Why this year is so much more fun than 2005 or 1983/4

[nsport]

So four years ago, we had a complete YARD SALE of the entire team and started over from scratch to build this with a lot of undrafted young kids/unknowns, but in two years, we'll have a SOLID CORE group of players and the same two guys bringing in young kids/unknowns and you think they might screw it up?

This is the blessing and curse of today's CBA - if you build a team like the Packers or Seahawks have built, you have a limited time to earn trophies if you capture a core of youth. They hit their maturity and peak in their 3rd year (or 4th year) - then they are RFA's - then you have to start making hard choices that might not work so well with your cap situation. Rodgers, Brady, Flacco, Manning, and many others are examples where you have to take a risk and put 1/8th of your salary against into the guy you think will take you to the promised land. If it doesn't work out (Flacco, Cutler) - then you are up a creek without a paddle. It's not an easy game to play!

 

[Sports Hernia]

As a lifelong Seahawk fan I've never known what it feels like to cheer for a dynasty. The Raiders had dynasties, the Steelers and Cowboys had dynasties. When I grew up watching Franco Harris Steelers beat The Snakes Raiders, I knew those two teams would be right back at it in the playoffs next year. One of them might have a down year, but they'd be back. For the Seahawks, it's always been about "Can THIS year be the year?" Sure, in the early 80's we had a good team for a little while there, but no one would call it a dynasty. We had to win NOW or our shot was wasted. Great memories, fun times, but never the feeling of certainty that we'd be back. It always felt like we were trying to break through and always just fell short. In the Holmgren era it started to feel like we had the makings of a dynasty, but we never really got it done. Sure, we WON SB XL, but it got stolen from us, then we went 9-7 the next year. Before you knew it, the team was rebuilding. But we'd just GOT there!

Not now. This year, while I really want to see us win it all and it will be heartbreaking if we don't make it to the Super Bowl, one thing I DO know about this team: They'll be back.

Anyone else note that this is the first time in Seahawk history that we've had back to back 10 win seasons? In Seahawks HISTORY.

For the first time ever, it doesn't feel like this is our ONE shot or this is our window. It feels like, with Pete and John in charge and the youth we have, this is a team - and I know they have salary cap issues coming up, but those are GOOD things really - this is a team that will be having many more 10 win seasons back to back for the rest of the decade.

Win or lose, they'll be back.

Well in 83-84 we had a real good team but in that time frame both the raiders and broncos were usually pretty good so you knew it wasn't going to be easy. In 2005 I expected the. Hawks to be a 9-7 team, oops, so it was really a surprise.

This team is loaded and so far has met really high expectations, so outside of a few ninnies trolls and east coast mediots, the way this team has succeeded isn't surprising anyone. You knew they were going to be very good and are.

 

[oldhawkfan]

I was thinking essentially this same thing the past few days. Just couldn't put it into words. The 80's were fun because it was new and exciting and had that "maybe this could happen" feeling. During the run to XL, I remember thinking that "wow, there might just be a chance to get to the Super Bowl". This year I know what it feels like to have a top team. A team that I know every time out they will win. Most years as a Seahawks fan its been a matter of "I hope they win". Even in the good years it was "well they should win, but you never know". My confidence in this team is at an all time high. Dreaming about a championship team? I am envisioning it and enjoying every damn minute of this ride!

 

[andyh64000]

We were older in 2005 and it felt like we were peaking as a very good but not great team (but one that could definitely compete for the super bowl). Unfortunately we had a complete dumbass as a GM who a couple of months after the super bowl tried to get cute to save a few bucks and let our dominating offensive line fall apart.

 

[HawkHack]

I felt great about our chances in '05. Our offense was dominant (we scored on our opening series some absurd percentage of the time), and our defense was good enough.

This year it's a bit of the opposite -- our defense is dominant, and our offense is "good enough". But it felt like the '05 defense had reached its peak whereas we know our current offense hasn't.

'05 had a lot of close improbable victories as well. [Jay Feely, anyone?]

 

[ChrisB Bacon]

As a lifelong Seahawk fan I've never known what it feels like to cheer for a dynasty. The Raiders had dynasties, the Steelers and Cowboys had dynasties. When I grew up watching Franco Harris Steelers beat The Snakes Raiders, I knew those two teams would be right back at it in the playoffs next year. One of them might have a down year, but they'd be back. For the Seahawks, it's always been about "Can THIS year be the year?" Sure, in the early 80's we had a good team for a little while there, but no one would call it a dynasty. We had to win NOW or our shot was wasted. Great memories, fun times, but never the feeling of certainty that we'd be back. It always felt like we were trying to break through and always just fell short. In the Holmgren era it started to feel like we had the makings of a dynasty, but we never really got it done. Sure, we WON SB XL, but it got stolen from us, then we went 9-7 the next year. Before you knew it, the team was rebuilding. But we'd just GOT there!

Not now. This year, while I really want to see us win it all and it will be heartbreaking if we don't make it to the Super Bowl, one thing I DO know about this team: They'll be back.

Anyone else note that this is the first time in Seahawk history that we've had back to back 10 win seasons? In Seahawks HISTORY.

