Hawks v Not So Sweet Caroline-a

[auroraave]

"We won that game in spite of The Darnold!"
- unknown source.
DId I make that up? Maybe I did, maybe I didn't, but it feels damn accurate. Again. If someone didn't say it out loud, they were thinking it, and I mean someone other than myself. Game 16, another win, and another panic attack watching this offense bumble around far too much. Running game is picking up steam, but that passinbg game - yikes.

But I think I've figured it out.

The Darnold's gotta play Favre ball, he's gotta scramble around, be in motion, do some runs, playt in space, that seems to be where he thrives - when is is playing outside of his mind - playing just on instinct. I saw one shot of him at the LOS - looking around like he'd just finished his fifth Red Bull. I don't know if the pocket makes him uncomfortable or if the route concepts are failing, but he looks much more confident in street ball mode - so let's dial that up, Mr. Kubiak. Please.

Why does Sam have SO many batted passes? It's is a wasted down and puts the ball into pay for a turnover - anbd it happens fucking regularly. I don't remember ever having a QB that is so batted-pass prone. Sometimes I feel like I am watching a partucularly disturbing episode of the Twilight Zone with this offense - except for the running game. It's just so baffling. Seattle rang up 163 yards of rushingon a day it was desperately needed. Let's keep that going against Chardonnay Nation next week.

Um, how about that defense? They just punished Carolina all game long - I felt kinda bad for that offense. But not that bad. They gave u[p less than 140 yards of offense - damn impressive. Not much to say except they didn't miss Hall.

Relieved we didn't have to rely on Myers to bail us out again.

Hearing/reading complaints about the officiating. Nonsense. Carolina had some calls go thre way - at home - not gorund breaking stuff. Seasttle should have been putting that game away. I thought Walker caught the ball - looked legit. How we can't convert that 4th down - was just brutal.

We did convert some clutch plays in the 4th to put the first half ineptness further in the rear view mirror, but this was all about the defense carrying the team. This offense had been miserable for far too much of the time. How much is it on Darnold and his execution and terrible pocket presence, and how much is Kubiak's suspect play calling? It's like a broken record.

The reality is we are 13-3 and the number one seed is within our grasp and no one, I mean no one saw this coming back in August. I want to revel in the status quo, and part of me is, but a bigger part of me is waiting on this house of cards to collapse. I can understand your offense getting stopped, but what I am seeing, what I have been seeing for 10 games now, is an offense capable of total implosion with every drive and it's very, very concerning.

I was honestly hoping they would put in Lock today, watching Darnold run backwards into that sack, watching another brutal 'play action, roll out left' failure, I am at a loss for words. I do not see a deep playoff run - but it is entirely possible, I mean they are 13-3.

Ok, lets go Bears, and then let's please roll into Santa Clara and punch Niner nation in the mouth.

Go hawks...

[douche]

A slow start against the Niners spells doom...

[trharder]

We did convert some clutch plays in the 4th to put the first half ineptness further in the rear view mirror, but this was all about the defense carrying the team. This offense had been miserable for far too much of the time. How much is it on Darnold and his execution and terrible pocket presence, and how much is Kubiak's suspect play calling? It's like a broken record.

I mostly blame Kubiak. Darnold is what he is. It's Kubiak's job to work around it, and I see no sign he's even
trying. He's carrying on like nothing is broken. How the fuck is there an unaccounted for free rusher on a
play action pass? What is it the offense is doing that allows a defense to know it's a play action pass on 1st and 2nd
down when logic would tell them we are likely running? Why weren't we running? If getting cute isn't working, why
are you still doing it? Why is Walker allowed to never make that first obvious cut? If he remains unwilling, pound
Charbonett. It must be maddening for the O-line for Walker to never give their blocking a chance. When, for whatever
reason, Sam isn't getting enough time for him to operate, why don't we have plays that get the ball out quicker, or
shotgun, or something? If Kubiak gave the other team his play sheet before the game, could it look worse?

