not doing it at the moment.
Tom Brady ‘is’ arguably the best QB ever. He definitely walked the walk, and the saying goes, ‘if you talk the talk, you better walk the walk’. Geno isn’t walking the walk, so his ‘talking the talk’ (i.e. tantrums) makes him look a little hypocritical. A leader should lead by example. Not the old: ‘do as I say, don’t do as I do’.
Should his teammates be playing better? Yes.
Stats are a good guide, but they never tell the whole story. Like I’ve said many times before, personally, I prefer to trust my eyes. And as the saying goes, ‘There’s lies, damned lies and statistics’.
I can’t recall another personal foul on Geno either. This only backs my concern about him lately. Like I said, I don’t hate him, but he just seems off at the moment. It concerns me. Just trying to call a spade a spade.
I can see both sides of the "leadership" debate with Geno. I support Geno, in general, as y'all know. The issue with his leadership is not him getting onto his teammates, like Brady. There is a fine line of which emotions are good to have as a leader and which are not. He and Brady can certainly be fiery and voice their displeasure with their teammates not performing ip to their capabilities. I had an amazing player on a basketball team of mine who was like that with me years ago, and it actually helped me to value every opportunity and focus on performing with my best mental effort more consistently.
I saw the one time he was caught with bad body language on camera, and I think that is where the "sulking" accusation comes from. I would say that everybody can have a bad attitude day, but, it is now becoming part of a pattern of apparent whining from him. That perception of whininess comes from his facial expressions and body language. Those traits are not good leadership. If he isn't being that way on the inside of himself and the inside of the team construct, then he needs to do a better job of improving his awareness of his nonverbal communication. If he IS that way, that is also something he needs to change.
It comes across as petty and hypocritical when I whine at my teammates or employees. I must demonstrate I am accountable and have a healthy level of acceptance of constructive criticism if I want those under me to do the same. I must demonstrate we are in this together and that being intense is expected and encouraged. Being whiny and allowing frustrations to affect our performance is not.
I think this is fixable with some self-examination. I think Leslie Frazier can be a valuable asset in this area.
I didn't see Geno "sulking" -- I saw sadness and disappointment that the team was not accomplishing the plays as called, also intense thought about what he could do to rev things up, what might work to patch the holes; he seems to take the responsibility very seriously; he knows he isn't going to have the "magic play" that Russ used to pull rabbits out of the hat back when, he's thinking "how can I do more to get us down the field NOW"
Let me also say that one really good way to fix this is for Geno to explain himself a little better to the public and team. Maybe he just has facial expressions that come across differently to the fans because we have our own experiences and biases that color our interpretation of his nonverbal queues. We aren't in the building. Maybe it is much smoke with no fire. Or maybe it is something he needs to work on. We are all a work in progress as leaders. Leslie Frazier, help this, please.
Geno has a façade with the media that he generally stands by. Which is to pretty much never talk poorly about his teammates and almost always praise them. But we don't know what happens behind the scenes. Drew Lock gave us a little insight but that is a different situation.
Drew Lock last season after the Philly win talking about Geno. I understand it is not in game but it is at least an example of how encouraging Geno is to his teammates, at least in Lock's opinion:
"That's just an unselfish dude in there man. I appreciate him (Geno) more than words can describe."
"That's just being two guys who care about football. Look, D. Hall is my guy. He's one of my friends on this team. Our parents are cool. We're still cool. There's no love lost. It just happens."
Good writing! Thanks for talking me in off the ledge. An average team plays better against weak teams, and worse against strong teams. The truth hiding in plain sight from overwrought ill informed fans (like me). Perhaps amped up by too much wishful thinking for year one of a rebuilding team.
I made a wild bet that MM would prove to be a guy who could draw Champions out of talented athletes and win this Division. I'll stand by that, rain or shine.
It’s so clearly a transitional year in which player & asst. coach evaluations by MM/JS is the main focus. The trade and draft results from Russ’ exit + recent trades & drafts are all under the microscope (or is it a magnifying glass?) I think the evolution is so transformative that I’m now prepared to not focus on 2025’s win/loss record compared to seeing how that season’s decisions continue the transformation.