For the first time ever, it doesn't feel like this is our ONE shot or this is our window. It feels like, with Pete and John in charge and the youth we have, this is a team - and I know they have salary cap issues coming up, but those are GOOD things really - this is a team that will be having many more 10 win seasons back to back for the rest of the decade.

Win or lose, they'll be back.

Russel Wilson is a 20m per year player. He is getting like 500k. Thomas/Sherman are 15m per year players making peanuts. Then you have players like TAte, Wagner, Wright, Irvin, and the list goes on and on, making peanuts.

A lot of these players will get paid, which means you won't have money to pay a lot of the others. In the future, the Dline, oline, and a lot of other spots will have to be filled with rookies / young guys or guys off the street.

This team has 2 years before it will be forced to go through a "rebuilding" of sorts, having young kids / unknowns in a lot of spots. The massive amount of money they had on hand over the last 2 years will disappear.

I have faith in the front office, so i think they will make the right choices. But if they don't this team's window could be closed in 2 years. So take it while you have it, or regret it.

Yes, they will command all 3 of those guys will command a large amount of cap space, and deservedly so, but the cap situation isn't all that bad.

Rice will be gone - He's due 9 mill next year (8.5 this year)
Miller will most likely be gone - He's due 4.8 + 1 mill roster bonus next year (6.8 + 3 mill this year)
I'd bet both McQuistan/Breno are gone, or restructured - both making 3+ this year
Clemons is due 7.5 mill next year, that'll be restructured or he'll be gone
Red could be gone - he's making 4.5 + 3 mill roster bonus next year (6.6 this year)

PC/JS have some options, and I'm sure they already have a plan. It'd be really cool to get a look at how they see everything panning out atm. I wonder how resigning Chancellor factored into the plan.

 

[falcongoggles]

Our biggest weakness is Pete. The man looks young, but his internals are aged my friends. I hope he can hang on for at least seven years.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

This decade's Patriots book it. I think I finally figured out the reason why the NFL is so imbalanced this year. It's because it's a changing of the guard. You have Brady and Manning and then at least 4 young guns that will be the face of the NFL for the next 10-15 years.

 

[TwilightError]

Our biggest weakness is Pete. The man looks young, but his internals are aged my friends. I hope he can hang on for at least seven years.

That is my only worry as well. Wilson has so much years left but how long will Pete be willing to stay around? The HC/QB combination is the key for success. Hopefully we get to keep Pete for at least five years.

 

[warden]

I'm old, being watching football a long time. I can remember the juice breaking 2000 yards.

The biggest thing that makes this team more fun to watch is that they are in every game. In the last 36 games our worst loss was a 13 to 6 defeat to the 49ers. The last time we lost by more then seven points was Nov 6th, 2011. In the last 36 games, we had the opportunity to win every game. See it no longer matters, what time zone, east coast, how good our opponent is, what type of injuries we have, where the game is played, none of that matters anymore, we have a chance to win the game. I have never felt that way about the Seahawks before. So many years of Holmgren where the reason we won so many division titles was because our division sucks. Chit it is possible, unlikely but possible that we win our division this year with both the Cards and 49ers having double digit wins. Amazing.

 

[BlueTalons]

I'm old, being watching football a long time. I can remember the juice breaking 2000 yards.

The biggest thing that makes this team more fun to watch is that they are in every game. In the last 36 games our worst loss was a 13 to 6 defeat to the 49ers. The last time we lost by more then seven points was Nov 6th, 2011. In the last 36 games, we had the opportunity to win every game. See it no longer matters, what time zone, east coast, how good our opponent is, what type of injuries we have, where the game is played, none of that matters anymore, we have a chance to win the game. I have never felt that way about the Seahawks before. So many years of Holmgren where the reason we won so many division titles was because our division sucks. Chit it is possible, unlikely but possible that we win our division this year with both the Cards and 49ers having double digit wins. Amazing.

The amazing thing about the close games is the number for come-back wins/close losses. Down 13 to the Patriots? WIN. Down 14 to the Redskins in the playoffs? WIN. Down 20 to Falcons in the playoffs? 2 point loss. Down 17 to the Texans? WIN. Down 21 to the Buccaneers? WIN.

Did I miss any?

 

[c_hawkbob]

We're winning more, so that's fun, but other than that I don't think it's more fun than 83 or 05 ... I really liked all those shutouts in 83 and had a lot of fun watching Alexander pile up those impossible numbers in 05 and being an old O-lineman myself I just loved that group he had to run behind (especially Tobeck). I was certain we were gonna win just about every outing in 05 too.

 

[JonRud]

Interesting points above. i agree 2012 was more 'fun' because it was the first time we saw Wilson do these things and the great run at the end of the year.

This year is great, but to me it's all about the post season and not the regular season. we can win 14+ games and that's amazing, but we HAVE to make it to the Super Bowl. I didn't feel that way last year with the #5 seed and all road games.

 

[hawkfan68]

For me it's because there was quite a hype in the offseason about this team. The fact they are living up to the hype is tremendous. Secondly, there are more personable players on the current team. Their strength is in playing as a team. Another reason is there are a lot more fans currently than there were in 2005. Finally but not least, they have been in first place from the get go. The 2005 team struggled starting out the season.