One day I tell ya! One day this blog will be big enough to afford Photoshop to make this box cover of the First Season of Growing Pains REALLY hilarious! For now, you'll just have to deal with Alan Thicke instead of Pete Carroll, which isn't a bad consolation prize actually.. anyways. After the Arizona loss I wrote about how it was important for the team to not lose sight of their, and mostly Pete Carroll's, overall philosophy of not getting too high or too low after any given Sunday. Sure, every coach and team talks about that kind of stuff, but I doubt many practice what they preach as much as the 'Hawks do in that regard. We've seen the 'Hawks bounce back from tough losses countless times under the stewardship of Mr. Pete Carroll. Sunday at Carolina is another chance for our boys to do so.
Much like the hit show of the mid 80's to early 90's, the Seahawks 2012 team slogan could very well be "Growing Pains." This team is young all across the board and most of it's impact players are especially young. Save for Brandon Browner and Chris Clemons, this team is as young and talented as it gets. I spoke yesterday about how I might have underrated the fact of how young this team is, and I still think it's something they will ultimately overcome this season on their way to a playoff berth. However, it's apparent that there are going to be some rough spots along the way and you'll be saving yourself a heart attack down the road by preparing for and realizing that fact now. I encourage you to listen to this clip. Warren Moon talks about Russell Wilson and his development and how he can improve. It's definitely interesting stuff and I have to say that I agree with Moon here.
I especially agree with Warren when he says that due to the day and age we live in where people expect instant gratification that expectations for Russell's success are at an all-time high. Sure, you've got your success stories like Cam Newton and Andy Dalton and apparently Robert Griffin III, the rare breed of guys who can make the jump from college to the pro's and tear it up, but sometimes it doesn't pan out that way. I was certain that Russell would hit the ground running, and in many ways he has, but it's also obvious that there are other things that this offense and specifically the passing game need to work on to get DangeRuss to that point. The pass-protection on obvious passing plays has been suspect, the play calling has often left Russell digging out of a hole, and the receivers appear unable to get consistent separation. Just one of these things could hinder a passing game, let alone all of them. You could drop Johnny Unitas in to that huddle and he'd struggle to get things going.
I'm seeing a lot of overreaction from the 12th Man as well. People looking for Flynn to start after just four games with Wilson, a guy that everyone genuinely wanted to start after his breakout pre-season. There's no guarantee that Flynn would do any better with the limitations this passing game has right now. I always feel that before making a change with an area of the team, it's important to have a better alternate in my mind. You don't just change for the sake of change. Keep in mind that Russell Wilson is now the more experienced quarterback of the two in terms of NFL games played. If the team has training wheels on Russell Wilson aka the guy who won the job in camp then what kind of training wheels would they put on Matt Flynn, the man who lost it? It'd probably look something like this...
Most of the struggles the team has had so far this season point to youth and inexperience as the culprit. Needless penalties? Got a whole lot of that goin on. Miscommunication? Check. Failure to pick up assignments in pass protection? Check. QB escaping the pocket too early and not stepping up in the pocket? Check. Defense not getting off the field on 3rd downs? Check. A lot of parallels can be drawn to the '04 Seahawks who had the talent and just needed a little more seasoning before finally arriving as a dominant team and made the same types of mistakes that this team is making right now. However, I think this year's version of the team is far superior to that of '04 and I fully expect them to cash in on the potential sooner rather than later.
What's also important to realize is that prior to the season we would've been happy with a 2-2 record, or at least I know I would've. Sure, we've bungled two winnable road games against divisional opponents and sit in last place in the division by virtue of that alone. They still beat the Cowboys and the Packers though, two quality opponents, and played dominant defense in both of those games. There's a plethora of 2-2 teams out there right now trying to figure themselves out and the Seahawks are one of them. Just look at the Giants last season for an example of why you've got to buckle up and enjoy the ride. Sitting at 7-7 and with a fanbase ready to fire Tom Coughlin and hopefully bring in Bill Cowher during the off-season, the Giants went on an improbable run to end the season and eventually win the Super Bowl. Living in New York City, I can tell you that while their fans, in typical New York fashion, enjoyed winning the Super Bowl they DID NOT enjoy the regular season. They bitched and moaned and complained and got passive aggressive about the team all season long and then wanted to enjoy their Super Bowl as if they were behind their team the entire time. I call BS! I hope the 12th Man doesn't end up this way because it would be a damn shame. We're better than that! Just sit back and watch this team with the mindset that you know nothing about them from week to week because they're still growing and you'll save yourself from the agita and the early grave.
