HawkShack.com

Off Season usually affords optimism but losing both Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner while our talent base is so low is very troubling. Solid coaching and a Front Office with a "never say die" atmosphere offers glimmers of hope of a team that won't embarrass its fans by quitting/tanking as we enter the "Open Warfare" of an upcoming season of NFL. Our odds of improving from 2021 going forward will definitely paint us as underdogs as we aim to find our way back as one of the few continual winning NFL teams. 2022 and 2023 will stress a need to take advantage of new found draft opportunities while counting on new player leadership to guide our team forward...Go HAWKS !!


Beginning in 2024 there are good vibes signalling a resumption of playoff streaks and possible NFC Championships. The right coaches are in place both on Offense and Defence to get us further with the talent we're building/restoring...and the many naysayers out there won't change that.

Strong Defense wins playoff games...strong rushing attack supports a strong defense...an offense blessed with play makers can support an above average gifted QB who displays confidence and patience with fewer "mistake" throws...we love to play with that "underdog" mentality (until the gloves come off). We are a team that is built with hitters/hammers on defense...and physical "freaks" for play makers in the skill positions.

The trenches...the trenches!

As our secondary becomes comfortable in man coverage then our newly disguised pass rush schemes from a blend (heavy on 3-4 fronts with 4-3 balanced in) of D-line alignments will have time to scare/punish our opponents quarterbacks. Sacks are a great stat but forcing a QB out of his set drop pattern disrupts a QB's comfort zone and timing.
Our O-line really came alive with a visual shift to heavy zone/lighter power play scheming. Solari did his best with "dealing" with RW extending plays and getting deeper drops but with a more "typical" QB comfortable in the pocket...it kind of washed Solari out with the departure of RW from Waldron's playbook. Ideally if we have Phil Haynes winning the LG spot and shifting Damien Lewis back to the RG spot with good center support from Austin Blythe (for now) we can concentrate on our bookends (LT/RT). Either its Duane Brown resigned with Stone Forsythe in development and a high round rookie at RT with Jake Curhan as a suitable back-up...or High round LT and RT drafted with Stone and Jake in development...we will be in good hands given our Waldron/Dickerson coaching.

Linebacking!

Off ball LB pretty solid in Jordyn Brooks and a budding Cody Barton...perhaps some depth but can be "fixed" next year if Barton fails to make impact.
Rushing/Coverage LB much improved with arrival of Uchenna Nwosu to be coupled with upside of Darryl Taylor and backed by Alton Robinson...perhaps an Impact Edge in draft who has LB coverage skills.

Safety Hammers!

Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs add emphasis to Seahawk Defense Identity as Punishers. Marquis Blair will hopefully get the impact opportunity of a healthy season (similar to D. Taylor and R. Penny) to add his own vicious hitting to the mix. Draft safety next year if Blair fails to deliver.

Nickel/Heavy Nickel !

Ugo Amadi must "win" against a returning Justin Coleman for Nickel assignment. The "heavy" nickel never got a chance to be realized...using Blair for Jamal Adams coverage assignment...allowing Jamal to rush from Line of Scrimmage.

Predatory Violence

Our Defense is loading up with players who love to hit...Michael Benett once said what sets Seahawk Defenses apart from others in the NFL is our team loves the Physical Nastiness of Hitting...Kam Chancellor/Earl Thomas/Wags and KJ formed a lethal identity against other teams play makers! Kam and Earl brought fear and destruction to TE/WR/RB...Jamal/Quandre/Jordyn and D.Taylor making a name for themselves on film tape.

Extreme Play Makers!

DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are nightmarish mismatches for opposing defenses and not every team has a Jalen Ramsey to counter DK...the two of them left our 2021 TE Everett and our 2021 WR3 Freddie Swain open a lot...what can Noah Fant and Dee Eskridge accomplish in 2022? ...what can Rashaad Penny accomplish catching passes in the flats (open space)? Is there room for drafting another impact RB as injury insurance/replacement of Chris Carson?

QB Point Guards

Can Drew Lock overcome Geno Smith as the "main distributor" in a Waldron Widespread Offense? I think Carson Strong will be targeted as a high risk/low draft capital "4th QB"...Jacob Eason definitely plays the "darkhorse favorite" to throw to our practice squad if he can't impress given minimum snaps...I think Geno has the early confidence from the coaches to excel in Waldron's offense while satisfying Pete with minimum mistake throws. Drew must prove he's up to the challenge since he and Geno have plus armstrength to utilize DK/Tyler.

