Matt Hasselbeck Calls You a Quitter, Quitter

by John Morgan on Oct 22, 2009 2:56 PM PDT Comment 21 comments

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Ain't nothing wrong with loving an underdog.

I do not read Seahawks Insider too often. It's a good place for news and all, but I have been pretty clear about my opinion on the human side of football. I still get there through Google and that means negotiating the annoying "New blog system" post before making it there. The "No deal yet on Curry" headline reveals how long this page has been up. Think we can fix that?

Anyway, enough of my prattle.

After a performance like we had at home, I think people have definitely counted us out. I think there's a lot of negativity around our team. I've heard people that this season is over and we've got no chance. That's ridiculous. That's absolutely ridiculous. --Matt Hasselbeck

"How early is too early" is a common spots debate. Recently we were discussing if it is too early to ask if Mark Sanchez is a bust. It's obviously too early to stamp Sanchez as a bust, but is it too early to wonder? That's where I am regarding this season. This team is good. Actually quite a bit better than I hoped. Trading big losses with big wins is frustrating, but it beats last season when Seattle traded big losses with huge losses with the occasional heartening loss, demoralizing victory and irrelevant victory. At different times, Seattle has flashed a good passing attack, a good run defense and a good pass defense, and those are the capabilities they will rely on during their next big run.

Of course it is too early to write off this season entirely, but it isn't too early to recognize this season is not likely leading to the playoffs. Seattle has lost to Arizona and San Francisco, and both whipped `em pretty badly. Seattle still must visit Arizona, and though we can theorize a healthy, regrouped line turning the tide, it's possible the line is no healthier and new and further injuries have occurred. A team does not get its injuries out of the way anymore than a whore gets her herps out of the way. You get, you got, you consider in what ways it's your fault.

Seattle is 2-4. The cold weather might slow Arizona on the road, starting this week against the Giants, but however much it will weaken their passing attack, it could make their suddenly otherworldly run defense that much better. The 49ers, who knows? When push comes to shove, that's still Shaun Hill taking snaps, but the team that nearly beat the Vikings on the road shouldn't be discounted because of one blowout loss. I don't think they are smoke and mirrors, just a talented team that can grind it out with the best of them, but that doesn't have the offense to compete long term.

Seattle is 2-4 and talk about its opponents ignores the more essential question: Is this team really good enough to make the playoffs? In light of the injuries already suffered and the injury potential much of this roster has, I don't think so. It has building blocks, and when they play to their potential, it has broad enough and deep enough talent to rout about anyone, but its offense is comprised of stopgaps and its upside is not much greater than what we've already seen. Maybe the run game gels and that is a factor and the receiving talent is already great, but fact remain that the offensive line is patchwork and could continue to be throughout the season and relying on Hasselbeck to stay healthy...

So, sorry Matt, I haven't given up on Seattle making a run at the playoffs, but I know a long shot when I see one. I will never give up on the Seahawks, but enjoying Seahawks football sometimes requires an eye to the horizon. I hope Seattle gets healthy and clicks and does something, but I'll be happy to see Brandon Mebane blow up a run, Darryl Tapp disrupt a pass and Josh Wilson jump a route and run to the end zone without relying on a win to make it worthwhile.

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Very well said, John.

Specifically the end of the final paragraph.

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Oct 22, 2009 3:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

TNT Adding an S to their URL fubarred my iGoogle Football tab

and I haven’t bothered to fix it, don’t really use it as much any more.

Use Chrome, FF, or IE8, and just add it to the shortcut bar. Like mine:

by jacobstevens on Oct 22, 2009 3:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I run Firefox and Chrome the same way.

Folders on the toolbar are great to organize multiple related links, making for a quick drop-down menu in place of single URLs.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.

by Misfit74 on Oct 23, 2009 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matthew

I love ya buddy but after a performance like that at home last week, why would anyone with any sense of objectivity count you IN? We’ve seen this dance before Matt, all the injuries at key positions. Of course injuries are not the players’ fault but pick any winning team in the league and take away 7 to 12 of their best players every week.

Now throw in embarrassing losses at home AND on the road and then tell THAT teams fans that all is not lost. I WANT to believe Matt, I truly do. Unfortunately I already watched this movie last year. I remember the ending.

Want me to tell ya?

by mrcoffee1969 on Oct 22, 2009 3:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm more concerned about our home defeats

The close games we would win at home are now going to the other team and for the first time since maybe 2004 we’re getting our asses kicked at Qwest easily.

But there are a TON of home stiffs this season so I see us winning out at home (if we beat the 49ers then we are good to go) and that alone gets us 6 wins. If this team has the gumption to do their annual “eek-out a win against the woeful Rams at St. Louis” then that’s 7. It’s up to this team to see if they have 2 more road wins in them outside of that. Dallas and Houston may be our best chances.

October 11th, 2009: The day Justin Forsett became loved by Seahawks fans forever.

by SSreporters on Oct 22, 2009 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What would you have him say?

It’s pretty much SOP for any athlete to say, “we’re going to fight until the final whistle,” blah blah blah. Hasselbeck gets paid several million dollars a year to play like he’s trying to win a Super Bowl, the least he can do is pretend he believes it.

by Santolina chamaecyparissus on Oct 22, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is in a position of leadership and also likely a veiled a spokesperson for the head coach.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.

by Misfit74 on Oct 23, 2009 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"The new blog system"

means that you need to hit up:

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/

instead of

http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/

You’ve just got to change your boookmarks.

"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie

by ninjasocks on Oct 22, 2009 3:59 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

that only works if you have it bookmarked

Which I haven’t. I always do a google search for “seahawks blog” then hit up O’Niel and TNT. The TNT link has borked the google search and goes to the wrong one adding an extra click to the journey.

Those bastards. It’s been like this what three months?

by B.B.Finnegan on Oct 22, 2009 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It doesn't bother me

but it’s bad UI and that bothers me. I mostly wrote the above as a toughlove way of saying: “It was long enough two months ago.”

I assume they keep it up because it still gets a ton of hits, but I think that is shortsighted. People do not do extra work. Journalists should know that better than most.

by John Morgan on Oct 22, 2009 6:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see nothing wrong with the guy leading our team with not wanting to give up.

by Kevin M Smith on Oct 22, 2009 4:49 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Use a the subject line please.

And all the land was in ruin, and burnination had forsaken the countryside.

by Cheddar28 on Oct 22, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is what I want my qb to say

It’s our job as fans to try to salvage a season by looking at future returns. It’s the job of those actually being compensated by the organization to believe they can accomplish their original goals. Until it is statistically improbable, I want my scrappy qb to put it all on the line. It’s his job.

by quickhandsandfeet on Oct 22, 2009 5:00 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I think you meant

statistically impossible.

And all the land was in ruin, and burnination had forsaken the countryside.

by Cheddar28 on Oct 22, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also feel this way

and I don’t think it conflicts with John’s post at all. I also feel how he feels.

by jacobstevens on Oct 23, 2009 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The year is over as far as I can see

No reason to believe the Seahawks offense will flare to life with the current O-line. Ruskell or whoever is our GM has some serious work to do to get this O-line strong again.

by ASeahawkfan on Oct 22, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs