We write about Seattle Seahawks football on this website, so I don’t want to harp too long on the musical selections in the final episode of Hard Knocks, season 24. But let me get this out of the way before turning exclusively to what happened on the fields and in the meeting rooms.
I have no problem with the Hard Knocks folks sliding in a Dolly Parton tribute with “9 to 5” accompanying the business trip to Kansas City, nor did I object to Billy Corgan screaming about being a rat in a cage as things went downhill in the final preseason game.
For the end of the episode, and since this was the series finale, the end of season 24, it did make some sense to play some actual Seattle grunge. I just think maybe Soundgarden’s “Dusty” wasn’t the right vibe for a team embarking on a Super Bowl defense. That song came from the great band’s kinda-sorta final album, Down on the Upside in 1996 – generally recognized as grunge’s death knell.
(They’d put out one more album 16 years later, the same year Russell Wilson entered the league, but grunge was long gone by then.)
A few final tidbits from Hard Knocks, episode 5 and Seattle Seahawks training camp
Truth be told, this was the least interesting episode of season 24. It was symbolically captured by the fairly dull 9-9 tie against the Chiefs.
The producers seemed to feel the need to touch base with all the storylines developed earlier in the season, so we got brief check-ins with Terrion Arnold, Jake Bobo, and Nick Emmanwori without really learning very much. The montages seemed a little longer, as though they were trying to fill time.
So I wasn’t a fan of the episode overall. Still, there were some fine moments.
Derick Hall’s shorts, take 2
Derick Hall is a huge personality. We saw his big truck and short shorts earlier this season. There has not been a callback to the truck, but we did learn he is very protective of those shorts this week.
When newly arrived cornerback Trevon Diggs showed up at practice in some short shorts of his own, Hall read him the riot act. Fortunately, it appeared to be all in good fun. Hall was one of the biggest celebrators when Diggs snagged an interception in the Chiefs game.
In case you ever need ice cream…
Look for the next venture from Messrs. Williams and Love. One of the best, quietest scenes in the show came when Leonard Williams and Julian Love shared a moment to celebrate Williams’ recent contract extension.
They are entering their eighth season as teammates, beginning with some difficult years in New York with the Giants, and then both coming to Seattle in 2023. Now that the friends have scaled the highest peak in the NFL, what more is there to do? They discuss getting themselves an ice cream truck.
If you find yourself in Kennydale next August…
We learned that general manager John Schneider likes to discuss roster moves with his staff over a beer at Dino’s Pub in Renton. So if you’re the type of fan who really wants to get the inside scoop before all your friends, you might want to hang out there a few afternoons in late August and try your hand at eavesdropping.
Look for a scruffy guy in a ballcap. He might be quoting lines from Three Amigos. (We learned that in an earlier episode.)
If I had a business, I’d hire Justin Jones
Jones, a UDFA running back out of Auburn, was a long shot to make the club. He was a late signee and never really got much of a chance to show what he could do. As it turns out, he did not survive cutdown day, and as of this writing, has not been signed to a practice squad.
But Jones had the best exit interview of the five or so players shown meeting with coach Mike Macdonald after they learned they had not made the 53-man roster.
He seemed genuinely appreciative of the chance he had been given and complimented Macdonald on the way he ran things. You came away thinking, “This is a guy I want on my team, whether it’s football or anything else.” That’s not such a bad way to end things.
Why is Mike Macdonald a champion?
This may have been the biggest takeaway from this season. The Seahawks are a reflection of their coach. Low-key but intense. Compassionate when it comes to people – no-nonsense when it comes to work. We saw and heard a lot of Coach Macdonald during the last five weeks. He could get mad. He could get passionate. But he never lost his cool. Never lost his focus.
He approached every part of his job with the same workmanlike attitude. His description of how the Seahawks win games – constantly applying pressure regardless of how things are going – constantly stacking small win atop small win until the opponent collapses – that is a recipe for success no matter what you are doing. It just takes commitment and creativity.
The Seahawks and their coach have good supplies of both.
Cutdown day was actually a bit of a dramatic letdown, but that’s the way Macdonald wants it. I suspect Seahawks fans are just fine with that. I just kind of wish the producers had chosen “My Wave” as the Soundgarden tune for the finale.
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