The State of the Seahawks with Mookie
| 19
|
Mookie, also known as SSReporters, is the lead writer for the sports blog Stupid Sideline Reporters and the Seattle Seahawks beat writer for the sports website known as ArmchairGM. To get a better understanding of how the Seahawks' roller coaster season has gone, I decided to interview the young Seattle resident. So here is Mookie's take on the state of the Seahawks.
1. When did you begin following the Seahawks? My initial interest in the Seahawks began around 2004. At that time they were marginally good but often faded in the 2nd half of many games, blew away leads and ended up losing them. In an ironic twist, we relocated here in 2005, the year they went to the Super Bowl. Naturally, I threw my full support behind our home team and I'm still a very loyal 'Hawks fan (not to be confused with the Atlanta Hawks!).
2. How did you become the ArmchairGM Seahawks beatwriter? Could you explain what the ArmchairGM beat writing group is all about?
Just one word Joey, bribery Dan Lewis (DNL) had created this project for beat writing. Initially, the focus was on NBA, MLB, and NFL teams. Since no one was assigned to the Seahawks beat, I signed up right away (now I share duties with Afraidofedhochuli. Besides, do you really think I would want to write about the Sonics?)
The ArmchairGM beat writing group is all about objectively covering a specific team. Even when the season is over for whatever league, you still write about them. In my humble opinion, its no different from being a sports journalist for any major publication (minus the road trips, of course).
3. On a 1-10 scale, could you rate the Seahawks' performance so far this season? To be totally objective, it's better to rate by individual categories, since each have different standards of measurement.
Passing Offense: 8. The passing game has been phenomenal for Seattle. Matt Hasselbeck is having a great season, his receivers in Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson are not dropping passes, they seem to be really in-sync.
Rushing Offense: -3.5 3. The running game has actually worsened from last season. Shaun Alexander has rushed for 612 yards on 186 carries and 3 touchdowns. That's just 3.3 yards per carry: pathetic!. However, there have been some bright spots in this debacle. Back up RB Mo Morris has run for 497 yards on 112 carries (4.4 yards per carry) and 3 TD's. Do the math, Morris has been much more effective than the supposed franchise player.
Offensive Line (Passing): 9. It's not up to the standards of 2005, but Hasselbeck is finally getting protection again. Consider that in 12 games last season, Hasselbeck was sacked 34 times. After 14 games this season, Hasselbeck has been sacked just 29 times. That's not half bad right? Offensive Line (Rushing): 4.5. The blocking is just on there anymore. The holes for Seattle running backs are hard to come by nowadays. It's been pathetic. Obviously these guys need Steve Hutchinson and Mack Strong badly (to be discussed later in the interview).
Passing Defense: 9. An incredible improvement from last year in the secondary. The new signings in Deon Grant and Brian Russell to go along with the 7 interceptions by Marcus Trufant have lead to a defense that has allowed the fewest TD passes in the NFL.
The Front 4: 10. Seattle is 2nd in the NFL in sacks (41), with the front 4 anchored by off season signing Patrick Kerney, who leads the NFL in sacks with 13 1/2. The pass rushing has been consistent for most of the season, and has been the key to this Seattle defense.
Rushing Defense: 8.5. Last year, 49ers RB Frank Gore torched them for over 300 yards in their 2 meetings. Overall, they were literally run over by every running back imaginable. This season, Seattle has allowed just 2 RB's to reach the 100 yard plateau. Their recent success has been led by run stuffer's Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu, and Brandon Mebane, a rookie from Cal. The only flaw for the Seahawks for now is that they've been allowing a lot of TD runs of 30 yards or more. Special Teams: 5.5. The special teams in the return game has been much improved once Nate Burleson started returning kickoffs and punts. Burleson is a reserve Pro Bowl return man if Devin Hester is injured. The punting by Ryan Plackemeier though has been atrocious, averaging just 39 yards per punt. It's mainly been the poor snaps by Boone Stutz, who has since been released.
Overall: 7.5
[1] 4. I have heard some 'Hawks fans grumbling about Holmgren's coaching this season. How do you think he's doing? Should he resign after this season?
I believe Holmgren is having an average year so far. The play calling is predictable to the point where I know what they are going to call even before the play begins. I think he took way too long to realize that Seattle has a lot more success throwing the football, than when they run off tackle with Shaun Alexander. If he started this pass first style of play earlier in the season, you're looking at a team that could be easily be 11-3.
Should he resign? I don't think he should at all. Holmgren has led them to 5 playoff appearances (including an NFC Championship and 4 division titles) after switching to the NFC, he is still a key figure in this franchise's history. One option that could happen though, is he relinquishes his play calling duties to offensive co-ordinator Gil Haskell or share those duties in 2008.
5. It seemed that the Seahawks were really hot two weeks ago after thrashing the Cardinals at home. Then, they went to Carolina and layed an egg. Which is the the real Seahawks team?
The real Seahawks team is pretty much what you just stated, a Jekyll and Hyde team. Seattle has shown they can play to the level of the Cowboys and Packers with dominating wins against Tampa and Arizona, yet play ever so poorly against teams like Carolina.
6. Fantasy Football players have surely found out that Shaun Alexander is not the same player he was two years ago. What the heck happened? I don't know where to start, let me find a way to explain it in a clear and concise manner.
Injuries. Shaun Alexander has had an incredible number of injuries since last season. He had a broken foot, was out for a month, and he still has not run with the same power and determination ever since. I believe that the foot problem has not gone away, and it may permanently affect the rest of his career. This season, he's the human version of the guy on the Operation game. He's missed time with a sprained ankle, a bad knee, a broken wrist, you name it. Perhaps because of these, Alexander is actually running even worse this year than last year.
[2] Personnel changes. A good running back is nothing when his offensive line is mediocre. The loss of Steve Hutchinson and the retirement of Robbie Tobeck have really hurt the overall running game of Seattle. In addition to that, this year, Seattle lost a great blocking fullback in Mack Strong, who had a career ending neck injury. Strong has blocked for 1,000 yard rushers for 14 consecutive seasons up until 2006, when Alexander was hurt.
Shaun himself. For reasons unknown (with the current best guess being his injuries), Alexander is going down with arm tackles, he is even falling to the turf with no one touching him. He is no longer hitting the holes when available, he stutters out of the gate as if he is scared.
Offensive play calling. He used to be Mr. Reliable on 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 situations. Now he's running backwards, getting stopped at the line of scrimmage, he's practically incapable of getting just 1 yard. Some of it has to do with the offensive line, but in other cases, the play calling is predictable. But Holmgren keeps trying over and over and over again, and the result doesn't seem to affect his thinking just a little bit.
7. How far can this Seahawks team go in the playoffs? It depends on who their opponent is in the first round. Seattle has already lost to New Orleans at home, and Minnesota is the hottest team in the league not named New England. They could very easily be out in the first round if they face either team, but with the home field advantage, I doubt it. For now, with the way the Seahawks are playing, sure they can compete in places like Green Bay or Dallas, winning is highly unlikely. Any given Sunday we could see an upset, but the final verdict is another year, another exit in the NFC Divisional Round.
![[1]](http://bp0.blogger.com/_2HtPbaL9slc/R22doJ21FrI/AAAAAAAAATA/rg8NZmxw2Kk/s1600-h/Mike+Holmgren.jpg){kind=link}
![[2]](http://bp3.blogger.com/_2HtPbaL9slc/R22dz521FsI/AAAAAAAAATI/pKihwRDlvvI/s1600-h/Shaun+Alexander.jpg){kind=link}