RB Emphasis/Time of Possession

Overflowing with confidence while inspiring the O-line to reward his efforts...Rashaad Penny can restore the running attack as a tool to dictate our will on other teams. He is young and hungry while working on a new 1 year deal to accomplish his own NFL dreams. Chris Carson finds himself in the unenviable position of playing second fiddle...or worse if we get another impact RB from the draft. Keeping the chains advancing should restore a more favorable time of possession to keep our opponents off the field.

Special Teams "Forgotten Heroes"

More youth and more athleticism on Special teams should be a result of filling in our talent with new found draft capital. We already know the many talents of our punter Michael Dickson ( a lesser punter perhaps would lead to more decisions to "go for it" on 4th downs) Jason Myers has that Good even seasons/Bad odd seasons going so 2022 should make him a keeper if we expect some growing pains (stalled offense). Nick Bellore/Tyler Ott are two steady main cogs in Special Teams success!

Boy, that's a nice analysis! It's obvious that you put a lot of time and effort into it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

But I do think it's a little premature as we still have the draft coming up next week and there's still the possibility that we'll do something unexpected, like trading Metcalf, trading for Mayfield, etc. I also think it's an open question whether or not Pete is still with us two years from now.

I like the analysis and also the writing style , dramatic . But it’s too pessimistic . This will be a playoff team next season .

Right now we're not a playoff team and we got worse losing our star QB. We have a lot of injury questions like Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. Penny is on a prove it contract, so we'll see if he can.

I expect to miss the playoffs for the next few years. As long as I see progress, I'll be happy. If I see regression, I'll wait for the final head to roll.

Aseahawkfan wrote:Right now we're not a playoff team and we got worse losing our star QB. We have a lot of injury questions like Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. Penny is on a prove it contract, so we'll see if he can.

I expect to miss the playoffs for the next few years. As long as I see progress, I'll be happy. If I see regression, I'll wait for the final head to roll.

That's about where I'm at. I'm of the mindset to lower my expectations anyway, and at this point, I see no reason to expect that this coming season's result will be much different than last years.

I’m hoping we get new ownership and they clean house of this regime.
Then we can really see some progress.

Pete and John have no intention of losing a ten year argument and they have enough talent already to win games . Plus a haul of picks and some good players. Not the haul we could have had a year ago but nobody wanted to hear it.
As a year ago the greatest question mark will be quarterback . But the answer wasn’t good spending 35 million on the position and the guy left anyway .
They had/have a plan and it’s right on schedule .
Playoffs next year . Can’t wait for the season .

Sure, they have the talent to win some games, but they don't have the talent to win a championship or division.
MAYBE they will squeak into the playoffs, but we have quickly become close to irrelevant to the contending teams of the NFL.

NorthHawk wrote:Sure, they have the talent to win some games, but they don't have the talent to win a championship or division.
MAYBE they will squeak into the playoffs, but we have quickly become close to irrelevant to the contending teams of the NFL.

I think they have plenty of talent to win it all . Doesn’t mean they will . But I expect this to be a good physical team on both sides of the ball with good to great or potentially great players at every position . It’s going to be a good competetive team.DK at voluntary workouts unlike anyone else in his position is another sign . This team is committed . So many of our guys came back . Why not flee the sunken ship?

Players that have heard for 3 years that they aren’t good enough for Russ have a serious chubby to prove some people wrong . So do Pete and John being told they can’t build a roster anymore .

Someone’s eating crow . Can’t all be right . But it’s not a rebuild . It was team cancer surgical removal .

Hawktawk wrote:But it’s not a rebuild . It was team cancer surgical removal .

Where did you get the idea that Russell was a team cancer? Just because you didn't like him doesn't mean that his teammates didn't, either.

Just a tidbit. Do you remember when Cam Newton didn't want to jump on a loose ball in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl when his team was trailing by just a TD because he didn't want to get hurt? Russell's defensive teammates, some of the same ones that once said he wasn't black enough, said that if that were their QB, that he'd crawl through the hubs of hell to get that ball back.

