Postmortem: Seattle v Not So Angry Birds

[auroraave]

Preseason is wrapped up and the Seattle Seahawks came away 3-1, and it feels like a cause célèbre! An off season of much turnover, new coaches, a killer draft, acquiring the best QB in free agency after the incumbent, Geno brain "the human brain fart" Smith, decided the grass was greener in the desert and this team finding it's way. It ain't always pretty, but sometimes the ugly one's need a little love too.

Darnold looks like the real deal. I am not anointing his ceiling being Brady's, but damn, he is playing fast and efficient, a minimum of Geno type mistakes, clutch scrambling, and he is throwing darts all over the field and spreading it out. He is catching a nice groove. Another ultra-efficient performance stat wise - 18/26/242/1TD, zero picks, and a QB rating of 111.4. He also made huge throws in the clutch - none more than that beautiful dime to JSN with time running out in the 4th. Man oh man oh man. Not a conservative play call at all.

JSN - dude's just a baller - he is forgiven for that crushing holding call that negated a TD that would've sealed the game. Horton looked good, Barner hauled in a a TD.

The surprising stat of the day is Seattle's 155 yards rushing - it sure didn't feel like it. Arizona's defense is no joke and were hard to run against, making that number quite surprising.

The biggest take aways are, first, Seattle went down to the desert, mostly dominated the game, survived a few mistakes and a fourth-quarter surge by a resilient and feisty Cards team who never gave up to head home with a W. Maybe more importantly, they left the desert with no significant injuries. D-Law left the game but it did not appear serious - and he had ten days to recover.

The defense played mostly lights out. As talented and fast as this group is, there is a bit of a maturing process that is happening, but for this defense to be truly elite, they need to mature further. Woolen is the Geno of the defense - as many quality plays as he makes - he negates them with a brain fart play that has consequences.

There is a lot of depth on that dline and secondary - and that will be crucial over the long haul of the season. Right now, this is a very well built team on both sides of the ball - Schneider has assembled a coaching staff and the on-field talent to make this team a contender. I suspect they are a year away from elite status - growth, maturity, one more draft to build the LB room and add another receiver - the trajectory of this team is outstanding.

While this felt like an impending blowout game, give credit to the Cardinals for rising up and making Seattle earn it. And also give credit to Seattle for sustaining Arizona's best shot and taking home the dub.

The greatest moment of the season happens on October 5th when the Seahawks host Tampa Bay - I believe they will both be wearing those f*cking AWESOME throw backs and the NFL will never be the same.

Fun fact: when they both teams game into the league in 1976 - Seattle was in the NFC, TB was in the AFC. In '77 they switched conferences, and then Seattle went back to the NFC in 2001.

Go hawks...

[Michael K.]

Nice post. I fall a little short of being critical of the defense. Most teams in the NFL have trouble stopping offenses in desperation mode. Murray made plays in the fourth he hadn't made all game....because he was forced to try and make those plays. Balls that are thrown away earlier are forced, offenses get into hurry up which puts the defense on their heels. THIS is why teams often times try to milk the clock with the ball in their hands. But running dive on third and long to set up a FG? Allowing JSN's hold to completely take them out of the offense? Even after that play, we had second and goal at the 8. That was chicken shit.

And you know my take on considering this the pre-season. I completely disagree....because every team operates under the same rules. But we are an eyelash from 4 and 0. So I'll take it.

[auroraave]

Nice post. I fall a little short of being critical of the defense. Most teams in the NFL have trouble stopping offenses in desperation mode. Murray made plays in the fourth he hadn't made all game....because he was forced to try and make those plays. Balls that are thrown away earlier are forced, offenses get into hurry up which puts the defense on their heels. THIS is why teams often times try to milk the clock with the ball in their hands. But running dive on third and long to set up a FG? Allowing JSN's hold to completely take them out of the offense? Even after that play, we had second and goal at the 8. That was chicken shit.

And you know my take on considering this the pre-season. I completely disagree....because every team operates under the same rules. But we are an eyelash from 4 and 0. So I'll take it.

My criticism wasn't a knock on the defense's play - they just have some young guys in the secondary whose game needs to mature. Yeah, Woolen for sure. Getting beat is one thing, that's going to happen - but mental errors - this is the NFL - you have to be better. My take on the conservatism is that this team is still finding it's groove - they are on the way - but sometimes it makes sense to play it safe - I am not justifying it - but I can see where the coaches position would be 'no way we are taking any chances in a game we cannot lose." This team has shown they will take plenty of chances - the going for it on fourth down as an example - what I question there is running a shotgun formation - I believe you get the ball carrier as close to the sticks as possible. 7 yards deep just advantages the defense, IMO. I get the conservative approach criticism, it's fair, but it's not the way the do it all the time.

Yes, it's preseason for everyone - never meant to suggest it was a Seattle thing. Everyone is in the same boat - it's the state of the league - not the teams.

Also, I really like this tight end group - they are really athletic. Imagine this offense growing as the season progresses and they are used more often. A lot of potential there - and I don't think Kubiak is opening up the playbook fully, but I have seen some fantastic and creative plays.

[trharder]

Darnold looks like the real deal. I am not anointing his ceiling being Brady's, but damn, he is playing fast and efficient, a minimum of Geno type mistakes, clutch scrambling, and he is throwing darts all over the field and spreading it out. He is catching a nice groove. Another ultra-efficient performance stat wise - 18/26/242/1TD, zero picks, and a QB rating of 111.4. He also made huge throws in the clutch - none more than that beautiful dime to JSN with time running out in the 4th. Man oh man oh man. Not a conservative play call at all.