As always, thanks for taking time to answer questions. I thought you did a great job answering my question in yesterday's post, even if unintended. And I'm glad to see Chuck Turtleman still posting and doing OK hopefully! Go Hawks!
My search is among the coaches who appears to hold the Gravitas that mysteriously inspires Men. Currently, I see it in spades with Detroit's Coach Campbell or the little old guy coaching special teams for Pittsburg. Wink Martindale comes to mind. I don't see it in Aden Durde, but that means little. The Niner's Coach Bill Walsh never showed it publicly, but we now learn he had it in the Locker room, away from any cameras. While his appearance was professorial, he was actually a ferocious Boxer from early years and The Guys kept it secret. You did not piss off Coach Walsh. Somewhere in the mix, we need those guys. Give it time...
Rushing to the defence of Durde, for totally patriotic reasons. I'd suggest going back to revist the Cowboys Hard Knocks from a couple of years ago. There was clearly a lot of love for Durde from those players. Maybe not a "Sir, yes Sir!" level of respect/fear, but a clear "You're a good man and we listen and believe in you". And that's perfect for a position coach, he needs player buy in to his teaching, which i feel is displayed on the field already this season as our D-Line is definitely better than the last 5 years.
The hard asses should be JS & MM. But equally, one game is not a pattern or a problem. I'm not concerned about discipline and the locker room yet. Another couple of in-game bust ups and we have a problem, for now i think it's mostly one off frustration born of a shit game.
Always take the points until it's the fourth Quarter! I honestly expected the O-line to be better by now- CW is doing ok ( one bad snap doesn't truly mean that much, except in that game) He will get better as the season moves on, I'd bet money on that! The fact that they cannot run block is mainly on the inside of the O-line, which as I watch replays of the games is mostly on the guards. But it could also be a coaching issue as to how they are having them pull or angle block. The coaches need to get this figured out and put Who they have in the best situations to succeed. I am actually not seeing that ,other than when straight ahead blocking and just not getting any push or seal. I don't see Seattle as really needing that many different players to be actually Pretty darn good! ME, I would be finding a TRUE nasty NT or two , MM figure out what he needs at LB, and then ,YES fix the O-line!!! Go Hawks !
Could of had Zach Allen. Could of had Josh Allen. Could of had many many players. But were/are we the right place for those players to thrive? I don't think anyone can just assume Player X would repeat his stats on the 'Hawks.
I'm finding the Broncos really interesting to watch this year. They're "supposed" to be garbage. But man that coaching outfit is doing something really really impressive. Which shouldn't be a surprise given it's Sean Payton heading them, a slam dunk 1st ballot HoF coach.
If you took TJ from the Steelers, would he just wreck shop elsewhere? Or is the influence of Tomlin a key factor in his success?
MM is year 1. You can get him good players yes, but that doesn't equal suddenly creating a powerhouse outfit. I think it's obvious on the field there are improvements in a ton of our players compared to last year. Let's have a little faith in a longer term plan that doesn't rely on snagging a big name FA, but is built on coaches who make players great, so we can unearth great value talent and build an all-round team capable of competing - like those great HoF coaches such as Payton, Mike and Pete did.
I find it difficult to read the many articles and comments about the Seahawks right now. Not this site so much, just generally. Expectations totally out of whack. The coach has lost the locker room. etc, etc, etc
Mike MacDonald has not lost the locker room. The players have not tuned him out. Anyone who does will not be on the field going forward. He will not 'out' his players to the press, as he's very guarded in that respect, which is as it should be. That doesn't mean hard conversations aren't taking place in private, where hard conversations should be taking place.
Even in SSJ's poll of expectations for the Seahawks this year, most of us thought they'd be meh. And guess what? They are meh. As expected (for most of us). In Mike MacDonald's words, where right where we should be.
And don't get me started about Geno, but I'll just say this. You'll have to go pretty far down the list of problems with this team before you get to his name. 'Nuff said.
Non-linear improvement is what we should expect. And even better games can still be losses. The roster needs some changes IMO before we can really get to consistently winning, and that will take at least one offseason.
