Three Biggest Issues Right Now?

[RiverDog]

No you just don't agree with me... that's fine... we will see what happens with the rest of the season.

LTH

Well, I think it's a little more than just a difference of opinion. The fact is that our strength of schedule is middle of the road, weaker than the Niners and barely tougher than the Rams and Cards, both who finished worse than us in 2022 and who are ranked 18th and 19th in SOS.

 

[knownone]

I'm not sure of any of those three. There are only two active coaches who are slam dunk for the HOF, that being Belichick and Andy Reid. They're the only ones who have won multiple SB's, which I think is going to be one of the standards.

The "brutalized" schedule is just another excuse. We got a break by their moving the Eagles game back to a Monday. It gives us an extra day to prepare for them. Our opponent following the Eagles is a much weaker (on paper) Titans team.

Besides, we're not the only team that got "brutalized". Take a look at our next opponent, the Eagles. After their bad loss to the Jets, they have played the Dolphins, Cowboys x2, the Chiefs, and the Niners. That's at least equal to our Murderer's Row. And keep in mind that with the exception of two games, our schedule is just like that of our divisional opponents.

In fact, our schedule is currently ranked 17, just ahead of the Rams and Cards:

Ranking the easiest, hardest schedules for all 32 NFL teams: Saints, Falcons and Colts have favorable schedules in 2023 | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

While every NFL team's path to victory will be unique, the strength of their schedule plays a pivotal role in shaping their future. Here, we use PFF ELO to delve into the 2023 NFL season and determine which teams have the easiest and hardest schedules.

www.pff.com

You're grasping for straws.

The schedule is also a reality; you are looking at preseason SoS, which is meaningless. The Eagles have played the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and Seattle is 5th. Keep in mind that those are games that have already been played. If you include the Eagles, Seattle jumps to 3rd. Now, is that an excuse? No. But it's worth considering when evaluating why the team has come off the rails. Four of their last six games have been against 10-win teams.

 

[LTH]

The schedule is also a reality; you are looking at preseason SoS, which is meaningless. The Eagles have played the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and Seattle is 5th. Keep in mind that those are games that have already been played. If you include the Eagles, Seattle jumps to 3rd. Now, is that an excuse? No. But it's worth considering when evaluating why the team has come off the rails. Four of their last six games have been against 10-win teams.

That was pretty much my point


LTH

 

[flv2]

1) Offense.
2) Defense.
3) Coaching.

The current offense is better than the current defense and coaching but it's easier to win with offense than anything else. However, there isn't enough quality at QB or RB for this offense to dominate opponents. The defense is the weakest part of this team, particularly the front 6. I think the DBs would play harder on a better defensive unit and with better offensive support. The current coaching isn't getting the best out of the current playing personnel. Teams can win with lesser coaching but it's really tough to overcome a lack of accountability. If it was up to me the HC and DC would be leaving after the season is over.

 

[flv2]

The schedule is also a reality; you are looking at preseason SoS, which is meaningless. The Eagles have played the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and Seattle is 5th. Keep in mind that those are games that have already been played. If you include the Eagles, Seattle jumps to 3rd. Now, is that an excuse? No. But it's worth considering when evaluating why the team has come off the rails. Four of their last six games have been against 10-win teams.

You're falling into your own trap. Those teams are only 10-win teams because they've beaten the Seahawks. If the Seahawks had won those games they'd be the 10-win team, the other teams would be 9-win teams, and the schedule would retrospectively look weaker.

 

[JayhawkMike]

The schedule is also a reality; you are looking at preseason SoS, which is meaningless. The Eagles have played the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and Seattle is 5th. Keep in mind that those are games that have already been played. If you include the Eagles, Seattle jumps to 3rd. Now, is that an excuse? No. But it's worth considering when evaluating why the team has come off the rails. Four of their last six games have been against 10-win teams.

So we can all agree that the Seahawks cannot compete with the best teams in the NFL?

 

[cymatica]

I only see one issue right now, and it's been the same issue for years. Identity.

Pete and John have failed at re-establishing the physical bully identity that they created during the SB years. Oh they've tried desperately, but very little has worked.

That's what happens after years of neglecting the oline in favor of skill positions. Not to mention out thinking themselves, or just very poorly evaluating, on the defensive front 7.

