Postmortem: Seattle vs. Lambs Second String

[Donn Beach]

Yeah, I agree that's what he is saying, that's what I'm getting at, how is that not valuing the later games more than the earlier games?

[Michael K.]

this is fun - from Field Gulls "Winners & Losers" column - he has Harbaugh in the losers section - pointing out the same things I did - only you read it here first in the Postmortem!

Jay Harbaugh

I don’t think Harbaugh will get fired and maybe he shouldn’t get fired considering how many departed players this past offseason (e.g. Will Dissly, Nick Bellore) who were important special teams contributors. Harbaugh is very much on thin ice entering next season, because the woes in the return game and in kick coverage have been a season-long issue.

Jason Myers and Michael Dickson were the only high points for a unit that had to cut both of its return specialists for fumbles and has otherwise struggled to return punts, cover kicks, and protect against blocked field goal/extra point attempts. The Rams game featured Jaelon Darden fair catching a punt at his 5 despite ample room, Tyrice Knight somehow not downing a punt that was dying to be pinned inside the 5, two big kick returns given up, and a punt return that should’ve been stopped inside the 10 and was brought back to the 25.

It was very Pete Carroll esque, how they handled the ST issues. They decided that simply not turning the ball over was a win. Much like PC seemed to believe that Punts were victories, since taking a chance on third down isn't worth it. It's frustrating to watch. I didn't mind Grubb as much as others this year because I am so sick of watching us and wondering if we are even trying to win. Running it regardless of success, and asking CBs to line up three yards behind the first down marker and backpedal on the snap is what I have watched for the past several seasons. The only unit that seemed to still remain that way this season was the Special Teams.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

The Seahawks and Mariners have got that slightly better than mediocre thing down. It's hard to get better players whrn you're always drafting in the 17-22 range.

So they should suck for awhile?

Well, maybe a year or two. Seems to work for the 49ers.

[trharder]

This is what average looks and feels like.

To be average and win 10 games - the most of any non playoff team - is still baffling. Did they over perform? Underperform? Ten wins in the NFL is no joke, so are they really average? Inconsistent for sure. What does this say about the coaching staff to take an average team to ten wins? I have no answers. It sure feels average, but man oh man it looked a lot worse at times.

I agree with everything you said, so... I think the saying is you are what your record says you are.
Some of those wins weren't good games. Some of the losses were close, but that's the way it is.
I think the Grubb firing is a good sign that MM has no intention of remaining average. I'm curious what this means for Geno.