Is Hawks #1 Defense a "Blue Mirage"?

[SeaWolv]

Have the Seahawks defense faced the top 15 QBs in the league yet?

This is another really good point and the answer is obviously no.

 

[GeekHawk]

It's a small sample size, but a heluva trend line!

 

[GeekHawk]

This is another really good point and the answer is obviously no.

The answer is "Not after facing our D!" Same thing happened in the LOB days, pretty much all offenses and QBs that faced us looked terrible. Because of our defense.

 

[SeaWolv]

The answer is "Not after facing our D!" Same thing happened in the LOB days, pretty much all offenses and QBs that faced us looked terrible. Because of our defense.

Again this may be true but we don't have enough data points to be sure yet. Maybe those teams faced easier defenses the 2 games before Seattle which padded their numbers the other way. We don't know yet and probably won't until we get 6-10 games in.

 

[Mad Dog]

We were #2 in pass rush IIRC going into Sunday's game.

I think we're good. And if we're not, MM will be ON it. His comment on: "Run defense made me sick to my stomach" speaks volumes about his approach. If it's broken - we're gonna FIX it. Unlike recent years watching people whiff and amble around the field missing tackle after tackle.

I have a feeling that MM is actually about "Always compete" - and not just as a slogan.

Lions game will be a benchmark, no doubt. NFC West isn't looking so scary this year Not to get a big head, and I understand the Lambs are not crippled, but definitely down a couple players.

MM's catchphrase is "Chasing edges/margins". It's basically "Always Compete" but focused on the finer details that let you compete just that little bit better than the other team. Sound fundamentals combined with creative wrinkles designed specifically to confuse. It's been a lot of fun to watch so far.

 

[Mad Dog]

To be really honest, there's very little I miss about Pete. Nice guy. It was way past time.

I think if we weren't seeing such a defensive turnournd we'd be more nostalgic. MacD is making sure we forget Pete quickly.

 

[olyfan63]

Let's look at how these 'garbage' teams we've played have done against other 'real, not mirage' defenses:

Donkos -323.5 yds/game, they would be #13 but we shot them down to #23

Cheatriots - 345 yds/game, they would be #8 but we shot them down to dead last #32

Phishes - 375.5 yds/game, they would be #6 we shot them down to #16

I would argue that the only reason anybody thinks these teams are garbage is because of how we've pants'd them and made them look silly. We are the common denominator here, there is no question we are most certainly NOT a "blue mirage" defense. The numbers don't lie.

<edit> I would have done points too, but it's too damn early in the morning for this...>

Thank you for the research! Effort above and beyond! Yes, it's great to see Seattle's D is dropping other teams' rankings in the Offense standings!

I ran into a Dolphins video on YT where Phins fans were ripping their coach, McDaniel, a new one. May have been a little East Coast bias in that Dolphins fan base... I told them to root for and believe in their team. It was mildly comical, because I pointed out to them that the Seahawks were actually GOOD on defense this year, and what levers to pull and buttons to push did McDaniel even have, with QB2 knocked out of the game, and QB3 playing?

During the game, I was actually feeling SORRY for the poor Dolphins, until suddenly they were at the Seattle 5 yard line with a great chance to make it a one-score game. The Hawks D then responded with a goal line stand and zero points for the Dolphins.

 

[CalgaryFan05]

Thank you for the research! Effort above and beyond! Yes, it's great to see Seattle's D is dropping other teams' rankings in the Offense standings!

I ran into a Dolphins video on YT where Phins fans were ripping their coach, McDaniel, a new one. May have been a little East Coast bias in that Dolphins fan base... I told them to root for and believe in their team. It was mildly comical, because I pointed out to them that the Seahawks were actually GOOD on defense this year, and what levers to pull and buttons to push did McDaniel even have, with QB2 knocked out of the game, and QB3 playing?

During the game, I was actually feeling SORRY for the poor Dolphins, until suddenly they were at the Seattle 5 yard line with a great chance to make it a one-score game. The Hawks D then responded with a goal line stand and zero points for the Dolphins.

Goal line stand was a thing of beauty.

 

[chris98251]

Detroit wants to run, Goff is a good QB but does not have the rifle, throws a soft ball, we don't let them get lucky on deep shots and keep the run game under control we have a good chance, why I am waiting for tomorrow to see how our interior defense is doing with injuries.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Read the thread title and was hoping this would be a nickname thread instead of more anxiety of whether we are actually good or not.

But if it was the annual nickname thread I’ll be the first to stick my pitchfork into…



“The Farm”






Young MacDonald had a FARM and on that farm was a slaughterhouse, d-ie d-ie o.

 

[m0ng0]

I do believe we are a bit of a mirage, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[olyfan63]

Read the thread title and was hoping this would be a nickname thread instead of more anxiety of whether we are actually good or not.

But if it was the annual nickname thread I’ll be the first to stick my pitchfork into…



“The Farm”






Young MacDonald had a FARM and on that farm was a slaughterhouse, d-ie d-ie o.

Maybe you were hoping for a Michael Jackson "Blue Wave Is On A Roll" updated video?

 

[SeaWolv]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/st...teams-real-contenders-2024-playoffs-standings

The Seahawks have played the easiest schedule of these five teams. Their schedule has ranked 31st so far, according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), and with their game against the Lions on Monday night, their slate begins to get much more difficult. They are projected to face the toughest schedule of any team over the remainder of the season. There's still time for FPI's evaluations to change and the schedule to get easier, but in addition to the Lions, Seattle has games against the Bills, Jets, Packers, Vikings and a pair of matchups against the 49ers.

Paywalled (ESPN+). The 5 teams referenced are the unbeatens (Bills, Chiefs, Steelers, Vikings, Seahawks).

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He's got a point. The Hawks defense has played 3 teams at the bottom of the offensive DVOA rankings. We're about to get into the part of the schedule where they'll be facing top 20 offenses. These next few weeks are going to tell us a lot about this defense and how good they can be.

Well, they are missing BIG CAT, MURPHY, NWUSU AND MAFE tonight. Hard to truly judge the defense when you're missing maybe your best 4 d lineman.

 

[SeaWolv]

Well, they are missing BIG CAT, MURPHY, NWUSU AND MAFE tonight. Hard to truly judge the defense when you're missing maybe your best 4 d lineman.

I posted that well before the new injury report showing those players are out.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I hear ya. Just a flat-out bummer. Esp. against a SB contender on MNF. Offense needs to carry them tonight.

 

[RiverDog]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/st...teams-real-contenders-2024-playoffs-standings


Paywalled (ESPN+). The 5 teams referenced are the unbeatens (Bills, Chiefs, Steelers, Vikings, Seahawks).

We can scratch the Bills off that list. Boy, was I hoodwinked. Before last night, I thought that the Bills were the #1 team in the AFC. I also thought that the Ravens were heading south. What a difference one game can make on your impressions.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Adding Derrick Henry was massive for the Ravens. When they actually stick to the run, they are a very dangerous team.

 

[RiverDog]

Adding Derrick Henry was massive for the Ravens. When they actually stick to the run, they are a very dangerous team.

Especially when you combine Henry with Lamar Jackson's running threat.

As a rule, I'm pretty dismissive of the value of a running back, but there are exceptions, and Derrick Henry is one of them.

 

[SeaWolv]

We can scratch the Bills off that list. Boy, was I hoodwinked. Before last night, I thought that the Bills were the #1 team in the AFC

Except when you look at who they played, their start wasn't all that impressive. The only quality win over the first 3 games was the Phins on the road with Tua. The other 2 games were at home against the Cardinals and the Jags and neither of those teams are any good.