2024 Season End Thoughts

[AROS]

When I look back on the 2024 season, ultimately I must say I think it was a positive ride. I don't count the negative stuff as much only because EVERY season has negative stuff. If it's overly negative, yes, that will leave me with those feelings but sitting here today on January the 29th of 2025, I feel notes of positivity and hope moving forward.

I have a very, very strong feeling Big Mac is our guy. He's not Pete Carroll. He's not going to perform emotional jumping jacks. He's extremely cerebral, thoughtful and a bit intense. As a psychology major (in my own mind), it's thrilling to watch his facial expressions in a press conference betray the enormity that is his processing. Watch how quickly he goes from a little joke, a quick smile, to tightly shut the smile off like a light switch into a frown. Socially awkward? Perhaps. More importantly, to me, his mind is going a million miles a minute and in this industry that's not a bad thing.

Something about this guy I love.

So the Grubb Experiment ended semi-predictably. First time NFL Offensive Coordinator. Relied on his college principles that doesn't take you far in the NFL if you cannot adjust, and clearly he never did adjust. I wish him well.

We all know, once again, the interior OL was a shit show. I am now officially on board with saying that if John doesn't draft accordingly, he should be fired after the 2025 season. The dismissive attitude about Guards has become overly egregious and malignant to the team's success. I still like the dude and think he has one last rabbit in the hat.

Geno.

I have zero issue with letting him be our starting QB in 2025. In this era's NFL, 36 isn't the ancient number it used to be for QBs. Mike loves the guy which is why I feel 99.9% confident he isn't going anywhere this offseason. Sorry GeNO haters. I would love to see us take a QB in the mid rounds, perhaps find that diamond in the rough. I hear OSU's QB could be had in the 3rd round. Take a flyer on him?

I would also take another RB somewhere in the later rounds. I'm afraid K9 is giving me Penny and Carson vibes.

Our boy Lockett is likely gone. What a great player and human. He falls into the category of Engram and Baldwin to me.

DK is an enigma. Such a threat that demands double teams yet he doesn't live up to his athletic potential. Is his physicality and presence enough to warrant he remains on the roster as opposed to moving him this offseason for what would be the most we could ever get for him right now? Potentially a first rounder? It's definitely food for thought. I have both celebrated his passion and screamed at my TV over his immaturity that has caused the team penalties and potentially points.

The defense? Nothing but love. This is Magic Mike's wheelhouse and we saw his influence mid-season after that terrible slide. They went from bottom dwellers to Top 10 by the end of the year, and Top 3 in some metrics. I fully expect them to be a Top 5 defense in 2025 and beyond.

To end, 10-7 is nothing to be ashamed of on any level, especially for a first year Head Coach. Changes will be made, inevitably, but there's something about this guy that gives me really good vibes.

My prediction this past season was 11-6. I was one game off. Of course, that gawdamn home game against the Giants proved to be the fly in my drink.

We are not far off from championship contending ladies and gents. Two games at home we should of had and we are 12-5 and in the thick of it.

Rejoice fellow 12s. I see nothing but good times ahead. Not without warts mind you, as we all know. But ultimately, we are headed in the right direction, and I am glad Mike is leading the charge.

Captain, my Captain.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Future is absolutely bright. Well said.

 

[Aircrew]

Agreed, top to bottom. One thing I'd add to the list of Coach Mike's attributes is his ability to cut loose players, or coaches, who aren't cutting it. So, so refreshing after enduring the opposite with our beloved Pete Carroll. Nice post, Aros.

 

[DarkVictory23]

I was just watching the first Rams game (to compare to our new OC's game against the Rams this year), so that probably colors my outlook right now as I can't help but go 'If only' for some things.

For Mike Macdonald, I'm still happy we got the guy. When we dropped Baker and Dodson because they were really not performing mid-season... well, my first thought was 'Oh crap, the wheels are falling off already?' but it turned out to be a great move. We went from our ILBs getting washed out basically every running play to that being a strength of the team and it showed that he's really got a 'let's win now' mindset... which I love.