We live in the medium deep countryside, don't have Dish or Direct TV 'n not into spending too much at the moment. Our youngest daughter, 23, plays Ultimate Frisbee, 7 on 7, for Stanford Superfly so we'll be able to see some of her games on Ultiworld from late January to the end of March. She recently joined a Women's Club, Fury, so we get to see her playing in some games. Bay Area Fury just won the Club championship. Sometimes towards the end of the football season the price comes down markedly. It's all good. This Communty makes it better.
So someone mentioned where were Witherspoon's stats for 2024. According to PFF he ranks 67th overall out of 210 corners. He has a strong grade in run defense 81 but only a 61.8 in coverage. His completion against rate is 76.2% (Lee Vowell). Passer rating allowed is 92.5. So lets move on to the rest of the defense. Interesting comment from McDonald this week. He is going to simplifiy the defense. He thinks players might be a bit overwhelmed so he's trying to find a way to allow them to play with simpler scheme since he hasn't even installed the full playbook. Offensively he wants to see the run game and scheme more simplified to give K9 some space to "do his thing". He highlights incosistency on both sides of the ball. Is that lacking attention to detail or focus? McDonald excert from Brock and Salk defensively "“I think you gotta start making some decisions on where to narrow it down. You can’t focus on everything,” he said" What's going on with the defensive line. Former all pro superbowl (3x) lineman Mark Schlereth pointed something out earlier this week I found really interesting.
"“Guys are getting on you and they’re staying on you, and you’re not defending or defeating the block,” he said of Seahawks defensive players on the line of scrimmage. “The game is played with your hands – hands and feet – and you’ve got to be able to shock people.
“I always said when I was playing (that) first contact wins. So the first guy who makes contact usually wins that battle, and then it’s about being physical at the point. But once you physically stun the offensive lineman, then you extend – what we call stacking a guy – and then you figure out where the ball is.”
That’s where the technique is going wrong for the Seahawks D-linemen, according to Schlereth.
“It’s almost like they’re trying to extend before they win that line of scrimmage, and they’re getting pushed and not getting off blocks. And then they missed a bunch of tackles last weekend… There’s nothing more humiliating – I get it when you give up a big play over the top and all that – but when they consistently are able to run the ball on you and control the line of scrimmage on you, and consistently being able to throw it to the tight ends and things like that. That’s just really frustrating for a defense.”
What we have learned so far this year is a good QB can pretty much have his way in Seattle (Even Daniel Jones?). We've only faced Purdy and Allen so far, but Stafford is also having a good year. And now he has Cupp and Puka back (breakout game against Seattle last year), to go with Williams have a strong year at RB.
This is Seattle's coaching staffs first season and some picked Seattle to win only 5 games. I think we all expected more of a 9 game win and an outside shot at the playoffs if the ball rolled right. Sean McVay gave McDonald trouble last year in Balitmore (Detroit, Seattle and others were crushed). So here's were the glass in now half full. Seattle has a home game with the possiblity of Fant returning. They can make a statement division win to go into their bye week. There is a possiblity of Lucas returning against SF after the bye. There is a possiblity that Fant could move inside if that happens. CB competition is heating up between Brown and Jobe. Brown is healthy again. Bradford is playing all the snaps this week according to Mac. (Good, Bad Ugly?) Ernest Jones has had a whole week of practice and he does know the Rams offense. Seattle needs some breaks this week. A little good luck can't hurt after last weeks keystone cops performance. This week isn't the end all, but I hope it's a start of things moving in the right direction. What's would be more fun going into the bye week than sending McVay home with a loss. No there's a different feeling. No time like the present.
They do need leadership on this team. The team needs to elect captains. If players don’t step up and be the leaders then Coach Mcdonald will lose control. May the 12s be with you and Go Seahawks!
I was thinking after that fight on the side lines: Where’s Bobby Wagner? Is leadership one of the intangibles that doesn’t get factored in when considering ‘value’?
Nobody likes to see fights on a team but maybe that is exactly what they needed. Sometimes temper flare to all time high, almost like you have to get it out of your system. The next few weeks will give us more information.
Even though they don’t have “captains” I did hear Mac mention they have a leadership quorum/circle that I imagine encompasses those players we “don’t see”.
Go Hawks! I’m in it for the season to see what we learn.