Hawktawk wrote:I think they have plenty of talent to win it all . Doesn’t mean they will . But I expect this to be a good physical team on both sides of the ball with good to great or potentially great players at every position . It’s going to be a good competetive team.DK at voluntary workouts unlike anyone else in his position is another sign . This team is committed . So many of our guys came back . Why not flee the sunken ship?

Players that have heard for 3 years that they aren’t good enough for Russ have a serious chubby to prove some people wrong . So do Pete and John being told they can’t build a roster anymore .

Someone’s eating crow . Can’t all be right . But it’s not a rebuild . It was team cancer surgical removal .

What a load of horsecrap.

No top pass rushes. Bad D-line. Not a great O-line. Running back inconsistency. Young LBs which is probably their best position group. Two safeties with injury issues and one recovering from a severe injury. Not a single high quality CB to speak of on the team.

You keep pumping this crap show and we'll all have to listen to it until the team loses the next few years and you have no choice but to stop spewing utter rubbish.

Aseahawkfan wrote:No top pass rushes. Bad D-line. Not a great O-line. Running back inconsistency. Young LBs which is probably their best position group. Two safeties with injury issues and one recovering from a severe injury. Not a single high quality CB to speak of on the team.

OK you have some solid legit counters to my optimism...but I'll offer this in response :

"No top pass rushes" ...Top usually infers an established or "top ten drafted rookie". Those are high priced thrills...outside of drafting very early (or getting LUCKY) or paying for a "pricey" free agent...you have to cultivate your own. Darryl Taylor has great upside and Nwosu just got here...no reason either can't make big impacts in 2022/2023 and beyond...becoming a "top" pass rusher.

"Bad D-line" ...more a reflection on recent past...not an "ankle shackle" going forward. With good man press coverage from your secondary you'd be surprised how your D-line can come alive...if your secondary is allowing "open QB targets" within 3 sec of their routes it's no wonder your D-line can't "get home" to the QB. Defense is a TEAM concept...press coverage makes a QB hesitate affording time for D-line to make an impact and vice versa...an effective pass rush limits the time your secondary needs to "mirror" the opponents play makers. Our new defensive coaches are a reason for restoring our defensive bragging rights.

"Not a great O-line" ...another coaching inspired shift to more zone blocking and less power blocking does wonders in a wide spread offense scheme. We have definite concerns to shore up...especially with our "bookends" LT/RT...but this picture will become clearer post-draft.

"Running back inconsistency" ...Rashaad Penny is an example of rare skills suddenly allowed to bloom in an atmosphere of strong confidence and finally good health. Penny was solidly "consistent" ...exiting our ill-fated 2021 season.

"Two safeties with injury issues" ...valid concerns but the one who suffered seriously "Diggs"...has offered to show the coach back flips to prove his recovery is on track. Injuries are always "wait and see"

"not a single high quality CB" ...Tre Brown has demonstrated upside and Sidney Jones was rated the 3rd best corner in his draft class scouted by many to be 1rst rd talent until his Pro Day injury "ruptured achilles" wiped out his "top shelf" expectations and rookie season. He has legit top skills that are talent blessed and very promising in press coverage.

I doubt your remarks were flippant so I offered some positive views in the expression of my own opinions.

RiverDog wrote:But it’s not a rebuild . It was team cancer surgical removal .

Where did you get the idea that Russell was a team cancer? Just because you didn't like him doesn't mean that his teammates didn't, either.

Just a tidbit. Do you remember when Cam Newton didn't want to jump on a loose ball in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl when his team was trailing by just a TD because he didn't want to get hurt? Russell's defensive teammates, some of the same ones that once said he wasn't black enough, said that if that were their QB, that he'd crawl through the hubs of hell to get that ball back.
People don’t get it . In the day Russ would be on the bottom of a pile or jacking someone up 30 yards downfield blocking on a run play or burning a team with his wheels . I’ve repeatedly said I think he is hall of fame . First ballot will be determined by how Denver goes . But yeah River for any number of years Russ has deflected blame for postseason exits while saying he needs better players . Anyone who thinks those 50 guys that went to war all year don’t say WTF is delusional . Then getting hit so much the most wimpy comment ever , stunning in my opinion . I heard Rodgers whine a time or 2 , after getting shelled in a playoff game Manning threw his line under the bus “ we had protection issues “. But to me it was an incredible admission for opposing teams to exploit forever . Burrows got sacked 70 times and was a play from a Lombardi . Russ got sacked 32 Times and went 6-8. I said trade him : I’ll stop grandstanding my absolutely correct position he should have been gone the instant those words came out of his mouth .