Could have had Montez Sweat, they chose Collier instead. Could have had Humphrey, they chose Eskridge. Giving up Unger for Graham who didn't fit their style at all. Letting Pocic go and now stuck with the 32nd rated center, who was a backup in Detroit. Taylor is an absolute bust.

Last couple years have been better, but it shouldn't have taken a decade to figure out what seemed obvious to most people during that time

 

[RiverDog]

The schedule is also a reality; you are looking at preseason SoS, which is meaningless. The Eagles have played the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and Seattle is 5th. Keep in mind that those are games that have already been played. If you include the Eagles, Seattle jumps to 3rd. Now, is that an excuse? No. But it's worth considering when evaluating why the team has come off the rails. Four of their last six games have been against 10-win teams.

Toche'! You're right, and @LTH has my apology. I should have been more careful.

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for pro football computer power rankings.

www.teamrankings.com

However, it doesn't change my point in that both the Niners, ranked 3rd, and the Rams, ranked 5th, have had a tougher schedule than we have, at least to this point (link dated 12/15). The schedule makers haven't "brutalized" us. It's a lame excuse.

 

[Fresno Hawk]

1. Quarterback, is biggest issue this year so many missed plays at this position.
2. Linebackers. Imop this is the position that can make or break a team and although I will forever some Bwags. He cannot run anymore. And this is the position that completes a defense see 9ers d.
3. Coaching, Pete had a long good ride. Like all great coaches it all comes to an end at some point.

P. s. At 46 yrs old now these last 14 yrs of watching Seahawks football have been the best. 1 superbowl win, countless playoff wins, along with spanking the fortywiners. And being born a raised in California it was awsome to beat them. Not gonna lie, not knowing what the next coach will bring makes me sad.

 

[knownone]

So we can all agree that the Seahawks cannot compete with the best teams in the NFL?

Well, they are 2-4 against playoff teams. And they nearly won the Cowboys game. So, they've competed against every team not named Baltimore or San Fran.

 

[Jerhawk]

 

[LTH]

If you want a physical bully identity, you don't do it by prioritizing skill position players over the trenches.

That was my knock on them... but to be fair they have addressed the trenches on both sides of the ball. Inlikebthe D line with Nwosu in it. It's a damn shame he got hurt because with Williams and nwosu in the line up that's a pretty potent D line.


Just my take. I know when they drafted Eskridge I was shaking my head as I wanted the center KC drafted can't remember his name.

They did draft Lucas, cross and Bradford so it's not like they totally ignored it

But I would have made it my pryority

 

[Seahawkwalt1967]

1/ Poor attitudes/No leaders
2/ Coaching
3/ Trenches/LB

 

[jammerhawk]

I have been a Hawks fan since ‘76, and have been a reluctant witness to many seasons in the deep wilderness. I don’t yet want to jettison Pete to effectively return to a situation of a young coach learning on the job through failure.

To me the D is broken. It is the problem. This is fix #1. When the team had DQ as the DC adjustments got made that were effective. Since then the effectiveness has tapered off to the reality of the past two seasons. Hurrt does not know WTF to do as a DC and has confirmed it with successive seasons of incompetence. He needs to go. Pete’s loyalty to staff members has certainly contributed to this decline but it is silliness to think he is the absolute author of this defensive mess (the buck does stop with him): but Hurrt is demonstrably failing to deliver on stated objectives. Regardless though unless real change happens through him the reluctantly I think he too is skating on very thin ice, and a total blow-up may be needed. At present I believe he stays. The D is completely failing to deliver value for cost and it has to be time to chop some deadwood. If the team cannot get the QBOTF then they need to go all in to get a marquee pass rusher. The nucleus of a solid and strong DLine is now already here.

The O has some ability and is building so I keep Waldron while looking for that QBOTF and continuing to add interior depth to the OLine, I like both the starting OTs. This too must be a priority. As hard as it is for me to say I keep Geno for another year if we can find the young QB as above. Non performing players like Eskridge and Haynes can be let go as well as the overpriced TEs. The play delivered from the TE group was solid early this year but is now missing and needs to be developed. I like the RBs and want to see more innovation with the running game.

On ST better consistency needs to develop but comparatively .that unit seemingly only needs more speed.