We don't want to be "THOSE" grumpy, miserable fans with the sense of entitlement that act like toddlers when things don't go their way because of a football game. I've only seen a few people point out that the Seahawks have faced 4 of the Top 10 teams in the league in Pass Defense so far this season. Hardly anyone has even mentioned that when talking about Russell's performance so far as a rook. Things get a lot easier for him, in theory, as he won't have to face another pass defense that currently ranks in the Top 10 until Week 13 at Chicago. Stick it out my Seahawks brethren. I know we all see the talent that this team has amassed and know that we're oh so close. On the brink of our destiny being fulfilled and the slipper finally fitting. However, the NFL is not a movie. You've got to work on things, constantly make adjustments, and fight through a grizzled 16 game schedule before you can even start thinking of the glory and the payoff. That's why it's imperative that this team keep an even keel and stick together and it's imperative that the fans do the same, no matter how impossible it seems. Look, I know how crazy things get on Gameday when we're all armchair quarterbacks that want to see great things, there's no denying that and I'm guilty of that every week, but the days afterwards we can certainly do a better job as fans in how we react to this team. Players and coaches getting harassed by fanboys on Twitter? I'm not a huge Twitter guy as you can tell by my measly 13 followers, but that's a little extreme, no? Point of this is just chill out and enjoy the ride my brothers, as the 'Hawks would say. These youngins need our support, so let's give it to them.
Very well, on to the future.. First, I thank the football gods for giving the Seahawks a rare east coast 4pm start. That's 1pm for you west siders out there. I've bitched for years about how the NFL should make all games where west coast teams fly to the east coast 4pm eastern starts. Finally, I get my wish. As for the game, I think the 'Hawks match up well with Carolina all across the board. The Panthers defense is a shambles, especially when containing the run, so I fully expect Marshawn, Turbin, and Leon!?!? (some day...) to put in work. I wouldn't expect much more from Russell than what we've seen, minus the fluky interceptions he threw last week. No need to open it up this week with the Panthers run defense so porous, but it would be nice to see the 'Hawks go back to what was working on that opening drive in St. Louis. Lean on the run but as Warren Moon said, keep Russell fresh and active and throwing the ball consistently and not just on 3rd downs. I know people will be worried about stopping Cam Newton but the 'Hawks have the team speed on defense to contain him if they play smart and stay assignment correct. We don't need anybody to be the hero here, just a bunch of ball hawks that gang tackle with authority will suffice. The Panthers have a vaunted running game with a plethora of options in Stewart, Williams, and Tolbert but I trust the Seahawks run defense to shut down anyone at this point, they are that outstanding.
One area of real concern has to be shutting down Steve Smith. Of course, the easiest way to do so would be to get to Cam Newton early and often, but I don't trust the Seahawks pass rush on the road just yet. At least not enough to predict them bringing the heat to Cam all game long. In my opinion, it'll be up to Richard Sherman to bounce back from his lackluster performance, despite the INT, against the Rams and try and contain Smith. We've seen receivers who fit the mold of Steve Smith hurt the 'Hawks in the past few seasons. Panthers Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski will certainly try and move Smith around the field to create better matchups for him on Sunday. Gus Bradley has to counter that and has to make sure that Sherman is on Smith at all times. While Marcus Trufant did a solid job in limiting Danny Amendola last Sunday, it won't be as easy if he's constantly matched up with Smith, who can be a weapon out of the slot. As such, Brandon Browner's lack of top level speed could be a liability when covering the explosive former Ute. We saw Mike Wallace torch Browner in Week 2 last season and although Browner has come a LONG way since that point, even shutting down and often manhandling DeSean Jackson towards the end of last season, it's still a matchup that Gus Bradley should try and avoid. How refreshing is it knowing that Earl Thomas always has over the top responsibilities and that whoever is matched up on Smith, he should be there to help? Love that dude.
Another Panther to keep an eye on and one that Seahawks fans will remember is Tight End Greg Olsen. Olsen, you'll sadly remember, was with the Bears in 2010 and put on a clinic during the playoff game in Soldier Field that ended the Seahawks cinderella run. I wouldn't be too upset if Kam Chancellor greeted Olsen, insert obligatory "from the U!" comment here, with a hit that Ronnie Lott or Jack Tatum would be proud of.
I've got the Seahawks winning this one late 27-24 and getting to 3-2 on the year and 3-2 in the conference. Don't forget how huge wins against conference opponents and potential playoff contenders like Carolina, Dallas, and Green Bay could loom. This team is going to find it's feet eventually and when it happens, good lord watch out! The thought of the defense and offense working together as one for a full 60 minutes is enough to make my head explode. It might not happen this week, it might not happen until the second half of the season, but my God when it does this team is going to be like Liam Neeson in Taken. A badass son of a bitch who for some reason people still keep coming after and disrespecting only to get completely annihilated. I'll be waiting for that moment, that oh so beautiful moment.
What do you think, my fellow 12's? Think it'll all come together or like Phil Collins and Chargers fans will we be waiting for this moment all our lives? Let me know! Go Hawks!
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