The D will help the Hawks get those 8 or more wins! Sorry Haters.

[olyfan63]

I remember the year before Russell came on board. In 2011, Hawks beat the Giants, the eventual Super Bowl champions that season, in an exciting road game where Brandon Browner picked off a tipped Eli Manning pass and took it 90 hards to the house to turn what looked like a sure L into a convincing W. That was also the game where Charlie "Clutch" Whitehurst threw a 20-yard TD pass just before halftime, catching the Giants napping. (joking about the "clutch" part about Clipboard Jesus except for this one game and maybe the Rams game from the year before) That was when I said, "wow, these are not your Father's Seahawks!"

Later that season, the Hawks beat the Ravens handily, the 12-4 Ravens being the NEXT year's SB champs. Hawks lost to the Super-Bowl-bound 49ers in the next-to-last game, in a hard fought game, and then in OT to the Cards, on the road. 7-9, but 2011's "tough out" Seahawks felt way different than 2010's smoke-and-mirrors 7-9 record and wildcard berth that set up BeastQuake. The 2011 season, we played nearly everyone tough, won some games we weren't supposed to, and had a winning record over the final 8 games, the second half of the season. Going toe-to-toe with, and soundly beating a physical team like Baltimore was a highlight; previous "finesse" Seahawks incarnations would have gotten beat up and their lunch money stolen by this type of team.

To me, this upcoming season has a 2011-type of feel about it. I expect our D to overperform relative to expectations, be top 10 or even top 5 in scoring defense. I expect the Hawks to have a near-league-leading running game. I also think Seattle will be in nearly every game in the 4th, and win about half the time, +/- 2 games. Yup, the variable will be QB play. If our OC can get a Goff-like performance out of either Lock or Smith, the ceiling could be higher, +4 above .500. If Lock/Smith suck and have a lot of turnovers, throw lots of picks and sack-fumbles, then it's -4 below .500.

 

[JayhawkMike]

The defense might have the talent but if the DC doesn’t call plays to actually TRY to get pressure on the QB - especially on 3rd down - it will be for naught. The sit back and wait defense and not getting off the field is just horrid to watch as a fan and has to be demoralizing as a player. Do we know that this DC isn’t a mini-me of KNJ? Honestly don’t know.

 

[pittpnthrs]

Brooks was already 2nd in the league in tackles last year, ahead of Bobby

The issue now though is that Brooks is replacing Wagner as the primary signal caller on defense. Sure he's younger and faster than the aging Wagner, but is he up for being the field general? Thats my biggest concern. Hopefully he will be.

 

[GemCity]

I’m excited for the new guys. But, it’s Brown and Blair that I’m really pumped to watch. Sans bonehead hits, I think Blair is a baller.

Brown…he’s going to surprise some teams. I like Coby. From everything I hear, he’s tearing it up.

 

[GemCity]

The issue now though is that Brooks is replacing Wagner as the primary signal caller on defense. Sure he's younger and faster than the aging Wagner, but is he up for being the field general? Thats my biggest concern. Hopefully he will be.

Good point. How many of those tackles can be attributed to Bobby firing folks up or calling the right gaps?

I think Brooks will tear it up again and is capable of being a Field General out there with Diggs leading the charge as well but, that intangible piece you mentioned does factor in.

 

[olyfan63]

The defense might have the talent but if the DC doesn’t call plays to actually TRY to get pressure on the QB - especially on 3rd down - it will be for naught. The sit back and wait defense and not getting off the field is just horrid to watch as a fan and has to be demoralizing as a player. Do we know that this DC isn’t a mini-me of KNJ? Honestly don’t know.

Here ya go:

Inside Sean Desai's ‘tune up' of the Bears defense

There will be an obvious Vic Fangio influence, but ‘this is going to Sean Desai’s defense,’ the new Bears defensive coordinator said.

www.nbcsports.com

Sean Desai had a shotgun seat for the Chicago Bears’ defensive dominance under Vic Fangio in 2018. He’s eager to get them back to that level as their new coordinator.

As the new Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, Sean Desai understands a big part of his efforts must be channeled into getting the defense's sacks and takeaways totals back up. Having learned under Vic Fangio, Desai believes he has the answers.

www.chicagotribune.com

Short version: McVay, Shanahan, and LaFleur all mentioned Vic Fangio defenses as the hardest to attack. Sean Desai was brought to Seattle to help implement Fangio's system here. Reports are the Hawks are going to a 3-4 type of defense. The old dog, Pete Carroll, who some said would never change his ways, is going with a new system on defense, based on Fangio's highly successful scheme.

 

[toffee]

Our defense was ugly last year, other teams seemingly march up and down the field at will. As ugly as it was, our defense allowed 21.5 points per game, that is better than two of four conference championship teams, and better than the two super bowl teams.

That was achieved with playing long long minutes.

