Is Hawks #1 Defense a "Blue Mirage"?

[olyfan63]

Yes they made colt mcoy look like a hall of famer

That would be a good thread to create, or maybe even already exists? "Backup QBs Carroll's defenses made to look like All-Pros"

 

[AROS]

Yep. Love me some Pete but I started to feel like he was Grandpa clinging to the good ol’ days instead of adjusting appropriately to the changing times.

 

[olyfan63]

To be really honest, there's very little I miss about Pete. Nice guy. It was way past time.

I was a BIG Pete fan, but even I could see the game had passed him by. He was awesome when he first came onto the scene here. With MikeMac we get the defensive evil genius and a lot of Seahawks-Ravens culture that is reasonably compatible with Pete's legacy. I especially like the new-to-Seattle MikeMac part where defenders actually tackle people.

 

[CalgaryFan05]

...Waiting to be Exposed by Goff, Lions, and More?

Seattle's D hasn't yet played a good QB and good offense at full strength. Is their defense so far a "Blue Mirage"? Defense has only faced Rookie QB Bo Nix, Career backup Jacoby Brissett, and two different backup QBs for the Dolphins,

The Lions and Goff are the first good QB the Seahawks "#1" defense will face in the MacDonald era. Is the Hawks D actually that good after a 1-year turnaround on Pete Carroll's years of defensive suckitude, or is the #1 D a "Blue Mirage" just waiting to be exposed by Lions, 49ers twice, Rams twice, and even sucky Kyler and the Cardinals? Asking for my gambling friends.

These are some good stats!

Don't look mirage-ey to me!

10 Stats: How real is Seattle Seahawks' dominance on defense?

The Seattle Seahawks' defense is at or near the top of the NFL in numerous categories through the first three weeks.

sports.mynorthwest.com

 

[JustTheTip]

To be really honest, there's very little I miss about Pete. Nice guy. It was way past time.

Yup. He was the exact right guy at the exact right time, but was given way too much leash for 4.9999999 years of near brilliance.

 

[olyfan63]

These are some good stats!

Don't look mirage-ey to me!

10 Stats: How real is Seattle Seahawks' dominance on defense?

The Seattle Seahawks' defense is at or near the top of the NFL in numerous categories through the first three weeks.

sports.mynorthwest.com

I like it! The "Dropback Pressure rate" (30% IIRC) is one that would hold true mostly regardless of who was playing QB. Of course Peak Brady or Rodgers would have the ball out quickly to avoid the pressure, but sometimes they get caught too by a good pass rush.

 

[renofox]

Y'all are so used to watching the bottom-5 defenses the Seahawks put on the field the past few years, that I think you're overestimating a little bit. I think they'll end up top-10ish, but even hitting top-16 could be considered a miracle of a turnaround.

 

[Appyhawk]

I think our defense will improve as the year progresses. And they better! The level of opponent's play sure as heck does.

 

[Tech Worlds]

Blue Mirage?

MacDaddy is coaching a monster truck that will run over and smash all the little Nancy teams in it's way.
It is known.

 

[Smellyman]

They are fundamentally sound, tackling is miles better, DB's are absolutely blanketing receivers so far, and finally getting good pressure using some creative looks. I've heard each team give MM kudos for some of the exotic looks he's dialing up without requiring 5-6 man rushes. Emergence of Mafe and Hall speaks to the defensive brain-trust elevating these guys too.

Biggest question mark this week is health IMO. Lions OL mauls teams, have to be stout against the run to win. Really hoping the banged up DL guys can play, similarly Lions might be missing their stud center too.

It is trending towards their Center Ragnow being out. Partially torn pec. Losing an All Pro center is obviously a huge blow to their line

 

[Spin Doctor]

I wouldn't be surprised if we had the best defense in the NFL come the end of the year. It's just hard to gauge how good this defense truly is due to who we've played. I suspect that we're at least going to be top 10 at the end of the year.

The huge turn around is a pretty big indictment on Pete's defenses.

 

[keasley45]

The jury has spoken

We are a mirage:

The First Read: Buy or sell five surprise teams off to hot starts? Risers/sliders from Week 3; MVP rankings

Wonder if they've ever been smacked by a mirage.

 

[GeekHawk]

Let's look at how these 'garbage' teams we've played have done against other 'real, not mirage' defenses:

Donkos -323.5 yds/game, they would be #13 but we shot them down to #23

Cheatriots - 345 yds/game, they would be #8 but we shot them down to dead last #32

Phishes - 375.5 yds/game, they would be #6 we shot them down to #16

I would argue that the only reason anybody thinks these teams are garbage is because of how we've pants'd them and made them look silly. We are the common denominator here, there is no question we are most certainly NOT a "blue mirage" defense. The numbers don't lie.

<edit> I would have done points too, but it's too damn early in the morning for this...>

 

[Ozzy]

To be really honest, there's very little I miss about Pete. Nice guy. It was way past time.

That's how I feel and I know that upsets people but its how I feel. I love what he brought and all the success we had, best time I've ever had as a Seahawks fan but it felt like a few years too long to me. I was a little nervous at first but Macdonald has squashed any fears I've had regardless of how this season turns out. I can already see objective signs this team is coached better and modernized to the current NFL. Doesn't mean guaranteed success but I still appreciate it.

I think it was Holmgren who said its almost impossible for someone to stay more than 10 years at one place for it not to go stale for all parties involved at this level and I think it did. Maybe if Pete went someone else with a fresh start its entirely different for him but it felt 3 years too long here for me.

 

[SeaWolv]

Nah, good defense is good defense.

He's got a point. The Hawks defense has played 3 teams at the bottom of the offensive DVOA rankings. We're about to get into the part of the schedule where they'll be facing top 20 offenses. These next few weeks are going to tell us a lot about this defense and how good they can be.

 

[GeekHawk]

Look at my post above. The reason those teams are at the bottom of the DVOA and whatever else rankings is because they played us and our D made them look hapless. The damn Patriots would be #8 in yards per game, but they played us and in one game we brought them down to #32. All 3 teams would be top 20 if not for our D. This is not a mirage, get your heads out of the sand. Or wherever they are.

 

[Mizak]

Have the Seahawks defense faced the top 15 QBs in the league yet?

 

[Kamcussionator]

I'd rather build off being the #1 defense in the league after 3 games than 30th...

Detroit is averaging 20.7 points per game. Let's see if we can hold them under that. The difference between this year and last is that I feel confident that we will adjust and get stingier as the game goes on.

 

[JGreen79]

Y'all are so used to watching the bottom-5 defenses the Seahawks put on the field the past few years, that I think you're overestimating a little bit. I think they'll end up top-10ish, but even hitting top-16 could be considered a miracle of a turnaround.

I always thought the defense over the past few years had talent, but the scheme was lacking. I don't think with this new scheme it would be all that much of a miracle to be top 16 or even top 10. Scheme today matters so much more now than it did 10 years ago.

 

[SeaWolv]

Look at my post above. The reason those teams are at the bottom of the DVOA and whatever else rankings is because they played us and our D made them look hapless. The damn Patriots would be #8 in yards per game, but they played us and in one game we brought them down to #32. All 3 teams would be top 20 if not for our D. This is not a mirage, get your heads out of the sand. Or wherever they are.

This may be true but the sample size is too small either way to know for sure yet.