"These are all great seasons! This is a great era! Be sure to appreciate what we have here, which is a very well put together organization that will keep us in the playoff picture and Superbowl discussion for a decade. A lot of teams would have rolled over after that flash-bang yesterday, but these guys have heart. This is a great TEAM and we are great fans, enjoy the ride!"
Sorry, I didn't use the official quote system, but wanted to finish the thread before responding --- as its been a tough 28 hours! I'm 'all good' now and SoCalSeahawk "Nailed" it, a perfect, eloquent explanation of the dream we're enjoying. I'm 45 and lived in the PacNW my entire life. With four younger brothers, dad couldn't afford King Dome regular season games but we always caught a preseason or two --- from Zorn through Kreig, Hasselback --> Seneca Apple juice to #3 ---> the "Real Curt Warner" through Shaun's 2,000 yard season and BeastQuake to SB 48, 49's heartbreaker BUT most exciting SB I've seen in years, if not 'all time as a '12' and Largent through DJack to today's Mad Do(u)g Baldwin ---> the last four years have been an absolute Dream Come True
With respect to the Carolina organization and their readiness yesterday -- my hat's off but I truly hope Arizona exposes you and finishes what we started the second half of yesterday's game, put together with week six's first ½ of play and we win 54-3 I believe! If the young LOB were to have shown face in January 2012 the final :39 seconds without timeouts from their (Atlanta) 20 yard line after Russ drives us down to take the lead in the game as a freshman in the league --- & had we made a SINGLE stop Q 1 & 2 yesterday or one less offensive mistake, bad sack or pick (6) --- we're two plays from four NFC championship games in a row. Four years ago -- the year we lost in the same round of the playoffs as wildcard, Russ's first season -- we were 'up on Atlanta' by scoring with less than a minute and a LONG drive. Taking the lead I believe the first time of the game. We kick off, touchback, they're on their own 20 with 'less than a minute' (it seems like :37 or :39 seconds), not TOs, and our defense had played well second ½. First play Matt Ryan, Roddy White, 30 yards, second play Ryan to Julio, another 15-20 putting the, in field goal range with the clock stopped 'cause Julio got outta bounce. Remember this story? Cause had we pulled it off, San Fran was up next - a team we'd SMOKED week 16 or 17 of the regular season -- by high double digits -- & the team that would eventually rep the NFC in SB 47 --- the rest is history. Pete attempts age old silly 'ice the kicker' (in a dome) by calling late time out. He was in motion when refs blew, and missed the FG! Second attempt, he makes it moving Atlanta to the NFC Championship game v. San Fran. Two SBs back to back and this year, started much the same as last year --- as we seemingly enjoy using September as our pre-season by getting 88 and 24 back involved or in 88's case, initiated to the offense. 2-4 when the two go down --- & I'm a HUGE Marshawn fan. As big as they get. But the 88 move, I was skeptical --- and I think getting him involved in the core unit's game plan may have thrown a chemistry built over three years 'off' a bit in the beginning. As much a 3 & 88 worked together in the off season, I still believe in my heart Jimm G was a weird, initial fit for the team in Bev's playbook. That said, he's definitely an asset with Luke, I am your Father, Wilson healthy and able to 'block' & catch unlike 88 --- Rawls healthy and #24 sharing the load and eliminating ½ the 400 carries of a usual season may just get another year outta Beast Mode but I'm a bit skeptical as well of his coming back off gut surgery to carry against one of the troughest from eight in the league -- with as formidable a linebacker core as ours, arguably -- the last 9 or ten game short pass system #3 was so successful with was out the window -- anticipating that 60/40 run/pass split we're known for -- essentially sidelining the greatest, most proficient "Pocket Passer" of the SEASON! Who'd have thunk? Working 24 in to the game a bit slower than they did --- as in sure Carolina practiced all week stopping him against their own beast Tolbet --- using the play action or the quick passes to Luke, Doug, Kearse or long shots on first to 16 would've kept chemistry wed played with the better part of the season, established some first quarter confidence and possibly invigorate the defense for a stop or stand as well
Woulda, shoulda, and coulda - the second ½ was an absolute JOY to see. Watch. And look forward to with next season starting a couple weeks from now. With the draft, free agency and some cap room with the right moves. Offensive line needs some depth and a Walter/Hutch combo on the blind side of Russ. We've GOT to build a line up. Not sexy, but important. Get #31 paid. Regardless of Kam's coverage challenges -- #29 compliments him just fine. Then make absolutely sure Wagner, Avril, Irv, & KJ have their paper guaranteed --- with some help for Mebane in a DTack position --- Bennett is already unstoppable -- defense is in excellent shape. Maybe a bit more depth and experience @ CB to rotate in as a second safety or their standard coverage with Jeremy Lane.
