Seahawks Doug Baldwin said “missed” not “missing” and that’s important

Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin checked his words on Q13 News and what he said was meaningful. Because, well…he is Doug Baldwin.

Let me be very clear here. I am a Seahawks fan. But I am also a fan of Doug Baldwin, both as a person and a player. Baldwin is an intelligent human being and has hands for catching footballs that are ridiculous.

Baldwin told Seattle’s Q13 News this week that he felt the Seahawks “missed” some of the leadership that left this offseason. This leadership void occurred because Seattle lost Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, among others. But Baldwin also clarified thoughts while speaking.

Or as he put it

"There’s a large void there. We had a lot of leadership that was just natural, honestly, especially on the defensive side of the ball, obviously. Those individuals challenged the entire team. Whether you want to say it was good or bad, they did push our entire team to maximize our potential. That element is missing — I shouldn’t say missing; it is missed — but there’s guys who can step up and fill that void on the defensive side of the ball.I think it gives us an opportunity to breathe, and find that new talent, that new leadership, and hopefully continue where we left off."

Look at that middle part the most. Baldwin checked his words. What the Seahawks lost is “missed,” but it’s not “missing.” There are “guys who can step up” already on the team.

This is important to remember as the simple fact is national pundits think long-term Seattle is cooked. They think the real talent has left and the young talent isn’t very good. But Baldwin, although he states he thinks experienced leadership is gone, believes there are potentially players who can replace what was lost.

And don’t 12s across the entirety of the universe believe this? We must, right? Sure, Seattle lost some Pro Bowlers, but Shaquill Griffin and Jarran Reed might take Sherman and Bennett’s place.

Baldwin will probably be a Seahawk his entire career. He should be. The Seahawks should want him to be. He is a smart person and could move from player to the Seattle front office. The Seahawks would be lucky if he made that move.

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So when Doug Baldwin speaks about what the Seahawks have lost and what Seattle could still have, fans should listen. And I for one am thankful that Baldwin still appears to think the future of Seattle football is good.