I was reading through the comments on the fanpost discussing who the Seahawks starting QB will be next year, and noticed a commenter arguing that PC and JS should be fired following what he considered a woeful draft (I would like to point out at this stage that this post is not up to discuss, or in any way draw negative attention to that commenter. Everyone is entitled to an opinion). The responses were unanimously in favor of the current regime, but it did get me thinking, is year three of this front office the year when it should be expected that “Always Compete” should translate to “Always Compete for the Superbowl?”

I’m a huge fan of both John Schneider and Pete Carroll, and feel that the way that this roster has been reconstructed since their arrival has been nothing short of exceptional. Watching Jim Mora’s disinterested and, by NFL standards, largely untalented troops stumble their way through an inept 2009 had led many of us to believe that we were entering a phase in Seahawks football that would be characterized by multiple losing seasons and numerous high draft picks. We’d had our period atop the NFC West, now was the time to slowly rebuild.

Although it’s impossible to say with certainty, I’m sure most of us would agree that this rebuild wouldn’t have achieved the same success had we not brought in PC and JS to administer it. A cursory glance at our revamped secondary paints a picture of the unique vision they had in mind, a combination of genetic mutants with Stretch Armstrong-like limbs, and speedy ballhawks with an eye for the ball. From the off, this front office was going to do it their way, with little or no regard to the accepted prototypes and conventions of the NFL.

Looking back on this draft, it’s my opinion that roster construction is complete. On defence, we have our oversized line, pass rushers, speedy backers, press corners and “little and large” safeties. On offence, we’ve previously brought in (and paid top dollar to) Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and Marshawn Lynch as well as drafting two 1st round bookend tackles. This year, Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson have been acquired to compete with T-Jax. To get to my point, there’s no area on the roster that doesn’t have PC / JS’s stamp on it, this is a team fully comprised of talent that they evaluated and invested in.

So, after three off-seasons (a lifetime in the NFL) at what point does liking the direction that the franchise is going in transform to expecting the Seahawks to legitimately contend for a championship? We all expect, and hope for, improvement, but what are our true expectations for this year? The NFC West is getting steadily stronger, but is still one of the lesser divisions in the NFL. So, at this point, should we as fans consider an 8-8 season cause to question Schneider and Carroll’s respective positions?

With the regular season starting tonight, and a trip to San Francisco only three days away, I've been pondering the internal struggle that Seahawks fans have endured over the last few years between passion and rationality. An impartial viewer casts an eye over our roster and sees the potential to be the worst team in the league, and there are many arguments to back that statement up. T-Jax's ceiling is viewed as mediocre at best, compounded by the fact that he'll be playing behind a youthful, inexperienced line that has shown little over pre-season to suggest that they'll be providing ample time in the pocket or clear lanes to run through. The acquisitions of monsieurs Rice and Miller are therefore negated by a perceived inability to get them the ball consistently. On defense, our line features nobody that will generate consistent pressure or collapse pockets, therefore leaving exposed a secondary consisting of 3 second year players, two of whom will be starting for the first time, an aging former pro-bowl talent and a CFL immigrant.

Our rational minds can see the media's condescending cackling at the Seahawks roster as having some foundation, but we also have that defensive, almost parental reaction to the criticisms. That flash of "what the fuck does Rich Eisen know, I bet he's never even seen Brandon Browner play a snap", or "it's a young line, they'll solidify over the season". Regardless of how those 53 men are viewed through an objective lens, they put on a Seahawks jersey every Sunday and become, in a strange sort of way, a part of us.

But the true battle between rationality and passion in the Seahawk fan lies, and has done since Matt started breaking down, within the Quarterback position. It reached a pinnacle in week 17 last year, when in a win-and-in situation, we found ourselves in the odd position of debating whether or not we actually wanted to be in the playoffs. We could fall ass-backwards into the post-season despite a losing record, or stay at home for January sitting on a top 10 pick and the prospect of a shiny new QB come April. When looking at the roster this season, the same emotions are conjured. Our rational minds deny us fantasies about a Superbowl this year, so a lot of us have a natural inclination to turn to daydreams and sexuality-confusing mild erections at the though of Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley. However, the beauty of passion was never so clearly evident as it was when Marshawn Lynch sodomised the entire Saints defense on Qwest that night. Though we were never going to win the Superbowl, and we'd irreparably destroyed our draft position, we were given a play and a moment that most of us will carry forever.

And so it goes, after an offseason of rational thought regarding the direction of the franchise, after scrutinising each addition or departure, it will all mean absolutely nothing for 3 and a half hours on Sunday, when we can all finally revert to being a rabid band of frothing, screaming-machines hell-bent on nothing but victory.

SEA!

