John Lynch Nails Jim Mora Dead to Rights
by John Morgan on Dec 16, 2009 5:18 PM PST
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PrintJohn Lynch is not the most eloquent person. Ron Pitts is the eloquent counterpunch to Lynch's disarming enthusiasm. That's the typical play by play-color commentator dynamic. Pitts is intelligible. Lynch is emotive.
Their purpose is one part atmosphere and one part information. I typically take the atmosphere and tolerate the information. A football fan shouldn't look to the commentators to provide piercing insight or real-time strategy breakdowns. Coaches want to be opaque and unpredictable, but also logical and efficient. It's not enough to be either. A good coach must be both.
A good coach should not be caught dead to rights by color commentator John Lynch.
Lynch met with Matt Schaub in a production meeting prior to the game. Before this play, Lynch relayed that Schaub expected his old coach to drop coverage early
(3-10-SEA 40 (13:36) (Shotgun) 8-M.Schaub pass deep middle to 80-A.Johnson to SEA 17 for 23 yards (36-L.Milloy, 27-J.Babineaux)
And if that didn't work, blitz.
(1-10-SEA 17 (12:58) 8-M.Schaub pass short middle to 80-A.Johnson for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN)
Seattle rushed Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill and Patrick Kerney on third and ten. The Texans responded with a four-wide receiver set that, absent a pass rush, eventually shredded Seattle's zone.
Seattle rushed six, including Aaron Curry and David Hawthorne, on the subsequent play, and Andre Johnson streaked into the vacated middle for an easy reception and score. The Texans play calls could not have been better fit to beat the Seahawks defense.
Schaub last played under Jim Mora in 2006. Mora was then fired and hired by the Seattle Seahawks. Schaub, Lynch, millions of home viewers and Gary Kubiak perfectly anticipated Mora's tendencies. Tendencies, we can only assume, that have not changed since his time in Atlanta. Tendencies, described by Lynch by way of Schaub, that are fixed, motivated by frustration and easily exploitable.
I once worked in a warehouse finishing furniture. I would play chess with a coworker during breaks. Every time I won, he wanted a rematch, and would play worse, and become more frustrated and sloppy, and play worse, and become more frustrated and sloppy, and play worse...
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I'm going to repeat an earlier comment of mine, because I think it applies here
It seems that coaching can have a noticeable impact two critical times in a game.
First, the opening series or so when game-planning and strategy can be maximized through the use of surprise and unexpected plays and a precision in attacking the studied tendencies or weaknesses of a defense (or offense). Second, the early third quarter when adjustments can be made that can often drastically affect the game and thwart the very things opponents enjoyed success with prior to said adjustments.
I’d be curious what others have noticed about these two specific periods in games this season. I’m not sure I like what’s been happening, but to be honest, I need more info. Off the top of my head, I can’t remember going ‘wow what a game-plan to start this game!’ or ‘great halftime adjustments!’…at least under this regime. Maybe others can.
This.
I've been pretty happy with Lynch
He seems to talk about the game and offer actual insight. The fact that he’s highlighted in your post underscores this. How often does anyone every mention NFL commentors in a good light?
This puts Mora in a new light for me. I really hope he doesn’t respond to things as much emotionally as I’m starting to think he does. Because he makes mistakes when he gets emotional. Mistakes he can’t take back.
At one point John LIkes Jim Mora another John thinks Jim Mora is stupid or unable to understand football
You know, it’s really hard to read posts here because they are totally schizophrenic and somehow feel mostly incomplete as snapshots to the overall body of work. It’s like the only thing that stays consistent is John’s unconditional belief that Tapp is a starter who is one teammate away from some kind of Michael Strahan domination.
Gameplan’s have to be executed to work. Trufant isn’t 100% and player decisions are head scratching the calls are not. Trufant knows the call was quarters coverage and all Houston does is quick snap and Tru is dead because he wanted to give himself a bit of a chance to disguise coverage was walking up as if it was man. With no pop to quickly react and turn his hips to make a run. He gets smoked. There’s nothing Mora can do about that.
