To me, this was always going to be a bumpy developmental season. Games like this are to be expected, and its hardly shocking we lost. The 9ers are a talented team that's a season or so ahead of the Hawks in a similar retool. But it's a fact that they have a firmer foundation of proven players and philosophy in place.
The universe is comprised of spectrums. And it's no surprise that Seahawks fans expectations of seasonal success exist on a spectrum as well. One one side you've got the "we're dookie without Russ" 0-17 Doomers, and on the other end you've got your "I think we could low key slide into the playoffs" Hopium Huffing Homer's. I've maintained that the reality exists somewhere in between. I think this is a 7-10 team regardless of whether it's Geno or Lock at the helm.
The upside is that there's talent on this team. And it's young and hungry. I think with context I really appreciate what Diggs said after the game. He's a vet. He knows. We're not that good. But I believe that to really mean we're not that good, yet.
I want this season to develop and stand alone in my consciousness, but it's hard not view it through the lense of the 2011 season. These players and coaches are going to watch this game film. And they will learn from it. And they will get better. It's going to take some time and reps, but these young players will grow and gel around a decent but not great starting QB. I truly believe once they hit their stride this squad will start to continually surprise teams, and start dragging them into the muck with them week in and week out. Then the team moves into next season with a more established cultural and philosophical baseline, money to spend, and excellent draft capital. This franchise is not a rudderless ship, and the future is brighter and closer than it appears my brethren.
In the mean time, at least for me, the win on Monday gave this Hawks fan all the armor necessary to enjoy watching the growth and not sweat the process.
