Is there anything tempering expectations/concerns going into the season?

[glenwo2]

Love the new scheme. I need to see what happens on 3rd and 10 though.

Sam will just throw the ball 11+ yards down the field then.

 

[keasley45]

Same concerns as before the preseason. It's hard to put stock into anything coming from those games, good or bad. Still concerned our o line is susceptible to cracking (though less so given the overall approach to the offense has changed and we will be running a good bit more), still concerned Darnold will come back to earth. It's great that he will be asked to do less, but what happens in those moments when we need him to do more? Like when he needed to do more for the Vikes in the playoffs last year. Hitting outlets and screens on a single drive in a preseason game is good for the stat sheet, but offers no real indication as to how he and the passing game will function. Also still concerned about Kubiak. Hopeful that he has learned and grown over the last few years. Worried that he is a much better version of Shane Waldron - good at the script and at the start of the season, but gradually worsens as the season goes on and his inability to adapt in-game leaves us in a rut.

However, I am optimistic about the trend to the run game and stout defense. I think our physicality will win us games and make us a tough out. Just concerned that if we fall behind and we can't learn on the run, whether we have the horses at QB and WR (and OC) to bring us back.

Fingers crossed.

 

[glenwo2]

Why do I get the feeling that keasley45 would be more optimistic if GeNOPE was still QB?

 

[hox]

Same concerns as before the preseason. It's hard to put stock into anything coming from those games, good or bad. Still concerned our o line is susceptible to cracking (though less so given the overall approach to the offense has changed and we will be running a good bit more), still concerned Darnold will come back to earth. It's great that he will be asked to do less, but what happens in those moments when we need him to do more? Like when he needed to do more for the Vikes in the playoffs last year. Hitting outlets and screens on a single drive in a preseason game is good for the stat sheet, but offers no real indication as to how he and the passing game will function. Also still concerned about Kubiak. Hopeful that he has learned and grown over the last few years. Worried that he is a much better version of Shane Waldron - good at the script and at the start of the season, but gradually worsens as the season goes on and his inability to adapt in-game leaves us in a rut.

However, I am optimistic about the trend to the run game and stout defense. I think our physicality will win us games and make us a tough out. Just concerned that if we fall behind and we can't learn on the run, whether we have the horses at QB and WR (and OC) to bring us back.

Fingers crossed.

Yeah I need to see what happens on obvious passing downs. Bradford's run blocking looks great, but what about his pass pro? Zabel was great in the games, but heard he's getting beat by Big Cat and J Reed in practices.

And the knock on Kubiak from his previous stints is that his play calling got too predictable on early downs. Will see if he learns from that but definitely think he's a huge step up from Waldron.

 

[glenwo2]

bah.

We'll be fine.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Yeah I need to see what happens on obvious passing downs. Bradford's run blocking looks great, but what about his pass pro? Zabel was great in the games, but heard he's getting beat by Big Cat and J Reed in practices.

And the knock on Kubiak from his previous stints is that his play calling got too predictable on early downs. Will see if he learns from that but definitely think he's a huge step up from Waldron.

I would like to see the deep ball on saturday. Just to see how it looks/show that we are capable of it. If we can't take the top off of teams then defenses will adjust. Whether that be MVS or whoever.

 

[NoGain]

Let me see..concerns, worries that temper my expectations...

--That some key player(s) goes down very early in the season when the percentages for it are the highest
--That Myers *doinks* some key FG attempts that contributes to costing us a game or two
--That our OL improves but not enough to contend for the division title or beat our share of good teams
--That we're unable to convert enough on 3rd and long/get enough yardage in probable passing situations
--That Darnold can't lead our offense down field on game winning drives
--The Byron Murphy doesn't show me enough this year that he's going to be the interior stud I hoped he'd be
--That our CB's as an overall unit top out as being only above average
--That none of our young hopefuls emerges as a pass rushing force
--That we can't reassert our home field advantage to something resembling our glory years
--That we just get unlucky more often than not
--Etc...

As you can probably tell, I'm always worried and concerned.

 

[oldhawkfan]

Damn, Sherm goes back and forth more than Snoop and his 27 favorite teams.

Almost like he won an Owl with them too! WTF Sherm??!

 

[Sperrydogg]

I guess that we have a harbaugh on our team… is he a double agent??

 

[Sperrydogg]

Let me see..concerns, worries that temper my expectations...

--That some key player(s) goes down very early in the season when the percentages for it are the highest
--That Myers *doinks* some key FG attempts that contributes to costing us a game or two
--That our OL improves but not enough to contend for the division title or beat our share of good teams
--That we're unable to convert enough on 3rd and long/get enough yardage in probable passing situations
--That Darnold can't lead our offense down field on game winning drives
--The Byron Murphy doesn't show me enough this year that he's going to be the interior stud I hoped he'd be
--That our CB's as an overall unit top out as being only above average
--That none of our young hopefuls emerges as a pass rushing force
--That we can't reassert our home field advantage to something resembling our glory years
--That we just get unlucky more often than not
--Etc...

