what Irish Greg is up to (besides the whole Navy CMC gig)

[c_hawkbob]

Most here will remeber the author of this as one of our own from back in the day: http://lastwordonprofootball.com/2017/0 ... w-closing/

[mykc14]

Well written article. I agree with almost everything he says except for the need to add some wrinkles on D, they were still the #1 D for most of the season.

[Seahawks4Ever]

Yes, I remember our resident salary cap "guru". It is good to see a real life "local boy does good" story.

That, and I agree 1000% with his assessment of where the Seahawks stand at this very moment. He is so right, RW has always had happy feet but he used to more than often make lemonade from lemons, too many times this season he was very careless with the ball. Most of it is probably because of a leaky line but I believe his head is not completely in the game. Why is that? I don't know, some say Ciarra, I used to scoff at such nonsense, now I am not too sure but something is not right with that guy.

Pete basically called the reporters idiots when they asked him if having the lowest paid O-Line, by far, in the NFL might have been a bad problem this season.
Pete said to them "do you think if we only paid them more they would play better??? What an insult. Pete snidely said "when they play better then they will get more money".

Why did Pee have to be so obtuse?? Pete (and John) let Okung , Sleezy, Giaco go instead of paying them more then they traded away pro bowl center Unger for a pro bowl T.E. that they rarely use. Now he can say that the first 3 were let go and not even offered contracts because they were not WORTH what they would have asked for and he can also say that Okung was asking way more than they would ever pay him. So, what does that say about the current group of 5?? It says to me that Pete (and John) are convinced that they can bring in any BUM and Tom Cable will turn them into credible NRL linemen. Well, maybe Cable can do this with a few players but to change the whole starting line-up and replace them with guys essentially off the street in a little over 2 seasons is NOT reasonable. What hurts is that Pete is saying that he will continue down this dumbazz road.

Pete also is in love with Darrell Bevell and says that anyone who doesn't love Bevell doesn't know what they are talking about. Well, I KNOW what I see and if I sitting at home know what plays are coming then so do opposing defenses.

I do not like being talked down to and I do not like being treated as if I am an idiot. Darrell Bevell is a CANCER that will destroy this team.

I AM a "Seahawk fan forever" but I am NOT a Pete Carroll "forever". I greatly appreciate what he has turned our Hawks into. No more talk about how we are a soft, finesse team. No, Pete made us a smash mouth ram the ball down their throats team and I love it. But, unless your name is Bill Belichek (Belicheat) every and I mean EVERY coach eventually wears out his welcome. Mike Holmgren even alluded to such when he left Green Bay for Seattle.

I am not saying that Pete has worn out his welcome, yet. But, when he out right LIES and talks down to Seahawk fans and holds on to a loser like Bevell then is moving closer to the door than even he realizes.

Like IG said, (paraphrasing) the Seahawks brain trust needs to do some real soul searching this off season. In fact, Pete needs to get his entire staff together and treat the off season as a long "Teel The Truth Tuesday". Because right when it comes to the truth Pete can't seem to handle the truth...

[obiken]

Most here will remeber the author of this as one of our own from back in the day: http://lastwordonprofootball.com/2017/0 ... w-closing/

When does he finally get out of the Navy CB? He's done his bit for King and Country.

[burrrton]

When does he finally get out of the Navy CB? He's done his bit for King and Country.

Was wondering the same- IG seems to have earned his stripes from here. I'm sure he'll be great and probably retire from the USN and come be my boss at some point.

And yeah, good insight- the defense was fine assuming no broken leg on ET.

I want to know how they're going to handle the OL and get RW comfortable again.

[RiverDog]

A very good summation of the Seahawks status, although there wasn't any mention of Thomas Rawls. Our offense looked entirely different when he was playing at the top of his ability, which for one reason or another, didn't happen all that often in 2016. But it was a really good effort a glass half full vs. glass half empty analysis written by a huge Seahawk fan. Although IG is one of the biggest Seahawk fan alive, there was no detection of a homer's bias.

I'm sure IG won't mind my answering a couple of the group's questions about his personal status. He's currently based in San Diego, done with his long 8-9 month deployments, and is approaching his service retirement in a couple of years. He does have some options that could extend his service by a few years longer and is taking a wait-and-see approach. Him and his family are anxious to move back here to the Northwest where he belongs. The two of us plan on continuing our 2-3 Hawk games per season that we've been doing for the past few years and are awaiting the release of the 2017 schedule to make our plans for next season. I wish he'd post more often as he's one of the best football minds I've come across in a long time and a great guy in general.

[Hawk Sista]

Nice to hear from IG, even if it is indirect. Good read - thank you, Bob.

