Seahawks fans can relax, the sky isn’t really falling
The Seahawks played a terrible game on Sunday. But it is time to take some stock guys and remember something; nothing is crashing down to earth.
When the Seahawks lost a home game to a backup quarterback, most fans, myself included were shocked. Then, many took to the very natural step of anger. But more than 24 hours later, the Twittersphere was still buzzing, frantically point fingers and declaring the season over.
The Seattle Times ran an article talking about how overrated the Seahawks were because their two wins were by a total of just three points. As if that matters. Oh how quickly people forget. These are the Pete Carroll’s Seahawks. They play in a way that forces game closer than they need to be and narrow the team’s margin of error. And it usually works.
But let’s not get things crossed up here. The Seahawks were terrible on Sunday. They committed stupid penalties, they were dominated on special teams, they couldn’t corral the one player who could win the game, they missed tackles, they turned the ball over, they missed open throws, and missed wide-open run lanes.
It was bad. But it is also fixable. Think about the mistakes made. Chris Carson fumbled for the third time in 3 games (possibly 4 but it was credited to Wilson). Carson never had a reputation as being loose with the football coming into this season and ball security can be improved. And since we are on the subject, if running backs don’t matter, then I guess Carson is pretty easily replaceable right?
Missed tackles are a problem early in the season, for every team. They aren’t struggling to create penetration and they aren’t out of place to make the play, they just aren’t finishing. Again, this is something that improves as the year goes on, as it has with nearly every other Pete Carroll team.
Special teams touchdowns are rare and are typically quickly fixed. After the punt return, the coverage got gradually better throughout the game.
Saints receivers weren’t running wild without defenders near them. The secondary didn’t blow coverages. Both Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers played pretty well.
And above all else, the Seahawks still have Russell Wilson at quarterback. He can and will erase a lot of mistakes. Statements like “they are putting too much on his shoulders” don’t fly. He is an elite QB and is being paid like it. That isn’t a valid excuse anymore.
The passing game has been great, despite having just one proven NFL receiver. DK Metcalf and Will Dissly have been great. The Seahawks, despite all the “problems” Twitter has “proven” exist with the Seahawks, are still 2-1 and have a good chance to improve to 3-1 in the first quarter of the season with a win against the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals.
So relax. The sky is not falling. Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson are still elite. K.J. Wright, Duane Brown, Jadeveon Clowney, Ziggy Ansah, and Tyler Lockett are all great. And despite his terrible game Sunday, Pete Carroll is still one of the best coaches in the game.
Next. Some shining lights in the loss. dark
Forgive me for not feeling a raindrop and running around like the sky is falling. Anger is one thing. So is frustration. But irrational panic is just silly at this juncture. It is a long season and every team has a game or two where they play terribly. Relax guys, and let’s get ready for Arizona.