Game day 2019

[Hawktawk]

I'm having a bout of insomnia caused Im sure in no small part by excitement for the season to begin.

Its my youngest son Zachs 24th birthday today. I call him mini me on steroids, bigger, stronger, more bipolar, a more intense Hawks fan if that's possible. We will be doing breakfast and a couple bloody marys down at sportys then out to the casa on the golf course for the game. The last time the opener fell on Zachs birthday was vs Carolina in 2013. I liked what happened that year. The kid swears were going 12-4, I dunno about that but I like this team. We will know a lot more by about 4 PM but Im feeling pretty good about the opener. We shall see.

Let the journey begin and GO HAWKS!!!!!

[RiverDog]

I'm having a bout of insomnia caused Im sure in no small part by excitement for the season to begin.

Its my youngest son Zachs 24th birthday today. I call him mini me on steroids, bigger, stronger, more bipolar, a more intense Hawks fan if that's possible. We will be doing breakfast and a couple bloody marys down at sportys then out to the casa on the golf course for the game. The last time the opener fell on Zachs birthday was vs Carolina in 2013. I liked what happened that year. The kid swears were going 12-4, I dunno about that but I like this team. We will know a lot more by about 4 PM but Im feeling pretty good about the opener. We shall see.

Let the journey begin and GO HAWKS!!!!!

Sounds like a chip off the old block!

I'm anxious for the season to get started, too. I liked the way Russell and the first team offense looked in the preseason. We're going to need them to carry the team though the first half of the season until guys like Clowney and Ziggy get their feet under them. 12-4 is the higher end of my expectations, with the lower being 8-8. I think we'll struggle early just like we always do. I don't see the Rams getting off to such a hot start this season.

[Hawktawk]

Sounds like a chip off the old block!

I'm anxious for the season to get started, too. I liked the way Russell and the first team offense looked in the preseason. We're going to need them to carry the team though the first half of the season until guys like Clowney and Ziggy get their feet under them. 12-4 is the higher end of my expectations, with the lower being 8-8. I think we'll struggle early just like we always do. I don't see the Rams getting off to such a hot start this season.

Hes definitely a chip off the old block. The steroids thing is just a metaphor but you know me He's a great kid, veterinarian's assistant. He had a tough time growing up, dropped out as a HS sophomore and went through an alternative program. Not to belabor the bipolar thing but I was actually able to figure out what was up with me after his diagnosis. Love my 6'1" 260 lb baby boy, we just dont wrestle anymore

Yeah RD I am definitely pumped about this season, this game. Last year I had no clue what to expect but I just have a good feeling about the year. I liked how Russ seems decisive in stepping up instead of bailing out the back door under pressure. Carson looks elite, really were loaded at the running backs. Poona Ford looks ready to step up. Clowney and Ziggy could be the best D ends we've had since Avril and Bennett. best linebackers in the league pending the court decision on Kendricks.If we can hold our own till reed gets back it might be the best front 7 in the game.

Hoping for a big birthday win today!!!!! Time will tell. LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!GO HAWKS!!!!!

[c_hawkbob]

so far our offense sucks!

[obiken]

So far our defense sucks!

[Aseahawkfan]

Seems we only have one WR and a RB. We need our WRs to step up.

[c_hawkbob]

So far our defense sucks!

Seahawks secondary: "The offense sucks? Hold my beer ..."

[Anthony]

We need the oline to step up and the defense

[Aseahawkfan]

We're not doing too well against the Bengals. Lame.

[trents]

Another penalty on Ifedi. He's not getting any better. He gets beat, commits false starts and gets called for holding several times per game. He lacks the quickness and foot work to be good at the pro level in passing situations. If he were playing for most teams he wouldn't be starting since most teams pass more than than the Hawks.

[trents]

Honestly, I don't see how the officials could rule that last pass attempt by Dalton as a fumble. Now, it probably did not change the outcome of the game but a bad, bad officiating call and there is no excuse for it when they have replays to look at. I'm an ardent Hawks fan but if I were the Bengals I would complain to the NFL about that one.

[obiken]

I agree but it probably wouldnt have mattered 0 time outs and two plays away from FG. We were lucky.

[obiken]

We're not doing too well against the Bengals. Lame.