I don't think there is a soul alive who thinks that the O-Line is what we want it to be. No question we need help there. I wish, however, that people would PLEASE quit rewriting history. Okung had a less than mediocre year, Sweezy was hurt, Britt is a solid replacement for Unger who was always injured...etc.. This sentence gets uttered far too often and is so reactionary "they traded away pro bowl center Unger for a pro bowl T.E. that they rarely use."

He was used more than ANY TE IN SEAHAWK HISTORY!!!!! His blocking improved tremendously and he was used as a blocker more as a result....and he almost nabbed 1,000 yards (the most by a hawk at that position ever.) And consider he came off an injury that ends careers. Make the point - no need to gild the lily.

[RiverDog]

I think IG is making a big assumption about Lockett's return. That type of injury is often times career ending. Does anyone know of a player that returned from an injury like that?

I'd be extremely surprised if Lockett is on the roster when the bell rings in September. Expect Paul Richardson to start the season returning punts.

[obiken]

Nice to hear from IG, even if it is indirect. Good read - thank you, Bob.

I don't think there is a soul alive who thinks that the O-Line is what we want it to be. No question we need help there. I wish, however, that people would PLEASE quit rewriting history. Okung had a less than mediocre year, Sweezy was hurt, Britt is a solid replacement for Unger who was always injured...etc.. This sentence gets uttered far too often and is so reactionary "they traded away pro bowl center Unger for a pro bowl T.E. that they rarely use."

He was used more than ANY TE IN SEAHAWK HISTORY!!!!! His blocking improved tremendously and he was used as a blocker more as a result....and he almost nabbed 1,000 yards (the most by a hawk at that position ever.) And consider he came off an injury that ends careers. Make the point - no need to gild the lily.

I agree HS, but is RW ever going to be able to fully utilize him? Remember, we also gave up a First rounder as well. Its over now, I agree time to quit beating the dead horse. He is a beast of a match up IF RW had the time to throw the ball.

[c_hawkbob]

Totally agree Sis, especially about Jimmy. He's had a similar effect on our current offense as Shaun Alexander had on Holmgrens: Jimmy has changed the way, and how much, we use TE just as Shaun changed Chumley's offense from a 60/40 pass heavy offense to 50/50 or better run oriented. Although I do think Pete and Bevell have been a bit more stubborn about adapting the scheme to fit the talent than Holmes ever was ...

[Hawktawk]

Great article Bob. I was just thinking about IG a few days ago strangely enough.
I couldn't agree more about the offensive woes. it is beyond me to understand why Bevell is still employed. I guess its becoming clear that PC is actually a pretty stubborn and cocky my way or the highway kind of guy.

I found his comments about Procise to be interesting as far as questioning his durability while defending Rawls who misses as much or more time over the past year and a half as well.
David Carr syndrome (ouch) I dont know if Id be that harsh, Russ never seems scared but he just didn't seem as effective , accurate or well prepared although getting knocked around can do that to you.

Same for the defensive alignment with the cover 3. I hear fans all the time saying "well it was #1 most of the year and for the last 4 years before". But lets get real. This defense really started to slide in SB 49 with a 14 point 4th quarter surrendered to Brady or nobody is talking about a disastrous play on the one( which carroll refuses to pin on Bevfool to this day).

In 2015 they blew 2 17 point 4th quarter leads in Holmgren Esque fashion and got torched by tight ends for most of that year and much of 2016. They gave up 24 points in the first half to Carolina in the divisional while the aforementioned offense took a dump which = loss. This year the defense started very strong but since the loss of ET the pass defense was ranked 27th in yards and 31st in opposer passer rating.

It was ridiculous to have not adjusted the strategy with the helpless terrell in the back end. The AZ game with the #2 on the line was a disaster across the board with every unit underperforming most of the game.
The furious comeback was nice on the stat sheet but was fools gold as was the 6 point defensive performance vs detroit.

Against Atlanta it all came home to roost including a perplexing inability to even stop the run coupled with an inaccurate Wilson, spotty line play and Bevfools abandonment of the run game when the game was still within reach.

Then you turn on the pro bowl and realize how much talent is still there.
The attitude adjustment is the main thing that's needed as Greg points out, the flexibility to adjust to whats on the roster and whats in front of them across the line of scrimmage. As Knox said "play the hand you're dealt"

I think this team still has a good 3 year window depending on whether the staff is prepared to open their minds and consider adjustments and targeted roster moves but without it the divisional round and maybe even the playoffs could be in serious peril.
As for FA's I think Graham is a priority as is star in the making Richardson . I would let Hauchka walk personally. he missed 8 kicks and had several more super low trajectory kicks blocked. hes toast.

[burrrton]

I hear fans all the time saying "well it was #1 most of the year and for the last 4 years before". But lets get real.

Er, that *is* getting real, HT. For all the vulnerabilities, we still field(ed) arguably the best defense in the NFL when healthy.

Pointing to various breakdowns over the years is valid, but those aren't unique to us, and they don't change anything- it's a relative determination.