Silver lining

While yesterday's game was pretty pathetic, I firmly believe every cloud has a silver lining. Here's how I see it:

1) The Seahawks are still the SB Champs. Just say that a few times.
2) It's hard as hell to win games in the NFL. Did anyone see Geno freaking Smith have a chance to drive down and win against Denver with 1 minute left? Or Oakland almost knock off SD? Everyone is good in this league- that's why we need to treat every game as a SB. They stopped doing this once they actually experienced a SB, but I think they'll get back on track.
3) There is no clear cut favorite in the NFC dominating. I expected NO to be a world beater this year- Carolina hasn't been great- SF has 2 losses-Arizona doesn't have a QB, and has tons of injuries. We're OK. I am NOT afraid of the NFC East; I still believe the NFC west is much superior. Parity.
4) On paper, we didn't actually lose anyone all that noteworthy- our personnel should be as good or better than last year.
5) Through games 4-6 last year were by far our WORST games of the season
A)23-20 against Houston W- Does anyone remember how bad they played in that game? Keep in mind Houston lost almost every game last season. Were it not for an ill advised throw by Schaub, we'd have lost that game.
B) 28-34 loss to Indi. Remember how putrid the defense was that game? They couldn't stop Indi to save our life.
C) 13-20 W against Tennessee- That Tennesee team was TERRIBLE and we won by 7 points at home...

I firmly believe we have the best coaching staff (except maybe Bevell, whom will get put in his place), in the league. They will bounce back, they will make adjustment and get back to "Seahawks football". We may not with the SB again, but we will be a contender for many years to come. Count on it.

This is why I don't like predicting games. Anyone can beat anyone in the NFL. Why are fans saying that Cowboys are better than the Seahawks? Just because of a win? Are they really? So, they are better than the Seahawks but they are not better than the 49ers? Are the Bears better than the 49ers? Who btw.... lost to the Bills.

I'm just rambling, now.

Any Given Sunday baby!!!

And to the OP, I love the optimism and agree with you.

But I'm still a concerned with the play calling though. Gotta be able to utilize Harvin better and feed the Beast by running the damn ball like we're supposed too!!!

OP. you beat me too it. I just came on here to post the same thing.

NO matter WHAT happens this year. We are still the defending champs. We will always be known as Super Bowl 48 champs

If you rest on the success of last year then you are heading for failure this one. Thats part of what I thnk is going on, they hear Super Bowl Champs to much instead of in a fight for a playoff birth.

Very true. The league is WIDE open this year.

On paper we didn't lose anyone noteworthy?

That's just asinine.

Saying we are the defending Super Bowl champs can be a silver lining if it motivates you, but it can also make you feel entitled. So let's leave that one out


Silver Linings: Externally, as far as making playoffs

* The only team I'd say is "clearly" doing better than we are in the NFC is the Dallas Cowboys. I don't even put Philly there yet.
* NFC West is still way too wide open.
* It's a long season, lots of things can happen

That being said, the internal things need to get fixed - the above external things do not mean we can rest on our laurels

Silver Linings, Internally
* I definitely think many of our problems on O and D can be fixed by simplifying the offense to what worked last year. Pound the ball rushing, and let that open up your receiving game. Do not give up on the run, that is a game long commitment

What worries me the most:

* Depth/Injuries: this is the one that scares me the most. Esp O-line and D-secondary. What happened to next-man up?

The only silver lining I see is the Coordinators Bevell and Quinn will get their heads out of their asses and start playing fundamental but physical football.

For Bevell, using Lynch as a focal weapon and setting the table for a vertical passing game... trying to force feed a horizontal passing offense without getting the defense to stack the box or protect the deep perimeter is just dumb coordinating and everyone knows it.

For Quinn, its getting back to the basic of what was the 2013 defense... I think Seahawks need to bench Cliff Avril for now, and get big up front to start the games with a D-Line of Bennett-Williams-Mebane-McDaniel... impose our physicality on O-Lines with our Big Bads then attack with speed rushers. Its also time to bring back the bump and run coverage and just live with the results if we start getting flags... teams are understanding how to attack our Zones... let's get them off-balance, throw them off their timing by being aggressive and attacking them off the line. If offenses make big plays at least they are feeling it rather than just sitting in soft spots in the Zones or exploiting the exchange.

Get physical.

Also, if Okung and Chancellor aren't at least at 75%, sit them, we don't have to shut them down but if Bailey is healthy start him, start Jeron Johnson and see if they can step up while Okung and Chancellor get reduced snaps to slow down their wear and tear.

Pandion Haliaetus":6lr5cnjq said:

Its also time to bring back the bump and run coverage and just live with the results if we start getting flags...

Click to expand...

What is this bump and run coverage you speak of? Can you describe it to me? I don't know, it sounds awfully physical.
:sarcasm_off:

SonicHawk":1fw9axo3 said:

On paper we didn't lose anyone noteworthy?

That's just asinine.

Click to expand...

I actually think it's comical that you would read an entire thread of positives and give this sort of response. I think it shows a lot of your overall point of view. Nevertheless, what I meant to say was on paper, I don't think we're any worse off than last year.

Offseason starting lineup losses:
Tate
Clemons
Bryant
Thurmond
Giacomini

Offseason new additions to starting lineup (in order):
Harvin (Harvin>> Tate. We had Harvin for half of a regular season game)
Avril for Clem (Clem had 4.5 sacks all season...not a huge year on paper)
Williams for Bryant (loss of an emotional leader, nothing notably on paper, but perhaps something bigger missing there)
Lane is slightly worse than Thurmond as nickel corner
Britt for Breno- Britt has graded surprisingly similar to Giaco through the first few games of the season.

Pandion Haliaetus":19ezua99 said:

The only silver lining I see is the Coordinators Bevell and Quinn will get their heads out of their asses and start playing fundamental but physical football.

For Bevell, using Lynch as a focal weapon and setting the table for a vertical passing game... trying to force feed a horizontal passing offense without getting the defense to stack the box or protect the deep perimeter is just dumb coordinating and everyone knows it.

For Quinn, its getting back to the basic of what was the 2013 defense... I think Seahawks need to bench Cliff Avril for now, and get big up front to start the games with a D-Line of Bennett-Williams-Mebane-McDaniel... impose our physicality on O-Lines with our Big Bads then attack with speed rushers. Its also time to bring back the bump and run coverage and just live with the results if we start getting flags... teams are understanding how to attack our Zones... let's get them off-balance, throw them off their timing by being aggressive and attacking them off the line. If offenses make big plays at least they are feeling it rather than just sitting in soft spots in the Zones or exploiting the exchange.

Get physical.

Also, if Okung and Chancellor aren't at least at 75%, sit them, we don't have to shut them down but if Bailey is healthy start him, start Jeron Johnson and see if they can step up while Okung and Chancellor get reduced snaps to slow down their wear and tear.

Click to expand...

I have faith they will make adjustments that will lead to winning ways. They promised Avril he would get a shot at playing full time, but clearly it's not working. He's done a good job stopping the run thus far, but I think he had a lot more juice coming in as a situational pass specialist. His individual stats would be indicative of this too.

I KNOW the offense will get back on track. I'm not worried about it....Even if we need to bring in Bailey- we can still run the ball effectively and P/A pass. I do believe it's as simple as focusing on the run game, and allowing it to set up the passing game.