FWIW, Mike Dugar—who covers the ‘Hawks for The Athletic—said in response to a similar question that MM has not lost the locker room.
The Zach Allen miss is so painful. He has been great and was great against the Hawks in week 1.
Great write-up.
The leadership questions/comments are interesting. Just in my opinion, J Reed was being a leader. It may not be the most pleasant thing, or it may look bad. But he was holding his teammate accountable. That is what you need/want out of veteran guys. Tom Brady called it right on the broadcast, emotions run high but at the end of the day they will come back together. They came back together and talked it out that game.
I also think there is a bit of a disconnect between the team and some fans. I think that the team and management believe they can beat anyone. That they have the guys here to win. This is not a rebuild or a scouting year, that this is a win now. Not saying the team is right and the fans are wrong, just saying that I think they see the situation differently.
Guys in the locker room like Leo Williams, Spoon, Cross, K9, DK, Geno, Riq ... These guys look around the locker room and have a strong belief that they are that good. So when things don't go their way on the field, they are going to get pissed off and frustrated and yes at times let it boil over when you think the guy hit you out of bounds, down 20 at home, and lose your cool for a second and throw the ball at the other team.
For me, at least Geno cares. The guy wears his emotions on his sleeves and you know he is in the game. When he yells at a guy for not lining up right ... it's because he expects greatness from his teammates. Accountability. Who else played like that? The guy in the booth, Tom Brady. TB12 was as emotional as anyone in football and constantly yelled at his teammates and yes at times it boiled over into personal fouls and yelling matches with the coaches. He is also a great QB. Many ways to lead but I do not have an issue with J Reed and Geno. If it happened every week, like DK to a certain extent, yeah that's an issue. But every once in a while? That's fine that is part of being an alpha.
HooRah, Mike! Amen to that, Bro.
Thanks Jimmy!
Sorry Mike McD, but Geno’s sitting on the sidelines sulking (weekly it now seems) and throwing the ball at a player in a tantrum is not leadership. That’s not caring. Caring is accepting things aren’t going your way and lifting to make things better. Encouraging your players (like Wilson constantly did, energising many-a-comeback win). Not having a sook in the corner. I know you love Geno, and I don’t hate him, but come on man, he’s hasn’t been his best of late.
Well I am just offering my perspective.
I don't see it that way. RW was not beloved by his teammates. You may consider him a great leader but he has plenty of smoke in that locker room. So much so that PC had to back him.
Geno Smith led the league in game winning drives.
I can't speak to sulking as I have not seen it.
Temper Tantrums? Here is a quick YouTube search of probably the best QB ever:
Personal foul: https://youtu.be/q4q9FH1c6a0?feature=shared
Yelling at teammates: https://youtu.be/z-Z58VB-77g?feature=shared
and here: https://youtu.be/vts--r8V5MU?feature=shared
And here: https://youtu.be/rs-o74zKaIs?feature=shared
Is Tom Brady a poor leader because he isn't positive enough with his teammates?
Geno Smith hasn't been playing his best? What about his teammates, should they be playing better?
Here is the PFF grade (take it for whatever weight you want but it is at least not biased towards Geno):
"The highest-graded Seahawks in Week 8 vs the Bills:
🥇 Jaxon Smith-Njigba - 73.8
🥈 Geno Smith - 72.7
🥉 Coby Bryant - 70.5
🏅 Laken Tomlinson - 69.4
🏅 Byron Murphy II - 65.7
(min. 25 snaps)"
Source: https://x.com/PFF_Seahawks/status/1850961964463206420
What I think? Is these opinions, which are fine and I respect, but they occur because the team lost and not because there is anything wrong with what happened. I would change my mind if the personal fouls happened every week but I can't remember another personal foul on Geno. Maybe there have been but I just don't remember one off the top of my head.
I appreciate your perspective, as I do everyone’s. However, a couple of points…
Whether there was smoke or not, I don’t think anyone can deny that Wilson brilliantly and consistently used to rally his troops on the field for good results (the majority of the time).
I have been concerned for Geno’s body language for a few weeks now. Frankly it’s been quite ordinary and he appears to be letting things get to him. Regardless of once leading the league in game winning drives, he’s not doing it at the moment.
