The Key

[Rock_the_Hawk]

As we get closer to the opener to the season, I'm getting more excited. I always knew that a top ten draft was going to put the Hawks in position to be better than they have been in some time. Really, how can a team be expected to compete with other teams in the division when they are drafting in the bottom 3rd of the NFL for years. Now they have a top ten draft, a top ten draft that they have nailed! This might be the best draft the Hawks have EVER drafted.

I look at the position groups and they look really good and so now the key is for these players to live up to their potential. How could they NOT with the culture of this franchise? How could they NOT live up to their potential with the quality of the current coaching staff?

I really feel good about the D in particular. last night I watched the Bills pass rush destroy the Rams O line! but the one thing that I noticed was. the Bills pass rush was visibly slower compared to what I've seen in the preseason from the Hawks edge rushers. I went back and rewatched the games and I'm telling you that the Hawks speed on the outside was far faster than the Bills who have arguably the best D in the NFL... I think when it's all said and done the Hawks pass rush is going to be scary assuming they stay healthy but even the depth is scary fast... that mixed with the Hawks interior D line and man they have something really special going on this D...

I really feel like even though the Hawks are so very young at corner, the furiousness of the Pass rush alone is going to make this secondary look really good. It's going to force opposing QBs into making some mistakes which means the Hawks are going to get the turnover ratio they want and this is the Key to success for the Hawks this season...

Now the question becomes how fast the hawks can coaching staff coach up the young players to be productive in the main scheme. we have seen how fast the young corners are coming along and we will know after Denver, but what about the young tackles? Denver has a very formidable pass rush and It's always been Carrolls philosophy to put players in position to succeed which also means NOT giving them more than they can handle, that being said, they must be pretty darn good if both those rookie tackles are starting against Denver. But is Carroll giving them more than they can handle? I really don't think so. The WCO quick passing game fits Geno perfectly and the scheme and the run game is going to protect those rookie tackles... so really, I'm not worried about it at all. It wouldn't surprise me if they gave up a couple of sacks but what worries me the most is penalty's. This is the area that can screw this team, I would think the Hawks coaching staff knows this and has given appropriate attention to the issue.


I know all the talk is about Geno, but IMO Geno is not main issue. what's going to make this team successful is winning the turnover battle, controlling the tempo of the game, and execution of the game plan on both O and D. If they can do this they are going to blow Denver out.


Thoughts?

 

[jlwaters1]

What I find fascinating is RW vs our defense. We all know RW Loves the long ball. But guess what? That’s exactly what PC takes away. So will RW be patient and check things down and go through his reads and take what is give , which has never been his strong suit.
I think the defense can cause some problems which made lead to him pressing the issue down the field.
On the other side of the ball the Denver DL is hardly scary. I think Seattle will hold up well and provide Geno with good protection. The key will be if Geno can find the open man and take advantage of the extra time.
Both teams could have good running games. Tackling will be crucial.

 

[Rock_the_Hawk]

I dont know what Russ is going to do. He would be smart if he did take the check down when the big play wasnt there. But thats why they got rid of Russ because he wouldnt take the check down. If they get a big play i would bet it will be on the scramble drill. Lots of interesting questions in this one. Will Russ be wanting to prove his theory is correct and Carroll is wrong? Or will he just try to win the game doing what he has to do? I dont know.what i donknow is that everybody in the world is looking past Geno...the man just gets no respect.

 

[chrispy]

"The Key" will be if a 4 man rush can get pressure and still contain RCW. Everything else results from that....

With the new 3-4, those 4 may/will come from a lot of different places. RCW can escape and prolong to hit the deep ball, dump off, try play action to slow down the passrush... but if 4 rushers can get ther (and, even better, get there early), the game gets interesting. If not, RCW begins his MVP quest. I think there's a reasonable hope of the former.

 

[toffee]

"The Key" will be if a 4 man rush can get pressure and still contain RCW. Everything else results from that....

With the new 3-4, those 4 may/will come from a lot of different places. RCW can escape and prolong to hit the deep ball, dump off, try play action to slow down the passrush... but if 4 rushers can get ther (and, even better, get there early), the game gets interesting. If not, RCW begins his MVP quest. I think there's a reasonable hope of the former.

My eyes on big Al Woods, Broncos' centers gave up bunch of sacks last year, if big Al can play behind the line of scrimmage, Broncos are in trouble.

 

[bbsplitter]

I am honestly more excited then I have ever been in the past 5-6 years, and it has nothing to do with Russell leaving etc. It's just simply to the fact the PC now has no excuse not to let his young people play. In fact, it's almost by necessity that they have to play.

For so long it felt like PC was holding on the aging players and capping the growth of young players, diminishing his "always compete" mantra.

 

[Rock_the_Hawk]

My eyes on big Al Woods, Broncos' centers gave up bunch of sacks last year, if big Al can play behind the line of scrimmage, Broncos are in trouble.

Al Woods is the beef man. I want to see him sack wilson and then sit on him. Lol

 

[GemCity]

Ready for Penny to come back with that same energy he had near the end of last season.

Note…I haven’t looked at the IR list. Don’t spoil it for me if he’s on there

They key though imo is how we use JA with a 3 man front. I think the pressure from the outside is pivotal in this particular game.

 

[keasley45]

Ready for Penny to come back with that same energy he had near the end of last season.

Note…I haven’t looked at the IR list. Don’t spoil it for me if he’s on there

They key though imo is how we use JA with a 3 man front. I think the pressure from the outside is pivotal in this particular game.

This.

I think JA is gonna have a monster game. The Denver O line is going to have its hands full with Taylor and Nwosu. I don't see how they can effectively contain Adams the whole game. And it's not like we lose much on the back end when he comes down. Coverage wise, we'll just go high to prevent the deep shot and let Adams harass Russ all game. Russ won't be able to relax, and the quick game is not his forte.

The other point to note is Russ's perennial, league high drop depth play right into Taylor's speed rush. Same with Adams. Good chance Russ will be right in the middle of the bullseye as they turn the corner.

 

[Seahawker]

The Seahawks had 5 roughing the passer penalties in 2021, it wouldn't hurt my feelings to have 2 0r 3 to open the season, we can always clean it up later.