 

[Ozzy]

The schedule is also a reality; you are looking at preseason SoS, which is meaningless. The Eagles have played the 2nd toughest schedule this year, and Seattle is 5th. Keep in mind that those are games that have already been played. If you include the Eagles, Seattle jumps to 3rd. Now, is that an excuse? No. But it's worth considering when evaluating why the team has come off the rails. Four of their last six games have been against 10-win teams.

Which site are you using for strength of schedule? I’ve been looking and found like 5 different numbers. Is there a standard or one that is mostly used? Not being snarky here either

 

[Ozzy]

The defensive is broken but I’m not sure it’s fixable as I think it’s a scheme issue and they aren’t going to leave the Fangio system which is bad almost league wide unless he’s a part of it. Seattle got duped into using it and they need to jump ship

 

[LTH]

Toche'! You're right, and @LTH has my apology. I should have been more careful.

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings & Ratings from TeamRankings.com, your source for pro football computer power rankings.

www.teamrankings.com

However, it doesn't change my point in that both the Niners, ranked 3rd, and the Rams, ranked 5th, have had a tougher schedule than we have, at least to this point (link dated 12/15). The schedule makers haven't "brutalized" us. It's a lame excuse.

You say that I'm making excuses for the Hawks not living up to what expectation? Your expectation that they SHOULD beat teams that are more talented ?

I'm not making excuses... I'm saying that injuries on the O line, key players missing from key games during that gauntlet part of the schedule, as well as, the talent on the roster opposed to talent on the opposing teams were issues that the Hawks were unable to over come in this stretch of games meaning both losses to SF and the loss to Dallas.

So my specific questios to you are this.

Do you think the 49ers are less talented then the Seahawks?

Do you think the Cowboys are less talented then the Seahawks?

Do you think that key injuries to Key players on the Seahawks are a factor going up against against teams that are healthier than the Seahawk?

How many of that stretch of games do you think the Seahawks should have won. Sea vs 49ers game 1. Seattle vs Cowboys. Seattle vs 49ers game 2.

And if you do think they should have won those games why?

LTH

 

[knownone]

Which site are you using for strength of schedule? I’ve been looking and found like 5 different numbers. Is there a standard or one that is mostly used? Not being snarky here either

I typically look for combined wins of opponents played or average rank because it's easiest to project forward with. There is no standard as long as you aren't looking at preseason ranking or remaining SoS. For example, RiverDog posted one based on a power rating and Seattle's 8th. That's a fair ranking to cite, IMO. This is the website I usually use for these sorts of things. This is the one I used to project forward because it uses averages.

 

[RiverDog]

You say that I'm making excuses for the Hawks not living up to what expectation? Your expectation that they SHOULD beat teams that are more talented ?

My expectation isn't that they should be beating teams that are more talented. My expectation is that they be more talented than their competition.

Do you think the 49ers are less talented then the Seahawks?

Of course, they aren't. I never said that they were.

Do you think the Cowboys are less talented then the Seahawks?

No.

Do you think that key injuries to Key players on the Seahawks are a factor going up against against teams that are healthier than the Seahawk?

I don't accept your premise. I don't think that teams are necessarily healthier than the Seahawks. Injuries litter the league. I just got through watching the Vikings play with their 4th starting quarterback. Injuries are undoubtedly a factor. Some teams are good enough and deep enough to overcome them. Some aren't.

How many of that stretch of games do you think the Seahawks should have won. Sea vs 49ers game 1. Seattle vs Cowboys. Seattle vs 49ers game 2.

None, and I'll refer you to the answer I gave your first question.

And if you do think they should have won those games why?

LTH

They had an opportunity to win the Cowboys game, but due to a number of factors, not least of which they failed to account for Micah Parsons, who was in the Hawks' backfield all night yet left unblocked by design, they blew a golden opportunity.

 

[Ozzy]

I typically look for combined wins of opponents played or average rank because it's easiest to project forward with. There is no standard as long as you aren't looking at preseason ranking or remaining SoS. For example, RiverDog posted one based on a power rating and Seattle's 8th. That's a fair ranking to cite, IMO. This is the website I usually use for these sorts of things. This is the one I used to project forward because it uses averages.

Thanks for sharing I’ll check these out