I'm not disrespecting Lynch, but yesterday our first ½ looked like we'd given in and were ready to hit the golf course. Possibly understandable as the team's core had played deep into January four straight seasons, early February twice back to back including last year. BUT, the Magic Formula and potion Bevel and Wilson cooked up the last ten weeks of play was something to see. The defense in most of these games was equally potent --- icing a LOT of playoff teams from ever even reaching the EZone. Couple field goals and nothing more. The Ram game was a big one that hurt us with seating and a key defensive tape study for a well rested Panther team that was healthy --- old RiverboatRivera and staff did a helluva job punching us in the nose and taking away our feet, our biggest attribute in the first half. Switching cleats on 52 players during play while substituting or constantly turning the ball over just doesn't work. Isn't possible for the equipment staff and should have been a known before play. But turf and rare snow in Charlotte isn't an excuse -- the first two minutes - maybe three were the key. Those 20 points -- had we held out one its a different outcome. We beat them by nearly 50 if you add first half of first game, second half of the second game. But they beat us when it mattered and for that, my respects. The Seahawks won all their games this year in the first three quarters of the regular season. When years past --- this is where we fell short, much like yesterday. Finishing strong and getting the win
I was very concerned pre game when EVERY NFL channel's analysts chose Seattle to win. That scared me. And the blown opening few minutes to the game showed exactly how two or three key plays in a game can eliminate even the most valiant efforts of coming back to win.
In summary, TL/DR --- they're my favorite team and I can't remember missing a game or an 'era' of Seahawk ball that's been as exciting as the era we're enjoying today. Whether you're a new comer or long time Seahawk fan, there's NOTHING to be bummed or ashamed about. We're a bone crunching, ass kicking team that'll maintain its core players for a while. We've got the toughest quarterback in the NFL (has he missed a snap since taking Flynn's gig four years ago? He certainly didn't miss one this year and took more and bigger hits than any QB in the league!) with the highest Pocket Pass rating (everyone's biggest 'concern' even after going 37-6 TD/Int in Wisconsin his senior year) in the league! Second most rushing yards - & essentially a double tailback threat at all times keeping one of the 11 across the line in check! He did it without 24 9/10 times on offense this year, erasing ANY doubt about his ultimate reliance on the 'heartbeat of this team' (analyst speak) - Marshawn Lynch. Rawls is an unsuspected talent like the third round returner turned prolific downfield threat, #16, Lil' Lock and the other dozen or so pro bowl deep draft picks or undrafted studs Pete, John and Personnel have so well targeted in the past. But switching focus, 2016's talent scouts HAVE to find some athletic big boys to protect Russ's back.
Great. Job. HAWKS! Love the team. The season while tough game ½ to swallow yesterday -- finsished with an extraordinary ½ of ball leaving a significantly brighter outlook ahead than if we'd been steam rolled or phoned in the final ½ cause it's impossible to win down 31-0. They're believers and I'm too. We're less than the fingers on one of our hands plays from four back to back to back to back NFC Championship appearances. Atlanta and Carolina. Tough but true and the ONLY TEAMs in the NFL to have appeared in three back to back were the Bills (4) and lost all of them. As well, Dolphins 40 years ago and almost 50 for the 65-67 Packers. Without half the teams. So in the NFL modern era of 32, it's yet to be done. And to nearly get there with arguably the toughest season schedule & with the injuries to key players we faced says even more about the team and their desire to play, win and represent us that can't. The Twelves!
Go Hawks! (& for the remainder of the next four weeks, Cards, NFC West, Represent!) --- unless your a silly Bawwston fan, there's no team in the last decade this dominant this many years in a row --- defense four straight and many answers answered this year about an offense with a LOT of upside. For many years to come with #3 signed
Now, to the management. Don't go sexy. Go OLine. Protect that asset in offense. We. Need. 3 to get to three! To win 3 and 3 more. That's 12 for is 12's that have waited 30 years for a run like this (25, as it started five ago!). Don't take it for granted. Only 12/32 make it to the post season. Only 25% of the league past wildcard weekend. We've done the latter four years in a row, two of which we were the BEST of 32, just didn't feel like proving it a year ago --- and for the team to come back after last year's SB loss, the last play --- and the first six weeks of the season - 4 games out of first in our division says a LOT for the fortitude of this team --- that's hopefully in its same look 16/17 with a health pair of good TEs, RBs and an O Line that measures up to the rest of the team -- defense, special teams and skill players on offense.
To the mods, I've followed Hawks.net for years but only recently registered. It's an excellent site populated by a very engaging and intelligent forum. Different than most the rest of the league.
To the Team --- WAY. TO. GO Fellas! Another amazing gift you've given us this season as fans and a HUGE pat on the back to all Of you. What an Aweseome Year --- and an amazing run of four. Keep it going! We'll ALL be here for ya making the CLink even louder next year, than last. Enjoy the off season as you deserve it. Just stay in shape, healthy and don't do anything silly to get injured.
AK Jaxx
