Can the Seahawks compete with the Niners?

[LTH]

The Niners look really good! Almost unbeatable. From your perspective what do the Hawks need to do to compete with these nasty ass 49ers?

LTH

 

[SonicHawk]

Zone coverage has to be on point. You can't have big holes for Kittle to sneak in.

Got to tackle McCaffrey, can't let him break them.

I would worry less about getting pressure on Purdy and more about covering his first two reads. Purdy has been great at getting the ball out to his first look. He hasn't been forcing it all year, it's just been open. We need to see what happens when he has to improvise.

Basically we need our front 4 to be excellent in stopping the run and be able to leave more guys in coverage.

Offensively, Geno can't make mistakes. We probably need to be good on the run to maximize TOP, but we need to score 28+ to win so can't be settling for field goals.

The 9ers are the most complete team so all facets need to be operating smoothly, but primarily we need to limit McCaffrey and Kittle.

 

[JerHawk81]

Right now, the 9rs are simply the best team in football. And, I'm not sure it's even close. So no - right now - we can't compete with them.

But, championships aren't won in October. I think the Seahawks and 9rs will play three games this year, and the game played in January will be the game that matters. And January is a long ways away.

 

[Maelstrom787]

The Seahawks can compete with anyone if their offense and defense are playing complementary football. If the stellar run defense so far holds, then they've got a shot. It's an uphill battle, though.

 

[toffee]

I have no doubt that we would, Hawks '23 is a better team than '22, and Hawks focused off season improvement on 9ers. Yes, we will win.

 

[5thgen]

Lol. Seahawks barely beat the lowly giants and got trucked by the rams.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

9ers are running on cylinders, which they should be as they have one of more vetted rosters in the NFL. Other than Purdy and Burford no one they have drafted in the past 2 seasons are starting games for them at this current point.

So it’s actually nice the NFL didn’t schedule earlier matchups giving our young players the needed to time to acclimate and season with experience.

It’s hard to tell how much of the gap we closed but if both teams are running on all cylinders before they meet up, Seahawks have the potential to put up a hell of fight and a better chance to stay with them for all 4QTRs.

But as of right now 49ers are a better team with a better grasp on how utilize and scheme their talent, so the Seahawks have to keep working and figure out how to iron out the wrinkles.

And it sucks that we were pretty much the team that helped end the Trey Lance project and clear the path of opportunity for Purdy to take over. As they were more or less prepared to tread water last year to roll with Lance, if Lance doesn’t get hurt, Garrapolo probably doesn’t get hurt and Purdy probably remains irrelevant on thier PS and probably coming into 2023 as Lance’s backup.

You can say what you want about Purdy and his talent but there is enough volume of work to say that he knows what he’s doing and his decision making and processing is probably correctly compared to a Tom Brady as I’ve seen a few people say.

I hate to say it, but they are a team even when making bad decisions they make so many good decisions for the short-term that it doesn’t matter they flunked the Lance thing or took a 3rd round Kicker. They are scariest team in the NFL and everyone’s hopes of their demise Was exaggerated on Purdy’s slump of regression. But he ain’t slumping, just getting more better within each opportunity to command that offense.

However, you know the 49ers being on the pedestal is also going to have its positives. Just think of how much more sweeter and more awesome it’s going to feel if the Seahawks:

1. Can beat them once after losing 3 times last year.
2. Can beat them twice in three weeks.
3. Can win the NFC West.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

Currently no chance in hell unless we play the perfect game much like the Giants and the undefeated Patriots in the Superbowl. So yes anything is possible but if things play out normally no.

 

[Mick063]

This is a marathon. The only thing you can hang your hat on is change. Do you believe the Seahawks are ascending or descending? Let's revisit this in about 6 weeks.

Personally, I think the Cowboys are descending. More like falling off of a cliff. Were they really a true test? I think Seattle-San Francisco, right now, would more closely approximate the Rams-Niners game played earlier this year. Not a victory, but not a "give up" like the Cowboys did either. Seattle's offense is better coached than the Cowboys. Waldron is more innovative, uses more formations, more specialist packages, and more motions. Seattle's offensive weaponry is in a different stratosphere than the Cowboys. Cee Dee Lamb just may be the most overrated player in the entire league. Seattle would put up a better fight. Sometimes you don't have to have the better team. Sometimes, all you need is to have the better day.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

I can't say where the Seahawks are until they play a good team. Cincinnati should be a good barometer for this. Burrow is looking more healthy still not 100% but near and they have a legitimate pass rush. But for now I see 10-7 or 11-6 if everything falls right.

 

[knownone]

Yes. We're one of the few teams built to hang with the Niners. Can we beat them? Who knows.

 

[strohmin]

I dont think we are built to handle the 9ers. Our defense still hasnt been tested by an explosive offense other than detroit. I dont see any weaknesses in the 49ers but I see weaknesses in the hawks. I wouod be surprised if we beat them

 

[chris98251]

Explosive isn't their game, execution and multifaceted is, yards after the catch and trying to stop many weapons at once is. Then relying on a defense to limit your prime weapons. you play off they run and hit underneath throws all day, press and they will attack you and press till you make a mistake while playing error free themselves.

 

[seahawks08]

I think November is ways out and being a divisional game, we match up well. CMC, Kittle, Deebo and Aiyuk are all great players but our defense has speed, so just has to trust the process and slow the game down. I just hope we are fully healthy to win.

 

[LTH]

I guess it is a long time til we play the Niners. But in my mind the question is relevant because of how I look at the season.... like building blocks refining things as they build.

I like where the Hawks are at now. They are winning games and they are not clicking yet, but they are getting better every week. The truth is they are going to peak exactly at the right time

The Niners are clicking on all cylinders. In my mind playing to full potential early is NOT the way to go. You want to play your best football at the end of the season I predict a 4th quarter slide. Either that or the NFL will figure out how to beat them

Just my take

LTH

 

[FlyingGunHawk]

As of right now, I think the only thing that can derail the 49ers season is injuries at key positions. Yes, the Seahawks can compete with them but it will be a real challenge. The defense needs to play their best which is a big ask. Even splitting the series with them would be a win at this point. They are the best team in the NFC unless the Eagles improve.

 

[EverydayImRusselin]

If everything comes together, it could be a fight. But that's a lot of if's. If the OL gets healthy. If Jamal stays healthy and plays like the Jets version of himself. If the play calling is top notch. If Geno has a near perfect game similar to the 1st half of the playoff game.

Too many if's to me, but that's why they play the game.

 

[themunn]

I can't say where the Seahawks are until they play a good team. Cincinnati should be a good barometer for this. Burrow is looking more healthy still not 100% but near and they have a legitimate pass rush. But for now I see 10-7 or 11-6 if everything falls right.

The Lions are a better team than Cincinnati.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

The Lions are a better team than Cincinnati.

Not if Burrow is healthy.

 

[bigskydoc]

If the game were tonight, I don’t think the Seahawks could pull it off. They could hang with them better than most any other team. Just the weirdness of the NFCW. Rams own the Hawks, Niners own the Rams, Hawks own the Niners.

But what are the chances that bothe McCaffery and Purdy are still on the field come November? Very low. Shannahan’s QBs always get injured, and McCaffery is still taking too much of the running load.

Niners without either aren’t nearly as concerning.

Detroit is better than Cinci, even with a healthy Burrows. IMHO.