In your own opinion how far off are we from a title run?

[Shanegotyou11]

Right now i think a TE, Wr and either a safety or another De that is solid.

Thoughts?

 

[WestcoastSteve]

Going into this year I felt the team was a year away. Need some young players to grow up.

The offense was bad on Sunday but I don't doubt they will figure out.

They definitely need a better defense IMO. You look at the top teams in the NFC (Saints, Packers and 49ers) and all are pretty stout on defense with a ferocious pass rush.

 

[QuahHawk]

I think we are top 8 team right now. We need a few players to step into stardom really quickly. Reed, Clooney, Blair, Griffin, DK, Carson, Would be the ones that have shown flashes.

I actually thought in preseason David Moore was going to take a big step for us but the broken arm was a set back. He was dang good on deep balls last year and we need some offensive weapons to replace Will.

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

Definitely a wild-card contender but with present pieces/strategy unlikely to get further than a 1 and done.

And, I've never fully understood the "playoffs or bust" mentality. Like someone said, getting the last seed when it's clear that you don't have it and this is widely known (SEA vs DAL for example) just guarantees you a lower draft pick.

If we're gonna be contenders then let's go there with doing that.

 

[Seahawk_Dan]

Right now i think a TE, Wr and either a safety or another De that is solid.

Thoughts?

It's funny because of all the variables involved.

As it stands, it's a bit of everything really. You need at least solid contributors.

At WR, Lockett is a known commodity and I think DK could grow into a solid receiver and help out the team. After that though it's a drop off. Jaron Brown is not the answer and quite frankly needs to go, but do you test out the youngsters like Jennings or Ursua and let them have a shot? I say why not, couldn't hurt. If they're not the answer then in FA this off-season you find a guy that can fit as a #3.

Dissly is solid for us, however his durability is officially in question after two shorten seasons with similar injuries and as of right now we're thin. I say this gets addressed in FA for sure. Dissly stays, he's young and hopefully we can really get a full season out of him, but in the mean time some guys like Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Vance McDonald, Taylor Eifert, Jack Doyle, Maxx Williams, and Eric Ebron should all be hitting Free Agency, among others and pending whether or not any get resigned.

There is no doubt, the team needs a safety, both Strong Safety and Free Safety. Thompson, despite his occasional magic moments, is way too inconsistent and the bad very much outshines the good. This needs to be addressed in FA or draft, stat. Now I'm all for players like Amadi and Blair trying to earn these spots, but from what I know Blair is more of a natural SS, which is fine because McDougald isn't exactly lighting it up either this year. Wanna blow it up? Plug in at Amadi and Blair at FS and SS respectively, see what they can do I say. Blair held his own against the Ravens, so there's a bright spot.

Defensive End also needs to be addressed. I think Clowney was a good grab, but there needs to be more. The whole D-Line is just not great and I'm all for giving Collier his try, but it seems like when he does take the field he disappears. This more than likely has to do with the fact that he's a rookie and I'm all for him growing, so for now I think this is addressed in FA.

 

[LTH]

Here we are 7 games in and this team has not hit its stride yet... Its too early to tell how good these guys are going to be. I know that sounds strange but they are not playing there best ball yet... Still room to grow but they are getting there...Time and patience and then BOOM they are going to roll... To me its like waiting for the chart of a good stock to POP LMAO!!!

LTH

 

[WestcoastSteve]

Definitely a wild-card contender but with present pieces/strategy unlikely to get further than a 1 and done.

And, I've never fully understood the "playoffs or bust" mentality. Like someone said, getting the last seed when it's clear that you don't have it and this is widely known (SEA vs DAL for example) just guarantees you a lower draft pick.

If we're gonna be contenders then let's go there with doing that.

Yeah but this isn't the NBA where you need to tank to get good.

Most of the playoff contenders in the NFC this year are the usual suspects (Rams, Saints, Packers, Vikings, Cowboys)

The 49ers are the only team that went from sucking to contender and that's not simply because of Bosa. It's because they made some good signings (Sherman) and trades (Ford) and their mid-round picks (Breida, Kittle) have blossomed

 

[WestcoastSteve]

Right now i think a TE, Wr and either a safety or another De that is solid.

