Jammer I respect you as a poster and your opinions. Our opinions just differ thats all.
If you are asking for valid replacements for Pete, like every year, let's wait to see who's available. Every season there are NFL coaches looking to move on from current situations, coordinators ready to move up, and college coaches hungry to enter the big leagues.
Its the immediate competitiveness that has me accepting of regression if that's the case. It's the same story in Seattle every single year in which fans and pundits allow themselves to be fooled into thinking the team is almost there. They arent. Its more of the same now. Yeah they had a few nice drafts with some good young developing players, but there are still serious holes that need addressed and I don't see how that's going to happen anytime soon. The first issue is the QB situation. I have less than zero confidence in Geno Smith or Drew Lock being able to advance this or any team in the post season. What about the linebackers? Wagner is a dinosaur and Brooks looked lost being the field general last season. The lines in the trenches are still an issue after years and multiple new faces. Those are issues that arent going to be answered in just a couple seasons. If you have faith in the current product, God bless you. Seriously, I dont feel like they are almost there. This doesnt feel anything like 2012 to me. Its more of the same where if Seattle makes the post season, you just know they dont have a chance once they are in.
Like I said, its all good and I realize people don't see it the way I do.
Well I simply don't share your pessimism and believe this team is a good bit closer to being 'there' than they were last year.
Let's say they win the next 3 games, drop one to SF then win out at home including a tough game against Philly. Alternatively, they win enough games to win the division. Are you still of the belief they are pretenders? Likely so, b/c you don't think much of several starters who have proven this season they are not dinosaurs or lost as an ILB. I simply don't accept your belief if they are in the tournament at the end of the year they don't have a chance. However, feel free to be a pessimist.
It's not hard to disagree the team needs a long term plan at QB, but if you recall they had one who began to think he was so special that he didn't need to play within the game plan or the system coached while commanding premium $ for mediocre results. That guy was traded and the team got value at several other positions as a result, but unfortunately the team had to eat a huge cap hit which is still being digested. Getting that right guy is whole lot harder than many accept as seemingly sure fire candidates bust under the pressure.
The team being fielded so far this year has flashed both their talent and their mediocrity at different times but throughout save for the the Ravens game there were some bright spots other than the kicking game. WR, RB, CB, S, DT, TE, and OT are starting to look like the team might be solidly talented, and the youth at DE/OLB is flashing more often. There are quite a few positions where the team is showing young developing talent at, and when they are
ON they look like a good team on both sides of the ball. Consistency seems to be an issue at present. That consistencycomes with a genuine sense of ability on the players part. At times they look to be very close and at others you scratch your head.
I've been a fan since '76 and have watched them build, then be blown up, and try to build again. Being competitive always is a hallmark of good team management and I'd never want to blow it up and not be competitive again as those building periods were very long and very bleak. If you are able to compete you always have a punchers chance even above your weight class.
We disagree that's OK with me, and I do understand your frustration with recent playoff exits but disagree that things are as bad as you believe.