Do you blitz, or do you not? Well when Mora didn’t get emotional and stuck to his guns was the 31-21 loss to Arizona. So what do you want from Mora? I don’t think you could beat him in a chess match, because Unlike most of us, Mora understood Warner’s weakness and to a large degree he got exactly what he wanted. His defenses had 3 early stops against the hot Vikings and held them scoreless for a quarter. I really think the only time I didn’t understand and appreciate what was happening was the game against the cowboys. I really haven’t seen defenses that were drawn up on a coloring book the way I’ve seen in the past with this very team.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 6:22 PM PST reply actions
I respect people for having flexible opinions
Its only right that our evaluations should change as new information becomes available. What I don’t like are people that stubbornly hold to beliefs even as evidence to the contrary mounts.
We didn’t really have that much information on Jim Mora 3 months ago. Now, we’re starting to get a better idea of how he operates, specifically how he (poorly) handles adversity.
Because he talks to the media? Because of his game calls? His job is as much on the line as any.
If Mora hurts some feelings of the new age soft boys that play professional football with his comments about their ouchies and about how poorly the line plays and then stating what he’s looking for from those that play offensive line for him lets the fans know that gosh, he gets it, he is just as pissed off as we are. I like that because this “I feel bad cause mah coach said crap about me.” Is really making me question what type of players play football anymore.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 6:37 PM PST up reply actions
Mora questioned Spencer's ability to heal
which speaks very poorly of him as a leader. If Mora thought the hand was a problem, it’s his responsibility to handle it. Blaming a player, when he is playing because of your decision, and then questioning his toughness because he his hand hasn’t healed is inexcusable. The only person that bears blame for the botched snaps, if the botched snaps did occur because of Spencer’s injury, is Mora. That’s his decision to make.
Furthermore
It is Mora’s fault that Trufant was caught with a quick snap. His team should have been prepared for that, but Houston caught Seattle with the quick snap for most of the first half. Preparation is a coach’s job. Gary Kubiak spotted that Seattle’s receivers like to sit on routes and exploited it. That’s good coaching. I have struggled to find comparable moments from the Seahawks this season.
I didn't say he did John, but saying Mora isn't allowed to say things or they are improper
Because he’s supposed to keep that in house is really really heating me up. I don’t care if he says this in the media and in fact, I like that he has. It’s a collection of just straight up questioning everything about the guy I find absolutely funny. One series of plays, words in the media. All the sudden you’re connecting dots you think add up to something negative, but that is absolutely subjective because I like this get mean, get nasty, do it in private or do it where I can see it, shoot, run such hard practices that the players walk out crying. I’m tired of seeing lifeless robot football in Seattle.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 6:48 PM PST up reply actions
You deserve a boss like Jim Mora then.
Scapegoating players for leadership mistakes is petty, does nothing to help the team and clearly has done nothing to help the Seahawks.
The only two people on the offensive line playing with any kind of passion
What’s wrong with burning up the rest of your line who has helped you probably to a one and done job opportunity in the job that you love?
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 6:57 PM PST up reply actions
It's immature, for one.
Mora is not a child.
You have no idea how much passion any player on the line is playing with.
Seattle’s line, with far lesser resources invested into it, is performing no worse than Seattle’s secondary. It’s convenient that Mora points fingers where he is least responsible.
Really, I can't? I can judge based on the TV
Max Unger blocks tough and never misses an opportunity to get up the field for a block whatever Willis is doing is clearly tending to upset the guys he’s blocking because I continue to see him getting those guys in his grill before and after the play. I’ve seen Sean Locklear just turn his guys loose once the three seconds are up for a short pass and I’ve seen Sean also not finish a block in the run game. It’s like, once the back is by him he acts like his job is done and just watches the play. I also watched him realize he screwed up on a blocking assigment and then turn surveying damage and didn’t do anything useful.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 7:17 PM PST up reply actions
Some might call that passion
I see it as looking for a very public fall guy in an attempt to save that very job.
We know the Huskies won’t be hiring him.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
I think everyone reads way too much into a twenty minute press conference
If you watch them, it looks like he’s just shooting the shit. He doesn’t look to me at all like he’s scapegoating or trying to throw anyone under the bus or making a final plea to save his job. Sorry, I’ve watched both of this weeks twice now, I just don’t see it.
by B.B.Finnegan on Dec 16, 2009 11:29 PM PST up reply actions
Agreed.