The biggest challenge this season will be at coordinator level, both of our OC and DC are unproven, in case of DC, not wanted in the league by other teams.

 

[bmorepunk]

Our defense was ugly last year, other teams seemingly march up and down the field at will. As ugly as it was, our defense allowed 21.5 points per game, that is better than two of four conference championship teams, and better than the two super bowl teams.

Both seasons they allowed tons of scoring in the first half of the season, but clamped down and got the average down in both cases. Last year was better (they year before was just obscene). A lot has changed this year but expecting them to come out of the gate strong after all the changes and so much being new is very optimistic.

 

[olyfan63]

Both seasons they allowed tons of scoring in the first half of the season, but clamped down and got the average down in both cases. Last year was better (they year before was just obscene). A lot has changed this year but expecting them to come out of the gate strong after all the changes and so much being new is very optimistic.

Sadly, I have to agree. Gradual improvement over the season seems a bit more realistic. If we bring in a few players who have experience in the Fangio scheme it can only help.

 

[Own The West]

I remember the year before Russell came on board. In 2011, Hawks beat the Giants, the eventual Super Bowl champions that season, in an exciting road game where Brandon Browner picked off a tipped Eli Manning pass and took it 90 hards to the house to turn what looked like a sure L into a convincing W. That was also the game where Charlie "Clutch" Whitehurst threw a 20-yard TD pass just before halftime, catching the Giants napping. (joking about the "clutch" part about Clipboard Jesus except for this one game and maybe the Rams game from the year before) That was when I said, "wow, these are not your Father's Seahawks!"

Later that season, the Hawks beat the Ravens handily, the 12-4 Ravens being the NEXT year's SB champs. Hawks lost to the Super-Bowl-bound 49ers in the next-to-last game, in a hard fought game, and then in OT to the Cards, on the road. 7-9, but 2011's "tough out" Seahawks felt way different than 2010's smoke-and-mirrors 7-9 record and wildcard berth that set up BeastQuake. The 2011 season, we played nearly everyone tough, won some games we weren't supposed to, and had a winning record over the final 8 games, the second half of the season. Going toe-to-toe with, and soundly beating a physical team like Baltimore was a highlight; previous "finesse" Seahawks incarnations would have gotten beat up and their lunch money stolen by this type of team.

To me, this upcoming season has a 2011-type of feel about it. I expect our D to overperform relative to expectations, be top 10 or even top 5 in scoring defense. I expect the Hawks to have a near-league-leading running game. I also think Seattle will be in nearly every game in the 4th, and win about half the time, +/- 2 games. Yup, the variable will be QB play. If our OC can get a Goff-like performance out of either Lock or Smith, the ceiling could be higher, +4 above .500. If Lock/Smith suck and have a lot of turnovers, throw lots of picks and sack-fumbles, then it's -4 below .500.

I like that you brought up finesse, which is what I attribute our lack of playoff success to. The season before our super bowl run I took great pleasure in watching whatever team we played lose the next week. We didn’t beat them all, but they were walking with a limp after playing us.

Lynch’s and Guacamini’s retirement was the cliff for the offense, which transitioned to running Percy Harvin and Jimmy Graham sideline to sideline instead of down teams’ throat; then the LOB just aged out…

I’m looking forward to this year with our stud running backs and low-expectation quarterbacks this year. I think we are going to be back to hurting more than feelings of teams again.

I don’t even mind if we lose more games than usual, as long as we regain the respect of the league. It’s gonna be a good year!

 

[olyfan63]

I like that you brought up finesse, which is what I attribute our lack of playoff success to. The season before our super bowl run I took great pleasure in watching whatever team we played lose the next week. We didn’t beat them all, but they were walking with a limp after playing us.

Lynch’s and Guacamini’s retirement was the cliff for the offense, which transitioned to running Percy Harvin and Jimmy Graham sideline to sideline instead of down teams’ throat; then the LOB just aged out…

I’m looking forward to this year with our stud running backs and low-expectation quarterbacks this year. I think we are going to be back to hurting more than feelings of teams again.

I don’t even mind if we lose more games than usual, as long as we regain the respect of the league. It’s gonna be a good year!

I remember that stat, and announcers talking about it!
Teams that played us nearly always lost their "next" game; they had a "Seahawks hangover".

 

[keasley45]

The issue now though is that Brooks is replacing Wagner as the primary signal caller on defense. Sure he's younger and faster than the aging Wagner, but is he up for being the field general? Thats my biggest concern. Hopefully he will be.

Agree, it is a pretty big lift, but according to our DC (and I know it's early) he's doing a really good job. Brooks, sliding to MLB is a move to his native position and comfort zone. And honestly, as much as I loved Bobby, I'm all for the guy at that spot bringing the fire a bit more (which from the sounds of it, is Brooks' style) in all aspects of his play. Bobby was more on the quiet side. He'd roar occassionally, but was the 'carry a big stick' type, going back to the LOB days when it was the guys behind him that were the lightening rods.

