I think it's really hard to a team in the off season. Would not surprise me if Seattle is significantly improved, though true Superbowl contention would surprise me. I'd also not be surprised if we have a .500 season (except that that's unlikely in a 17 game season.
I would be surprised if Seattle played like a bottom feeder though that's what I was expecting this time last year.
I sort of go into seasons looking at teams as if they're in "bubbles of competitiveness" and as of June without all the information, I could see the Seahawks in that "competing to reach the NFC Championship game" bubble. It seems like a small difference between that bubble and the Super Bowl bubble and sure enough we see teams in the "make the playoff bubble" go to the Super Bowl, but for now I think that's a very fair evaluation. As well as being much further ahead than where most people thought Seattle would be a year ago.
When we're talking about the last 2 teams standing in the NFC, it's not just the Eagles and 49ers, but I'm also thinking that the Cowboys, Giants, Vikings, Saints, Falcons, Lions, Packers, Moons that would like to think, "Hey we were pretty close and we think we got better" too. So just being conservative, coming out of the top-10 teams in the NFC, I think a good expectation is that the Seahawks are battling to reach the NFCCG. Then who knows.
I think a lot of people are underestimating the Seahawks for one reason: Geno doesn’t have superstar charisma.
In 2021, his play was objectively better than Russ’, but he didn’t make two, critical, late game plays. His 2022 performance was very good, he won CPotY, but many look right past him for the possibility of drafting an unproven rookie.
Sprinkle some Q-factor sparkle dust charisma powder on him and even with the exact same stats, the Seahawks would be consensus NFCW winners.
Personally, I love it. If his humility builds team support, he wants to prove the haters wrong, and everyone takes the team for granted, it will make victory that much sweeter.
A question that comes to my mind after reviewing the comments here is: who has the most pressure on them this year? The answer might be a player or a coach. Any thoughts? I'm reluctant to give my answer to this question because I think some of you will come to the same conclusion I have.
Geno is a "good enough" QB to take the Seahawks to the SB if the rest of the pieces all come together.
The questions in front of this team are all on the line: are they now "good enough" between the tackles on the OL AND DL? Is the interior of the OL strong enough so that Waldron and Geno can make use of the fantastic tool set the team now has? And is the interior of the DL strong enough to limit the opposing team's running game and force the opposition to play against what should be the Seahawks' strength in the defensive secondary?
With Evans/Bradford/Olu the Seahawks have likely done enough to be "good enough" on the OL.
Doing nothing is the most common decision most teams make. Think of all the trade possibilities that never happen. In mock drafts we all make trades here and there, but each year there are few trades made in the first round. Chicago moved quickly, while we were being patient. Moving up after Chicago made their move was likely impossible short of making history for the wrong reasons.
That's about the full extent of any thinking I will do on the subject.
The other point you are making about the effect of drafting the right QB is indisputable, but whether Young or Stroud or someone else was the right QB we won't know for a while. But what you don't say about Geno is your hesitancy to believe Geno capable of being that QB. You imply as much and you have straight out said it in the past, and you may be correct.
On the other hand, it's less of a yes or no question. Geno may have the talent with the right cast just as everyone believed Purdy could do it for SF. Not because Purdy was a top 5 QB, but because he was proving ADEQUATE. I would suggest that on that scale, Geno is more than adequate with the right supporting cast, and possibly even more, he could be a top 5 QB in my opinion.
He is wickedly accurate. He can stay on time, and he can run and throw on the run. He sometimes throws contested balls he should not, and other mistakes, but he can look down the barrel of a gun and not blink. That is what RW3 is lacking and always lacked.
Given improvements in the OL and running game and WR group, Geno should tear up the league this year, and I think he will.
Something to keep in mind is that--without making a move--this year’s team is different than last year’s team. That’s not necessarily a good thing, although in Seattle’s case it is. The 2023 Hawks will be different (and better) simply because Geno, the most promising 2022 rookies, and Michael Jackson have a year of experience starting that they didn’t have last year. Then, throw in two FA defensive starters and that the first two rounds of the draft yielded more weapons for Geno, quality depth at RB, and a potentially elite CB. Without expecting anything from the Day 3 picks, I’d argue that PCJS will field a 2023 team that is good enough to take full advantage of anything that breaks their way. As of today, I don’t see them getting to the SB without help, but who knows what will happen?
I think it's really hard to a team in the off season. Would not surprise me if Seattle is significantly improved, though true Superbowl contention would surprise me. I'd also not be surprised if we have a .500 season (except that that's unlikely in a 17 game season.
