by fellow 12 @ClintonBon
Hot August nights are upon us, the summer shandies are flowing like wine, and our grilled meat intake is up an appropriate 612%. While life’s “on” season is in full swing let’s dive into what has been a rather interesting offseason for our ‘Hawks!
If you know 3 In, 3 Out – and of course you do! – you know we don’t spend too much time on stats. This is more an emotional gut-check, a how’s your father?, an anti-PFF if you will. Our lasting memories are tied to our strongest emotions. For instance… clear your mind and watch this…
Now… how do you feel?
Goooooooood … Gooooooood *said in my best Palpatine voice*
Now that we’re in the right mindset, let’s go in through the outdoor and explore what has been a championship offseason!
Even though this means we’ll end on an OUT, don’t care, it’s worth it and we must, must, must start on this HUGE IN:
IN – Petey and the Schneid
Can we all head to twitter and give a social high five to Paul Allen? He’s pretty accessible for a billionaire and he got the biggest thing hanging over this potentially dynastic squad sewn up rather neatly in the span of a couple of days!
In what seemed like one fell swoop we learned that our GM was extended through 2021 and our head coach through 2019. There was never a real doubt that this wouldn’t happen but it doesn’t take away from the awesomeness that it did indeed get done and got done before the start of training camp.
This is not just the best run team in our beloved Seahawks history, it’s way way bigger than that. This team has the capability of being the next Patriots. With Russell at the helm, the core defensive studs all under contract, and big time contributions from cheap young guns like Tyler Lockett and Frank Clark, we are set up for at least another 3 to 5 years of greatness.
Our chief architect, GM John Schneider, has been as smooth as C. Thomas Howell in ‘Soul Man’ without ever getting caught in the rain. Must we??? Must we??? Yes, let’s do it.
Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner, KJ Wright, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Malcolm Smith, Bruce Irvin, Jeremy Lane… and Russell Wilson… all drafted under Schneider.
After falling short in 2012 primarily due to a lack of a consistent pass rush, he lands both Michael Bennett and Cliff ‘Godzilla’ Avril … oh and then re-signs them both to team friendly extensions.
He signed Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Thomas Rawls as undrafted free agents.
He has the balls to make big trades for the likes of Percy Harvin and Jimmy Graham and the smarts to cut bait when it just wasn’t working out.
Finally.. he traded for Beastmode in 2010… for a fourth round pick.
He is the best GM in the game, and he’s ours through at least 2021.
As far as Always ComPete, our perennially fired up 60+ year old going on 20 year old head coach, what can be said? This is not just a ‘players coach’… labeling him that is the equivalent of saying Russell Carrington Wilson is a good ‘running QB’.
He’s a great game planner, he’s got the gagoons to take the big shots, he has an opinion and a philosophy he will go to battle over… AND his players would run through a wall for him. Petey is an exceptional leader and a huge reason we consistently win.
To our returning bosom buddies we say, congrats on your extensions; now let’s go win us some more Lombardis !!!
OUT – The ‘Icky’ Shuffle
Speaking of winning another Lombardi… We got 99 problems but an O-Line ain’t one… Wait… strike that, reverse it.
Our team is friggin stacked. I don’t think it’s a far stretch to say we have the most talented and deepest team in the entire NFL, but there’s just one tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiny problem.
Our O-Line might be a dumpster fire… again.
Does any one of us have confidence that Justin Britt will suddenly be an adequate lineman by moving to Center? Ummmm… maybe, but, I mean, that’s about it… maybe.
How about J’Marcus Webb??? How about NO Scott!
Is there reason for some optimism? Sure.
Here it is.
If Britt is a non-starter, Patrick Lewis is a serviceable-plus Center. How do we know this? Because we just did the same friggin’ thing last year !!!
Germain Ifedi looks boss early. Let’s hope his nasty streak we’re seeing in camp carries through to the pre-season and beyond.
Gilliam and Glo, I think they’re pretty solid.
The recent addition of former Saints great Jahri Evans at the least brings more competition to camp and at the most could help solidify an otherwise shaky line. You can’t argue with that guy’s career protecting Drew Brees and racking up 6 Pro-Bowl nods along the way… good is good.
Did we lose Okung and J.R. Sweezy and yet somehow still a bit better heading into this season than last? Yes… I believe so. But feeling something terrible to feeling pretty darn unsure… well, that has us ‘Hawks fans feeling rather icky wouldn’t ya say???
IN – Goin’ Wide Out!
Two of the more exciting things to happen this offseason combine into one big IN for our ‘Hawks! While one was an expected extension, the other was a re-signing most of us didn’t expect. We’re of course talking about some dynamic signings of an oft under appreciated duo of wide receivers. Let’s give ADB the respect he’s earned and cover his extension first.