Grubb... well, he's one of the 'if onlys' that I was talking about. I understood the concept... pair the hotshot defensive coach with a college offensive coach, take the league by storm: got it! But this decision probably kept us out of the playoffs before the season even started and it was frustratingly all too similar to what happened in 2022. (But flip the side of the ball.)

The interior OL... yeah, they sucked. Watching that Rams game again, holy crap was Anthony Bradford getting beat like a drum. But we've actually got a lot of youth on this line. I want someone drafted and probably somebody brought in through FA as well, but coherent scheme, consistent play time, and good coaching will help out a lot here as well. Would that be enough to make us 'good'? No, probably not, but that might be enough to get us to mediocre, which would be a minor miracle after the last two seasons.

Pretty much agree on Geno and drafting a QB in the mid-rounds.

Ditto on an RB if we see one we like, but I think making K9 and Charbs more of a 1-2 punch under Kubiak's system could help on the injury front. Kubiak really liked mixing up his backfield in New Orleans, using Kamara, Taysom Hill, as well as their #2 RB and their FB back there.

Lockett... yeah, he's probably gone unless he really wants to stay here and has no problem taking a steep discount. He's probably got more in the tank than we saw out of Grubb's system, but he's still not going to usurp DK or JSN on the depth chart now and Kubiak's system has some of the lowest WR3 usage in the NFL.

DK, though... I imagine Kubiak would be banging the drum to keep him here. He's the guy that takes the top off the defense and with how often his plays only use 2 WRs, that will be super valuable. The intangible will be DK's cap hit and whether he thinks he should (or even could) set the market on WRs. DK's physical gifts are basically unparalleled at the WR position, but he's also got some of the worst route running and hands of any WR1 in the NFL as well. We'll see what happens.

Defense finished just outside the top 5 and were the best defense not in the playoffs. (Ugh.) That middle portion before we made the changes at LB and had all the injury issues, that was tough watching but you can't help but feel good where this unit will be next year.


I think 10-7 was smackdab in the range of where I thought we'd be, though we took a weird route to get there. Some growing pains from our HC and--unfortunately--no growing pains from our OC was probably the thing that doomed our season, but missing the playoffs by the fifth (!) tie breaker was pretty nuts.

I can't make any predictions record wise until I see how free agency (and to a lesser degree, the draft) plays out, but I honestly think Mike and John are intending to win next year and if they do, I say we take the division.

Go 'Hawks!


Also... can it be preseason already? We can skip this turd of a Super Bowl, I won't mind.

 

[NoGain]

I had the Hawks going 9-8, possibly 10-7, and perhaps squeaking into the playoffs before the season began. So I have no good reason to be disappointed in relation to my expectations.

My most positive memory of this season was when we lost five out of six games heading into the bye week, and then came out of it winning four in a row. That was HUGE, no matter who we beat. We could have collapsed then and there, but didn't. That's when I started to feel confident about the MM era and his leadership, and felt I had good reason for feeling so.

 

[Hawkstorian]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you: "The Breda Report".

 

[Seahawker]

Season grade C+. It's a start.

 

[GemCity]

When I look back on the 2024 season, ultimately I must say I think it was a positive ride. I don't count the negative stuff as much only because EVERY season has negative stuff. If it's overly negative, yes, that will leave me with those feelings but sitting here today on January the 29th of 2025, I feel notes of positivity and hope moving forward.

I have a very, very strong feeling Big Mac is our guy. He's not Pete Carroll. He's not going to perform emotional jumping jacks. He's extremely cerebral, thoughtful and a bit intense. As a psychology major (in my own mind), it's thrilling to watch his facial expressions in a press conference betray the enormity that is his processing. Watch how quickly he goes from a little joke, a quick smile, to tightly shut the smile off like a light switch into a frown. Socially awkward? Perhaps. More importantly, to me, his mind is going a million miles a minute and in this industry that's not a bad thing.

