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State of the team, X's & O's

Predictable problems and historic lack of takeaways are hobbling Hawks

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Before the season, we projected the Seahawks would win nine games. It was fewer than many optimistic fans were picking, but we saw a tough schedule and had big questions about the offensive line and run defense.

After a soft 3-0 start, the Hawks have come back to Earth against better teams and sit at 3-3 largely because their offensive line and run defense have failed them.  

They gave away the game against the Giants with mistakes in every phase, and then they followed that up by making a bunch more mistakes against the 49ers in a game they could have won if they had played it more cleanly.

“Right now, we’re just coming up short,” Mike Macdonald said. “We’re just not doing the things that good football teams do to win football games.”

Continue reading Predictable problems and historic lack of takeaways are hobbling Hawks →
Week 4: At Detroit

It was a memorable game the Hawks should just forget; better days ahead

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Now we know what happens to Mike Macdonald’s defense when you subtract five starters: It becomes latter-day Pete Carroll’s defense.

Without Leonard Williams, Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Byron Murphy and Jerome Baker, Seattle simply did not have the talent to stop Detroit’s complex and well-stocked offense Monday. The result was a rather predictable shootout win by Detroit, 42-29.

It was a memorable game, but one the Hawks and their fans are better off forgetting. Better days are ahead.

Continue reading It was a memorable game the Hawks should just forget; better days ahead →
Week 3: Miami

At 3-0, Hawks are on a playoff pace despite more injuries and struggling O-line

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The NFL has been totally unpredictable early this season (our Survivor pool is already down from 150 entries to a handful), so it is notable that the Seahawks are one of the only teams that have not stumbled.

Before the season, we projected a 2-1 start, with a loss to Miami. But, after Tua Tagovailoa went on IR with another concussion, the Hawks became the obvious favorites in Week 3. They then handled the Dolphins 24-3 to become one of only four teams that are 3-0 (pending Buffalo’s result Monday night).

Yeah, the Hawks are 3-0 against teams that are a combined 3-6. But, you can only play the schedule you are dealt. The Hawks can’t help that they have faced a rookie QB (Broncos), a journeyman with no receivers (Patriots) and backup QBs (Dolphins).

Their defense has put the clamps on, allowing just 249 yards (second in NFL) and 14.3 points per game (fourth). We’ll see whether they can keep that up against a couple of top-four offenses over the next three games: Detroit on Monday night and San Francisco in a Thursday night game in Week 6. (The middling Giants are the Week 5 opponent.)

Continue reading At 3-0, Hawks are on a playoff pace despite more injuries and struggling O-line →
Week 2: At New England

Hawks are 2-0 with work to do, but odds and schedule favor them

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“I think the past two weeks we’ve really shown how close of a team we are when battling adversity. I know we are only going to get stronger and play better throughout the season.’’ – DK Metcalf

As we expected, the Seahawks are off to a 2-0 start following wins over seemingly lesser teams. As we also expected, the Hawks have serious flaws up front to work out if they are going to be any better than the nine wins we predicted for this season.

On the bright side, they have made the playoffs all six previous times they have started 2-0 over the last 25 years, per Gregg Bell. And there is plenty of time to fix an offensive line that has had some major struggles in both games and a defensive front that allowed 185 rushing yards to the Patriots in Week 2.

Continue reading Hawks are 2-0 with work to do, but odds and schedule favor them →
Contracts

Smith is paid as the NFL sees him, so he needs to change minds in 2024

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Mike Macdonald seems open to keeping Geno Smith as Seattle’s starting quarterback beyond 2024. But the Seahawks are not considering an extension at this point, John Schneider recently said in response to a report that Smith’s agent has asked for a new deal.

Smith still needs to prove he is worth a raise and extension.

Continue reading Smith is paid as the NFL sees him, so he needs to change minds in 2024 →
Trades

Hawks traded Taylor a year too late; Metcalf only 2019-20 pick left

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Michael Jackson and Darrell Taylor always seemed destined to move on before Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks ever played a real game, so it was no surprise the backup defenders were traded on consecutive days this week.

