Macdonald, crazy question!

[Ruminator]

This is going to be such an interesting season to watch unfold. Namely in light of Darnold, Kubiak as OC, the suddenly consequential OL, Kupp, our entire TE corps, the occasional Milroe, the potential for a pleasant surprise or two or three among our rookies, and what could turn out to be a fantasy-berzerk D. Among other things.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I just don't like Salk. Big deal. I like that Coach is starting to show how much he's NOT going to take crap from players.

 

[Jerhawk]

This whole “story” is a non story imo.
Salk had to ask, Macdonald had to protect his new QB.

I thought it was a perfect response to a question that a lot of people had their minds on. And Salk was probably more alluding to Milroe being the surprise to push for the starting job over Lock. But Mac did the right thing and publicly shut that down.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

See it how you want. I know Salk enough to know that he can't live without drama and/or some conspiracy thing.
Same guy that wanted Geno gone (which was smart) was talking up Darnold all off season.
ONE practice with a couple picks and he acts like Darnold is somehow going to lose his job. He didn't have to ask that question. It was ridiculous. And Coach Mike had a perfect response, and accurate. Doesn't really matter, I just enjoyed listening to Salk get put in his place. And today he's still pouting about it. Coach also was calling out the media and their ridiculous assumptions. Also, good stuff.

 

[Runscott]

If we had a QB take us to 14-3, I doubt we’d let him walk. Hell, we were trying to re-sign Geno and he didn’t win near as many games.

I like your analysis, but your comment above is the key IMO. When Russell wasn't working out I was frustrated that we didn't position ourselves to draft a quarterback, but we have a different mindset about quarterbacks than many other organizations. It's true that you never know if a 'great' college quarterback is going to work out. Examples of failures abound, as do examples of lower-round successes. So I get the Seahawks qb mentality. I get it, but you can also fail with high-round non-qb picks, so why not go for a qb when you clearly need one? On the other hand, wiith Geno you knew what you had and it was almost enough. With Darnold you thought you did, until his playoff run (we also got Blair Walsh from the Vikings). But to the Seahawks, either was worth moving forward We seem to be fine with having almost enough and hoping it works. Quite different from how the Vikings looked at things - roll the dice with the rookie coming off a major injury, who might be great.

 

[glenwo2]

I get that. I saw you post this elsewhere as well.

But….Darnold had a great season. If they believed in him, they wouldn’t have ‘stuck’ to this plan. We’re talking a zero NFL snaps rookie coming off a somewhat major injury.

You don’t let a guy that had a season Darnold had, at 14-3, just walk because you had a plan.

It certainly adds uncertainty into the mix. If we had a QB take us to 14-3, I doubt we’d let him walk. Hell, we were trying to re-sign Geno and he didn’t win near as many games. Geno, before the end of his Seattle stint, was a career backup as well.

The playoff performance of Darnold may have been the nail in the coffin? I don’t know…….I’m still curious. Plan or no plan…Darnold had a helluva season.

I’m happy we got him. I do hope he keeps up last seasons performance level. With Geno leaving, Darnold was the most desired replacement. I’m not mad…not knocking the FO for a seemingly great signing.

It’s just ‘weird’ to me. It drives the “what does Minnesota know that the Seahawks don’t’ question.

Yeah I know what you're saying.

I personally think the Vikings made a HUGE mistake in letting Darnold go and putting all their eggs in one basket with a glorified Hand-off merchant in McCarthy.

But you know what?

Their mistake is going to be our gain.

I foresee a very successful season for Darnold and the Hawks.

Maybe not 14 wins but around the 12 - 13 win mark this season, especially with Darnold's improvements as a QB combined with the Defense we'll have.

 

[Streamhawk]

Your starting QB is your starting QB...until he isn't. Darnold is due $37.5M and Lock is due about $2.75M. The team will stand behind Darnold until it is absolutely forced into a change. Even if Darnold were to look awful throughout preseason he'll still likely be the Week 1 starter. No HC is going to say there's an open competition. That could potentially cause a rift with the GM.

...and i'm not saying Darnold will look awful.

Pete always said there was an open QB competition. Maybe not during RW years, but definitely every other season. Including all of Geno’s.

 

[flv2]

The Vikings didn't let Darnold walk. He was out of contract. Signing where he could start without there being a QBOTF on the roster was likely preferable for him over re-signing with the Vikings. The Vikings alternative was to tag him at $40.2M and cap account for all of that money this season. An unhappy $40.2M player isn't a recipe for success.

 

[Ostatehawk]

I get that. I saw you post this elsewhere as well.

But….Darnold had a great season. If they believed in him, they wouldn’t have ‘stuck’ to this plan. We’re talking a zero NFL snaps rookie coming off a somewhat major injury.

You don’t let a guy that had a season Darnold had, at 14-3, just walk because you had a plan.

It certainly adds uncertainty into the mix. If we had a QB take us to 14-3, I doubt we’d let him walk. Hell, we were trying to re-sign Geno and he didn’t win near as many games. Geno, before the end of his Seattle stint, was a career backup as well.

The playoff performance of Darnold may have been the nail in the coffin? I don’t know…….I’m still curious. Plan or no plan…Darnold had a helluva season.

I’m happy we got him. I do hope he keeps up last seasons performance level. With Geno leaving, Darnold was the most desired replacement. I’m not mad…not knocking the FO for a seemingly great signing.

It’s just ‘weird’ to me. It drives the “what does Minnesota know that the Seahawks don’t’ question.

Because Vikings.

This sort of decision is why they are one of if not THE MOST hard luck teams in all of the NFL year after year after year.