Thoughts?

Wanna blow it up? Plug in at Amadi and Blair at FS and SS respectively, see what they can do I say. Blair held his own against the Ravens, so there's a bright spot.
.

You don't see what guys can do when you are 5-2. I remember when we played Earl and Kam together in late 2010/early 2011 - it was a shitshow.

They did gel at some point and the rest was history but we were rebuilding at the time not competing for the playoffs

You continue to start Blair with McDougald (like you said). McDougald has been shit against the run this year so play him at FS.

Next year you let Ugo battle for the starting FS spot so you aren't starting two rookies at safety at the same time.

 

[JustTheTip]

The last few years have felt like reliving 2006 and 2007 to me, and for much the same reason. So I think we are a head coach away. And yes, I understand the risks and also understand Pete likely isn't going anywhere until he wants to.

 

[Spin Doctor]

We're never going to get to the Super Bowl ever again under Carroll, it is as simple as that. He is great at setting up a program and managing it, but his decisions are always going to hold him back.

The first issue are his coaches. Our special teams coach Schneider has constantly been fielding a poor product yet he has a job. Our defensive coordinator was a disaster in Oakland and we gave him a job anyways. Predictably he is also a liability as a Seahawk. The Seahawks OC is a step up from Bevell but still comes with some huge drawbacks. Carroll is making some very poor decisions as far as assistant coaches go.

The second issue is really questionable in game decisions. Poor usage of the clock, really poor situational awareness, and a penchant to waste all of our timeouts on frivolous things. A huge issue under Carroll is how slowly we get the plays in. This has been a trend across three offensive coordinators so far. Getting the play in at the last second means little to no room for adjustments, audibles, and pre-snap reads. It is shocking how often we have won games with such poor in game management, and discipline.

The third issue is drafting. The Seahawks have been middle of the pack come draft day. We haven't found a cornerstone player that we can build around for a very long time. Tyler Lockett is probably the closest thing that fits this criteria. Even Lockett isn't what I would call a big time threat from the wide receiver position, just a good solid player with good chemistry and understanding of the QB. He feels more like a guy that would really wreak havoc if he had somebody to draw coverage. Moving him around different places, and using him as a dynamic playmaker. Right now he can't do that as much as we'd like due to him being our most reliable receiving threat.

At the end of the day Carroll is great at putting together a program and he hasn't been all in all bad in the drafting arena either, he hasn't been fantastic either. He knows how to build a winning culture at the very least. Unfortunately I think Carroll is the new version of Marty Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer knew how to put together a really good program, and he always got his teams to the playoffs -- but his teams always had swift exits. That is where we are right now under a Carroll led Seahawks. We could certainly do worse.

 

[xray]

A division title or a championship title ? A division title ...2 years . Championship title...sometime after Carroll retires . This is not bashing the Hawks. Just my personal opinion .

 

[Mad Dog]

Definitely a wild-card contender but with present pieces/strategy unlikely to get further than a 1 and done.

And, I've never fully understood the "playoffs or bust" mentality. Like someone said, getting the last seed when it's clear that you don't have it and this is widely known (SEA vs DAL for example) just guarantees you a lower draft pick.

If we're gonna be contenders then let's go there with doing that.

I've never understood the "suck for a decade for a single run at a title" mentality.

10 awful years of football for one fabulous year? I'd rather be entertained consistently year after year. Even if we make early exits from the playoffs.

I don't think you can show any evidence the "suck for better draft picks" is more successful than the "consistent success" pathway. The Patriots are the example of the latter. I can't think of a recent SB winner that is a good example of the former.

 

[2_0_6]

This team has zero depth compared to what it had in past years. The next man up strategy only works if that next man is a halfway decent football player.

 

[JustTheTip]

Definitely a wild-card contender but with present pieces/strategy unlikely to get further than a 1 and done.

And, I've never fully understood the "playoffs or bust" mentality. Like someone said, getting the last seed when it's clear that you don't have it and this is widely known (SEA vs DAL for example) just guarantees you a lower draft pick.

If we're gonna be contenders then let's go there with doing that.

I've never understood the "suck for a decade for a single run at a title" mentality.