As you can probably tell, I'm always worried and concerned.

Breath in breath out, repeat

 

[oldhawkfan]

Let me see..concerns, worries that temper my expectations...

--That some key player(s) goes down very early in the season when the percentages for it are the highest
--That Myers *doinks* some key FG attempts that contributes to costing us a game or two
--That our OL improves but not enough to contend for the division title or beat our share of good teams
--That we're unable to convert enough on 3rd and long/get enough yardage in probable passing situations
--That Darnold can't lead our offense down field on game winning drives
--The Byron Murphy doesn't show me enough this year that he's going to be the interior stud I hoped he'd be
--That our CB's as an overall unit top out as being only above average
--That none of our young hopefuls emerges as a pass rushing force
--That we can't reassert our home field advantage to something resembling our glory years
--That we just get unlucky more often than not
--Etc...

As you can probably tell, I'm always worried and concerned.

Maybe change all those to a positive spin and see how that works for ya. I cant imagine trying to watch my favorite team and have concerns over things which I have no control over. But hey, you do you.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

This ^^^

 

[hox]

I would like to see the deep ball on saturday. Just to see how it looks/show that we are capable of it. If we can't take the top off of teams then defenses will adjust. Whether that be MVS or whoever.

Darnold led the league in Deep Throws last year, so he's capable of it:

Metric	Stat (2024, Deep Throws: 20+ Air Yards)	Insight
Passing Yards (20+ air yards)	1,023 yards, most in the NFL	No other QB came close—Jordan Love was second with 866 yards (SI)
Deep Completions	28 completions, league-leading	Most deep balls caught across the league (SI)
Deep Touchdowns (20+ air yards)	9 TDs, most in the NFL	He led the league in deep TD passes (SI, FanDuel)
Deep Completion % (20+ yards)	~49.3%, ranked 1st among QBs	Best completion percentage on deep throws (FanDuel)
FTC Passer Rating (20+ yards)	139.8, best in the league	Highest deep-ball passer rating (FanDuel)
Deep PFF Grade	92.4, ranked 9th in NFL	Strong performance per PFF, though not top 3 (PFF)

How that looks in this scheme, and to which receiver, we'll see.

 

[NoGain]

Breath in breath out, repeat

LOL We all have our mental weaknesses lurking somewhere inside us. Anxiety is mine. As a teacher, coach, and other things, it turned me into a preparation freak, not wanting to be caught off guard, and ready for anything I could think of that might happen. So it can be an advantage of sorts.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Darnold led the league in Deep Throws last year, so he's capable of it:

Metric	Stat (2024, Deep Throws: 20+ Air Yards)	Insight
Passing Yards (20+ air yards)	1,023 yards, most in the NFL	No other QB came close—Jordan Love was second with 866 yards (SI)
Deep Completions	28 completions, league-leading	Most deep balls caught across the league (SI)
Deep Touchdowns (20+ air yards)	9 TDs, most in the NFL	He led the league in deep TD passes (SI, FanDuel)
Deep Completion % (20+ yards)	~49.3%, ranked 1st among QBs	Best completion percentage on deep throws (FanDuel)
FTC Passer Rating (20+ yards)	139.8, best in the league	Highest deep-ball passer rating (FanDuel)
Deep PFF Grade	92.4, ranked 9th in NFL	Strong performance per PFF, though not top 3 (PFF)

How that looks in this scheme, and to which receiver, we'll see.

Yeah, more the receiver and pass protection for that i'm worried about. Once I see it in action i'll be less worried

 

[Wsumatt1982]

Jody Allen deciding to sell the team. I know it has to happen but could be scary what's on the other side.

 

[NoGain]

Jody Allen deciding to sell the team. I know it has to happen but could be scary what's on the other side.

Yeah, when that time comes it will be a concern. It seems that Bezos would be a candidate. He's certainly got the money to both buy the franchise and pour a lot of money into it if he chooses. My guess is the league would love to have him as an owner, too. I'd have to find a way to get over my dislike of him if it happens. I know that's a poor reflection on me, that I let so many things about him bug me.

We've had/have some bad owners, Behring, Schultz, Stanton...even when Nintendo owned the M's it was always a little strange having this distant and invisible ownership. Paul Allen was about the best owner you could want for your franchise.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Meh, waste of energy. This team isn't going to be anywhere BUT Seattle for several decades to come.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

Meh, waste of energy. This team isn't going to be anywhere BUT Seattle for several decades to come.

I remember Howard Schulz saying that about the Sonics the day before he sold them to Clay Bennett

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Hey, do you. I'm not worried about it at all.