I know, we were favored by 91/2! we should have won this one by 2 TD's minimal! I guess IF you go by CBbob motif, there are no ugly wins, but man if there was this one would be it.

[c_hawkbob]

How 'bout we call it a most unimpressive win Obi?

1ST game of the year though, I don't care. We at the very least gave ourselves a ton of stuff to work on.

[Aseahawkfan]

Got the win. 1st game of the year is always a strange one. No idea why they expect most teams to come out running on all cylinders. First game of the year for us has been ugly more than a few times. I still remember the 9-6 win against Detroit or the 12-10 win against Miami. And way better than the losses the past couple of years.

[Rambo2014]

You looked ugly.

Rams on top

Niners looked sharp # 2

ARZ suprized and got a tie but looked sharp in comeback #3

Sea see above thanks...have fun in Pittsburg hahahahahahah

[obiken]

How 'bout we call it a most unimpressive win Obi?

1ST game of the year though, I don't care. We at the very least gave ourselves a ton of stuff to work on.

I guess but WHAT IF they would have had a REAL running game? We would have been toast. I guess you guys are right, a win is a win is a rout!

[obiken]

We will be 2-2 when we face the Rams.

[RiverDog]

Honestly, I don't see how the officials could rule that last pass attempt by Dalton as a fumble. Now, it probably did not change the outcome of the game but a bad, bad officiating call and there is no excuse for it when they have replays to look at. I'm an ardent Hawks fan but if I were the Bengals I would complain to the NFL about that one.

I guess since they ruled it a fumble on the field that the replay judge decided he did not see clear and convincing evidence to overturn the call, but it sure looked clear enough to me.

IMO the replay officials are sending a signal to the rest of the league, that there had better be damn clear evidence for them to overrule an official on the field.

[RiverDog]

I thought the defense was OK if you took out Tedric Thompson's horrible decision to go for the pick instead of playing the receiver at the end of the first half. In that situation, an incompletion was almost as good as an interception. Nothing irritates me more than players losing sight of the game situation. We also have to keep in mind that the defense was off the field on one scoring drive when Barton ran into the punter.

The poor offensive line play was a surprise. Cincy had the worst defense in the league and they manhandled us. I had the feeling that we'd be relying on the offense, in particular the OL, to keep our defense off the field.

On the positive side, DK Metcalf looked spectacular, Quinton Jefferson had his best game as a pro, and Clowney is going to be an impact player. Russell played a solid game, didn't turn the ball over and generally made good decisions. If we can make it through the first half of the season without getting too beat up, I think we'll be just fine. But I do think we're going to struggle at times.

[c_hawkbob]

The call was ruled a fumble on the field. The fact is that contact was made with the passing arm before the ball came out, whether or not that contact loosened the grip on the ball was a subjective call that the replay cannot effect (other than to confirm contact before release). That's always going to default to the call on the field, as it did in this case. They didn't say the call was confirmed, just that it stood.

[RiverDog]

Another thing that bothered me. Russell took a 2nd successive timeout when the play clock was running down. He might as well as taken the delay of game penalty and saved the timeout as we still got penalized 5 yards and the play clock started as soon as they marked off the penalty. It was a completely wasted timeout in the 4th quarter of a very close game.

I thought that Pete's challenge on the PI call was ill advised. They have to know that it's going to have to be a no brainer mistake before they'll overturn the call on the field, especially in this case when it's a very subjective call.

Good decision on our last play from scrimmage to call a read option with Russell keeping. No sense risking a fumble and Russell was able to run a few seconds longer than had we called a between the tackles running play.

Myers kicked off 4 times, all for touchbacks. Not bad considering it was a wet, humid day at sea level.

Cincy won every statistical category except for turnovers (3-1) and red zone efficiency (we were 2-2, Cincy was 0-3).

[idhawkman]

Another penalty on Ifedi. He's not getting any better. He gets beat, commits false starts and gets called for holding several times per game. He lacks the quickness and foot work to be good at the pro level in passing situations. If he were playing for most teams he wouldn't be starting since most teams pass more than than the Hawks.

To be fair, I didn't see the hold that was called, not even in the replay.

[NorthHawk]

Ifedi got called based on reputation, I suspect. He's going to get called for phantom holds for a while.
The next player to get that treatment is Flowers who seems to be the subject of preconceived bias. He is a bit "handsy", though.

