We're starting to have cool things happen.

[nanomoz]

Great post.

I'm not as concerned about the post season this year. I'm not complaining that they're in the driver's seat for the west, mind you.

This year was more about a sense of progress, growth, and development for me.

If teams tend to take on the character of their head coach, then the Seahawks's resilience these past four weeks seems to suggest that Mcdonald has some great leadership traits. And it's reasonable to feel feel hopeful about the team's direction.

 

[Aircrew]

The biggest difference between him and Pete as that he will straight up cut you of you are under performing lol. Getting jones and cutting the other dude worked amazing. And it's getting better every week.

Yes. It got to be where it felt like Pete could catch a player in a compromising position with Mrs. Carroll and he still wouldn't get cut. Hell, he'd probably be all weird positive, give him a chest bump and talk about how best to show that kind of enthusiasm on the field next Sunday. So glad it's not like that anymore. Produce on the field or you're gone, period.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yep. I liked Pete, but he was WAY too loyal to players who weren't performing up to standards.

 

[Ozzy]

Yes. It got to be where it felt like Pete could catch a player in a compromising position with Mrs. Carroll and he still wouldn't get cut. Hell, he'd probably be all weird positive, give him a chest bump and talk about how best to show that kind of enthusiasm on the field next Sunday. So glad it's not like that anymore. Produce on the field or you're gone, period.

Pete was awesome early on but I think some of that stuff just wore thin after a decade of it. Still a great coach but for me it was time to do something different and I think its paying off with Macdonald.

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Schneider still has to get better at talent evaluation on the offensive line and/or change his stance on how much he values the offensive line….cause even if the defense improves to top 10 in the league as long as that monkey on their backs of a average to below average offensive line, Seattle, will not make deep playoff runs, no matter how good the defense becomes.

Playoff ball is different when you are playing teams with equally or even better defenses against Seattle’s offensive line….

 

[hawkfan68]

I was telling people to wait, but there was one thing that troubled me. I knew the guy is a defensive savant, his credentials speak for itself. What I saw were players melting down and at each others throats. I was concerned with his body language and how he was handling it. That was what got me a little spooked. The next thing I didn't expect was for the defense to come together so soon. His system is notoriously hard to grasp right away. The player are all expected to be able to play multiple positions and rotate. It's part of why his defense is so confusing for opposing offenses.

Not discounting MacDonald at all, he's the captain of this ship, but things changed once Ernest Jones became a Seahawk. Instead of driving against the wave, the Seahawk defense starting riding it.

If there's one thing lacking defensively, it's they weren't very opportunistic in creating turnovers. The Jets game was different they got a couple of big ones. Hopefully that trend continues and they bite into their -6 turnover ratio. Of course, the offense and ST has to do their part and stop giving away the ball.

 

[Appyhawk]

I think the offense starts to turn the corner in these last few games.

I do so hope you nail that one!

 

[Appyhawk]

Schneider still has to get better at talent evaluation on the offensive line and/or change his stance on how much he values the offensive line….cause even if the defense improves to top 10 in the league as long as that monkey on their backs of a average to below average offensive line, Seattle, will not make deep playoff runs, no matter how good the defense becomes.

Playoff ball is different when you are playing teams with equally or even better defenses against Seattle’s offensive line….

Whatever happened to the old adage that "offense sells tickets but defense wins championships"?

 

[Ostatehawk]

The playoffs would be great - but I expect we are not there yet even if we make it in and thus we probably lose first round. Anything can happen in the NFL and I will root for the Hawks with my entire soul if they do get in.

What I really want is to beat the god-forsaken cardinals. Not only because I despise them - but also because that would put pressure on the team to continue to win and I believe that pressure shows you who guys truly are. If we drop this game to the cards - our chances of making the playoffs are effectively nil; and I do not want to watch a team playing out a string to end the season. If we win this game - we can lose one of the next two and still have a wide-open shot to compete for the playoffs and the meaningful games can continue.

Go Hawks!

 

[TheLegendOfBoom]

Whatever happened to the old adage that "offense sells tickets but defense wins championships"?

Well, the team that wins Super Bowls are better balanced both defense and offense than Seattle currently is.

Seattle still needs to get better on the offensive line while still improving defensively.

Seattle isn’t there yet. A few more solid hits on draft classes and then it can happen.

 

[projectorfreak]

Well, the team that wins Super Bowls are better balanced both defense and offense than Seattle currently is.

Seattle still needs to get better on the offensive line while still improving defensively.

Seattle isn’t there yet. A few more solid hits on draft classes and then it can happen.

Hell it could happen now if we ran more PA and some misdirection ,( kinda the same thing as PA but not quite) and just leak a TE after a chip a little more and the defenses will have a much harder time getting a rush
Make em worry it's a delayed screen or worse lol
It's just way way way too obvious when we run it and use the to spread a little tom foolery around and you can turn all thos redzone field goals or stops into TDs and win a game in the 2nd or 3rd quarter and let the young guys get some experience

 

[FrodosFinger]

With my pre-season expectations, this is one year that I'd be plenty happy just making the playoffs. Other years, not at all.

We’ve been spoiled for the past 20 years by several playoff squads. I can practically sniff a dynasty unfolding. Smells amazing

 

[Mase]

-- Was about to just whip on the ongoing bias against linebackers on this site, and how "overvalued" they supposedly are. Then Hawkfan68 pointed out what should be obvious. Linebackers. Military references always work for football, so let me say this.

-- Baker and Dodson were like Howitzers. Effective for the right mission, but limited range and mobility. Whereas Jones and Knight are Super A-10 Warthogs. Taking the fight to the enemy with agility, mobility and hostility.

-- Is everything fixed? Absolutely not. With the line deficiencies and uneven play of the offense, and some spotty play at times by the secondary, 5-0 would be a miracle, 4-1 would be great, 3-2 would be the minimum we need, and all other options would suck.

-- The real point being, yes, experience together has helped the defense play better, obviously. But adding two attacking LBs has been the biggest and most immediate factor.

Mase