On Wednesday I wrote that I was not inclined to make excuses for what is, at this point, a lost season for our beloved Seattle Seahawks.<\/p>\n
That remains the case.<\/p>\n
However, I will offer up an argument as to why we, the 12s, might want to cut the team a little bit of slack.<\/p>\n
Implementing a new offense takes time and isnt helped by (a) having your franchise quarterback spend his offseason in a public spat with the team, and\/or (b) losing your QB midway through the 5th game of the year.<\/p>\n
Lets start with Shane Waldron.<\/p>\n
Dude had never held an Offensive Coordinator position before and was joining a team whose head coach is well known for wanting things his way. Yet the prevailing consensus was that Shane Waldron was going to implement a magic offense, which he would have cribbed from the Rams, and that having Russell Wilson (instead of Jared Goff) directing that offense would keep defensive coordinators awake at night.<\/p>\n
Yeah ... that didnt really happen, did it?<\/p>\n
Frustratingly, yet not surprisingly, the offense struggled the first few games. Yes, they scored a bunch of points (103 through their first 4 games; 25.75 per game), but their offense basically disappeared for entire halves.<\/p>\n
Which brings us to Russell Wilson.<\/p>\n
The beloved Seattle icon spent the offseason vocally lamenting the teams inability to keep him upright during the first 9 years of his career.<\/p>\n
Personally, I think he had a point - even if he steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the role that he has played (and continues to play) in that equation.<\/p>\n
After his agent (reportedly) gave the Seahawks a list of teams that Wilson would waive his no-trade clause for, and after the team (reportedly) turned down a trade offer from the Chicago Bears, the disenchanted quarterback rekindled his friendship with Pete Carroll, even going so far as to make an announcement about their friendship during a press conference at Seahawks HQ.<\/p>\n
Whether or not that was window dressing is anyones guess. But ...<\/p>\n
Despite the offenses (and the teams) overall inconsistency, Russell Wilson got off to a really good start this year. <\/p>\n
Heres his stat line through the first 4 games: 79 of 109 (72.5%) for 1,044 yards (13.2 per completion) with 9 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. His passer rating up to that point was 128.4 which is about 26-1\/2 points higher than his career average coming into the season (100.9).<\/p>\n
Then this happened.<\/p>\n
Seattle, 2-2 at the time, watched Wilsons backup throw an interception with just over 2 minutes left and came up short in Game #5. <\/p>\n
And Game #6 (a 3-point overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road). <\/p>\n
And Game #7 (a 3-point home loss to the New Orleans Saints).<\/p>\n
By the time Wilson returned, Seattles season was on life support with the Hawks nursing a 3-5 record and preparing to face the Green Bay Packers (on the road) and the Arizona Cardinals (at home).<\/p>\n
We all know how that turned out.<\/p>\n
By his own admission, Wilson wasnt 100% when he came back. Was it too soon? Perhaps. <\/p>\n
Some would argue that RW3 at less than 100% gave Seattle a better chance to win than Geno Smith at 100%. Some would disagree.<\/p>\n
Me? Ill simply point out (as the News Tribune article I linked to did) that Russell Wilson threw four end zone interceptions since his return and thats not something that (a) he normally does, or (b) a middling team can easily overcome.<\/p>\n
At the end of the day (slash season), I am sort of inclined to chalk a lot of this season up to a new offense that never really had a chance to get going and a quarterback who had some misgivings coming into the season and then got hurt (and missed games for the first time in his career).<\/p>\n
Personally, I think Wilson will be fine and has many strong seasons ahead of him. Waldron, on the other hand ... I really dont know. <\/p>\n
In theory, Waldron could be the greatest offensive mind of his generation, stuck with a bad hand his first go round. He could also be a JAG (Just Another Guy). The truth is undoubtedly somewhere in between those two extremes.<\/p>\n
The question is, Will we find out?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read this article: <\/p>\n
The Seahawks offense is still a work-in-progress - Field Gulls<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Wednesday I wrote that I was not inclined to make excuses for what is, at this point, a lost season for our beloved Seattle Seahawks. That remains the case Continue reading