Tom Brady ‘is’ arguably the best QB ever. He definitely walked the walk, and the saying goes, ‘if you talk the talk, you better walk the walk’. Geno isn’t walking the walk, so his ‘talking the talk’ (i.e. tantrums) makes him look a little hypocritical. A leader should lead by example. Not the old: ‘do as I say, don’t do as I do’.
Should his teammates be playing better? Yes.
Stats are a good guide, but they never tell the whole story. Like I’ve said many times before, personally, I prefer to trust my eyes. And as the saying goes, ‘There’s lies, damned lies and statistics’.
I can’t recall another personal foul on Geno either. This only backs my concern about him lately. Like I said, I don’t hate him, but he just seems off at the moment. It concerns me. Just trying to call a spade a spade.
I can see both sides of the "leadership" debate with Geno. I support Geno, in general, as y'all know. The issue with his leadership is not him getting onto his teammates, like Brady. There is a fine line of which emotions are good to have as a leader and which are not. He and Brady can certainly be fiery and voice their displeasure with their teammates not performing ip to their capabilities. I had an amazing player on a basketball team of mine who was like that with me years ago, and it actually helped me to value every opportunity and focus on performing with my best mental effort more consistently.
I saw the one time he was caught with bad body language on camera, and I think that is where the "sulking" accusation comes from. I would say that everybody can have a bad attitude day, but, it is now becoming part of a pattern of apparent whining from him. That perception of whininess comes from his facial expressions and body language. Those traits are not good leadership. If he isn't being that way on the inside of himself and the inside of the team construct, then he needs to do a better job of improving his awareness of his nonverbal communication. If he IS that way, that is also something he needs to change.
It comes across as petty and hypocritical when I whine at my teammates or employees. I must demonstrate I am accountable and have a healthy level of acceptance of constructive criticism if I want those under me to do the same. I must demonstrate we are in this together and that being intense is expected and encouraged. Being whiny and allowing frustrations to affect our performance is not.
I think this is fixable with some self-examination. I think Leslie Frazier can be a valuable asset in this area.
Really appreciate your thoughtfulness and thorough answers. This is good stuff.
I didn't see Geno "sulking" -- I saw sadness and disappointment that the team was not accomplishing the plays as called, also intense thought about what he could do to rev things up, what might work to patch the holes; he seems to take the responsibility very seriously; he knows he isn't going to have the "magic play" that Russ used to pull rabbits out of the hat back when, he's thinking "how can I do more to get us down the field NOW"
Let me also say that one really good way to fix this is for Geno to explain himself a little better to the public and team. Maybe he just has facial expressions that come across differently to the fans because we have our own experiences and biases that color our interpretation of his nonverbal queues. We aren't in the building. Maybe it is much smoke with no fire. Or maybe it is something he needs to work on. We are all a work in progress as leaders. Leslie Frazier, help this, please.
This is a good point.
Geno has a façade with the media that he generally stands by. Which is to pretty much never talk poorly about his teammates and almost always praise them. But we don't know what happens behind the scenes. Drew Lock gave us a little insight but that is a different situation.
Drew Lock last season after the Philly win talking about Geno. I understand it is not in game but it is at least an example of how encouraging Geno is to his teammates, at least in Lock's opinion:
"That's just an unselfish dude in there man. I appreciate him (Geno) more than words can describe."
https://youtu.be/QNNeyariJn8?feature=shared&t=274
J Reed:
"That's just being two guys who care about football. Look, D. Hall is my guy. He's one of my friends on this team. Our parents are cool. We're still cool. There's no love lost. It just happens."
https://x.com/MazvitaMaraire/status/1851713456304799795
Agree 100% with Reed.
Good writing! Thanks for talking me in off the ledge. An average team plays better against weak teams, and worse against strong teams. The truth hiding in plain sight from overwrought ill informed fans (like me). Perhaps amped up by too much wishful thinking for year one of a rebuilding team.
I made a wild bet that MM would prove to be a guy who could draw Champions out of talented athletes and win this Division. I'll stand by that, rain or shine.