Angry Doug Baldwin is officially Affluent Doug Baldwin and his story is an incredible, American success story. An undrafted free agent from Stanford, ADB has crafted his game year over year and has emerged as the most efficient receiver in the entire NFL.
Yes… that’s right. Doug Baldwin, since 2013 is the league’s most efficient WR and this is a must read article from Hawkblogger with the stats that prove it.
Doug is in his prime. He is 27 years old. He is getting better with each year and now… he’s a Seahawk for 4 more years. If this doesn’t fire you up… what does???
Onto Mr. Clutch… Jermaine Kearse was supposed to be gone. He was supposed to parlay his clutch, nay HUGE receptions into a bigger payday than the Seahawks probably would’ve sprung for.
But something changed. The Washingtonian wanted to stay. This was a surprise to the upside. We all understand what Jermaine Kearse is and what he is not. He is clutch. He catches tough, contested balls. He makes his biggest plays in the game’s and the season’s biggest moments.
The greatest football game I’ve ever watched was the 2013 NFC Championship v. the 49ers. With 13:52 to go in the game, down 4, on 4th and 7 … Mr. Clutch did this:
Welcome back Jermaine, we’re glad you stayed home.
OUT – It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Ricardo Lockette is a pro. Whatever he was asked to go do by Pete and Bevell, he went and did it. What’s lost on those outside the 12s is just how good a special teamer he was. What’s required of a gunner goes beyond skill and Ricardo had it. So, let’s not forget he was carted off after a brutal neck injury leading to his retirement announcement this off-season. But, more importantly let’s remember what he did on the field:
Want some great insight into Ricardo Lockette the man? Brandan and Adam did a great interview with Ricardo’s father Earl back in May, and it’s worthy of your ears.
Enjoy your retirement Ricardo, thank you, and we look forward to you being involved in our organization for many years to come.
IN – Gettin’ Jimmy With It
If you want to argue over whether the Seahawks offense is better without Jimmy Graham… don’t you know that you can count me out.
I just don’t buy it. The team was gelling last year as the offense solidified with the removal of Nowak at center and the emergence of Rawls in the backfield. The tempo was faster and the team was just clicking. This all took place before Jimmy went down with that nasty knee injury.
Sure, if Jimmy makes a full recovery does it mean potentially less love for ADB or Tyler Lockett? Yes it does. We’re still going to run the ball a lot and Russell isn’t going to toss the ball up 38x per game.
But this team is built to hoist Lombardi again. And given the choice of a healthy Jimmy v. our team without Jimmy… well, gimme the Jimmy. Let’s hope his speedy recovery stays on track and we see him out there at full speed near week 1!
Cause you know it’s gonna be alright.
OUT – Black Santa 2
Look. We all LOVE Michael Bennett on the field. In fact, we probably all love Michael Bennett off the field, in front of a mic, or giving an interview! He’s brash, honest, witty, really funny and never indifferent.
With the news that Billy Bob Thornton is reprising his role as Bad Santa … it got me thinking that there was one sequel us ‘Hawks fans coulda done without this offseason, and that was Michael Bennett, affectionately known as Black Santa, reprising his familiar role, complaining about a contract… which he signed… when he was a free agent… after the 2013 Super Bowl winning season. In other words, that’s on you bro.
Does anyone think Bennett shouldn’t be making more money? No. He’s an elite player at an incredibly impactful position. Did we need this sequel played out again? No, no we did not.
With that, he showed up to camp, he’s out there hustlin’ and he’s mentoring the NKOTB. So… we’re cool, just go wreak havoc like you do every Sunday.
Remember earlier when I said we’d have to end on an OUT because we spent first down on an IN? Well… I lied, because this week we have an honorary 4th IN simply because it must be so!
Honorary IN – So Good! So Good! So Good!
What has me channeling my inner Neil Diamond you ask?
The new Seahawkers Podcast logo is just fantastic. The taste of it, the texture of it… it’s just an awesome update. Gotta give some love to the man who finalized Adam's concept, DCH aka @chanhary on twitter who deserves your follow! So follow the man!
It’s efforts like this that just keep making the Sea Hawkers Podcast the best sports team pod out there.
You’re probably wondering how you can get a sticker, I can’t blame you. It’s simple. Go on Patreon, support the pod – starting at just $1 a month people!!! – and blammo, you get this piece of awesome sent to you amongst some other cool perks. START HERE
1,2, 3… What’s Next!?
I’ll be settling into a beer or three and watching, streaming, tweeting (however I can) this first pre-season tilt v. the Chiefs. If I could tag one player to keep a camera on… it would be Germain Ifedi. Ifedi just might be our Keymaster. If Russell Carrington Wilson is to hoist Lombardi again this year, it will be because Ifedi is a worthy Vinz Clortho.
Till next time ye faithful 12s… Go ‘Hawks !!!