The only good things this game were ST, Q, and the W.
Jefferson played really well. Better than I thought he could. Maybe he's just getting it now that he's been in the league for a few years.
But we were playing against an OL that was without all of its parts so we should have been much better.

[RiverDog]

Ifedi got called based on reputation, I suspect. He's going to get called for phantom holds for a while.
The next player to get that treatment is Flowers who seems to be the subject of preconceived bias. He is a bit "handsy", though.

The only good things this game were ST, Q, and the W.
Jefferson played really well. Better than I thought he could. Maybe he's just getting it now that he's been in the league for a few years.
But we were playing against an OL that was without all of its parts so we should have been much better.

Don't forget the roughing the punter penalty on Barton. That was entirely preventable and was a huge contributor to the Bengal's first scoring drive.

[NorthHawk]

I forgot about the Barton penalty, but that is easily correctable. I might even put it down to
first game over-exuberance. But I won't give him too much stain because of an effort penalty.

[RiverDog]

I forgot about the Barton penalty, but that is easily correctable. I might even put it down to
first game over-exuberance. But I won't give him too much stain because of an effort penalty.

Yea, they had a punt block play on. But even so, he had time to let up. I'm not sure how much special teams he's played on in college and high school, but that's a part of football that's transferrable between all levels.

We had 8 penalties on us yesterday. Some of them, like the PI call on Flowers and the holding penalty on Ifedi are hard to complain about. But we are all painfully aware that Pete's teams are always heavily penalized.

[obiken]

Its Ifeti River, I am getting sick of him. He is always good for 2 penalties a game.

[Hawktawk]

It’s a W. As Holmgren said after an ugly season opening win “ to win in this league is hard”. I haven’t seen much discussion about the new HC of Cincy being from the Sean Mcvay staff and as such being very familiar with their schemes, stadium etc. nobody’s talking about the fact that prior to yesterday Cincy was one of 2 teams Russ had never beat and the only team in the Leage that Carroll had not beaten in 3 stints as a head coach. Mof the last time my kid and I watched the opener on his birthday in 2013 it was a rock fight in Carolina , a certain loss until
Earl Thomas stripped the ball from Deangelo Williams as he was rushing towards the goal line. Then the Hawks got a couple of key first downs and killed the clock . Sound familiar ? We know how that season turned out. And there were lots of ugly wins.No style points needed.

[trents]

Concerning the Hawks' running game yesterday, or lack of it, don't forget that our OL was missing some pieces it usually has. I expect that dimension will improve as people get healthy. But Carson is obviously our best back. Boy, does he run hard! Penny seems to need more of a lane in order to set sail.

[Aseahawkfan]

Carson is showing himself to be a bit like Beast Jr.

[RiverDog]

Its Ifeti River, I am getting sick of him. He is always good for 2 penalties a game.

I'm no fan of Ifedi particularly when it comes to penalties, but if you'll look at the replay, that was a bit of a ticky tack call.

I'm more concerned with Ifedi's providing the edge rusher too short of a distance to Russell's set up point. He needs to force the edge rusher wider as Russell takes about a step or two deeper drops than most quarterbacks. I don't mind him getting beat by an inside rush as much as I do him giving up so much on the outside. If he gets beat inside, at least Russell would be breaking the pocket to his right and has a better chance of extending the play.

[RiverDog]

Concerning the Hawks' running game yesterday, or lack of it, don't forget that our OL was missing some pieces it usually has. I expect that dimension will improve as people get healthy. But Carson is obviously our best back. Boy, does he run hard! Penny seems to need more of a lane in order to set sail.

The only piece that we were missing was Iupati, who hasn't played all season, although Britt got dinged up a bit in the first half. Cincy had the worst defense in the league last year, were playing with essentially the same personnel, and we were playing at home, yet our OL lost the battle up front. We gave up 4 sacks, and I didn't see any that we could hang on Russell for holding onto the ball too long. Way too many 3-and-outs. TOP is one of those stats that a run first team like us should excel in and we lost it 36-24. It was a horrible performance for a unit that was supposed to be the strength of our team.

We'll see what happens in Week 2, but the OL was without a doubt was the single most underperforming unit and must improve if we expect to contend.