In terms of making calls though, having Q Diggs to lean on helps as well, as does having a guy like A Burns outside, who's played in a similar defense and knows coverage responsibilities.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Should be a very interesting season. I think they'll take plenty of lumps, but these young guys getting in all these reps in 2022 will pay off big time in the future. Only way to get that experience is by being on the field. I suspect they get a lot better in the 2nd half of the season. Still see a 6 or 7 win season. Until they get an actual QB, I can't see them winning a lot of games. If that makes me a hater, so be it.

 

[Tusc2000]

This year will be a return to what made the Hawks great initially after Pete got here.

Seahawks defense will be the reason Seattle shocks the NFL in 2022

If the Seattle Seahawks are going to shock the league in 2022, the defense must set the tone and get back to its dominant LOB days.

12thmanrising.com

Thanks for the chuckle. Nothing about our D this year says championship. We are absolutely in a rebuild, as we should be, after losing the 2 best players on the team.

 

[CallMeADawg]

I'm counting on the defense being the entertaining part of the games.

 

[scutterhawk]

I'm on board with most of this. The Baltimore Ravens won a SB with Trent Dilfer under center, then released him during preseason the next year. Only time ever a SB-winning QB has been outright released by his team the following year.

From that article: "Pete Carroll admitted last year after drafting Tre Brown that the inspiring play of DJ Reed changed his mind on the cornerback prototypes he liked to draft." Now if only he'd played Marcus Burley in SB49 instead of Tharald "toast" Simon.

For all those who said Carroll was an old dog who would never change, it looks like there are lots of changes in the works this season. Looks like Carroll is willing to use a little more deception in his schemes (on both sides of the ball) instead of relying on "out-executing" and "imposing our will on" opponents. Our D will be less predictable with this 3-4 and pass rush LB coming from unknown locations.

Now, the defense won't be the 2000 Ravens, so a Lombardi trophy might be a little too high on the upside. I'd be happy with around .500 and one convincing win over the Rams, convincing meaning we didn't have to rely on them missing a FG in the closing seconds.

If Penny can stay healthy and Kenneth Walker III brings his college promise to fruition in the NFL, Seattle will have a smashmouth running game again, and along with that improved (we hope) defense will be in a lot of games in the 4th quarter with a chance to win.

I'm seeing this season as a midpoint between 2011's 7-9 and 2012's 11-5. Better than the 2011 team with TJack, but without Russell Wilson. Between 8 and 11 wins is my guess, depending on QB emergence.

Very well thought out post Oly, somewhere between 8 & 11 wins is where I am also.
I think there are a lot of folks that are also underestimating the Speed that will be coming from both sides of the ball.

 

[toffee]

Both seasons they allowed tons of scoring in the first half of the season, but clamped down and got the average down in both cases. Last year was better (they year before was just obscene). A lot has changed this year but expecting them to come out of the gate strong after all the changes and so much being new is very optimistic.

2021 Defense was better than 2020, we had better pass defense second half 2020 than 2021. I don't think Bobby was a big enough factor in 2021, so I do expect our defense 2022 to be better than 2021.

Game	2020				2021
	Opp	Points	Yards rushing	Yards Passing	Opp	Points	Yards rushing	Yards passing
1	Falcons	25	72	434	Colts	16	113	223
2	Patriots	30	67	397	Titans	33	212	320
3	Cowboys	31	61	461	Vikings	30	140	313
4	Dolphins	23	201	248	49ers	21	143	314
5	Vikings	26	124	190	Rams	26	118	358
6	Cardinals	37	159	360	Steeler	23	119	226
7	49ers	27	52	299	Saints	13	94	210
8	Bills	44	34	386	Jaguar	7	82	227
9	Rams	23	106	283	Packers	17	106	287
10	Cardinals	21	57	257	Cardinals	23	95	318
11	Eagles	17	70	180	WFT	17	152	219
12	Giants	17	190	100	49ers	23	71	294
13	Jets	3	69	116	Texans	13	63	317
14	WFT	15	84	269	Rams	20	123	209
15	Rams	9	118	219	Lions	29	95	262
16	49ers	23	86	242	Cardinals	30	118	305
17

 

[scutterhawk]

There’s a good book called the Power of Habit. One of the stories goes into Tony Dungy‘s coaching and how players, even after learning new skills and habits, revert back when in pressure or uncertain situations. Pete epitomizes this exactly hence the meddling. So, saying he has learned new tricks before we have even play a PRE season game is just ignorant.

LOLOL Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that.

 

[hgwellz12]

I'm counting on the defense being the entertaining part of the games.

#9 Walker III & #20 Penny should be pretty exciting to watch as well!

 

[Chukarhawk]

if we have 3 QB's in camp and were now working out another QB, that tells me they arent very impressed with either one of these slapdicks.