auroraave wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 pm
The error people are making is expecting Seattle to hit their ceiling the first half of the season and coming unglued when they don't. No game Seattle has played makes any difference or has any impact on how they will fare in the playoffs. Zero. A million things will happen between now and then - especially injuries. How many Saints fans are now expecting a deep playoff run? You play the game in front of you - literally nothing else matters. Anyone making assumptions now, for games happening in January, are wildly misguided and shortsighted.
This has been true with many of Pete's teams. The second Super Bowl season they were 3 and 3 after a bad loss and the sky was falling. I am pretty sure they finished that season 12 and 4...I know they got the #1 seed. It is a big reason I was so surprised at the explosive offense early. It was more than just a surprise that Pete let them air it out...but we never look that in tune early.
auroraave wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 pm
Last nights game was useful in projecting two things - the defense is absolutely getting better, and the offense can win with the ground game. Also, note the excellent game plans by both Shotty and Norton, and the brilliant acquisitions by JS. The most important thing to remember is that Seattle has a massive amount of playoff experience and DNA. Not many other teams do. They walk into the playoffs with that advantage.
The defense couldn't help but get better, but it is the highs and lows that are so crazy, IMO. Three great quarters against the Niners, then five shitty quarters in a row resulting in a loss in Buffalo that looked like a team that couldn't stop a HS offense. Then? Some pretty damn good play by the defense the next two weeks. I wills say this, with Hyde and Scarborough? We would have beaten the Rams. Sounds crazy from a "Let Russ Cook" guy like me, but the truth is, I just wanted to get away from the slow feel them out starts we had for the past three or four years. I pointed it out earlier, but the first damn play from scrimmage this year was a Sack in Atlanta. For the past five years that would have meant dive play, short pass and punt. It doesn't this year....to me, that is more placing faith in Russ than letting him throw it every down.
auroraave wrote: ↑Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:47 pm
Losing to the Rams in November will make no difference in January. None. With the depth this team has accumulated, and the guys coming back, people should be looking at the potential - and there is a LOT. You don't need to peak in November, you need to peak in January, and that is a very realistic possibility for Seattle. the offense is stacked and the defense is trending up.
That is a good point. I think the playing time Reed and Flowers are getting now, along with the time Brooks has gotten is only going to help the defense when players return. I wasn't sold on Irvin this year, but if he doesn't go down and Mayowa doesn't get dinged up? Do we trade for Dunlap? If Dunbar, Adams and Griffin don't all miss time this year, do we go after Reed? We are getting some pretty good production from guys that weren't on the field and possibly not even on the roster about six or seven weeks ago. On that note, I am exited for the secondary next year. Will be interesting to see who plays CB, but I think the future is Amadi and Blair. Amadi, IMO, has played well...and I think Blair was going to have a good year before the injury.