My father is a hard man to get along with. Growing up in Ireland, I watched him work 70 hour weeks and when he came home he was generally pissed off and in no mood to listen to the "shite-talk" of me or my brothers. The trick was to sit down, listen to him bitch about how hard his day had been, make him a cup of tea and nod furious agreement to matters ranging from his incompetent co-workers to how crap I was in my last Gaelic match. But every now and then, the old bastard had a good day at work, and when he did he brought home an ice-cream each for me and my four brothers. Now, due to my past as a sadistic asshole, I always put mine in the freezer for a couple of hours. I'd watch my fat siblings gorge themselves quickly, waiting silently for another hour or two until their sugar-rush had dissipated. Then, when I'd hear stomachs growling, I'd make my move and eat mine at a leisurely pace in front of them, agonising over every bite.

I promise I'm about to make a point here. Your regular post-draft off-season is a slow, turgid trudge towards September. Trickles of mini-camp reports all saying the same bullshit (the coaches think player X will have a breakout year, yippee!), interviews with players that spout the same crap (great to be back with the team, playbook really suits us etc). As the lockout seemingly draws to a conclusion, just sit back and be happy that you've now gone through the worst of it. And when the doors are opened, we're going to be treated to an orgasm of free agency, mini-camps / training camp, and daily roster turnover, all condensed into an enjoyable concise window in which every day will bring you meaningful news. Your brothers have finished their ice-cream gentlemen, just give it another hour or so before you reap your sadistic reward.

Disclaimer: This is not an attempt at justifying the role the NFLPA or the Owners played in the lockout, fuck those guys.

As a means of getting away from the never-ending CBA debacle, I thought it would be fun to put something silly up for discussion. Last night, while admittedly inebriated, a friend and I started a discussion on which NFL players could be compared to actors / celebrities. I've listed a few Hawks and reasons why, can anyone add to the discussion so I can look prepared for the next time a Tuesday night becomes debauched?

Matt Hass - Tom Hanks

The eponymous Mr. Nice Guy. Doesn’t dominate media attention but never ceases to be charming in interview. Hass had a few upper echelon seasons like Hanks during Private Ryan and Forrest Gump but later seasons have proven to be more of a Da Vinci Code.

PC - Tom Cruise

Mr. Hollywood. Boundless energy and a positive attitude that borders on being creepy, but is always available for a perfect toothy smile and engaging interview.

BMW – John Travolta

Both had huge early career success, Big Mike blasted onto the scene at USC much like Travolta with Grease and Saturday Night Fever, but both put on weight and Mike’s first few seasons were a veritable “Urban Cowboy”. BMW’s first season back was his “Look Who’s Talking” moment, let’s hope he goes out and does "Pulp Fiction" next year.

Russell Okung – Michael Clarke Duncan

Solely because while both are huge, something about them says that they’re much more liable to give you a bear hug in an affectionate rather than chest-caving way. Both have 0-7 records in tickle fights but will lay you out if you sneak in a pinch. 

I grew up In County Kerry in Ireland, and started watching NFL in my 1st year in University about six years ago. I'm from a rural area, as far away from Dublin as you can get, so most people stuck close to home when going on to 3rd level education so that the comforts of a weekend home with your friends while your mother does your laundry are always nearby. I'd decided to study film though, and went to Dublin as it was the only University that offered it as an option. Away from all of my friends, and scared, my first few months were a train-wreck. After a while, I became friends with a pair of guys that loved football, and ended up moving in to their tiny, cold apartment. To be honest, having never been to America and lacking geographical allegiances, my gravitation towards Seahawks fandom was largely due to the fact that running Shaun Alexander behind Hutch and Big Walt in "Madden" gave me my best shot of finally beating one of them.

Our social life at the time was the usual angsty crap, sitting around skipping classes listening to Elliott Smith and getting stoned all day. A mutual love of football was all that bound my two new friends together (being in love with the NFL in Ireland and finding someone that you can have a knowledgeable discussion with is a rarity) and I soon immersed myself in the season to feel included. Finding Fieldgulls was like finding a treasure trove, in-depth analysis followed by educated and reasoned comments. X's and O's layed out and explained with shining humor and clarity. It took me away from Rich Eisen and the bland generalities I'd grown accustomed to when seeking NFL coverage and gave me a platform to learn so much more. Instead of staring perpetually at the QB and growing confused as to why he wasn't merely heaving the ball 50 yards downfield every play, I began watching line play, studying routes etc. Most of all, John's writing made me love the Seahawks, and for that I am eternally grateful. 

Due to the 7 hour time difference, I rarely get a chance to comment regularly, as I'm usually the first to comment while you're all sleeping or coming in at the tail end of a discussion you were having while I was in bed. But I've read every article and fanpost on this site for the last four years, and want to say firstly a thanks to John, you've given me and I'm sure many others far more than you realise. And secondly, I hope that the brilliant commenters on this site stick together. Fieldgulls has always been as much about your dedicated feedback as it has been about John's words. 