This team has had a 5000 lb gorilla removed from the FO to the coaching staff to the players . If you can find the loving messages from players to Russ I haven’t seen them .
Addition by subtraction.

tarlhawk wrote:OK you have some solid legit counters to my optimism...but I'll offer this in response :

"No top pass rushes" ...Top usually infers an established or "top ten drafted rookie". Those are high priced thrills...outside of drafting very early (or getting LUCKY) or paying for a "pricey" free agent...you have to cultivate your own. Darryl Taylor has great upside and Nwosu just got here...no reason either can't make big impacts in 2022/2023 and beyond...becoming a "top" pass rusher.

"Bad D-line" ...more a reflection on recent past...not an "ankle shackle" going forward. With good man press coverage from your secondary you'd be surprised how your D-line can come alive...if your secondary is allowing "open QB targets" within 3 sec of their routes it's no wonder your D-line can't "get home" to the QB. Defense is a TEAM concept...press coverage makes a QB hesitate affording time for D-line to make an impact and vice versa...an effective pass rush limits the time your secondary needs to "mirror" the opponents play makers. Our new defensive coaches are a reason for restoring our defensive bragging rights.

"Not a great O-line" ...another coaching inspired shift to more zone blocking and less power blocking does wonders in a wide spread offense scheme. We have definite concerns to shore up...especially with our "bookends" LT/RT...but this picture will become clearer post-draft.

"Running back inconsistency" ...Rashaad Penny is an example of rare skills suddenly allowed to bloom in an atmosphere of strong confidence and finally good health. Penny was solidly "consistent" ...exiting our ill-fated 2021 season.

"Two safeties with injury issues" ...valid concerns but the one who suffered seriously "Diggs"...has offered to show the coach back flips to prove his recovery is on track. Injuries are always "wait and see"

"not a single high quality CB" ...Tre Brown has demonstrated upside and Sidney Jones was rated the 3rd best corner in his draft class scouted by many to be 1rst rd talent until his Pro Day injury "ruptured achilles" wiped out his "top shelf" expectations and rookie season. He has legit top skills that are talent blessed and very promising in press coverage.

I doubt your remarks were flippant so I offered some positive views in the expression of my own opinions.

Teams are they are. We are a non-contending team with a bunch of weak position groups whose players don't rate top in any of the usual measurements except Jordyn Brooks in tackles and our two WRs. Other than that, a bunch of unknown quantities that people are trying to make into more than they are that haven't proven jack squat in the NFL.

My remarks are not flippant. It is what is on the field right now. We traded away our best player and the guy who carried this team to the playoffs the last 4 or 5 years. Some fans want to act like we made it to the playoffs for some other reason like we have some great defense or position group that is making the team competitive when it was one undersized QB performing at a high level that put this team in contention.

The reality of that is going to sink in next year no matter how many people try to spin it otherwise. I don't care if someone wants to be an optimist in the offseason. I only know what I believe is going to happen during the regular season because Russell Wilson was the only reason this team made the playoffs for quite a few years now. With him gone, barring some other QB surprising us, we'll be lucky to win 6 games a year.

Aseahawkfan wrote:The reality of that is going to sink in next year no matter how many people try to spin it otherwise. I don't care if someone wants to be an optimist in the offseason. I only know what I believe is going to happen during the regular season because Russell Wilson was the only reason this team made the playoffs for quite a few years now. With him gone, barring some other QB surprising us, we'll be lucky to win 6 games a year.

We are talking about a sport...about entertainment...right? The state of our team observed by any fan is not some life changing event...there's no need to convince anyone on the merits of what is pure opinion. As a fan I enjoyed the thrill of watching Russell Wilson inspire/lead our team in snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat...I'll miss that for sure.

I am not sold on the idea that an individuals importance rises above a team effort to where the QB uses passive aggression to bail out on a contract he sheepishly agreed to. But I am an outsider...a viewer with only opinions not judgement on a person whose very livelihood is impacted by the decisions he makes. I trust Russell Wilson and our team did whats best for those directly involved and offer no blame on something I have no insider knowledge of.

