Hawk Nasty

Admittedly, I have never been an over the top Seahawks fan. To me, they have always come a distant like....fifth...behind the Dawgs (both football and basketball), Mariners and Sonics. Even in 2005 when they went to the Super Bowl, as exciting as it was, I wasn't living and dying with every single play like I did during the 2000 UW Rose Bowl season or 2001 M's 116 win season.

Even during their finest year, the Seahawks didn't seem like a team that I could buy in to 100%. They had nice pieces, no doubt. Shaun Alexander had a record breaking season, Matt Hasselbeck was incredibly smooth and efficient in running the offense, and they had one of the best Offensive Line's in recent history.

 

That 2005 team went 13-3. But I didn't love them. Their offense was pure finesse, even with Big Walt and Hutch on the O Line. Shaun Alexander wasn't running anybody over for extra yards. Who was our deep threat? D Jack? Maybe. Joe Jurevicius? Probably not. Bobby Engram was as sure handed as they come, but he wasn't putting the fear of God into any secondary. He could move the chains for sure, but that was it.   The Defense was built with a "bend but don't break" mentality. They actually gave up more passing yards than they threw for. Bryce Fisher led the team with nine sacks. Lock down corners? Nope. Sorry Tru....Hard hitting safety? Yes, Ken Hamlin could lay the wood - but he only played in six games that year because of the Stop Sign Incident.

Look - that season was phenomenal - we played in a Super Bowl! But...I didn't love that team. 

For the first time, I am obsessed with a Seahawks team. The 2012 Pete Carroll edition has everything you could possibly want from an NFL team. Let's go down the list.

1. Clear cut leader. Is there any question?

So much has already been written about RWIII, so I don't need to dive too deeply here, but I will say this - The guy oozes moneyness (quote attributed to Kevin Hinton who was, at the time, referring to our friend Travis Duty). He exudes confidence, and when he has the ball in his hands, I just expect good things to happen. Case in point - yesterday against the Niners...tied at 13 with 5:11 left and starting the drive on their own 10 yard line, I had no doubt that we were going to score. With RWIII at the controls, I no longer have to hope something good will happen, I expect it to. If it doesn't, then I'm surprised. 

2. Smash mouth football AKA Beast Mode. People can talk all they want about how it's a passing league. Being able to run the ball and control the clock wins in the post season. It also helps if you can do this.

3. Punch you in the mouth take no prisoners NASTY defense. Yeah. 

Want to throw to that side? Go for it.

No wait...throw to the other side! Oh yeah, that guy....

Fine - we'll go over the top!

Wait....shit....ok, how about underneath? Oh....damnit. 

Ok...ok. Let's just run the football. Simple enough...

Even with all of those hurdles, I at least will have some time to throw the ball, right? Not like they have a borderline psychopath freak of nature athlete who is going to come at me....

Sonofabitch.....

4. They play with a chip on their shoulder. All. The. Time.

RWIII? Too short to play QB in the NFL. Richard Sherman? Fifth Round pick. Marshawn Lynch? Jettisoned from Buffalo after multiple issues. Brandon Browner? Undrafted, played in the CFL. Golden Tate? Broke in to Top Pot. 

Bruce Irvin? Massive reach at #15 overall, and huge character issues. Robert Turbin? Wait, who is he? Bobby Wagner? Another guy from Utah State? Even Pete Carroll - fizzled in two previous NFL Head Coaching tries and had stumbled to two consecutive 7-9 seasons in Seattle. 

Doesn't matter. Every single player, coach and member of the front office believes in what they are doing. The hell with the draft experts who universally panned the Wilson and Irvin selections in April - Pete and John Schneider knew exactly what they were doing, and weren't going to let talking heads and their "expert analysis" get in their way. 

So, here we go. An 11-5 regular season is in the books, and as we turn the page to 2013, we face the excitement and uncertainty of the NFL Playoffs. The Hawks are a #5 seed and if they are going to get to the Super Bowl, they'll have to do it the hard way, playing at least two games on the road (most likely three)...but you know what? That doesn't scare me, for two reasons. First - the last two Super Bowl Champs ( Green Bay and New York Football Giants) both were wild card teams who went on the road and ran the table. Second - after what we've seen the last six weeks, is there anybody who really wants to bet against this team? 

Strap it up and enjoy the ride. I will.