I would be surprised if Seattle played like a bottom feeder though that's what I was expecting this time last year.
I sort of go into seasons looking at teams as if they're in "bubbles of competitiveness" and as of June without all the information, I could see the Seahawks in that "competing to reach the NFC Championship game" bubble. It seems like a small difference between that bubble and the Super Bowl bubble and sure enough we see teams in the "make the playoff bubble" go to the Super Bowl, but for now I think that's a very fair evaluation. As well as being much further ahead than where most people thought Seattle would be a year ago.
When we're talking about the last 2 teams standing in the NFC, it's not just the Eagles and 49ers, but I'm also thinking that the Cowboys, Giants, Vikings, Saints, Falcons, Lions, Packers, Moons that would like to think, "Hey we were pretty close and we think we got better" too. So just being conservative, coming out of the top-10 teams in the NFC, I think a good expectation is that the Seahawks are battling to reach the NFCCG. Then who knows.
I think a lot of people are underestimating the Seahawks for one reason: Geno doesn’t have superstar charisma.
In 2021, his play was objectively better than Russ’, but he didn’t make two, critical, late game plays. His 2022 performance was very good, he won CPotY, but many look right past him for the possibility of drafting an unproven rookie.
Sprinkle some Q-factor sparkle dust charisma powder on him and even with the exact same stats, the Seahawks would be consensus NFCW winners.
Personally, I love it. If his humility builds team support, he wants to prove the haters wrong, and everyone takes the team for granted, it will make victory that much sweeter.
20-0.
A question that comes to my mind after reviewing the comments here is: who has the most pressure on them this year? The answer might be a player or a coach. Any thoughts? I'm reluctant to give my answer to this question because I think some of you will come to the same conclusion I have.
Geno is a "good enough" QB to take the Seahawks to the SB if the rest of the pieces all come together.
The questions in front of this team are all on the line: are they now "good enough" between the tackles on the OL AND DL? Is the interior of the OL strong enough so that Waldron and Geno can make use of the fantastic tool set the team now has? And is the interior of the DL strong enough to limit the opposing team's running game and force the opposition to play against what should be the Seahawks' strength in the defensive secondary?
With Evans/Bradford/Olu the Seahawks have likely done enough to be "good enough" on the OL.
Has the DL improved enough?
The Magic 8 ball says: "All signs point to YES."
Build the Team, make it stronger. The Seahawks did that.
"... and Seattle (mostly by circumstances and without a choice) didn’t make a change."
I'm so glad. Next year we have a real chance to get that Son of Color McCall
... and continue to Build the Team. That'll do it.
An interesting question would be: would 2022 Geno take the Niners or the Eagles to the Super Bowl? I'd say yes to Niners and maybe to Eagles.
Doing nothing is the most common decision most teams make. Think of all the trade possibilities that never happen. In mock drafts we all make trades here and there, but each year there are few trades made in the first round. Chicago moved quickly, while we were being patient. Moving up after Chicago made their move was likely impossible short of making history for the wrong reasons.
That's about the full extent of any thinking I will do on the subject.
The other point you are making about the effect of drafting the right QB is indisputable, but whether Young or Stroud or someone else was the right QB we won't know for a while. But what you don't say about Geno is your hesitancy to believe Geno capable of being that QB. You imply as much and you have straight out said it in the past, and you may be correct.
On the other hand, it's less of a yes or no question. Geno may have the talent with the right cast just as everyone believed Purdy could do it for SF. Not because Purdy was a top 5 QB, but because he was proving ADEQUATE. I would suggest that on that scale, Geno is more than adequate with the right supporting cast, and possibly even more, he could be a top 5 QB in my opinion.
He is wickedly accurate. He can stay on time, and he can run and throw on the run. He sometimes throws contested balls he should not, and other mistakes, but he can look down the barrel of a gun and not blink. That is what RW3 is lacking and always lacked.
Given improvements in the OL and running game and WR group, Geno should tear up the league this year, and I think he will.
12-5 baby.
Something to keep in mind is that--without making a move--this year’s team is different than last year’s team. That’s not necessarily a good thing, although in Seattle’s case it is. The 2023 Hawks will be different (and better) simply because Geno, the most promising 2022 rookies, and Michael Jackson have a year of experience starting that they didn’t have last year. Then, throw in two FA defensive starters and that the first two rounds of the draft yielded more weapons for Geno, quality depth at RB, and a potentially elite CB. Without expecting anything from the Day 3 picks, I’d argue that PCJS will field a 2023 team that is good enough to take full advantage of anything that breaks their way. As of today, I don’t see them getting to the SB without help, but who knows what will happen?