Thursday night Special Hawks vs. Cards game thread

[Seattle or Bust]

On pace to win 28-6 vs a division rival that is 2-1 on the road despite several inane blunders. I shall take it.

This is when I knew the game was about to take a decidedly frightening turn.

As for the ongoing and upcoming criticism of MM and Kube for being conservative, it wouldn't have looked
nearly as bad if the run game was better. If you can't run it late, it puts you in a bad spot. Even with that
lead, you are only a Darnold pick 6 and another Woolen gaff away from being in a position to lose.

Yes, Darnold and his play is the key weapon to this offense currently and I expect the coaches to reconsider
where they are at with future game plans. Yes, they should, and probably will, trust him more.
You don't game plan for the least embarrassing way to lose. You game plan to win.

They couldn't run it late because Arizona was stacking the box and run blitzing the vast majority of the time.

The play calling became so vanilla and obvious.

It was pathetic frankly.

[Michael K.]

They couldn't run it late because Arizona was stacking the box and run blitzing the vast majority of the time.

The play calling became so vanilla and obvious.

It was pathetic frankly.

Everyone WANTS to be able to run it in any situation. Very few can. It was a scared move by a staff that still seems scared in big moments. Then? It becomes desperation time, and just like against the Niners? The offense they were afraid to let play gets them into range. I don't understand it. Why wait until the very end when it's desperation time to actually let the offense play football?

After the first give up series, where they settled for three after the holding call on JSN? Playing the way they did the final three plays before Myers miss is inexcusable. It's gutless, and it's how teams lose games they shouldn't lose.

[douche]

Seems to be the MO when playing divisional opponents maybe? I don't get it. This game is easily lost. Imagine if the Cards go for two and get it, then they don't kick it short of the landing zone? I realize that would have changed everything, and maybe we get even closer and kick the game winner anyway. But I just don't understand why when we have a chance to control the game? We decided to curl up into a ball.

Agreed. If I remember correctly, Belichick never took the foot off the gas. If you were given an opportunity to bury an opponent, you did it.

The idea of playing 'not to lose' has always been lost on me.

[douche]

I don't understand it. Why wait until the very end when it's desperation time to actually let the offense play football?

Reminds me of the 2018 wildcard loss against DAL.

[Michael K.]

I don't understand it. Why wait until the very end when it's desperation time to actually let the offense play football?

Reminds me of the 2018 wildcard loss against DAL.

It's in the nature of a Defensive minded coach. There were three reasons I wanted an Offensive guy when we fired Pete.

First, and most importantly....I took a look at the OCs that worked for Defensive minded guys, and did the same in comparison to DCs that worked for Offensive guys. It seemed very clear that Defensive minded coaches hired guys that were vanilla and basic...very conservative. Some of the best Offensive minded coaches like McVey, Shannahan, etc....seemed to attract very good DCs. It was a trend that wasn't perfect. At that time? Houston's OC was very sought after. And I'm not sure how you would classfiy Campbell's philosophy, but not necessarily Offensive back ground. I just felt like the odds of getting a real good DC if our HC was an Offensive guy? Was much better than us getting a real good OC with a Defensive HC.

Second? The overly conservative nature of which Defense first guys seemed to Coach. It was a trend, and not one that seemed to make playoff contenders. Again, not a perfect plan, as Andy Reid seems to have shifted how he calls plays, the Eagles while they are mutliple in formations are light years from being an overly creative offense. But look at how they are built? Kubiak would be a master play caller for them because he would have that O Line, a running QB and probably the most talented back in football. We don't have those things.

Third? I was tired of it. I was tired of watching us play football. It's 2025, I shouldn't be scared to watch my team play offense because I know that the play caller considers a punt a win. It's just not any fun. And really? It has turned a team that should be 4 and 0 to one that is a fucking eyelash from being 2 and 2 and 0 and 2 in Division. I just don't understand what they feel makes this style of play conducive to winning football games. Run the ball? Fuck yes, and we are better at it than last year, but that wouldn't take much. But this insistence to handcuff the QB and run all the time, curl up into a ball with the lead? Fuck man.

What part of watching Sam Darnold play this year has told this staff that punts and FGs are victories?

[D-train]

They need to let loose and stop holding the team back with conservative BS.

Darnold can throw the football. Fucking let him.

The passing game is great and the run game is mid at best but they insist on forcing the run like it is some religious ritual that can't be abandoned. Why?

[Michael K.]

The passing game is great and the run game is mid at best but they insist on forcing the run like it is some religious ritual that can't be abandoned. Why?

Seems you need to Google all the articles Donn posted this summer about how Gray, Kubiak and the Genius Squad fixed all that ails the run game?

[douche]

The passing game is great and the run game is mid at best but they insist on forcing the run like it is some religious ritual that can't be abandoned. Why?

And it's been like that for quite some time.

[Michael K.]

And it's been like that for quite some time.

Well, in Kubiak's defense, the run game was God Awful last year, but not calling enough run plays ended the OCs career here. So? What would you do? Defy the Head Coach?

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Worst thing about Thursday night games: the weekend after. In this particular case all we have to look forward to is UW getting beaten down by the #1 Buckeyes and some inconsequential Mariner games.