Postmortem - Hawks v Foxboro

[auroraave]

Not gonna lie, I was nervous about this game. Not because high expectations for NE, but the first East Coast trip with a lot of new parts still adjusting can be a recipe for letting one get away. We flited with that exact scenario before Geno dragged the team to a win.

Seattle came to play - and they made a lot of adjustments on the fly. When the tight ends were killing 'em, they adjusted - they weren't a factor the rest of the game. NE tore up the running game early, by the end Seattle was shutting it down when it mattered. When the NE pass rush was too much, the offense adjusted - in large part because of Geno. Both sides of the ball made solid chess match moves.

This is a big win in my book. Watching the in-game adjustments through out the game was refreshing. Each team's counter moves were solid and obvious, and Seattle made more of them. This was a slugfest on the road - and Seattle got the dub.

Geno Smith putting the league on notice that he's gonna be a problem. 33/44 for 327 yards doesn't take into account several brutal drops by the 'not-hands' team of receives today. Jesus Fant, wash the fucking butter off your hands. Smith was clutch all game long and so much of it was while under serious duress - thanks to smart scheming by NE knowing Walker was out and keying on Geno. He was locked in today - plenty of beautiful passes.

If not for a couple miscues, Seattle really could have/should have pulled away in the third quarter - but that goes against everything that is Seahawk football - if the blood pressure isn't spiking, it's not a seahawks game.

Side bar - anyone remember that five-game stretch in 2019 Atl, Tampa, SF, Minn & Philly - five straight ultra high stress cardiac games? I literally had to stop watching for a couple weeks it was just so intense! Seattle won all those games too. One of the most insane runs I can remember - and a bunch of 'em were prime time games too, making it even more insane.

Anyhoo...

Charbonnet is a great pass catcher and blocker but seems slower this year. Might be time to get Kenny Mcintosh some touches just for the research.

Defense is looking like they will become a very formidable unit. That secondary is arguably the leagues best, that dline is as good as anyone, but the surprise to me is the linebacker play which has been surprisingly solid - I was expecting them to be a liability and so far they have been a strength. That might be scheme and coaching - putting guys in the right positions, and guys playing their role correctly. It's fun to think about the defense's ceiling - hoping we find out when we head into division play. Crazy fact - top five tacklers were all secondary players - and a special game ball to Julian Love - dude was ballin' out and that blocked field goal was so clutch. Dude is a beast.

Leonard Williams is so good, when they get Nwosu back - damn they are gonna be fierce. Nice to see Murphy get his first sack, but that dline needs improvement in the run game. To be fair, NE was also using a lot of jumbo sets - which is why the tight ends were successful early.

Team is getting better, coaching staff looks even better than advertised - adjustments are happening in real time, time management is solid and no moment is to big so far. Really liking what I am seeing so far.

Top RB out, top edge rusher out, suspect oline play - and they still left Foxboro with the W - this is a hard league and this could've been a loss - but they pulled it out. Important win for a team still finding their way. Sitting in first place and hosting a tough Dolphins team - who may not have Tua avail for the game. Imagine going to Detroit 3-0 - a place Seattle has fared VERY well recently, and this squad is easily better than the last Seahawk teams that played there.

go hawks...

[D-train]

That is the one adjustment that I could not believe they didn't make. Having one RB get all of the snaps is almost unheard of especially since he wasn't effective and McIntosh had such a great preseason. I mean what did they have to lose.

[auroraave]

That is the one adjustment that I could not believe they didn't make. Having one RB get all of the snaps is almost unheard of especially since he wasn't effective and McIntosh had such a great preseason. I mean what did they have to lose.

Charbonnet probably better all round back - especially as a receiver and blocker. McIntosh have a good showing against 2nd and 3rd stringers does not mean he is ready for the A-team. Grubb called a great game - if Mac was ready - he'd play. I would imagine Charb's receiving and blocking versatility tipped the scales in his favor. I'd like to see what Mac can do, but he may not be ready.

[D-train]

That is the one adjustment that I could not believe they didn't make. Having one RB get all of the snaps is almost unheard of especially since he wasn't effective and McIntosh had such a great preseason. I mean what did they have to lose.

Charbonnet probably better all round back - especially as a receiver and blocker. McIntosh have a good showing against 2nd and 3rd stringers does not mean he is ready for the A-team. Grubb called a great game - if Mac was ready - he'd play. I would imagine Charb's receiving and blocking versatility tipped the scales in his favor. I'd like to see what Mac can do, but he may not be ready.

Not suggesting he should start or even get 10 carries. But give him a few to see what he can do, get a change of pace in there and to get Charb a blow. I mean Walker never gets more than what, 70% of snaps? If he isn't ready for a few carries by now he never will be. Not good if they don't think he is ready.

[Bil522]

That is the one adjustment that I could not believe they didn't make. Having one RB get all of the snaps is almost unheard of especially since he wasn't effective and McIntosh had such a great preseason. I mean what did they have to lose.

McIntosh was also singled out this preseason for his lack of pass pro. Add that to a 3rd string RT and a suspect o-line and I can see why Charb played the whole game

[D-train]

That is the one adjustment that I could not believe they didn't make. Having one RB get all of the snaps is almost unheard of especially since he wasn't effective and McIntosh had such a great preseason. I mean what did they have to lose.

McIntosh was also singled out this preseason for his lack of pass pro. Add that to a 3rd string RT and a suspect o-line and I can see why Charb played the whole game

Uh then don't put him in on passing plays. We have had about 5-6 occasions when guys came in totally unblocked. He can't be worse than an invisible blocker.

[auroraave]

That is the one adjustment that I could not believe they didn't make. Having one RB get all of the snaps is almost unheard of especially since he wasn't effective and McIntosh had such a great preseason. I mean what did they have to lose.

McIntosh was also singled out this preseason for his lack of pass pro. Add that to a 3rd string RT and a suspect o-line and I can see why Charb played the whole game

Uh then don't put him in on passing plays. We have had about 5-6 occasions when guys came in totally unblocked. He can't be worse than an invisible blocker.

You would literally be tipping the defense off to what you are doing. They would figure that out immediately. You might as well just tell them what the play call is. "Hey, they never pass it when (XYZ) is in." These people are not stupid. Not sure why you are dying on that mountain, but they won today and Charbs isn't awful. If Mac was that good - he would have played. You don't think Grubb would have used him if he was the best option? You bring in Mac, the defense knows it's going to be a run, so they just stack nine in the box. DO you think they would just drop 8 deep or run a cover two when they know it's a run? You're not fooling the defense - you are literally giving them the advantage with that philosophy - not to mention the rest of the league now has that on tape and knows.

[D-train]

LOL I am talking about one drive. You do know that RBs go out on screen passes so there isn't a RB blocking on every play right? Also a lot of times there are no RBs in the backfield when the ball is snapped and Geno somehow survives.

You have him run the first two plays and if it is an obvious passing play on third down then you take him out. I am sure he is not great at pass blocking but not like he is going to cost you the game if he has to pass block a few plays. There were dozens of people in X including media members wondering the same thing so it isn't like some insane idea to have your RB3 play a few downs in the second game of his second season when you RB1 is out and your RB2 is averaging 2 yards a carry.

[Seattle or Bust]

KMac was drafted to be a 3rd down back anyway... how many times did they throw the ball to Charb in the flat on 3rd down for next to nothing?

Get a more nimble back in there on those plays at the very least.

[douche]

I thought SEA's tackling was much weaker in this game. Or is that just me?