All your purple eggs in a basket full of ZERO NFL SNAPS is a reckless decision.

 

[hugecanoli]

This is only a thing because it’s June.

For me, I’m a fan of open competition. No job should be guaranteed or safe. Compete and may the best man win.

Hell, if the dude in the kitchen making breakfast burritos can score TD’s without throwing INT’s in the red zone, he can start over Darnold for all I care.

I want to win 2-3 more before I die. I’m 50 so shit’s getting real

 

[flv2]

Pete always said there was an open QB competition. Maybe not during RW years, but definitely every other season. Including all of Geno’s.

Technically Carroll had a policy of open competition at every position. In reality Hasselbeck was the set in stone starter in 2010 ahead of Whitehurst. The Seahawks didn't really have a QB in 2011. 2012 through 2021 was all Wilson. 2022 started with an open QB competition between QBs ranked #40 and #46 in some ranking lists. Smith had a really good year and there wasn't a competition after that. I'd say there was only a QB competition in 2 out of Carroll's 14 years in Seattle.

For the most part it's just a difference of style or presentation by the HC. Both Carroll and Macdonald want the best QB available to play for them. Storm in a teacup.

 

[DTiempo81]

This is only a thing because it’s June.

For me, I’m a fan of open competition. No job should be guaranteed or safe. Compete and may the best man win.

Hell, if the dude in the kitchen making breakfast burritos can score TD’s without throwing INT’s in the red zone, he can start over Darnold for all I care.

I want to win 2-3 more before I die. I’m 50 so shit’s getting real

I mentioned it earlier, but I think MM has shown before that he is willing to make the hard decision. I guarantee come week 1 if Darnold is clearly being outplayed by Lock/Milroe he will make the move.

 

[glenwo2]

I mentioned it earlier, but I think MM has shown before that he is willing to make the hard decision. I guarantee come week 1 if Darnold is clearly being outplayed by Lock/Milroe he will make the move.

That would be insane if he got outplayed by a career backup and a ultra-raw Rookie.

Fortunately, the likelihood of that happening is equal to the Jaguars winning a SuperBowl.

 

[DTiempo81]

That would be insane if he got outplayed by a career backup and a ultra-raw Rookie.

Fortunately, the likelihood of that happening is equal to the Jaguars winning a SuperBowl.

Yeah, not saying it is likely, just that MM would pull the trigger if it did.

 

[toffee]

That would be insane if he got outplayed by a career backup and a ultra-raw Rookie.

Fortunately, the likelihood of that happening is equal to the Jaguars winning a SuperBowl.

Drew Lock was drafted as a franchise QB, a starter, by the Broncos. Schneider traded for him to be our franchise QB until Pete pulled a Geno on Schneider. Good on Schneider for not giving up on Lock.

Just compare:
Drew Lock:

Sam darnold:

Lock's ball velocity is 54mph, Darnold 52mph

John Schneider loves Drew Lock, and I follow the decision by our President of Football Operations. John Schneider jumped with joy when Lock threw a 25 yards across-the-body pass, and I was joyful just reading it.

 

[Smellyman]

Drew Lock was drafted as a franchise QB, a starter, by the Broncos. Schneider traded for him to be our franchise QB until Pete pulled a Geno on Schneider. Good on Schneider for not giving up on Lock.

Just compare:
Drew Lock:
View attachment 71835
Sam darnold:
View attachment 71836
Lock's ball velocity is 54mph, Darnold 52mph

John Schneider loves Drew Lock, and I follow the decision by our President of Football Operations. John Schneider jumped with joy when Lock threw a 25 yards across-the-body pass, and I was joyful just reading it.

now do Jalen Milroe

 

[Sperrydogg]

I like your analysis, but your comment above is the key IMO. When Russell wasn't working out I was frustrated that we didn't position ourselves to draft a quarterback, but we have a different mindset about quarterbacks than many other organizations. It's true that you never know if a 'great' college quarterback is going to work out. Examples of failures abound, as do examples of lower-round successes. So I get the Seahawks qb mentality. I get it, but you can also fail with high-round non-qb picks, so why not go for a qb when you clearly need one? On the other hand, wiith Geno you knew what you had and it was almost enough. With Darnold you thought you did, until his playoff run (we also got Blair Walsh from the Vikings). But to the Seahawks, either was worth moving forward We seem to be fine with having almost enough and hoping it works. Quite different from how the Vikings looked at things - roll the dice with the rookie coming off a major injury, who might be great.

By put ourselves in position do you mean lose a bunch of games? Thats the only way we were getting a qb, and geno was doing just enough winning to make sure we weren’t in position to draft his replacement

 

[Sperrydogg]

Drew Lock was drafted as a franchise QB, a starter, by the Broncos. Schneider traded for him to be our franchise QB until Pete pulled a Geno on Schneider. Good on Schneider for not giving up on Lock.

Just compare:
Drew Lock:
View attachment 71835
Sam darnold:
View attachment 71836
Lock's ball velocity is 54mph, Darnold 52mph

John Schneider loves Drew Lock, and I follow the decision by our President of Football Operations. John Schneider jumped with joy when Lock threw a 25 yards across-the-body pass, and I was joyful just reading it.

Your positivity is inspiring…. I think

 

[glenwo2]

I'm learning to just ignore whatever toffee says when he starts out his Drew Lock bit (it was entertaining the first few times he did it. Now it's just...eh)

 

[Runscott]

By put ourselves in position do you mean lose a bunch of games? Thats the only way we were getting a qb, and geno was doing just enough winning to make sure we weren’t in position to draft his replacement

No, I meant trade up.