Tag Archives: AJ Barner

#LARvsSEA, Playoffs

Bad news for Rams: Hawks are a more complete team now

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It will be Rams-Seahawks Part III for the Super Bowl — and it might end up like 49ers-Hawks Part III.

In Rams-Hawks Part I, Sam Darnold threw four picks and the Hawks lost by two points. In Part II, the defense got shredded and the Hawks had to rally from 16 down to win 38-37 in overtime. That’s a terrible performance on each side of the ball to make these tight games.

It will not be a surprise if Part III is not close – not 41-6, but maybe something like 34-17. Seattle’s offense and defense are not going to give the Rams anything, not like they did in the first two games. The Rams, who struggled to beat Carolina and Chicago, should see the best version of the Hawks, just as the 49ers did. If they do, the Rams might not have a chance.

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#SFvsSEA, Playoffs

It’s time for Darnold to stand up and get his first playoff win

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As Sam Darnold and the Seahawks prepare for the rematch Darnold predicted was coming, everyone is wondering whether he and the offense will snap out of the slow-start funk that has plagued them for the past couple of months.

Everyone is wondering how many interceptions he might throw against the 49ers – and how many times the defense might have to bail him and his side out.

He is seeking his first playoff win as a starter, and he needs to play up to the challenge – not force his defense to carry the entire day again.

“Sam’s a great quarterback, a Pro Bowler, and he’s going to play his best football now,” AJ Barner said. “He’s already starting to do that. We’re extremely confident in him and the offensive group as a collective. We’re going to start playing our best football.”

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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).

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