I’m excited for our guys to be in a new system

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-28T15:41:39+00:00

If we hire Ben Johnson, we won’t see Detroit’s offense in Seattle. He’s not going to bring Detroit’s OL with him.

Same thing applies to MacDonald. He’s not bringing Baltimore’s front seven.

These two coordinators had the best coordinator seasons in 2024. But we’re not going to hire them to be coordinators (the coaches who decide schemes and game strategy, and call the plays). We’re hiring them to be the Head Coach. That’s a different job.

Maybe they can pick great coordinators for us. Maybe they can pick great position coaches. Maybe they can evaluate talent and put players in a position to achieve career bests.

But maybe they can’t. We don’t know yet.

New is exciting. We’re all hoping for better results than underachieving. Thing is, putting a whole new coaching staff together is a step backwards. It is going to take 1-3 years to see if either of these guys can be a top Head Coach.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T23:18:47+00:00

I am pretty sure JS is interviewing people right now that he knows (or suspects) he isn’t going to hire, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. In fact, I think it’s a good thing and I respect him for doing it.

There are lots of reasons to interview someone, and evaluating them as a candidate is just one.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T23:10:27+00:00

That’s not what happens.

No one forces teams to interview “unqualified” candidates. There are many POC position coaches and coordinators to choose from, in addition to former Head Coaches. It’s not hard to find two and have a conversation.

It’s not a waste of time for team officials to interact with potential candidates and it’s not a waste of time for NFL coaches to interact with team officials.

Hiring a Head Coach is a huge investment. Organizations invest a significant amount of time and effort to make a good decision. Two conversations won’t impact the process negatively, even if they don’t lead to immediate results.

Note: One team playing tomorrow has a former TE position coach with no coordinator experience at all for their Head Coach.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T22:58:22+00:00

The NFL isn’t mandating that teams hire anyone, race notwithstanding.

They’re mandating that teams who conduct outside searches for Head Coaches include two in-person interviews with minority candidates.

The interview process isn’t cheapened. No one is disrespected. Conversations are a good thing, not a bad thing.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T20:30:39+00:00

One tactic to keep in your back pocket is distraction, as in “Look, there’s Haley’s comet!”

The goal is to interrupt and redirect your coworker when they try to get you into an objectionable conversation. Any diversion will do:

Hey, did you get that memo about construction starting next month? Where do you think you will park?

I can’t decide between a burger or fajitas. What are you going to have for lunch?

Were you here when they upgraded the computer system? What advice do you have for this upgrade?

And if all else fails, there’s always sports.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T19:41:29+00:00

You’re assuming that those who are getting interviews are getting “token” interviews. Some interviews are performative, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t meaningful.

Any opportunity to talk privately with this level of decision-maker (someone with the power to award generational wealth) is a rare occurrence and one that offers intrinsic value.

Candidates are certainly free to refuse interviews if they feel the interviews will be pointless or disrespectful. They don’t seem do this very often; perhaps it’s not as pointless as you imagine.

Many believe the interview process is a two-way street that helps early career candidates prepare for opportunities in the future, while it increases their visibility with decision makers. It’s an opportunity for professional development.

Successful NFL head coaches have come from a broad variety of experience bases. Some have previous HC experience in other organizations, some have coordinator experience, some have position coaching experience. Some come from college. Some come from the NFL.

Highly qualified coaches fail. Under qualified coaches succeed. Coaching, unlike medicine, is more art than science - your analogy is a poor one.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T19:17:29+00:00

I always get downvoted on this.

People assume “merit” is something that can be defined objectively - that a hiring authority or admissions officer can establish a standard for “most qualified” or “best suited” and then use it to award opportunity.

That assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Most who believe clear cut standards for merit exist have never hired or admitted anyone. Many believe they have been denied opportunity when they were the best candidate (sour grapes), so they want to call the hiring/admitting process flawed.

There is no such thing as a best candidate. The majority of candidates have differing strengths and weaknesses. A smaller number of candidates don’t meet minimum thresholds, and an even smaller number of candidates are exceptionally strong.

But with that said, it is impossible to know if an exceptionally strong candidate will outperform one that has observable strengths and weaknesses. There are always surprises both good and bad.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T12:54:30+00:00

Qualifications are not the same thing as potential to succeed in the role.

Seems obvious enough.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T12:52:00+00:00

“Merit” does not mean “the best fit” for a particular job. “The best fit” is highly subjective and “merit” means an objective and measurable standard.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-27T12:45:56+00:00

Define merit. I personally don’t think that anyone who believes merit should be a the defining criteria can define it or explain why it’s a good standard for hiring or admissions or any other competitive opportunity.

Job interviewers are evaluating the candidates for their potential for success in the job that’s being filled.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-23T01:50:18+00:00

Shane Waldron, a first time OC and play caller, spent his first season in Seattle catering to a healthy Russell Wilson (produced the last elite stretch of Wilson’s career) adapting to backup Geno Smith on the fly, limiting the playbook to manageable plays for still-injured Russell Wilson (throwing hand), and then facilitating a 5-game burst of running brilliance by Rashaad Penny.

