Postmortem: Hawks v. Cardinals

[auroraave]

The desert was awash in Cardinal tears as Seattle sweeps the season series, crushed AZ's playoff hopes and heads home for a brutal stretch, in control of their playoff fate. The only injury I saw was Hall taking a knee to the 'groin' area - but he walked away just fine.

Damn, that was a game! Seattle absolutely dominated in the trenches - FINALLY! Okay, to be fair, AZ's lines are not world class, but they are formidable. The story here is Seattle's oline mauling up front and the emergence of Sataoa Laumoa. Dude was everywhere and the oline really dominated this game - Geno was not sacked once, and while AZ did get pressure, Geno was able to play around it for a very efficient state line of 24/30 for 233 yards and a beautiful TD dime to JSN who has emerged as the number one threat in the receiver room. Damn, what a difference a year makes!

Geno continues to show off a beautiful arm and mostly solid decision making, my only complaint from this game are some time management lapses and lack of overall urgency at the end of the first half where a score was possible but we pissed it away. Going to be an interesting off season to see how Schneider deals with the QB situation - would not be surprised to see an extension already in the works.

Glass of Charbonnet anyone? Damn, the local UCLA kid goes OFF for a career day and I did NOT see that coming. He has gelt underwhelming lately but had a break out game when we really needed it and he continues to be a force in the short passing game. Even Mcintosh showed some burst as the Seattle ground game emerged with a vengeance.

I said at the beginning of the year I thought this was a ten win team, but more importantly, I thought they would find their groove late in the season as the new coaching philosophies and schemes get baked into the players heads - and it's looking like that is what is happening. A lot of credit goes to Schneider for moves that brought us Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones, and solid draft classes bringing in players contributing at a high level. Derick Hall didn't have a big stat line but he was in Murray's face all day. Tyrice Night has 12 tackles - this LB room of no-names is looking formidable. The defense is looking like they gonna be a big problem, and we haven't even talked about the secondary just dominating.

Yeah yeah yeah, it's just AZ, fair point, but you play who's on the schedule, but is Seattle the hottest team in the NFC? It's a legit question. I think they make the ten win mark and I think they handle business at home vs. GB in Prime Time and the Vikings who find ways to choke, and I am more concerned about Chicago and the Lambs.

This was one of the most complete games - particularly in the first half. Seattle refused to euthanize the Cards in the second half, letting them hang around in a game they mostly dominated, but a win is a win and Seattle is set up to make the playoffs where they could be a very difficult out. Things seem to be coming together at the right time for this young team on the rise.

I saw a 'simulation' season that has Seattle v KC in the SB. That's still possible. Time time to give thanks to Schneider for playing chess while assembling a quality roster, quality coaching staff (hats off to Grubb for calling his best game of the season), and for all of them having the patience to bring it all together late in the season - when it counts. Also, let's give thanks for Nwosu coming back and an overall healthy roster as we make our playoff push.

I expect Seattle to shine in Prime Time and handle the Packers.

Go Hawks!

[D-train]

Really stunning that they went with Bradford and Haynes for so long when they had Laumoa in the wings. They wisely pivoted so quickly with the LBs but kept going with the definition of insanity with RG. Oh well all's well than ends well.

[Michael K.]

Yeah yeah yeah, it's just AZ, fair point, but you play who's on the schedule, but is Seattle the hottest team in the NFC? It's a legit question. I think they make the ten win mark and I think they handle business at home vs. GB in Prime Time and the Vikings who find ways to choke, and I am more concerned about Chicago and the Lambs.
......
Time time to give thanks to Schneider for playing chess while assembling a quality roster, quality coaching staff (hats off to Grubb for calling his best game of the season), and for all of them having the patience to bring it all together late in the season - when it counts. Also, let's give thanks for Nwosu coming back and an overall healthy roster as we make our playoff push.

Go Hawks!

AZ was the darling of the NFL until our Defense punished them three weeks ago. And I agree, GB at home in PrimeTime, and then the Sam Darnold lead Vikings? I feel a shit ton better about these two games now than I did going into the Bye. As you said, Fantastic job by John to continue to build the roster and this coaching staff to get stuff straightened out. It has been mentioned several times that they had "exit interviews" during the bye week. Seems to have worked.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

It was nice not having to watch Shenault and Williams on kick/punt returns playing hot potato. Regarding Laumea, was he actually good or was he just "not a total trainwreck" like Bradford and Haynes?

[Donn Beach]

Maybe it was the coaches

Veteran left guard Laken Tomlinson told The News Tribune on his way out of the desert Sunday evening that offensive line coach Scott Huff made critical adjustments in the first quarter of Seattle’s eventual 30-18 win over the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.

Seahawks players say those adjustments and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb sticking with a run game plan from the week even after the team determined Saturday lead running back Kenneth Walker was too injured to play Sunday was why they won their fourth consecutive game.

.“They deserve a lot of credit,” rookie head coach Mike Macdonald said of Grubb, Huff and the other first-year offensive assistants he hired last winter. “I have been saying for weeks that we’re working on this thing. We’re working through all the processes. By no stretch of the imagination have we made it, but it’s great to get a breakthrough on productivity on how we want to play.

https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/n ... 86889.html

[AZOldDawg]

I was able to attend this game 7 rows up on the 45 behind the Hawk’s bench as a birthday present from my son in law. First time we’ve controlled the line of scrimmage in “forever”. I also had a feeling Arizona just “showed up “ and couldn’t get off their heels from our two picks. There were multiple times Murray could have run and chose not to which was bizarre. Thank you Jesus

[auroraave]

It was nice not having to watch Shenault and Williams on kick/punt returns playing hot potato. Regarding Laumea, was he actually good or was he just "not a total trainwreck" like Bradford and Haynes?

100%! Kick returns looked smooth - even though they were fair catches, dude looked confident. I think Laumea is the real deal. We need more games to confirm, but he was a baller at Utah where he was well coached. Interior line play was not a liability - and we have two top shelf tackles - so it could be all coming together.

[D-train]

It was nice not having to watch Shenault and Williams on kick/punt returns playing hot potato. Regarding Laumea, was he actually good or was he just "not a total trainwreck" like Bradford and Haynes?

Looking forward to you posting his PFF grade.

[D-train]

It was nice not having to watch Shenault and Williams on kick/punt returns playing hot potato. Regarding Laumea, was he actually good or was he just "not a total trainwreck" like Bradford and Haynes?

100%! Kick returns looked smooth - even though they were fair catches, dude looked confident. I think Laumea is the real deal. We need more games to confirm, but he was a baller at Utah where he was well coached. Interior line play was not a liability - and we have two top shelf tackles - so it could be all coming together.

Yes, baller at Utah >>>>>> "baller" at UConn

[douche]

I can see the Pack walking all over this team. Jacobs could run for 150 yards and 3 TDs.

Hope I'm wrong.