Good writeup MM/State of the team/Offseason hints.

[CalgaryFan05]

Mike Macdonald drops major hints about where Seahawks are headed this offseason

Mike Macdonald's year-end press conference was riddled with clues regarding the future of the Seahawks.

12thmanrising.com

I particularly like:

"It was one of the most obvious issues in 2024. Grubb continued to call deep five-step drops while receivers ran long-developing routes, but the offensive line wasn't good enough for that. It felt like any time Geno Smith dropped back for more than a second or two, he was always under pressure to the point where he had to take a sack or let the ball rip before the routes developed. Because he never had enough time, mistakes were made."

And why I have some hope with a new OC - 'whoever' that is, even with current personnel, and with Geno;

"However, a coordinator who can creatively get the ball out of the quarterback's hand quickly and efficiently can mask a weak offensive line. Even a play-action pass, getting the defense out of alignment, would serve well for a weak unit up front."

That. Times 1000.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Good stuff. But again, bad decisions are bad decisions. The OC was a really bad fit. But the QB is the one who made bad decision after bad decision.

 

[chris98251]

Good stuff. But again, bad decisions are bad decisions. The OC was a really bad fit. But the QB is the one who made bad decision after bad decision.

The outcome of trying to make something work may look bad, but the cause of those decisions is what you need to look at, no run game, no time for the called play to develop, leads to trying to make things happen versus having the execution you need for the actual play to work, when you push for things to happen usually the outcome isn't what's desired. Geno working within an offense that allows him to execute on time he has proved he can excel, O line, O line, O line. Our Achillies heal.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Fair enough. All in how you look at it. I see a guy who panics in the red zone. I see a guy who often refuses to just take what the defense gives him, especially when he has room to run. I see a guy who spent a lot of time pouting on the sidelines instead of walking up and down the sidelines and pumping his teammates up.

 

[chris98251]

Fair enough. All in how you look at it. I see a guy who panics in the red zone. I see a guy who often refuses to just take what the defense gives him, especially when he has room to run. I see a guy who spent a lot of time pouting on the sidelines instead of walking up and down the sidelines and pumping his teammates up.

He has the ability to escape, he is not a running QB, big difference. His tool box is not set up to be that kind of player. Also trying to be something he's not along with getting injured his frame just would not hold up would end up with worse results then we got.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He absolutely COULD use his legs as a weapon. He clearly chooses not to.

 

[chris98251]

He absolutely COULD use his legs as a weapon. He clearly chooses not to.

He is not built for it, skinny long legged, think of RGIII, his knees would be taken out within the first half of the season. Just because he can run does not mean he should run as an RB option regularly, designed roll outs once in a while fine.

 

[GeekHawk]

He is not built for it, skinny long legged, think of RGIII, his knees would be taken out within the first half of the season. Just because he can run does not mean he should run as an RB option regularly, designed roll outs once in a while fine.

This. He could scramble from time to time though. Like when horse-face would regularly gash us with scrambles when we would play the donkos.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I'll take a 3-5 yard run over forcing it to someone or just throwing it up for grabs.

 

[oldhawkfan]

I'll take a 3-5 yard run over forcing it to someone or just throwing it up for grabs.

So GePass or GeRun? That is the question.

 

[CouchLogic]

Mike Macdonald drops major hints about where Seahawks are headed this offseason

Mike Macdonald's year-end press conference was riddled with clues regarding the future of the Seahawks.

12thmanrising.com

I particularly like:

"It was one of the most obvious issues in 2024. Grubb continued to call deep five-step drops while receivers ran long-developing routes, but the offensive line wasn't good enough for that. It felt like any time Geno Smith dropped back for more than a second or two, he was always under pressure to the point where he had to take a sack or let the ball rip before the routes developed. Because he never had enough time, mistakes were made."

And why I have some hope with a new OC - 'whoever' that is, even with current personnel, and with Geno;

"However, a coordinator who can creatively get the ball out of the quarterback's hand quickly and efficiently can mask a weak offensive line. Even a play-action pass, getting the defense out of alignment, would serve well for a weak unit up front."

That. Times 1000.

Love that the DEF minded coach can identify issues on OFF. Shows he has a grasp of every aspect of the game and what his ultimate vision is for his team. Also love that he cuts bait instead of rolling with known failures.

 

[CouchLogic]

I'll take a 3-5 yard run over forcing it to someone or just throwing it up for grabs.

What about 50/50 balls to DK?

 

[AROS]

Also love that he cuts bait instead of rolling with known failures.

Unlike someone we know...