It’s so clearly a transitional year in which player & asst. coach evaluations by MM/JS is the main focus. The trade and draft results from Russ’ exit + recent trades & drafts are all under the microscope (or is it a magnifying glass?) I think the evolution is so transformative that I’m now prepared to not focus on 2025’s win/loss record compared to seeing how that season’s decisions continue the transformation.
As always, thanks for taking time to answer questions. I thought you did a great job answering my question in yesterday's post, even if unintended. And I'm glad to see Chuck Turtleman still posting and doing OK hopefully! Go Hawks!
My search is among the coaches who appears to hold the Gravitas that mysteriously inspires Men. Currently, I see it in spades with Detroit's Coach Campbell or the little old guy coaching special teams for Pittsburg. Wink Martindale comes to mind. I don't see it in Aden Durde, but that means little. The Niner's Coach Bill Walsh never showed it publicly, but we now learn he had it in the Locker room, away from any cameras. While his appearance was professorial, he was actually a ferocious Boxer from early years and The Guys kept it secret. You did not piss off Coach Walsh. Somewhere in the mix, we need those guys. Give it time...
Rushing to the defence of Durde, for totally patriotic reasons. I'd suggest going back to revist the Cowboys Hard Knocks from a couple of years ago. There was clearly a lot of love for Durde from those players. Maybe not a "Sir, yes Sir!" level of respect/fear, but a clear "You're a good man and we listen and believe in you". And that's perfect for a position coach, he needs player buy in to his teaching, which i feel is displayed on the field already this season as our D-Line is definitely better than the last 5 years.
The hard asses should be JS & MM. But equally, one game is not a pattern or a problem. I'm not concerned about discipline and the locker room yet. Another couple of in-game bust ups and we have a problem, for now i think it's mostly one off frustration born of a shit game.
Always take the points until it's the fourth Quarter! I honestly expected the O-line to be better by now- CW is doing ok ( one bad snap doesn't truly mean that much, except in that game) He will get better as the season moves on, I'd bet money on that! The fact that they cannot run block is mainly on the inside of the O-line, which as I watch replays of the games is mostly on the guards. But it could also be a coaching issue as to how they are having them pull or angle block. The coaches need to get this figured out and put Who they have in the best situations to succeed. I am actually not seeing that ,other than when straight ahead blocking and just not getting any push or seal. I don't see Seattle as really needing that many different players to be actually Pretty darn good! ME, I would be finding a TRUE nasty NT or two , MM figure out what he needs at LB, and then ,YES fix the O-line!!! Go Hawks !
Could of had Zach Allen. Could of had Josh Allen. Could of had many many players. But were/are we the right place for those players to thrive? I don't think anyone can just assume Player X would repeat his stats on the 'Hawks.
I'm finding the Broncos really interesting to watch this year. They're "supposed" to be garbage. But man that coaching outfit is doing something really really impressive. Which shouldn't be a surprise given it's Sean Payton heading them, a slam dunk 1st ballot HoF coach.
If you took TJ from the Steelers, would he just wreck shop elsewhere? Or is the influence of Tomlin a key factor in his success?
MM is year 1. You can get him good players yes, but that doesn't equal suddenly creating a powerhouse outfit. I think it's obvious on the field there are improvements in a ton of our players compared to last year. Let's have a little faith in a longer term plan that doesn't rely on snagging a big name FA, but is built on coaches who make players great, so we can unearth great value talent and build an all-round team capable of competing - like those great HoF coaches such as Payton, Mike and Pete did.
I find it difficult to read the many articles and comments about the Seahawks right now. Not this site so much, just generally. Expectations totally out of whack. The coach has lost the locker room. etc, etc, etc
Mike MacDonald has not lost the locker room. The players have not tuned him out. Anyone who does will not be on the field going forward. He will not 'out' his players to the press, as he's very guarded in that respect, which is as it should be. That doesn't mean hard conversations aren't taking place in private, where hard conversations should be taking place.
Even in SSJ's poll of expectations for the Seahawks this year, most of us thought they'd be meh. And guess what? They are meh. As expected (for most of us). In Mike MacDonald's words, where right where we should be.
And don't get me started about Geno, but I'll just say this. You'll have to go pretty far down the list of problems with this team before you get to his name. 'Nuff said.