Taylor’s departure, which really comes a year too late, marks the end of John Schneider’s 2020 draft class – none of whom made it to a second contract in Seattle as Taylor’s $3.1 million returns to the Hawks’ salary cap.

Continue reading Hawks traded Taylor a year too late; Metcalf only 2019-20 pick left →
Contracts, The roster

If Geno plays well, could he stick around for a ‘few years’?

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Everyone keeps wanting to kick Geno Smith to the curb, replacing him with a draft pick or Sam Howell — or anybody really.

But it sure seems like he is growing on new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. Not enough to get a new contract yet, as Smith reportedly would like, but it sounds as though the door could be open to a new deal after the season – if Smith plays worth it.

During camp, Macdonald hinted that Smith could indeed be in Seattle beyond 2025.

“I think that relationship is blossoming,’’ Macdonald told SI’s Albert Breer. “We’re not there yet; it’s still six months in or whatever. But we’re looking forward to seeing where it evolves over the next few years.’’

Continue reading If Geno plays well, could he stick around for a ‘few years’? →
Preseason, The roster

Howell, O-line still have work to do, but Mike Mac’s defense looks good

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Well, August is here and the first preseason game is in the books, which means our three-month break from football is over and it’s time to start paying attention again.

One thing that seems clear is John Schneider and Mike Macdonald have made the Seahawks better over those past three months.

While Macdonald has been building what looks to be a much tighter, more disciplined defense, Schneider’s addition of center Connor Williams answered the last big question on offense. If Williams is healthy and plays like he did in Miami – and if Ryan Grubb can call an NFL game — the offense should be more consistent than it was in 2023.

If that happens, the Hawks could be better than the nine-win team we peg them for. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Instead let’s look at the roster by position after the 16-3 win over the Chargers in the preseason opener.

Continue reading Howell, O-line still have work to do, but Mike Mac’s defense looks good →
The roster, Trades

Why trade Metcalf? Hawks can easily extend him again

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DK Metcalf trade rumors and reports just won’t die.

A segment of fans keeps insisting the Seahawks should trade their star receiver, and some even think the Hawks were trying to use him to trade up in last weekend’s draft – probably based on speculation from anonymous league sources to The Washington Post.

But there was no legitimate report indicating that Seattle was shopping Metcalf. In fact, the report that the Hawks allegedly tried to get into the top 10 for Michael Penix Jr. was debunked by both Curtis Crabtree and Brady Henderson.

Now there is scuttlebutt that Pittsburgh has called Seattle about a possible deal to reunite Metcalf with Russell Wilson. No surprise, considering the Steelers reportedly were trying to get Brandon Aiyuk from the 49ers.

As fun as a Wilson-Metcalf reunion would be for the rest of the league to see, the Hawks actually have never shown an inclination to trade their star receiver — and they certainly seem better off with him than trading him for some extra cap space and a first-round pick.

They certainly will be able to afford to keep him.

Continue reading Why trade Metcalf? Hawks can easily extend him again →
NFL draft, The roster

Yes, the Hawks look more like a playoff team now

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A Seattle Times headline asked: With roster shuffling mostly done, are Seahawks closer to being a playoff team?

The answer to that question is “yes” – because John Schneider found an innovative new coach, improved the defensive line and secondary and seems to have made the offensive line and linebacker spots better, too.

Schneider hit what we consider to be home runs with the hiring of Mike Macdonald as coach, the re-signing of Leonard Williams and the drafting of Byron Murphy II in the first round. Macdonald wanted to “build a wall” — and those two guys should help do it.

In the draft, the Hawks also focused on adding blockers – three linemen and a tight end. And they added a much-needed linebacker and Auburn’s starting cornerbacks as well.

Here’s a positional rundown after the draft (RB not mentioned as nothing to note there).

Continue reading Yes, the Hawks look more like a playoff team now →