Something about this guy I love.

So the Grubb Experiment ended semi-predictably. First time NFL Offensive Coordinator. Relied on his college principles that doesn't take you far in the NFL if you cannot adjust, and clearly he never did adjust. I wish him well.

We all know, once again, the interior OL was a shit show. I am now officially on board with saying that if John doesn't draft accordingly, he should be fired after the 2025 season. The dismissive attitude about Guards has become overly egregious and malignant to the team's success. I still like the dude and think he has one last rabbit in the hat.

Geno.

I have zero issue with letting him be our starting QB in 2025. In this era's NFL, 36 isn't the ancient number it used to be for QBs. Mike loves the guy which is why I feel 99.9% confident he isn't going anywhere this offseason. Sorry GeNO haters. I would love to see us take a QB in the mid rounds, perhaps find that diamond in the rough. I hear OSU's QB could be had in the 3rd round. Take a flyer on him?

I would also take another RB somewhere in the later rounds. I'm afraid K9 is giving me Penny and Carson vibes.

Our boy Lockett is likely gone. What a great player and human. He falls into the category of Engram and Baldwin to me.

DK is an enigma. Such a threat that demands double teams yet he doesn't live up to his athletic potential. Is his physicality and presence enough to warrant he remains on the roster as opposed to moving him this offseason for what would be the most we could ever get for him right now? Potentially a first rounder? It's definitely food for thought. I have both celebrated his passion and screamed at my TV over his immaturity that has caused the team penalties and potentially points.

The defense? Nothing but love. This is Magic Mike's wheelhouse and we saw his influence mid-season after that terrible slide. They went from bottom dwellers to Top 10 by the end of the year, and Top 3 in some metrics. I fully expect them to be a Top 5 defense in 2025 and beyond.

To end, 10-7 is nothing to be ashamed of on any level, especially for a first year Head Coach. Changes will be made, inevitably, but there's something about this guy that gives me really good vibes.

My prediction this past season was 11-6. I was one game off. Of course, that gawdamn home game against the Giants proved to be the fly in my drink.

We are not far off from championship contending ladies and gents. Two games at home we should of had and we are 12-5 and in the thick of it.

Rejoice fellow 12s. I see nothing but good times ahead. Not without warts mind you, as we all know. But ultimately, we are headed in the right direction, and I am glad Mike is leading the charge.

Captain, my Captain.

Man…word for word.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[CouchLogic]

Great write-up! Loving the direction MM is taking the team, excited to see it grow. That said, I'm checking out until the draft, see ya folks.

 

[chris98251]

Aros pretty much said everything I was thinking. I had tempered expectations knowing in advance we had holes, and the first year bumps and bruises were going to happen, very pleased where we ended the season and how things shaped up for going forward.

There is no mistaking this is Macs team now, the culture and goals along with expectations has been set.

Rams, Cards, 49ers can't be too happy about what they seen and are going to experience going forward, I think they were hoping for a revolving door or a Jim Mora type experience here.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

C+ is laughable, imo. They won 10 games with a brand-new Coach and OC. With a crap o line and a slightly above average QB who became a turnover machine. B in my book. Exceeded expectations.

 

[GeekHawk]

Future's so bright, we gotta wear shades!

(And yes, I studied nuclear science )

 

[HawkRiderFan]

Disappointing to miss the playoffs but yes I am also feeling good about the future. MacDonald's first year was actually better than Pete's. We just happened to luck in 2010 and win the division at 7-9 and then score a big playoff upset.

DK - it might have to be a thing like the Eagle do with AJ Brown or receivers like that. Get them the ball early to stay engaged. Or get DK a copy of that book to read on the sidelines. Based on an expiring deal he's more valuable as a Hawk than what a trade would net.

I have been such a big John fan over the years but our line not improving, his comments on guards, and comparing his work to his top peers across the league has shaken my belief in him somewhat.

 

[Ozzy]

Great writeup!