Jermon Bushrod, who was fantastic for the Saints last year when Jamaal Brown got hurt early, received a 2nd round tender today. I'm sure everyone agrees that OT is a huge need for the Hawks, but pick 40 is a little high for a guy coming off only one proven season. So my question is, is there any precedent for us trading pick 40 with someone picking in the lower half of the 2nd round, and acquiring a 3rd or 4th round pick in addition to their 2nd for the trade. Then using the late 2nd rounder as compensation for picking up Bushrod? It's immediately transparent, but would it be allowed? There's not going to be much by way of OT's in free agency, if we could pick up a 3rd rounder and use a 2nd on Bushrod I'd certainly be happy.

With the arrival of Pete Carroll looking imminent at this point, I can understand the general negative feelings towards the move. It seems bizarre that the Hawks would switch direction so radically and hand the franchise over to a wildcard like Carroll at such a crucial, defining stage in the franchise. The next few years will most likely determine whether we quickly ascend back to the top of the division (retire Kurt, for the love of God retire) or remain mired in mediocrity for the next decade. At this point though, as fans, we should recognise that this may end up being a great move. I've attached a profile on Carroll that a lot of you may have already read. While it's overtly fawning, it's a really good piece of writing and made me feel somewhat better about the future.

Enjoy!

http://www.lamag.com/article.aspx?id=6918&page=1

With Big Walt being placed on IR, it's interesting to see Rankin activated as opposed to securing more O-line depth. In the short-term Mora has said that Rankin could help out as a kick returner, but is there any chance he could end up offering a new dimension to a lacklustre running game? I'm not saying he can turn it all around, but at 6'1 with good speed it's hard not to be a little optimistic. The Edge experiment has been far from succesful, so as the line gets healthier with Lock and Sims returning, surely it couldn't hurt to give Rankin a few carries and see what we have with him?

Call me crazy but does a trade for Dorsey not make a lot of sense? With KC moving to a 3-4, he wouldn't seem to fit as a nose tackle. He's a far better DT than BJ Raji, and he's had a year to adapt to the pace of the NFL. In a draft that lacks true top 5 talent, we could give up our 1st-round pick for Dorsey and KC's 3rd-rounder. Haley, as a coach rebuilding, would surely love the chance to snag 2 picks in the 1st five, and we'd pick up a high 3rd and a player that would probably help us more than anyone we could take at 4.

A recent fan post suggested that we are destined to take either Michael Crabtree or Aaron Curry at 4, but both moves would seem illogical. Peterson was traded to relieve the amount of cap room paid to LB's, so I doubt Timmay wants to inherit an even larger contract on the strong side, and the signing of TJ and return of Burleson negates the need for a wideout (unless we cut ties with Branch). I'm not sure if we have the cap space to enjoy the luxury of signing Sanchez or Stafford (whichever the lions pass on!) and grooming him under Hass for a year or two. With the little we have to spend, surely someone getting paid such a large amount would be expected to contribute? That leaves us with a tackle, which if we stay at four, I have to think we'll draft. However, finally getting to my point, if we do manage to find a trade partner in the middle of the board, I'm curious as to who you guys would want? With issues at wideout and DT seemingly resolved, should we go for a back like Beanie Wells, grab Malcolm Jenkins and covert him to FS, pick up the likes of Michael Oher and stick him at guard etc. I'd love to pick up Jenkins, if we could pick up a 3rd rounder and still grab the best DB on the board we'd be off to a great start

With Deion Branch certain to miss at least four games and Hackett leaving for Carolina, we seem really weak at wideout. With Burleson and Engram the only experienced WRs left on the roster of a team that likes 4 wideout spreads, we're bound to see a lot of  Ben Obamanu, Jordan Kent, Courtney Taylor and possibly Logan Payne. I was initially really bothered that we didn't take a WR like Steve Johnson with the sixth or seventh pick, focusing on a problem LS position instead. However, if Mike Holmgren thinks that the aforementioned young talent can make the step up then who am I to argue! That being said, who does everyone think is most likely to make an impact this year? Obamanu seems the obvious choice, as he's seen the most snaps. However, if Kent has developed into a solid route runner and consistent ball catcher, his mixture of size and blazing speed could be a huge asset.

Holmgen and Ruskell have both announced since the draft that Lo-Jack was the man they wanted in the first, and the fact that we didn't look at running backs in the rest of the draft would suggest that Jones, Mo-Mo and T.J have their full confidence. However Mendenhall wasn't supposed to have dropped so far, and has a tremendous combination of size and speed. Do you think if the Steelers had passed on him we would have pulled the trigger?