Anyone else not really bothered about pre-season this year?

Last year I remember being as excited as I've ever been for pre-season. The quarterback competition added a real dynamic and gave the games some relevance.

This year, it's the exact opposite IMO.

After the Harvin injury, about 18 guys sitting out camp on a single day... this just looks like a 'nothing to gain' type pre-season. It's basically a case of keeping fingers crossed that we don't pick up any further injuries. I'd take an 0-4 pre-season record, no drama, no injuries. Quietly get into that Panthers game with most of the starters available.

First thing I'll look out for when I wake up on Friday (Chargers game begins at 3am here) will be no major injury headlines. Score comes second. And yeah, it'll be interesting to see some of the rookies and fringe guys. But nothing major.

And this is again says a lot about how far this team has come. It's about time pre-season felt like this. Let's get to business.

I'm excited for pre-season because it means getting to see the team on the field again, which I expect to carry a fair amount of emotional relief with it. It also means that real football is near which is really the most exciting thing about it. But I agree with you, because at the same time, I don't find myself looking for any one thing in particular and until now I haven't been able to put my finger on how to make those two aspects mesh.

I always go apeshit for preseason. I love seeing the rookies perform, I love the camp storylines, and I love the drama associated with roster cuts. Preseason is awesome. By this time of the year, I am a Seahawks junkie looking for a quick fix, and a preseason game fits that bill nicely.

Excited about pre season?

Well read this then and again.

Well to make english, and I suspect others happy I agreed to unlock this thread about pre-season until tomorrow's game.

Sarlacc83":uhbeohwj said:

I'm excited for pre-season because it means getting to see the team on the field again, which I expect to carry a fair amount of emotional relief with it. It also means that real football is near which is really the most exciting thing about it. But I agree with you, because at the same time, I don't find myself looking for any one thing in particular and until now I haven't been able to put my finger on how to make those two aspects mesh.

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Think it speaks volumes really. When you look at the team, we're not desperately praying for that unknown guy to break through. We all pined to see Portis or Teel at QB, or a guy at running back to see if he could step up. Or whatever.

Now the team is set and ready. And while it'll be good to see the new guys on the field, it still feels different to previous pre-seasons. Which isn't a bad thing.

Im excited for several reasons.

1. Football is finally upon us

2.

You're going to see Christine Michael right off the bat," Carroll said. "I don't mind telling you that. I'm kind of anxious to see that myself."

Expect a good deal of the carries to wind up in the hands of Michael on Thursday night.

"He's going to get a load," Carroll said.

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I'm excited in different ways.

Last year, like you mentioned English, there were more questions marks and a major QB competition that was pretty much THE storyline in the NFL preseason aside from how Payton Manning's neck was doing.

There was a lot more player development to look forward to: Wagner, Irvin, Sherman's progress, Wilson, who'd step up at WR, etc.

I'm always excited about player development and this year is no different: Christine Michael, Jessee Williams, Hill, how Winfield fits in, where Thurmond fits in, etc.

We're more set, but honestly, I'm really not worried about injures; we're so stacked that most would have a minimal impact. I'm more excited in the preaseason this year because I have more expectations for the team. It doesn't necessarily mean I'm excited ABOUT the preseason, but I'm definately more excited for the start of football this year than last year.

Last year was the only time I've really ever been into the preseason, because of the QB situation, and probably won't watch much this year either. Very, very little of it matters, even if a player plays very well or very poorly. What the player does every day in practice is still of way more importance.

You nailed it, Rob. This is how the preseason is supposed to feel. Good teams know they're good. Good teams have most of their jobs figured out. These are just practice games. Besides looking at rooks and fringe roster guys battling for the last spots on the team, there's very little to learn. In past seasons we were hoping the fringe guys would save us. Now they are allowed to be what they are. Fringe players who will be lucky to make the team.

Like Christmas eve to me. :0190l:

SeaTown81":2yl37hrg said:

You nailed it, Rob. This is how the preseason is supposed to feel. Good teams know they're good. Good teams have most of their jobs figured out. These are just practice games. Besides looking at rooks and fringe roster guys battling for the last spots on the team, there's very little to learn. In past seasons we were hoping the fringe guys would save us. Now they are allowed to be what they are. Fringe players who will be lucky to make the team.

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As a counterpoint, the preseason games aren't "practice games" to those hoping to make the team. I'm anxious to see the 2nd and 3rd team depth for our team, and how it comes together. P and J have been good at finding UDFA and late-round talent; this is where it should shine in the sun. I think we could learn a lot about depth and upcoming talent.

I guess I'm just excited to seeing a body in a hawk logo actively hitting someone else again.

It does feel different.

But there are plenty of question marks remaining on roster spots, so I'm excited to watch the newbies.

Score is not second on my list of what I care about.

More like about 4th or 5th.

I would say that in terms of preseason excitement, this year is probably a 5 out of 10, whereas last year was off the charts.

I am stoked to see Christine Michael, though I heard he got knicked up a bit in practice recently. It's possible he might not play tomorrow. I am excited to see the new defense and all the new front seven players. I am excited to see the new offensive linemen- particularly Alvin Bailey who looked very promising in drills.

These roster battles do matter quite a bit, as today's backups are tomorrow's starters. This preseason is a huge opportunity for Jermaine Kearse to play himself into possible 2014 starter status. It's a chance for Alvin Bailey or Rishaw Johnson to maybe steal a starting guard job away from Carp/McGinger with great performances. Bobby Wagner is our only linebacker who should feel safe about keeping a full time job- the competition is going to be intense at LB. I'm not a huge fan of Winston Guy right now, but he's got a massive opportunity in front of him if he can manage the kind of preseason that Jeron Johnson seems to have every year.

I definitely sense there are a few future Shermans and Chancellors out there. This preseason might be our first chance to discern which ones they are.

kearly":3jhxkb65 said:

I definitely sense there are a few future Shermans and Chancellors out there. This preseason might be our first chance to discern which ones they are.

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That would sure be awesome, and it's great that we pretty much expect that "diamonds in the rough" will be found in the later rounds. It's happened so consistently that it can't just be rationalized away as a statistical fluke anymore (although our whiner friends will certainly do their best to do so),

I wonder if we'll see enough in the preseason to be able to project that. Does anyone remember Sherm, Chancellor, etc really standing out as early as the preseason? I don't recollect that, but my memory isn't very good.

Its nice to not be praying for a spark of hope for once.

I am concerned that Michael is a fumbler, so I will be monitering this situation very closely.

Scottemojo":uh4uh3wp said:

I am concerned that Michael is a fumbler, so I will be monitering this situation very closely.

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Nice!

kearly":2mzl3mnw said:

Bobby Wagner is our only linebacker who should feel safe about keeping a full time job- the competition is going to be intense at LB.

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"I beg to differ"...

Love, K.J. Wright

Probably just an oversight, but K.J. is tragically underrated.

Scottemojo":204hoq6c said:

I am concerned that Michael is a fumbler, so I will be monitering this situation very closely.

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I'm not worried about Michael being a fumbler because I already know he is one. What I'm worried about is his health. He had two significant leg injuries in college and it's not like he had 1500 carries or anything. I don't want to accuse him of being made of glass, but right now I am about as nervous over his health as I was over Okung's health a couple years ago.