The offseason has arrived for the Seattle Seahawks, after failing to qualify for the postseason for the second 12 months in a row and the third time in 4 seasons. This regardless of placing up double digit wins within the first season beneath new head coach Mike Macdonald, and holding sole possession of first place within the NFC West in mid-December heading into Week 15.
With the top of the season comes the never-ending spring of hope for groups to enhance by way of free company and the draft, whereas these gamers on the roster already beneath contract will definitely solely proceed to enhance. Subsequent season will certainly be higher, followers guarantee themselves, whereas diving deep into the hype and hope of free agent acquisitions and gamers added within the draft.
Then, in the direction of the top of each summer time hope reaches fever pitch as studies from coaching camp and the preseason drive ranges of hope even larger. At that time, it’s as much as followers to have the ability to maintain again their hopes and goals for the upcoming season, or else danger the 4 month dose of actuality often known as the common season that brings expectations again right down to earth.
For instance, through the late summer time of 2024 a number of members of the Seahawks had been repeatedly praised throughout coaching camp, with their potential to contribute through the common season repeated again and again. McClendon Curtis, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals on Monday after spending a lot of the 2024 season on the Seattle observe squad is one such instance.
Like what I noticed from McClendon Curtis at RT. Apparent ceiling to him however the flooring doesn’t look too dangerous.
— jamesballwin (@JamesBallwin) August 21, 2024
McClendon Curtis completely mauling individuals for the Seahawks and will begin this season
Enjoyable.
— Tristen Kuhn (@KuhnTristen) August 18, 2024
I’m wondering if McClendon Curtis might nonetheless be within the combine at RG. He took the first-team reps there through the spring however has since been enjoying behind Fant at RT. The Seahawks have been impressed with him.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) August 4, 2024
McClendon Curtis, the first-team RG within the spring, labored in at RT with the starters behind George Fant right now. Macdonald mentioned he’ll possible play extra RT than RG for now “based mostly on what is going on on with the roster.”
Looks as if an indication they suppose it will be some time earlier than Lucas is again
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) July 24, 2024
Rising as a reputable candidate for a roster spot this offseason because of his versatility, McClendon Curtis continues to make waves for the #Seahawks up entrance.
A take a look at his uncommon positional flexibility and quest for consistency in 12 months No. 2:https://t.co/Jm8jFwInrd
— Corbin Ok. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) July 26, 2024
Charles Cross continues to excel in one-on-ones. He had two extra sturdy pass-blocking reps vs. Boye Mafe, who’s coming off a nine-sack season. The 2 most dominant gamers in that drill stay Cross and Byron Murphy. McClendon Curtis additionally had an excellent day in that drill.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) August 8, 2024
I believe @JimNagy_SB needed to get pleasure from watching that Seahawks preseason sport final night time. Bunch of Senior Bowl alums enjoying actually good soccer, together with Sam Howell, Derick Corridor, and McClendon Curtis.
— Corbin Ok. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) August 18, 2024
McClendon Curtis was transferring dudes final night time within the run sport. At this level, he is bought to be a lock on #Seahawks roster. Anthony Bradford additionally could have proper guard on lockdown for now, although I proceed to be intrigued by risk of beginning each him and Haynes straight away.
— Corbin Ok. Smith (@CorbinSmithNFL) August 18, 2024
I’m listening to that the #Seahawks offensive line is getting a whole lot of reward in observe on @933KJR.
McClendon Curtis confirmed up and Olu Oluwatimi did not get pushed round by the defensive position. He additionally held his personal on the 1 on 1 drills.
I additionally heard that Sam Howell had a greater… pic.twitter.com/jPH0zvESAS
— HawkMania (@hawkmania4) July 29, 2024
Actuality hit exhausting on the finish of coaching camp, although, when McClendon Curtis did not make the 53-man roster. Then, even because the season wore on and the struggles of the offensive line turned readily obvious, Curtis did not make it on to the sector for even a single offensive snap. Despite accidents forcing the Seahawks to dig deep and provides snaps to each the third string proper guard and the fourth string proper sort out, Curtis noticed the sector for precisely zero offensive snaps.
It’s not simply coaching camp studies followers ought to be cautious of. The offseason is the playground of hopes and goals and each free agent signing has All Professional potential for a lot of followers.
Creator’s Word: Dodson performed for the Seahawks for half the season, and reportedly performed nicely for the Miami Dolphins after the Hawks waived him midseason.
Creator’s Word: It was not, in truth, an ideal transfer to signal Jerome Baker.
It’s not simply free agent signings who’ve large upside, as draft picks are likely to get overhyped as nicely.
The Mike Macdonald period has gotten off to a wonderful begin in Seattle: Byron Murphy, Christian Haynes. Trench prepared.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) April 27, 2024
Creator’s Word: The ditch was not, in truth, prepared. Or, maybe it’s extra correct to state that Christian Haynes was not prepared for the ditch.
4. #seahawks – one other small class however I like the match and worth to seize Byron Murphy at 16 particularly mike macdonald coming from BAL who loves an attacking 3-tech. As well as they get Christian Haynes who might simply slide proper in at RG & begin for 10 years
— The Soccer OX (@theFootballOx) April 27, 2024
Macdonald mentioned Bradford is “proper within the combine” to start out at RG. I didn’t see him do any crew drills right now (no shock given it was his first day again). So it was nonetheless McClendon Curtis with the first-team OL at RG and rookie Christian Haynes with the second group.
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) June 12, 2024
Creator’s Word: Christian Haynes didn’t simply slide proper in, beginning zero [0] video games and enjoying virtually 200 fewer offensive snaps than sixth spherical choose Sataoa Laumea.
In any case, the aim of this put up isn’t to poo poo everything of John Schneider’s 2024 offseason, simply most of it.
Particularly the elements that concerned gamers not performing as much as expectations.
Nevertheless, the truth is that these expectations should not set by the crew. They’re set by followers who learn into after which purchase into unrealistic expectations, reasonably than accepting that the majority free brokers gained’t blossom into All Execs and even Professional Bowlers, and most draft picks, even these added on Day 1 and Day 2, don’t turn into distinction makers.
In brief, within the coming weeks there are going to be hype movies from the Senior Bowl. There are going to be insane exercises and ridiculous RAS scores from the 2025 NFL Mix. There are going to be excessive PFF grades on free agent signings. There are going to be glowing studies on drafted gamers.
Simply watch out on how a lot belief to position into these studies, as a result of when the common season, and the truth it brings, hits so much more durable than the optimism pushed hope of the offseason.
Postseason wins by NFCW groups since 2017 when the Rams employed McVay and the 49ers employed Shanahan:
Rams: 849ers: 8Seahawks: 1Cardinals: 0 https://t.co/L9jd18AlDu
— John P Gilbert (@JohnPGilbertNFL) January 14, 2025