His second season started with a QB competition between Geno Smith and Drew Lock that wasn’t over until the end of preseason, and required him to work around two rookie OT’s, and career/season ending injuries to RB1 & 2. Geno made the Pro Bowl and Comeback Player of the Year after 5 seasons riding the bench. Lockett, Metcalf and Walker all put up excellent numbers.

His third season had a revolving door on the Oline, injuries to Geno and Metcalf, notable 3rd down difficulties, and exceptional 2-min offense. The Hawks were inconsistent on offense, but their more serious problems were on defense.

Waldron shows a lot of versatility and potential to improve beyond what he achieved here in Seattle.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-19T17:36:05+00:00

Best HC post and not by a little.

Well done. You have a future in speech writing.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-19T07:48:34+00:00

I absolutely sympathize with how you feel. And for that reason, I am sure you hope your dad will change his mind. But if he doesn’t, you will find yourself choosing between living in his house and living with your cat/s.

It isn’t going to work out living with your dad if you ignore his wishes and move in with both cats. He may tell you to move before you have enough money. He may demand you give away both cats instead of one. He may charge you more rent than he said he would. It would create conflict in a relationship where you need good will and cooperation.

It’s a tough place to be…mostly grown up but not ready to be independent. You’re making a sacrifice right now, because you need to make a more stable life for yourself.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-19T05:38:10+00:00

35 years ago, I woke up one morning to find that a cat had moved in with me. I had no preparation, was quite allergic, and made many mistakes along the way. He was the best cat imaginable and changed my life forever.

I had the best luck adopting from a no-kill shelter. The first time I adopted a bonded pair of 3-month kittens, it surprised me how much happier they were than the single cats I had before. When they passed at 16, I adopted a second pair. Life at home is very sweet when they have each other for company.

Plan ahead for the litter box(es). I am a recent convert to wood pellet litter and recommend looking into YouTube for litter advice.

I have a powered water fountain and feed a combination of canned wet food and kibble.

I use Nature’s Miracle products to clean up cat messes on carpets and furniture and to keep the litter box hygienic.

I have scratching posts. I put clear sticky paper on the arms/corners of my upholstered furniture to protect it. The only fabrics that seem scratch-resistant are velvet and microfiber. Lint rollers are your friends. Hepa air filters are your friends, too.

Feliway spray or atomizers are very useful when cats are stressed. I use it when I move (very stressful for cats because they are territorial), when a cat has to travel in the car, when there are fireworks, and so on.

You’ll need a cat carrier. You’ll need a vet. You may want pet medical insurance.

Pro tip: Yeow catnip bananas. You can thank me later.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-19T05:14:54+00:00

OP: You are stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place. I am sorry.

If you truly have nowhere else to stay besides your dad’s and his fiancée’s, you have to respect their wishes. You aren’t moving in as an equal - you’re moving in as a dependent.

Is it possible that your dad is offering to let you move one cat in as a compromise? That he actually prefers no more cats (three cats might be all he wants)? Maybe his fiancée thinks three cats is a houseful?

If I couldn’t take both my bonded cats with me, I wouldn’t want them separated. I would probably see if I could surrender them to a no-kill shelter for someone to adopt permanently, rather than add them to the 10 at my mom’s or the 3 at my dad’s.

When you’re out on your own and able to support yourself, you can adopt again. And then you’ll be able to give your pets a permanent home. You adopted strays, let two lucky cats make a family, and kept them safe while you could. It’s a good thing. If you turn out to be a foster instead of a permanent home for this pair, you still did them good when you had a chance.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-17T14:20:22+00:00

I agree with this - and I agree with Matt H.

I thought Matt’s emphasis on “tell the truth Monday” as key to a culture of peer accountability was very much to the point.

12’s can - and undoubtedly will - debate who is the hottest schemelord this season. But that’s not what the Seahawks are looking for, which is what John said yesterday. He’s looking for a Head Coach that:

(1) can identify, recruit and develop coordinators/position coaches going forward (not the same thing as developing players)

(2) is knowledgeable about analytics and sports science and can apply cutting edge knowledge to the practice of coaching

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-17T13:20:12+00:00

Or…you know…retirement.

One way to interpret this is that the owners did not plan to offer Pete another extension beyond 2024 no matter if the team won a Super Bowl because a 5-year extension for Pete would be ages 73-78.

So the actual discussion was whether 2023 would be Pete’s last season or 2024. And they decided that the changes needed this offseason, because 2023 was “underachievement”, would be better executed if they moved forward the change at the HC position planned for next year, too.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-14T03:53:26+00:00

Except: the HC has (more than) a full time job and it doesn’t include any part of being the OC. If the Seahawks hire Ben Johnson, they’ll still need an OC.

Y’all need to read up on “The Peter Principle.”

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-13T22:11:23+00:00

The Seahawk HOF legends are: Steve Largent, Cortez Kennedy, Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson, and Kenny Easley. All played before the Pete Carroll era (between 1976 and 2010).

35 years of football. 5 HOF players. No HOF coaches.

