I understand why the Hawks were predicted to go 4-12

[StoneCold]

And this article highlights much of the turmoil that was going on last off season and early in the season.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... g-fracture

Kudos to Pete, John and the players. Especially the young guys that really stepped up.

Go Hawks

 

[Hockey Guy]

Predicting the Seahawks to go 4-12 was inexcusable in my mind. There's no possible way Pete & Russell were letting that happen.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yeah, 4 win prediction?? Come on man, 4-12 if Russ DOESN'T play all year maybe. Those type of predictions from the media feel more like what they WANT to happen.

 

[Rat]

The 4-12 thing was from one myopic analyst who went "worst case scenario" with us. Most had us on the playoff fringes, which wasn't unreasonable since we lost a number of defensive starters and it was seen as something of a rebuilding year. Good on the team for keeping it together and exceeding expectations.

 

[Ad Hawk]

The 4-12 thing was from one myopic analyst who went "worst case scenario" with us. Most had us on the playoff fringes, which wasn't unreasonable since we lost a number of defensive starters and it was seen as something of a rebuilding year. Good on the team for keeping it together and exceeding expectations.

It also came from the baseless assumption that the only reason the Seahawks could win in the past several years was because of the defensive probowlers.

This team's solid defense allowed Pete to play much more conservatively on offense than many fans wanted to see. But once the defense couldn't keep opponent scores in the teens or less, and with the improved running game, we can open up the score and not rely on the D.

 

[sdog1981]

The 2017 Seahawks were AWFUL and they still won 9 games. They had the lowest rushing total by running back in a 16 game season in NFL history. The next two teams on that list won 6 games combined. The pro bowlers were gone by week 11. People were pretending that the team was completely intact for all 17 weeks. They had no Oline, no running backs and no pass rush and still won 9 games. We now know that the worst record this team will have with a healthy Wilson is 8 or 9 wins.

 

[StoneCold]

Agreed. We all know these things. I never thought they'd win less than 9 games, but I can see how someone on the outside, looking at the number of players we lost, the amount of "reported" dysfunction in the locker room that we were headed for a losing season.

And really this post is more about what Pete and the team did than about crappy predictions.

 

[Sac]

19-0

 

[scutterhawk]

Predicting the Seahawks to go 4-12 was inexcusable in my mind. There's no possible way Pete & Russell were letting that happen.

Even simple logic should have told them that it -->Wasn't A Complete Teardown, And Rebuild <--, & that bringing back Norton Jr., + the hiring of Solari & Schottenheimer was NOT going to be a step BACK.

You are 100% correct Hockey Guy, Pete Carroll & Russell Wilson, weren't going to let a 4 & 12 season happen, I would also put Bobby Wagner and a couple other key players on Offense AND Defense to that list.
Letting Soured players like, Sherman, and Bennett go, jettisoning -->Coaches<-- that were holding Russell Wilson & the Offense from EVOLVING, and taking it to the next level.
Everyone (including me) wanted to shit-can Ifedi, but apparently, Solari surmised that all that was needed, was some Corrective Coaching up.
I have to say though, as far as they've come this season, they are going to be even better next year when everything starts meshing.

 

[bevellisthedevil]

Anyone who watched the first two games of the season could have easily predicted that we would go 4-12 or worse. The coaching staff did a nice job pulling their head out of their ass and adjusting.

 

[sdog1981]

Agreed. We all know these things. I never thought they'd win less than 9 games, but I can see how someone on the outside, looking at the number of players we lost, the amount of "reported" dysfunction in the locker room that we were headed for a losing season.

And really this post is more about what Pete and the team did than about crappy predictions.

Indeed this has been a wonderful coaching job. I think this team is more like the 2011 team then it is to the 2012 team. Another draft class like the 2018 one and this team can be right back in the mix for the one or two seed.

 

[sutz]

One big problem is that national media does a pretty poor job of evaluating a team's talent pool beyond the starters. They like to count "pro bowlers" and make their ratings/predictions from there. So, losing so many "pro bowlers" like we did, it's easy for some schlub sitting in Connecticut to say, "They trashed all of their good players. They're done for now."

Now, around here, there were quite a few psoters that had their eyes on our backups from last year and thought, "Hey, maybe the guys we already have on board can step up." Now, a lot of folks here were dissing the team for similar reasons, but Pete has always been pretty good at bringing young players along, and especially young DBs.

Now, obviously, the O-line was a dumpster fire for 3 years or so, and it was hard to see how just changing a couple of coaches could fix that so fast, while using most of the same guys. The Solari/Schotty hires might just be the best assistant coach hires in team history given what they've accomplished in just one off season.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I didn’t understand why?

