We see things differently Sarge and thats ok. The Super Bowl is the prize every team is shooting for. A team that loses early in the post season every year or a team that doesnt even make the post season is netting the same results to me. Not much difference. If Seattle could ever make it out of the second round that would change my opinion a lot, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
As I said, I appreciate your takes even when they seem doom and gloom. The trick is to recognize when things have ACTUALLY CHANGED. Things DID ACTUALLY CHANGE for the Hawks when we traded Russell, nailed two consecutive drafts, and brought in fresh minds on offense and defense (Waldron and Sean DeSai, prior years). One big question is, does Geno have what it takes to elevate the team in the way Peak (cheap) Russell did? Pete has truly gone back to his roots in the "Reload-after-Russell" era we are in.
In 2011, after a 7-9 season out of the playoffs, did you predict the Hawks would go 11-5 and win a playoff game? 2012 was playing with house money on a rookie QB. At the start of 2013 did you feel like the Hawks had something special going and this COULD BE THE YEAR? I sure did, as far as 2013 anyway. I felt it was a team of destiny.
This year, I feel like the Hawks are a near-2012 team, enough to make the playoffs, win a first-round game, but it would take some serious late-season improvement to win a 2nd round playoff game and make the NFCCG. Pete's teams DO have a history of late-season runs, including the 2014 team that went to SB49. Will Leonard Williams be more like a Cliff Avril/Michael Bennett acquisition, or more like a Jadaveon Clowney/Shelby Harris acquisition? Same for other DLs we traded for/signed as Free Agents. Uchenna has been the real deal, more like a Cliff Avril impact, so there's that. Sucks he's out injured for the rest of the year.
My reality check says that NEXT YEAR, 2024, is the do-or-die Team of Destiny year. I think it could also be Pete's final year. I think Pete is targeting 2024 and 2025 for the team to peak. Get a QBOTF in 2024, and peak in his 2nd year. It worked with Russell.