Darnold has limitations, mostly mental I think, but when the O-line is struggling to protect and the JSN show
has been shut down, something has to be reimagined to slow the dogs down and I'm not seeing it.

[auroraave]

We did convert some clutch plays in the 4th to put the first half ineptness further in the rear view mirror, but this was all about the defense carrying the team. This offense had been miserable for far too much of the time. How much is it on Darnold and his execution and terrible pocket presence, and how much is Kubiak's suspect play calling? It's like a broken record.

I mostly blame Kubiak. Darnold is what he is. It's Kubiak's job to work around it, and I see no sign he's even
trying. He's carrying on like nothing is broken. How the fuck is there an unaccounted for free rusher on a
play action pass? What is it the offense is doing that allows a defense to know it's a play action pass on 1st and 2nd
down when logic would tell them we are likely running? Why weren't we running? If getting cute isn't working, why
are you still doing it? Why is Walker allowed to never make that first obvious cut? If he remains unwilling, pound
Charbonett. It must be maddening for the O-line for Walker to never give their blocking a chance. When, for whatever
reason, Sam isn't getting enough time for him to operate, why don't we have plays that get the ball out quicker, or
shotgun, or something? If Kubiak gave the other team his play sheet before the game, could it look worse?

Darnold has limitations, mostly mental I think, but when the O-line is struggling to protect and the JSN show
has been shut down, something has to be reimagined to slow the dogs down and I'm not seeing it.

I saw far too many plays where it was clear Carolina knew exactly what was coming and they were three steps ahead of Seattle - and it was happening consistantly. No pass plays were fooling them. Something is tipping off defenses because they know exctly what seattle is running - probably that 'play action" shit roll out to the left for another 23 yard loss or tipped pass. I don't ever want to see that play run again it is absolute fucking dog shit.

I am seriously interested in what Lock can do. Darnold is going to cost us a playoff game - you can bank on that. I swear half his problems would be solved if he would just run the goddam ball.

[HawkandMariner88]

We did convert some clutch plays in the 4th to put the first half ineptness further in the rear view mirror, but this was all about the defense carrying the team. This offense had been miserable for far too much of the time. How much is it on Darnold and his execution and terrible pocket presence, and how much is Kubiak's suspect play calling? It's like a broken record.

I mostly blame Kubiak. Darnold is what he is. It's Kubiak's job to work around it, and I see no sign he's even
trying. He's carrying on like nothing is broken. How the fuck is there an unaccounted for free rusher on a
play action pass? What is it the offense is doing that allows a defense to know it's a play action pass on 1st and 2nd
down when logic would tell them we are likely running? Why weren't we running? If getting cute isn't working, why
are you still doing it? Why is Walker allowed to never make that first obvious cut? If he remains unwilling, pound
Charbonett. It must be maddening for the O-line for Walker to never give their blocking a chance. When, for whatever
reason, Sam isn't getting enough time for him to operate, why don't we have plays that get the ball out quicker, or
shotgun, or something? If Kubiak gave the other team his play sheet before the game, could it look worse?

Darnold has limitations, mostly mental I think, but when the O-line is struggling to protect and the JSN show
has been shut down, something has to be reimagined to slow the dogs down and I'm not seeing it.

I saw far too many plays where it was clear Carolina knew exactly what was coming and they were three steps ahead of Seattle - and it was happening consistantly. No pass plays were fooling them. Something is tipping off defenses because they know exctly what seattle is running - probably that 'play action" shit roll out to the left for another 23 yard loss or tipped pass. I don't ever want to see that play run again it is absolute fucking dog shit.

I am seriously interested in what Lock can do. Darnold is going to cost us a playoff game - you can bank on that. I swear half his problems would be solved if he would just run the goddam ball.

Novel thought right. Must be these SC QB's. Seriously when was the last great one. Caleb don't count since he transferred. Sanchez for a minute, I'm guessing Carson. He's not mobile. He's either scared or something. Does not have great mental makeup for sure. Really wish they'd find somebody else for next year. Here's a thought. I hear Burrow is potentially looking for a new hope. We definitely got the cap space but don't know if we got the draft capital. Seriously I don't think I could stomach another season of Darnold. Like Sherman says "RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!"