10 awful years of football for one fabulous year? I'd rather be entertained consistently year after year. Even if we make early exits from the playoffs.

I don't think you can show any evidence the "suck for better draft picks" is more successful than the "consistent success" pathway. The Patriots are the example of the latter. I can't think of a recent SB winner that is a good example of the former.

The Patriots also never allow themselves to stagnate, which this team has definitely now done. In years they start slow the fans are asking if it may be time to move on from Belichick and people thinks those of us who question Pete are insane when this team hasn't been a serious contender since an awful coaching decision to lose the last Super Bowl we were in, followed by a worse decision by Pete that ended what could have been a dynasty run.

 

[justafan]

It can happen any year we have Pete and a QB like Wilson. Any good team can get hot and lucky to go on a run at the end of the year. I know most fans on here say it will never happen and you are probably right but the chance is always there.

Who bet Foles would win one or Steelers would win after almost missing the playoffs, Giants ruining Patriots undefeated season. It happens and nobody can explain it its just part of sports that makes it what it is.

 

[iigakusei]

Not that far.
Next year we have a ton of draft stock and a lot of cap room.
If we use both wisely we will be looking good.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

It can happen any year we have Pete and a QB like Wilson. Any good team can get hot and lucky to go on a run at the end of the year.

Couldn't disagree more. No one knows more than us that Championship teams are built, not teams that get hot or lucky at the end of the year.

Sure once in a while someone like Nick Foles jumps up and plays out of his mind to help a team win a SB, but that's not paying attention to the fact that the Eagles had a GREAT defense and talent all over their roster already.

Championship teams are built over a 3-4 cycle of making the right organizational decisions and drafting/acquiring players.

We did that from 2010-2013, and haven't been as successful since. So how far away are we? Idk, our defense needs to get more talent, physical and dynamic. So however long that takes. Unfortunately it might take a 6-9 season like 2009 so we can finally get some serious draft capital at the top of the draft, and not just keep drafting mediocre players at the bottom half of rounds.

 

[bmorepunk]

Who bet Foles would win one or Steelers would win after almost missing the playoffs, Giants ruining Patriots undefeated season. It happens and nobody can explain it its just part of sports that makes it what it is.

The 2005 Steelers gave up just over 16 points per game. The Eagles gave up over 18. The 2007 Giants gave up almost 22. The Seahawks are giving up over 25. Yes, I realize that three of those touchdowns in the last couple weeks are not the defense's fault, but this defense is average at best right now. And you can get lucky or the offense might do enough to overcome, but the idea that you can make a good run at a Super Bowl win without a good defense is pretty hard to get along with.

If they can't get a significant improvement on defense they're not going to be very viable. Especially with how hard it is to get wins in this division with the 49ers playing well and the Rams still hanging around.

 

[mistaowen]

Need an above average safety, nickel CB, additional edge rusher, and probably another WR (DK taking a big step forward in the offseason would help). Losing Dissly is huge as he was the big bodied guy over the middle Russ could trust. I don't think many teams will have the horses to run full man press coverage like the Ravens did but they completely shut down our receivers in the second half.

Defense has got to get better though, especially to make a run in the playoffs. We're on year 2 of the reset and there's some good and some bad. LB's on paper are excellent and are being tasked with a new unfavorable scheme to compensate. They are also getting older. DL has been invested in but is the WORST pressure rate in the NFL sending 4. Another guy is massively needed, someone like Vic Beasley maybe if Falcons go wholesale. Getting pressure will help the secondary who looks to be improving but could use an upgrade as well.

Russ can carry this team to a Wild Card birth, maybe even division crown if the 49ers start to slip, but can have an off game. The team isn't good enough to compensate if he does, especially tasking the defense to hold the fort like they used to, so they're probably another year from being serious contenders. I hope the army of draft picks JS has this year means they get a big more aggressive than years past and move up to get guys instead of amassing even more.

 

[had2bhawk]

A division title or a championship title ? A division title ...2 years . Championship title...sometime after Carroll retires . This is not bashing the Hawks. Just my personal opinion .

I'm thinking along similar lines here. I think championship title can be had in 2 years. As mentioned earlier Hawks can get alot of players with draft and cap but to come together as a unit it will take some playing time together.