First the basketball Supersonics were ripped out of Seattle and taken to Oklahoma City. Then the baseball Mariners became the first MLB team to lose 100+ games with a $100 million payroll. Then the football Huskies made Washington the worst college team in the nation by going 0-5 to open their season, becoming the only BCS eligible school without a victory.
Now the football Seahawks have opened their season at 1-3 with a defense so porous that homemakers all over Seattle could use it as a strainer to pass liquids.
The Hawks lost their away opener to the Buffalo Bills 34-10 (the scourge of the AFC East that finished 7-9 last year), lost in overtime at home to the San Francisco 49ers 33-30 (the 49ers finished at 5-11 last year), finally beat the Los Angeles Rams at home 37-13 (the Rams were 3-13 last year), and they lost on the road to the New York Giants 44-6 (the Giants won the Super Bowl last year).
This Sunday (10-12-08) Seattle hosts Green Bay at home. Before arriving in Seattle, Holmgren spent 7 years compiling a 75-37 regular season record with the Packers while winning 3 consecutive NFC Central titles, and making 2 trips to the Super Bowl and winning one.
So how bad are the Seahawks stinking it up on defense this year? Real bad. They rank 24th in rushing defense (among 32 NFL teams), 25th in passing defense, 27th in total defense, and 29th in scoring defense. They have given up 24 big plays of 20+ yards in their first 4 outings.
These negative statistics become more significant when you know that 1) Seattle's defense was much better last year, 2) They led the NFL in fewest touchdown passes allowed last year, and 3) They returned all 11 starters from last year's defensive team.
To add insult to injury, Seattle has not played well on the road and supposedly has an East Coast jinx. Seahawk Coach Mike Holmgren is not hearing or believing any of the East Coast blather. Before the Hawks trip to New York and loss to the Giants, Holmgren said this in no uncertain terms:
"You lose (an away) football game for the same reason you lose a football game at home . . . you lose because you played lousy. You fumbled the ball, you threw interceptions, and you missed tackles. Period. I don't want to hear it."
Mike's an imposing man of size with success and earned authority. When he speaks, you shut-up and listen. When you win 8 NFC Division Titles, take your team to 3 Super Bowl appearances, and win the Super Bowl, then you can speak.
I totally agree with Holmgren. The Seahawks have talent, proven success and experience at key positions. Perhaps the lapse in their away game performance is nothing more or less than a head problem.
The Seahawks have played much better defense at home-where they are fueled by their raucous supporters-than on the road. Cooler heads know that if your play is based more on emotion than self-control, you have a serious problem in that you cannot take the emotional fan support with you on the road.
The more control you have over your thoughts, words, emotions and behavior, the more effective outcomes you will achieve when push comes to shove. That is why smart players stay out of trouble (on and off the field) while other players get into trouble.
When you have a lot of stars on a team-Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill and Marcus Trufant-sometimes the stars become bigger than the team and there is not enough room on the playing surface to accommodate all of the egos.
Knute Rockne may never have coached pro football, but he was one smart football coach. Here is a quote from Rockne in the 1920s that is applicable today to any team at any place at any level:
"The secret (to success) is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my 11 best, but my best 11." (Read Rockne's last sentence about 20 times and you may get it.) Every team in the NFL has stars, but only one team wins the Super Bowl.
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on Seattle Seahawk football, including:
"Will Seahawks' Woeful 0-2 Start Leave Them Out of the Chase For the Super Bowl Title?
"Seattle Seahawks' Opener in Buffalo Proves an Awful Study in Ineptitude"
"Here Come the Seahawks: Stumbling and Bumbling into Holmgren's Last Year"
"Can the Seahawks Find the Grit to Deliver Holmgren a 2nd Super Bowl Winning Team?"
"About Super Bowl 42 - Here's a Different Slant on the Giants' Upset Win to Become World Champs"
2007 NFL Playoffs: Seattle Seahawks Croak as Packers Kick Them Silly in the Snowflakes, 42-20"
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http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html