The only one I disagree with and its not a lot is Geno. I think its 50/50 he's back because of the money he feels he deserves and they can't give him a substantial pay raise if he demands it. If he comes back at his current salary and Mike believes that a couple of changes to the line and a new OC rights the ship? I will fully support it and I will be excited for it too.

I think we have a lot to be excited about even if all of us disagree on some of the smaller details. Future seems bright and a lot of teams can't say the same.

 

[thegameq]

This team is stuck in a loop until the o-line is fixed.
This team is stick in a loop until the pass rush is a force to be reckoned with and feared.
This team is stuck in a loop until we can run the ball at will (see number 1).
This team is stuck in a loop until it can stop the run consistently.
This team is stuck in a loop until they can be physically dominant again and tackle like they mean it.
This team is stuck in a loop until the offense can truly adjust and win both on the ground and through the air--not running for the sake of running just to wind up in 3rd and log situations. I really don't want to see this again.
This team is stuck in a loop until the offense can confuse defenses and scheme receivers open (see McVay and Johnson).
This team is stuck in a loop until my eyes tell me otherwise. Stats are great but they don't tell the whole story.

I'm not missing Pete, but I'm really appreciating how lucky we got having all that talent on one team during our Super Bowl era.
I'm on the wait and see list with MM. Trying to build a dominant defense in the NFL is difficult because everyone else is more or less looking for the same type of player MM will be looking for and we don't have high draft capital. As a result it becomes a "diamond in the rough" search--hoping there is enough talent in a player to coach up.

It is what it is...........

Did we take a step forward? Yes....kinda, sorta, I guess. But I saw too much of the same problems from the past.

 

[RiverDog]

I'd give us a solid B, and almost exactly according to my preseason expectations. Prior to the start of the season, I wrote down how I expected our schedule to go. Here's what I predicted. I've highlighted the ones I was right on in green, those I missed in red:

Broncos W
Pats W
Fins W
Lions L
Giants W
Niners L
Falcons W
Bills L
Rams W
Niners L
Cards W
Jets W
Cards L
Packers L
Vikings L
Bears W
Rams W

I did predict a wild card berth, and in most years, 10-7 would have done the trick. And just so I don't get accused of blowing my own horn, I didn't foresee the demise of the 49'ers. I thought they'd win the division.

I felt that Mac could at least equal what Pete has been doing for the past 7 years, and he did exactly that. With the exception of missing the playoffs, which Pete made more than he missed, this is precisely how a Pete Carroll team would have performed under the same circumstances.

For the first time in a while, I'm optimistic about our future.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Plus, it's not super common to win 10 and games and miss the playoffs. Still exceeded expectations in my eyes.

 

[Seahawk_Dan]

Seattle ranked 14th in total offense (which kinda had me shocked), if Kubiak can make the offense efficient and effective and take the team from 14th to the Top 8 then that'll be an astounding hire and the best move the whole offseason. This is why I don't mind him picking his entire staff with the hope he stays for at least two years. If/when he does leave his staff will be ingrained and getting a new OC would be a matter of promoting internally, not having another search and very little change to the structure of your offense.

Defense also ranked 14th and for Macdonalds first season taking our terrible defense and dragging them to 14th, especially the last few weeks when they look electric, I'm confident that he can make this team a Top 5 defense b next season.

 

[Rat]

I'm on the wait and see list with MM. Trying to build a dominant defense in the NFL is difficult because everyone else is more or less looking for the same type of player MM will be looking for and we don't have high draft capital. As a result it becomes a "diamond in the rough" search--hoping there is enough talent in a player to coach up.

Yep. Whenever any of us expressed concern about the lack of talent at LB prior to the season, we'd be met with comments about how Mac can just coach them up. Turns out we needed actual good players.

Then when we cut those linebackers who we had no further money invested in, suddenly he's brave and a genius, like underperforming players on short, cheap contracts aren't always vulnerable.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Mike is a hell of a coach, I have zero doubt about that.