Non-linear improvement is what we should expect. And even better games can still be losses. The roster needs some changes IMO before we can really get to consistently winning, and that will take at least one offseason.
Try to enjoy the season.
Double rec on this, Chris.
Are you able to watch the games again now Charlie?
We live in the medium deep countryside, don't have Dish or Direct TV 'n not into spending too much at the moment. Our youngest daughter, 23, plays Ultimate Frisbee, 7 on 7, for Stanford Superfly so we'll be able to see some of her games on Ultiworld from late January to the end of March. She recently joined a Women's Club, Fury, so we get to see her playing in some games. Bay Area Fury just won the Club championship. Sometimes towards the end of the football season the price comes down markedly. It's all good. This Communty makes it better.
It's more important to watch family than football anyway.
So someone mentioned where were Witherspoon's stats for 2024. According to PFF he ranks 67th overall out of 210 corners. He has a strong grade in run defense 81 but only a 61.8 in coverage. His completion against rate is 76.2% (Lee Vowell). Passer rating allowed is 92.5. So lets move on to the rest of the defense. Interesting comment from McDonald this week. He is going to simplifiy the defense. He thinks players might be a bit overwhelmed so he's trying to find a way to allow them to play with simpler scheme since he hasn't even installed the full playbook. Offensively he wants to see the run game and scheme more simplified to give K9 some space to "do his thing". He highlights incosistency on both sides of the ball. Is that lacking attention to detail or focus? McDonald excert from Brock and Salk defensively "“I think you gotta start making some decisions on where to narrow it down. You can’t focus on everything,” he said" What's going on with the defensive line. Former all pro superbowl (3x) lineman Mark Schlereth pointed something out earlier this week I found really interesting.
"“Guys are getting on you and they’re staying on you, and you’re not defending or defeating the block,” he said of Seahawks defensive players on the line of scrimmage. “The game is played with your hands – hands and feet – and you’ve got to be able to shock people.
“I always said when I was playing (that) first contact wins. So the first guy who makes contact usually wins that battle, and then it’s about being physical at the point. But once you physically stun the offensive lineman, then you extend – what we call stacking a guy – and then you figure out where the ball is.”
That’s where the technique is going wrong for the Seahawks D-linemen, according to Schlereth.
“It’s almost like they’re trying to extend before they win that line of scrimmage, and they’re getting pushed and not getting off blocks. And then they missed a bunch of tackles last weekend… There’s nothing more humiliating – I get it when you give up a big play over the top and all that – but when they consistently are able to run the ball on you and control the line of scrimmage on you, and consistently being able to throw it to the tight ends and things like that. That’s just really frustrating for a defense.”
What we have learned so far this year is a good QB can pretty much have his way in Seattle (Even Daniel Jones?). We've only faced Purdy and Allen so far, but Stafford is also having a good year. And now he has Cupp and Puka back (breakout game against Seattle last year), to go with Williams have a strong year at RB.
This is Seattle's coaching staffs first season and some picked Seattle to win only 5 games. I think we all expected more of a 9 game win and an outside shot at the playoffs if the ball rolled right. Sean McVay gave McDonald trouble last year in Balitmore (Detroit, Seattle and others were crushed). So here's were the glass in now half full. Seattle has a home game with the possiblity of Fant returning. They can make a statement division win to go into their bye week. There is a possiblity of Lucas returning against SF after the bye. There is a possiblity that Fant could move inside if that happens. CB competition is heating up between Brown and Jobe. Brown is healthy again. Bradford is playing all the snaps this week according to Mac. (Good, Bad Ugly?) Ernest Jones has had a whole week of practice and he does know the Rams offense. Seattle needs some breaks this week. A little good luck can't hurt after last weeks keystone cops performance. This week isn't the end all, but I hope it's a start of things moving in the right direction. What's would be more fun going into the bye week than sending McVay home with a loss. No there's a different feeling. No time like the present.
Noice!
Go Hawks - to clarify, my rec is not “fire the coach” but “connect with the player.”
Let’s benefit from Leslie Frazier & other voices supporting Geno on psycho shart show days when everything goes wrong in front of 70 k home fans!