{"id":79291,"date":"2025-11-05T09:35:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T23:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=79291"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:29:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T00:29:37","slug":"why-not-seattle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/11\/why-not-seattle\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Not Seattle?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Seahawks are contenders this year. I don\u2019t know why we aren\u2019t talking about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tKDPLQAwoAg\">Maybe it\u2019s because the last time we saw their new quarterback Sam Darnold in a big spot, he turtled like Dee Reynolds doing stand-up.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is it because their head coach Mike McDonald hasn\u2019t quite penetrated the mainstream as a defensive genius yet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever it is, they aren\u2019t getting the respect they deserve even after demolishing the Commanders in prime time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you look around the league, they have to be in the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the reason has to be their recent history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hawks have been between eight and 12 wins from 2015 to 2024, always feeling like a good, competent team that\u2019s a notch below the very best teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, two things are different and should change the way we talk about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first is that Mike McDonald is here and has injected new life schematically and culturally into an organisation that felt stale under Pete Carroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second is the rest of the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The preseason favourites all have their problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chiefs are 5-4, the Ravens are 3-5, the Bills don\u2019t have any playmakers, the Eagles all hate each other like the end of the Legion of Boom Seahawks, and the Vikings quarterback situation is still murky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1985370520909676701&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After them, the new contenders \u2014 the Broncos, Patriots, Colts, and Bucs \u2014 are either too new to trust or too injured to believe in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not 2007 or 2013. There\u2019s no dominant team out there. There\u2019s a relatively flat top tier and the Seahawks have to be in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Offensively, as we saw in their explosion against the Commanders, they are a heavy team that wants to live in 12, 13, or 21\/22 personnel, where the first number is the number of running backs and the second number is the number of tight ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1974969268614947029&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 13 personnel, they have one back and three tight ends, so those looks are particularly heavy and scream RUN to the defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Seattle are zagging, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WuJzVdIukKI\">they\u2019re kind of <em>Wedding Crashers-ing <\/em>it by misrepresenting themselves just for long enough to get what they want.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And what they want are chunks through the air, like Vince Vaughn wanted his first Asian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re succeeding, leading the league in explosive pass rate at 21%, which is the highest since the Greatest Show on Turf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re getting the chunks in part because every snap looks like a run play given those heavy looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1985455332932350463&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In essence, even when they don\u2019t fake a handoff, they get the downstream benefits of the fake handoff because of the personnel. That\u2019s how Darnold can rank 13<sup>th<\/sup> in play action attempts but second in play action yards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/new_era72\/status\/1985169498681274387\">When you add the fact JSN is always singled up when defences match Seattle\u2019s heavy personnel with base (four defensive backs),<\/a> the other speed they can get on the field with guys like Tory Horton, and Darnold\u2019s ability to fit the ball through a cracked window, you get the best passing game in the league. <a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now they\u2019ve added Rasheed Shaheed, which should supercharge an already supercharged downfield passing attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1985769514445803837&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The flaw with the Seattle offence is that they cannot run the ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Ken Walker is a good player, they clearly don\u2019t trust him on every down (much to the chagrin of me, one of his fantasy owners) and Zach Charbonnet is not explosive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s not all a running back problem, they have guys that hold up rather than guys who can pave the way for running backs like a Quinn Meinzerz or Quentin Nelson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1982549240812626250&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That makes them adequate in pass protection but deplorable in the run game, especially when your most explosive back is also your least decisive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a>The Hawks, therefore, are 23<sup>rd<\/sup> in rush success rate and 26<sup>th<\/sup> in EPA\/rush.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1980491975586652189&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But again, that doesn\u2019t matter necessarily because the passing game is so explosive, and defences are sold on the run largely because of personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1985372215601217641&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>They don\u2019t need an explosive rushing attack to get the play action benefits of having an explosive rushing attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If defences adapt and lighten boxes against heavy Seattle personnel looks, they should have more rushing success because Walker is so explosive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Theoretically, this team has pick your poison potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Defensively, this team is also a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Head coach and defensive playcaller Mike McDonald wants to live in cover-2 and play Nickel, which means they always have lighter bodies on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means they always have speed on the field but have enough ass kickers up front, as well as Ernest Jones (though he\u2019s now injured) and Nick Emmanwori behind them that they\u2019ve been virtually impossible to run against and are still effective against the pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1985472744050524561&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>They also pick the right times to chase splash plays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seattle is 29<sup>th<\/sup> in the NFL in blitz rate, sending pressure 15.4% of the time. But they are second in the league in hurries and third in hurry rate getting pressure 10.5% of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Defensively, they\u2019re basically a funhouse mirror version of their offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hawkblogger\/status\/1985368972636664308\">But the scheme stuff isn\u2019t interesting with Seattle. It\u2019s the attitude.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1985368972636664308&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F11%2Fwhy-not-seattle%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The entire defence feels like it eats hearts for breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are constantly gang-tackling and every time an opposition quarterback passes the ball, it feels dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019re a bit like the shark from <em>Jaws<\/em> where it feels like, even when things aren\u2019t going perfectly, they\u2019re liable to bite a head off here and there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, the defence isn\u2019t perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They\u2019ve been average against the pass and tend to not want to give anything away, which occasionally means they give away big plays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this is a season that goes beyond the groundbreaking analysis that nobody\u2019s perfect, nobody\u2019s even close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a year that\u2019s so flat at the top, especially in a weakish NFC, the Seattle strengths are as strong as anyone\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That makes them a threat.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Seahawks are contenders this year. I don\u2019t know why we aren\u2019t talking about it. Maybe it\u2019s because the last time we saw their new quarterback Sam Darnold in a big spot, he turtled like Dee Reynolds doing stand-up. Is it because their head coach Mike McDonald hasn\u2019t quite penetrated the mainstream as a defensive genius yet? Whatever it is, they aren\u2019t getting the respect they deserve even after demolishing the Commanders in prime time. But if you look around the league, they have to be in the conversation. Part of the reason has to be their recent history. The&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":79292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8298,13,598,344],"tags":[8260,47],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-79291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guywholikessport","category-american-football","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-guywholikessport","tag-nfl"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":"","md_tip_date_end":"","md_market_url":"","tip_date":"05\/11\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79291"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79291\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79291"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=79291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}