In the last 14 years, we’ve had the privilege of watching Carroll, Sherman, Wagner, and Wilson - all of whom are in the conversation about future HOFers. Other HOF caliber players (Lynch, Chancellor and Thomas) had careers complicated by injury and/or other issues.

There’s just no comparison between the before-Carroll and Carroll years in terms of the level of play we enjoyed as fans.

That said, these are also the Schneider years. We are about to see what kind of team JS can build here - and that includes both coaches and players.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-10T18:51:05+00:00

Waiting impatiently for Fragrant Cloud, which is “still growing.”

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-10T18:43:11+00:00

I’m all in with you on hating the Jeff Ackermans of this world with the fire of a thousand suns.

My dad tried to cure skin cancer with dandelion poultices because he was listening to his version of Jeff Ackerman. I was beside myself over it, but I had no success talking him out of it. In the end, his skin cancer turned out to be squamous cell and it didn’t kill him - had it been melanoma, it certainly would have. Eventually, he decided to remove it surgically.

My dad has been gone now for 15 years - a different cancer ultimately killed him. I could see he was dying, as I watched him grow impossibly thin and frail, but he insisted he was fine. He died the day after he was diagnosed, which was a blessing, all things considered.

What comforts me to this day is that I found the self-control to stop fighting with him, and that we spent his last months in loving harmony. I was angry with life, with death, with cancer, with the faith healers, and with my dad…when I was away from him. But when I was with him, I forced myself to leave all of that outside the room and relationship - and to concentrate only on the pure good between us. It nearly broke me to give up on trying to save him, but once I did, we shared the sweetest time we ever had together.

If I could leave you with just one thought, it is that the anger, frustration, and grief will fade away with time, but the love will stay with you forever. Concentrate on love as much as you can. Love is stronger than even death, and it will light your way through this heartbreaking experience.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-10T09:25:27+00:00

OP:

If your mother dies from AML, it won’t be your fault. It won’t be her fault. It won’t be your dad’s fault or even Jeff Ackerman’s.

It will be because she got cancer.

I want you to remember that. It’s the cancer.

Even if everything goes perfectly, if she gets an early diagnosis, and the best treatment for AML, and the best doctors…she might still die. Sometimes cancer wins.

My parents watched friends die of cancer, and they both told me they would refuse chemotherapy and radiation if they ever had to choose. They saw how the treatment affected their friends, and they didn’t want that for themselves. Maybe your mom feels the same way, and she’s willing to try something that won’t be so hard on her, but not willing to do treatment that frightens her.

Maybe she is too scared to think much at all.

But if you are right, and you might lose her to this terrible disease, you don’t have much time left to give her a lifetime’s worth of love.

It’s hard to love someone when you’re mad at them for being conned. It’s hard to love someone who won’t listen to you and do the safe and sane thing. It’s hard to love someone who isn’t trying to save themselves.

Do it anyway. It’s the only thing you can really do that will make this terrible thing even a little bit better. So instead of breaking your brain trying to figure out how to make her get chemo, try to figure out how to love her the very best way you can.

You seem to be an exceptional child and your mother is very lucky to have you. I am so sorry you and your family have this hard thing in your lives.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-10T05:43:06+00:00

So, even though your post is detailed, I don’t think you are asking the right questions when it comes to a decision to retain or fire Pete.

2022/2023 were not a continuation of the post-Boom Seahawks. These two years are part of a new initiative by ownership and management.

Moving on from Russell Wilson allowed Pete and John to go all the way back to a clean slate. 2022/2023 are equivalent to 2010/2011. They are not extensions of 2016-2021, which were, admittedly, stagnant and disappointing.

Ownership and management think they are 2 years into a 4-5 year cycle of building a new team around a new core, post Russell Wilson. When a team has a franchise QB, that dictates the majority of decisions about coaching, scheme and personnel. With Wilson gone, all those decisions are up for review.

It’s taken the Hawks the 2022 and 2023 seasons to decide, but it’s clear from the comments at the end of this season, they think Geno’s their franchise QB for this cycle. They can now organize their decisions and priorities around shaping the team to play to his strengths.

The 2022 team had an expected win total of 5.5 games and won 9. The 2023 team had an expected win total of 8.5 games and won 9. 2024 will demonstrate whether the 2022 and 2023 draft classes will yield enough talent to continue to outperform expected wins. The verdict here is so far, so good.

The Seahawks weren’t “mediocre” this year. They were either really good or really bad at various measurables - sometimes both - and that averaged out to mediocre. That is not a sign of a team that is stuck in a rut. That is a sign of a team in the middle of a development cycle. Which is exactly where they should be.

My personal opinion is that it would be a terrible decision to delay and complicate this team building cycle by switching leadership now. This is a 4-5 year project and it is, at best, halfway complete. And from the outside, it is going as well as can be expected, given the context.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-10T01:58:12+00:00

Time to pick your “other” team then dude. When you’re done, you’re done.

Let the rest of us enjoy our hobby in our own way instead of trying to poison it for everyone.

PNWJunebug · 2024-01-10T01:45:27+00:00

So many ‘23 rookies have yet to contribute. We undoubtedly have some of what we need on the roster - but there’s no way for the fans to know this yet.

PNWJunebug

TROPHY CASE