[auroraave]

I don't think Burrow is going anywhere and the cost would be massive - and you would still have Darnold's contract hit against the cap. Kubiak needs to figure this out, and maybe the answer is to lean more on the run game, play grind it out games, hoping the defense can keep scores low. We don't need Darnold to be an all pro, but they have to find a way to be consistent, reduce turnovers and batted passes, or I don't see this team making a playoff run. Hell, I'm worred about SF at this point because they are absolutely lighting up scoreboards - and I see no way this offense can keep up - until the second half - and that is a recipe for disaster - this playing with fire routine is going to be our achilles in the playoffs. I am tired of hearing about 'complimentary football' which only means one unit is not pulling thier weight. All these feel good soundbites - until we lose and a 13 win season means nothing - and then the shit is gonna hit the fan.

[D-train]

I mostly blame Kubiak. Darnold is what he is. It's Kubiak's job to work around it, and I see no sign he's even
trying. He's carrying on like nothing is broken. How the fuck is there an unaccounted for free rusher on a
play action pass? What is it the offense is doing that allows a defense to know it's a play action pass on 1st and 2nd
down when logic would tell them we are likely running? Why weren't we running? If getting cute isn't working, why
are you still doing it? Why is Walker allowed to never make that first obvious cut? If he remains unwilling, pound
Charbonett. It must be maddening for the O-line for Walker to never give their blocking a chance. When, for whatever
reason, Sam isn't getting enough time for him to operate, why don't we have plays that get the ball out quicker, or
shotgun, or something? If Kubiak gave the other team his play sheet before the game, could it look worse?

Darnold has limitations, mostly mental I think, but when the O-line is struggling to protect and the JSN show
has been shut down, something has to be reimagined to slow the dogs down and I'm not seeing it.

I saw far too many plays where it was clear Carolina knew exactly what was coming and they were three steps ahead of Seattle - and it was happening consistantly. No pass plays were fooling them. Something is tipping off defenses because they know exctly what seattle is running - probably that 'play action" shit roll out to the left for another 23 yard loss or tipped pass. I don't ever want to see that play run again it is absolute fucking dog shit.

I am seriously interested in what Lock can do. Darnold is going to cost us a playoff game - you can bank on that. I swear half his problems would be solved if he would just run the goddam ball.

Novel thought right. Must be these SC QB's. Seriously when was the last great one. Caleb don't count since he transferred. Sanchez for a minute, I'm guessing Carson. He's not mobile. He's either scared or something. Does not have great mental makeup for sure. Really wish they'd find somebody else for next year. Here's a thought. I hear Burrow is potentially looking for a new hope. We definitely got the cap space but don't know if we got the draft capital. Seriously I don't think I could stomach another season of Darnold. Like Sherman says "RUN THE DAMN BALL!!!"

Carson Palmer is 46 yo. Sanchez is 39 yo. WTF do they have to do with Darnold other than going to the same school DECADES ago? It like saying CJ Stroud couldn't be good because he went to Ohio St. Makes no sense.

[XpertDBA]

What do you all think of MM and his time management at the end of the first half? What complete bullshit.

[Michael K.]

What do you all think of MM and his time management at the end of the first half? What complete bullshit.

I remember when everyone was freaking out a few weeks ago about it, and I didn't care because it was obvious that the team we were playing wasn't going to move the ball at all. It might have been the Vikings. But yesterday? The way they finished the half pissed me off. But again, this is a team that understands their QB is a walking turnover.

[D-train]

It seems to me that just wasting time and not playing with any sense of urgency results in far less time to get in scoring position which would result in Sam having to rush things increasing the likelihood of another turnover.

And our defense was playing so awesome and shutting them down who cares if they get the ball back one more time with a little time left on the clock. It just makes no sense on any level why you wouldn't want to score a touchdown there or at least get in field goal range.