[NorthHawk]

The Bengals DL has some good talent on it, but I think it shows how much coaching and scheme makes a difference.
We saw it here on our OL with essentially the same players but much improved.
That being said, we weren't ready up front and that's inexcusable in a league where there are only 16 chances to get
into the playoffs. A team can't afford to squander any game because they aren't ready even at the beginning of the year.

They better step it up next game because the Steelers will want to show their fans they aren't as bad as they looked on Sunday.

[obiken]

Not to mention Rothlisberger, if Dalton can get 400 yards he can get 500!

[RiverDog]

The Bengals DL has some good talent on it, but I think it shows how much coaching and scheme makes a difference.
We saw it here on our OL with essentially the same players but much improved.
That being said, we weren't ready up front and that's inexcusable in a league where there are only 16 chances to get
into the playoffs. A team can't afford to squander any game because they aren't ready even at the beginning of the year.

They better step it up next game because the Steelers will want to show their fans they aren't as bad as they looked on Sunday.

Obviously scheme and coaching makes a big difference, as does the fact that we don't play them but once every 4 years and never in the preseason, so there's the unfamiliarity factor that enters into it. But those excuses only go so far.

Pittsburgh is another team that we don't play very often, but we should have a little more of a book on them than we did with the Bengals as they have the same DC (a former Seahawk) and we have the benefit of watching New England expose their weaknesses. But we'll be playing in a hostile environment instead of the friendly confines. We need to get our act together.

[idhawkman]

Concerning the Hawks' running game yesterday, or lack of it, don't forget that our OL was missing some pieces it usually has. I expect that dimension will improve as people get healthy. But Carson is obviously our best back. Boy, does he run hard! Penny seems to need more of a lane in order to set sail.

The only piece that we were missing was Iupati, who hasn't played all season, although Britt got dinged up a bit in the first half. Cincy had the worst defense in the league last year, were playing with essentially the same personnel, and we were playing at home, yet our OL lost the battle up front. We gave up 4 sacks, and I didn't see any that we could hang on Russell for holding onto the ball too long. Way too many 3-and-outs. TOP is one of those stats that a run first team like us should excel in and we lost it 36-24. It was a horrible performance for a unit that was supposed to be the strength of our team.

We'll see what happens in Week 2, but the OL was without a doubt was the single most underperforming unit and must improve if we expect to contend.

First, let me say I don't disagree with anything you said here. I would offer to add to this though that we didn't seem to use Fant as TE until late in the game. It also looked like that is when we started to get some running lanes. I would say that maybe their defense had wore down but as you pointed out, we only had the ball for 24 total minutes so their defense should still have been fresh. I think the biggest issue is why can't our regular TEs block?

Also, I saw RW walking on and off the field every time they showed him before a series. Nonchalant Russ doesn't get it done and usually goes 3 and out. When he at least trots on the field he's engaged and we usually move the ball. Maybe others in here have noticed that. I think the team may key off his tempo in these cases.

[idhawkman]

Not to mention Rothlisberger, if Dalton can get 400 yards he can get 500!

Its not hard to get passing yards on us. All they have to do is dink and dunk their way down field and not drop a ball or throw an errant pass. We leave huge holes underneath in our defense. We always have even in the 2013 and 2014. When the field shrinks though, we make it hard to hit those areas with our taller DBs and LBs. Teams usually don't have success against us with the medium or long range pass plays but they chew us up in the dink and dunk game.

[NorthHawk]

A common complaint the last few years has been we're slow out of the huddle and starting the play and we seem to perform better
when we go up tempo. Why we don't do that earlier in the game when we aren't clicking, I don't know. It's an easy change to
maybe catch the Defense off balance and get some momentum and rhythm going.

[NorthHawk]

Its not hard to get passing yards on us. All they have to do is dink and dunk their way down field and not drop a ball or throw an errant pass. We leave huge holes underneath in our defense. We always have even in the 2013 and 2014. When the field shrinks though, we make it hard to hit those areas with our taller DBs and LBs. Teams usually don't have success against us with the medium or long range pass plays but they chew us up in the dink and dunk game.

That's part of the bend, don't break philosophy of our Defense. It's been that way since day 1 under Pete, and has shown to be successful in the long run.
All Defenses have holes and that is ours. A good Nickel CB can help, and we re-signed Jamar Taylor who they liked as well as Parry Nickerson, so maybe
there are some adjustments that are forthcoming.