 

[Pickly]

Makes me wonder why in the lords name MM agreed to hire Grubb in the first place knowing what kind of offence he ran in college. Grubb must have been a phenomenal salesman during his interview.

In no world can the Seahawks run a prolific passing offence with the state of the O Line. The Rams had a terrible line this year and ran quick hitters and screens while mixing in an efficient run game that doesn’t have the RB’s being contacted 0.5 yds from scrimmage. Until the line gets fixed whomever gets the job as OC should, and it pains me to say this, take a page out of McVays book because he coaches to the strengths of his players.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

What about 50/50 balls to DK?
View attachment 69158

Nicely done, brother, nicely done. Cap, tip of the

 

[SoulfishHawk]

So GePass or GeRun? That is the question.

I like it. More than a little bit.

 

[chrispy]

The article quoting MMac about Geno makes it really clear that there aren't the same kind of doubts about Geno that there are here on .net. MMac puts the blame very definitely on Grubb and not on Geno.

 

[keasley45]

The article quoting MMac about Geno makes it really clear that there aren't the same kind of doubts about Geno that there are here on .net. MMac puts the blame very definitely on Grubb and not on Geno.

Yup. That's because its obvious its where the fault lies. Folks harp on bad decisions Geno made. When your offense is literally horrid, the likelihood of making bad decisions goes up. And the idea that he didnt take what the defense gave him... if you watch the tape - and this has been covered by many outside of .net - often, all that was there was a sack. When you are getting pressure across the line, instantly, just tossing it out of bounds isnt an option. Seattle was near league leading in pressure up the middle and they werent great on pressure from the edge either. In that scenario, the options are often 1. sack, 2. intentional grounding... which is the same as a sack. Geno is NOT Lamar - a QB who's natural instict and natural talents tell him first to run or make space to throw and if not, then run. Geno is a traditional pocket passer who CAN run. And pocket passer's always rise and fall with the quality of the o-line and playcaller. We all saw what a qb in J Goff who can play at 'elite' levels looks like when things arent going so well. He also rises and falls (sharply) when protection fails. Give Geno time and better than the 30th ranked o line and rushing attack (averaged) and he can do better.

But yes, the Geno SHOULD have thrown the ball away against AZ on the bad pick, against SF on both picks intended for JSN, on the pick 6 against LA and the first pick against Minny. The thing to note is NONE of them were plays where he had time to throw. Does pressure automatically relieve the QB of responsibility for errors? No. but when you are talking about a QB who was one of THE most pressured in the league, and who ALSO had one of the worst OCs in the league... well, you should honestly expect far worse.

And its obvious that that's how Mac sees it as well.

 

[AgentDib]

Unlike someone we know...

Exactly, Pete Carroll would never have fired the offensive coordinator he brought along from USC after the very first season when he thought it wasn't working.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yup. That's because its obvious its where the fault lies. Folks harp on bad decisions Geno made. When your offense is literally horrid, the likelihood of making bad decisions goes up. And the idea that he didnt take what the defense gave him... if you watch the tape - and this has been covered by many outside of .net - often, all that was there was a sack. When you are getting pressure across the line, instantly, just tossing it out of bounds isnt an option. Seattle was near league leading in pressure up the middle and they werent great on pressure from the edge either. In that scenario, the options are often 1. sack, 2. intentional grounding... which is the same as a sack. Geno is NOT Lamar - a QB who's natural instict and natural talents tell him first to run or make space to throw and if not, then run. Geno is a traditional pocket passer who CAN run. And pocket passer's always rise and fall with the quality of the o-line and playcaller. We all saw what a qb in J Goff who can play at 'elite' levels looks like when things arent going so well. He also rises and falls (sharply) when protection fails. Give Geno time and better than the 30th ranked o line and rushing attack (averaged) and he can do better.

But yes, the Geno SHOULD have thrown the ball away against AZ on the bad pick, against SF on both picks intended for JSN, on the pick 6 against LA and the first pick against Minny. The thing to note is NONE of them were plays where he had time to throw. Does pressure automatically relieve the QB of responsibility for errors? No. but when you are talking about a QB who was one of THE most pressured in the league, and who ALSO had one of the worst OCs in the league... well, you should honestly expect far worse.

And its obvious that that's how Mac sees it as well.

Fans can expect whatever they want. We have high expectations. So be it. I appreciate that you acknowledge stuff that he needs to do better. Instead of just a list of excuses. He's like a lot of slightly above average QB's. Sometimes he's damn good. Other times, he's a turnover machine.