Idle banter is like idle gossip...its likely to fall on the side of harm vice any real felt goodness. My opinion is that Pete Carroll is a very good coach and I use the present tense as well as future hopes until he disappoints me in that ability. If others see my bar set too low...it is merely opinion and my own enjoyment. If others are truly upset by the state of the team...then guess what ?

You are blessed to live in a country where many entertainment options abound to reward one's time and efforts.

tarlhawk wrote:We are talking about a sport...about entertainment...right? The state of our team observed by any fan is not some life changing event...there's no need to convince anyone on the merits of what is pure opinion. As a fan I enjoyed the thrill of watching Russell Wilson inspire/lead our team in snatching victory out of the jaws of defeat...I'll miss that for sure.

I am not sold on the idea that an individuals importance rises above a team effort to where the QB uses passive aggression to bail out on a contract he sheepishly agreed to. But I am an outsider...a viewer with only opinions not judgement on a person whose very livelihood is impacted by the decisions he makes. I trust Russell Wilson and our team did whats best for those directly involved and offer no blame on something I have no insider knowledge of.

Idle banter is like idle gossip...its likely to fall on the side of harm vice any real felt goodness. My opinion is that Pete Carroll is a very good coach and I use the present tense as well as future hopes until he disappoints me in that ability. If others see my bar set too low...it is merely opinion and my own enjoyment. If others are truly upset by the state of the team...then guess what ?

You are blessed to live in a country where many entertainment options abound to reward one's time and efforts.

I expect things to go exactly as I outlined them. Not because I feel "it", but because I know it due to the way the NFL works.

If you want to feel more attached to Pete Carroll than Russell Wilson, have at it. I'm attached to neither. I only know what each provides this team. I know I'm about to find out that the offensive performance of Russell Wilson was the only thing keeping us playoff bound the last 5 years. Now that he is gone, we will go back to the days of 7-9 and such like we were when Carroll first arrived and had a better defense around Tarvaris Jackson or Matt Hasselbeck. It didn't much matter because your QB can't close the tight games or keep the offense performing at a high level, then you're going to lose.

I'm sure I'll see this "analysis" all offseason until the reality of losing sinks in as Seattle fans remember the difference between having an elite performer at QB and a backup filling in until we find the next QB. Only thing that will change that is if Schneider and Pete find that QB this draft and he starts performing well out of the gate combined with maybe Penny continuing his run and the defensive line substantially improving.

Barring that, I expect a losing season. I'll tough out the losing season like I did every year Seattle had down times in the past. Same as I always do.

I'm not some short-memory optimist blowing rainbows and unicorns because I don't like to see reality. I see this team's current state and will patiently wait for the rebuild as I've done many times in the past whether it happens under Carroll or another coach.

Aseahawkfan wrote:Barring that, I expect a losing season. I'll tough out the losing season like I did every year Seattle had down times in the past. Same as I always do.

I don't know what to expect. I want to see what Drew Luck looks like in preseason and the first few regular season games, see what our OL ends up shaping up as, if Carson is going to make it all the way back, if we're able to finally utilize Adams, and so on. There's just too many variables to be predicting great things or face plants.

Aseahawkfan wrote:I'm not some short-memory optimist blowing rainbows and unicorns because I don't like to see reality. I see this team's current state and will patiently wait for the rebuild as I've done many times in the past whether it happens under Carroll or another coach.

I'm failing to see your point. Because you can't find any relevant point in NFL history where early success led to a SB following a rebuild...but not repeated when later a rebuild occurs under the same upper management...our team under this same coach is doomed to utter failure?

How do you think history is made? ...by achieving what hasn't been done before. Lack of prior history is not a solid indicator to forecast future opportunity. This is not a total rebuild. Just getting to the Super Bowl ...let alone the door to the SB (the NFC Championship) is a difficult road to stay on in a typical coach career span.

This is not a total rebuild. Rebuild and full rebuild are nuanced terms to describe turmoil caused by an unseen event...trading away your franchise QB. Its only daring if your hand wasn't forced...instead this was more likely the result of making the best of an unfortunate turn of events.