JSN - dude's just a baller - he is forgiven for that crushing holding call that negated a TD that would've sealed the game. Horton looked good, Barner hauled in a a TD.

The defense played mostly lights out. As talented and fast as this group is, there is a bit of a maturing process that is happening, but for this defense to be truly elite, they need to mature further. Woolen is the Geno of the defense - as many quality plays as he makes - he negates them with a brain fart play that has consequences.

How good is Darnold? Despite MM praising him for being Mr. Cool etc., he hasn't *really* been tested in a fire yet. He hasn't been asked to.
He avoided a turnover yesterday, although there was a couple close calls. I'm very pleased with Sam. Fuck you, Geno.

All four games have looked so different as to who the main weapons were. JSN didn't even get started until the second half yesterday and
still had a hell of a game. He's special. I don't think MM and Kube even know themselves how they want to run this offense, if they were
to be honest, but it could get good when (if?) they figure it out.

I can't stand Woolen, and it seem I'm not alone. Why is he still a starter? I feel like there could be a reason that I'm too naive to
understand. Like it would leave a hole somewhere else if you benched Woolen and put like Jobe, for example in that spot. IDK.

Does anyone want to stick up for Witherspoon and an elite player at this point? I do like that kid as a person, but IMO, he's mediocre AF.

[Michael K.]

I thought one of Riq's penalties was iffy. I hate that a defender can be in position, the ball thrown short or to the inside, the receiver come back and run into the DB, and it's PI. Think back a few years to the game we beat Atlanta. They chucked one deep and short late in the game and Julio intentionally runs into the DB. I was shocked the flag wasn't thrown, and it was probably only not thrown because it was obvious they weren't trying to complete the pass but simply draw a flag. Another reason I hate the screen pass or draw play on third and long. Defensive holding is a fucking five yard penalty AND an automatic first down. How many times have we seen that flag thrown against us when even a completed pass would have forced a punt? But not us....we have to settle for long FGs and punts with zero effort to convert third downs. It's just mind numbing.

[trharder]

I thought one of Riq's penalties was iffy. I hate that a defender can be in position, the ball thrown short or to the inside, the receiver come back and run into the DB, and it's PI. Think back a few years to the game we beat Atlanta. They chucked one deep and short late in the game and Julio intentionally runs into the DB. I was shocked the flag wasn't thrown, and it was probably only not thrown because it was obvious they weren't trying to complete the pass but simply draw a flag. Another reason I hate the screen pass or draw play on third and long. Defensive holding is a fucking five yard penalty AND an automatic first down. How many times have we seen that flag thrown against us when even a completed pass would have forced a punt? But not us....we have to settle for long FGs and punts with zero effort to convert third downs. It's just mind numbing.

I think it was the last PI called on Woolen - I also thought it was arguably a bad call. I don't remember what the other one looked like.
My hatred of Woolen dates back over three seasons and is not tied to any specific play...

[Nwadventure]

Another weird one in the desert-

What is with this defense that absolutely refuses to cover opposing Tight Ends ? Unreal -When RIQ is in the game I see a guy giving up plays when Kendrick is in the game I see a guy making plays another headscratcher.

When Darnold went to shotgun on that 4th down I instantly knew we had zero chance. Murray did make some 2nd half plays but the Hawks seemed to go into the fetal position with that nice lead that vaporized quickly. Let's not do that again- Thanks

Elbow completely down and a feet first slide means he had already given himself up- Dead play at that point correct ?

JSN got starred at hard- That was hilarious

[trharder]

Elbow completely down and a feet first slide means he had already given himself up- Dead play at that point correct ?
JSN got starred at hard- That was hilarious

I thought he was down on the interception.
The JSN hold on the Charb TD was not a hold.
The AZ TD had an obvious false start.

I saw JSN lobbying MM to review the out of bounds with 18 seconds. JSN knew. The refs got that one right. Thank god.

[Michael K.]

I thought one of Riq's penalties was iffy. I hate that a defender can be in position, the ball thrown short or to the inside, the receiver come back and run into the DB, and it's PI. Think back a few years to the game we beat Atlanta. They chucked one deep and short late in the game and Julio intentionally runs into the DB. I was shocked the flag wasn't thrown, and it was probably only not thrown because it was obvious they weren't trying to complete the pass but simply draw a flag. Another reason I hate the screen pass or draw play on third and long. Defensive holding is a fucking five yard penalty AND an automatic first down. How many times have we seen that flag thrown against us when even a completed pass would have forced a punt? But not us....we have to settle for long FGs and punts with zero effort to convert third downs. It's just mind numbing.

I think it was the last PI called on Woolen - I also thought it was arguably a bad call. I don't remember what the other one looked like.
My hatred of Woolen dates back over three seasons and is not tied to any specific play...

The first one last night was bad....just flat out grabbed the dude because he got run by. That said? Could have saved a TD!

[Michael K.]

Elbow completely down and a feet first slide means he had already given himself up- Dead play at that point correct ?
JSN got starred at hard- That was hilarious

I thought he was down on the interception.
The JSN hold on the Charb TD was not a hold.
The AZ TD had an obvious false start.

I saw JSN lobbying MM to review the out of bounds with 18 seconds. JSN knew. The refs got that one right. Thank god.

And Harrison pushed off on the big gain before the last TD.