1. Pete’s philosophy of ball control on offense and forcing turnovers on Defense as well as being mentally and physically one of the most competitive teams every season win or lose is a recipe for at least 5 to 6 wins.

2. Russell Wilson. Is probably worth another 3-4 wins on top of that.

That’s what I felt. As long as Carroll and Wilson are together this team would be 8-8 or better.

My pre-season projection for this team was 11 wins +/-2 for unpredictable Factors: Injury, Luck, and Officiating.

I never thought this team could ever lose more than 8. But I’m also an optimist.

 

[DomeHawk]

That whole article is BS. ET made his own bed.

 

[Donn2390]

I have no sympathy for Earl Thomas. he signed a contract to play football knowing injuries are always a possibility. He didn't fulfill the contract. No player is bigger than the team.
His parting gesture was to display his IQ.

 

[nategreat]

That has to be one of the worst written articles I've ever read. It just ends halfway through, where is the end? Where is the substance? That's a majority of the media now I guess.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

There was more than enough doubt after Pete and John cleaned house as to whether they could convince and mold another group of young players to buy into what Pete preaches.

Did the game pass him by? Has Pete lost the magic? After the first two weeks we were ABSOLUTELY asking ourselves those questions.

So while 4-12 was a total implosion worst case scenario, I could certainly see how some people thought it could get that bad.

 

[HansGruber]

I thought the Seahawks would get 7-8 wins and probably miss the playoffs. And only because of Russ. With last year's OL and Wilson getting hit the way he was, I was just hoping Wilson would survive the season without a major injury.

Frankly, anyone predicting playoffs 6 months ago was being unrealistic. We lost the majority of our best players, all of our coaching staff and were clearly in a full rebuild. And that's after missing the playoffs. Simple common sense indicated this was not going to be a playoff season.

What Carroll has done this season is amazing. I doubted him last offseason because he seemed to refuse to accept that Cable and Bevell were sinking the team, as everyone could plainly see. When he fired his coaches, I was curious and interested, but not overly optimistic. And I thought it might be time for the Seahawks to move on.

But it's silly for fans to be acting like they saw this coming. It takes away from how truly special this season has been. And it has been incredible. Here's your gold star for being a true believer, now if you don't mind, I'll go enjoy the playoffs and be grateful for every second of this miracle.

 

[Mad Dog]

As long as it’s Pete’s D and Wilson is the QB, there is always a chance. There is lots of rumor mongering about Wilson but I’m sure if there are those in the locker room that don’t like him, they all respect him as a player and are glad he’s on the team.
They are in every game it seems and that is a special thing.

 

[Ad Hawk]

I thought the Seahawks would get 7-8 wins and probably miss the playoffs. And only because of Russ. With last year's OL and Wilson getting hit the way he was, I was just hoping Wilson would survive the season without a major injury.

Frankly, anyone predicting playoffs 6 months ago was being unrealistic. We lost the majority of our best players, all of our coaching staff and were clearly in a full rebuild. And that's after missing the playoffs. Simple common sense indicated this was not going to be a playoff season.

What Carroll has done this season is amazing. I doubted him last offseason because he seemed to refuse to accept that Cable and Bevell were sinking the team, as everyone could plainly see. When he fired his coaches, I was curious and interested, but not overly optimistic. And I thought it might be time for the Seahawks to move on.

But it's silly for fans to be acting like they saw this coming. It takes away from how truly special this season has been. And it has been incredible. Here's your gold star for being a true believer, now if you don't mind, I'll go enjoy the playoffs and be grateful for every second of this miracle.

This whole post is disappointingly generalizing and simply wrong.

First, many here knew Cable and Bevell were a problem, and believed their replacements reasonably and realistically could improve the offense, even if Shotty didn't have a track record of success with the mediocre casts he had to work with.

Second, the loss of the LOB was already happening last year, and those who were still on the field weren't contributing to the same type of overall defense. Their loss wasn't going to simply tank the team, especially if the offense improved. Granted it was an "if", but it certainly has happened.

Third, Pete Carol is the same coach that created the LOB and placed the whole philosophy of 1) run the ball, 2) explosive plays, and 3) it's all about the ball. This same philosophy is creating winning seasons and gives a chance to beat any team at any time. Saying this season is a miracle completely undermines the coaching philosophy and talent, making it seem "accidental."

No, it was neither unrealistic nor silly. Suggesting such is looks like an attempt to justify one's own failed outlook and opinion from the beginning of the season. Those who saw potential can appreciate the season just as much as the Seahawk infidels and unrealistic pessimists.