Patterns of necessary full rebuilds ...is a streak of losing records which normally result in the firing of a coach before he is even given a chance to go from rebuild to super bowl. We have now suffered one losing season...not a streak. Our current losing season is now coupled with a trade of an elite QB...again not a reason to panic. Losing RW to an off season tragic event (Heaven forbid) would have heavier impact on forcing a full rebuild vice making a reluctant but beneficial trade for both parties.

The players and draft capital from our trade with Denver helps lessen the blow to our overall team. We could have traded Bobby Wagner and shackled him to a willing trade partner but we gave him due respect releasing him outright allowing him the freedom to market himself to a team of choice.

Are the odds of a rare Super Bowl year heavily stacked against our teams near future? ...thats a given since a QB plays such a key role on the battlefield known as the NFL. It depends on if you see Pete Carroll as a wimpy cheerleader or as a strong leader who can inspire getting the very best out what your GM can support you with? Its an outcome out of my control so I choose to watch and observe rather than predict a given outcome.

Well my optimism of looking ahead to 2024 based on our team getting better with each year beginning in 2022...looks a bit brighter as JS/PC haven't let my hope be in vain under their direction. Our new coaching blood on both sides (Off/Def) with a solid draft so far...are strong indicators of a team eager to put 2021 behind us.

Looks like the solid drafting continues. Two back to back corners Cobe Bryant and Tariq Woolen will heat up the Cornerback room. Both have good size and ball skills. Cobe won the Jim Thorpe Award as best defensive back in college in 2021 but played opposite "Sauce" Gardner at Cincinnati. Tariq has length and speed to burn and might be a starting corner opposite Sidney Jones from Day 1. Added a pass rush edge from Ohio State (Tyreke Smith) to add in rotation with Boye Mafe's own QB killing skills.

RiverDog wrote:I don't know what to expect. I want to see what Drew Luck looks like in preseason and the first few regular season games, see what our OL ends up shaping up as, if Carson is going to make it all the way back, if we're able to finally utilize Adams, and so on. There's just too many variables to be predicting great things or face plants.

I would not cry if we face planted, but Pete Carroll has never face-planted in Seattle. I don't think Drew Lock is good enough to win. I feel like he'll be like Matt H at the end of his career or Tarvaris or Geno, a backup trying to show he can step up to starter but failing, We'll end up in that 7-9 win range. Carroll is too good a coach to face plant. I don't think he has face planted in his entire career. His worst record even in that first year of the Jets was 6-10. I expect the same kind of middling losing seasons Carroll has when he doesn't have a high quality QB to run the team. Carroll is a great coach who has a sort of floor and is better than probably 90% of the HCs in the league. If Carroll face plants, he really has lost his mojo. Carroll is too smart and too good at adjusting to lose badly especially given how many HCs that he can outcoach in his sleep. It's why I blame him for problems with the defense and offense because Carroll runs the team and knows how to fix things on both sides of the ball. All that hyperactive energy is usually an indication of high performing brain function, almost hyperactivity, which Carroll has filled with football knowledge that he is using to make adjustments, stay engaged, and coach the team up.

To me attacks on Carroll's ability to coach are like attacks on Russell Wilson as a QB, not much in line with reality.

Biggest problem I have with Carroll is he has got to get back to the "Always Compete" mentality he had when he first arrived which did not include trading for guys who get handed positions even when it is obvious they aren't performing. He said the draft and free agency were there to provide a pool of talent that would compete to form the best possible team. That's the best way to manage a roster. At some point Carroll got "Shiny Toy Syndrome" where he was seeing guys like Graham and Harvin who look like Ferrari's that he spent too much to buy even though the team didn't need Ferrari's, it needed Mack Trucks and Dump Trucks, workers who can play the type of hard nose ball Carroll likes to play. Not these whiny finesse players who don't want to get their hands dirty playing the bully.

If I see Carroll get back to his roots, I'll be back on board for one last run with the aging hyperactive great HC.

Pete said again on Friday that “
The QB competition between Eason , Locke , and Geno has begun “ he stated very clearly that Geno Is “ far ahead “ and cited his 3 years in the system and his grasp of the offense as the reasons . Tells me they intend to let Eason compete as well but also if Geno finishes first that Pete isn’t afraid to put him out there . Me neither .