Mora’s pressers are definitely more off-the-cuff and blurt-it-out than Holmgren’s carefully calculated, politically correct performances.
I still think what Mare said about being “thrown under the bus” is the wisest, most professional thing I’ve heard from any player: a pro can’t let stuff like that bother him, if he does, you have to wonder if he has the mental toughness the job requires.
So, in a way, the people who are fretting about Mora dissing his players are just reinforcing the point that the Seahawks are soft. If the players are bothered by something he said, their best response is to go out and prove him wrong by the way they play on Sundays — which is exactly what Mare did.
If a little public humiliation is what it takes to get them to do that, so be it. A coach does what he has to do to motivate his players.
Even the sainted Holmgren used to do something similar, with his back-handed slams on the “young pups” who still needed to learn what it takes to play in the NFL. You think comments like those didn’t sting players who thought they were grown-up men?
THAT is totally subjective
You don’t know that anyone one the offensive line is playing with any more passion than anyone else. All you’re doing is parroting the many curs who continue to blame Chris Spencer for Hasselbeck’s decline and poor play.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
"I never met a llama I didn't like." - TJ Duckett
All I want for Christmas is Joe Haden, Eric Berry, and Nandamukong Suh in Seahawks blue.
by Wayward Llama on Dec 17, 2009 3:55 AM PST up reply actions
That, after a week Seattle fell behind 24-0 in the first half,
Chris Spencer would even be a story is appalling. Mora was hired to help his defense. How about talking about the defense that let the game get away before Seattle had three possessions. It’s classic scapegoating.
by John Morgan on Dec 16, 2009 6:54 PM PST up reply actions 5 recs
Exactly.
Where is this “West Coast Defense” that was being so highly touted? Funny how we continue to be blown out this year, and all people continue to do is point fingers at the offensive line.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
"I never met a llama I didn't like." - TJ Duckett
All I want for Christmas is Joe Haden, Eric Berry, and Nandamukong Suh in Seahawks blue.
by Wayward Llama on Dec 17, 2009 3:58 AM PST up reply actions
Except Mora didn't question Spencer for not healing!
He just vented some frustration over the fact that Spencer still needed the cast on his hand. If you insist on interpreting that as frustration with some specific person, why not read it as frustration with the medical staff, for example?
The difference...
is that behind closed doors the players also get to have their say. Perhaps the coach is seeing it wrong. Behind closed doors at least the player gets to respond. When the COACH goes to the press, I just think it’s weaker than weak. If the player retorts in the press then it becomes a national story.
"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin
This comment is extremely hard to read and all over the place.
I never faulted Mora for not blitzing Warner. Other than that, I have no idea what you are attempting to express.
As best as I can figure
You don’t understand what I am writing and so categorize it into extreme black and white. So either I think Mora is a great coach or an idiot. Neither is true.
What do you think he is then
Please use short, concise words and pointed, direct comments. It’s tough to infer intent of such diverse prose.
Thanks.
I love your writing
and would prefer it not change. At all. But it’s occurred to me that your tone implies a greater, overall point, that isn’t explicitly made, and people read into that. You made very compelling cases, so maybe people sometimes think you’re suggesting more than you are, or to more severe a degree than you intend. I think this guy must be one of those cases, you probably read like a Katy Perry song to him.
But I would hope you not change your writing style out of appeasement of this sort. I doubt it would make much difference, anyway, this is bound to happen. At times I wonder if you’re getting at something more or less than I am catching on to. But you’ve earned a ton of respect and I’ve learned to understand you rarely speak in absolutions, it just seems like it when you make such a compelling and well-reasoned case for subjects that are closer to ambiguous than absolute.
So again, please don’t change your writing style.
by jacobstevens on Dec 18, 2009 12:14 PM PST up reply actions
I don't like
seeing my first name being ballyhooed around like this. I demand an explanation to your opinions, at once, lest I cry out in a clamorous cacophony of misplaced emotion!
by John Edwards on Dec 16, 2009 6:33 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Ray Willis is playing with a very difficult knee injury. You've never heard Mora say his name
Something we don’t know has caused this outburst and I doubt it’s just got to do with Chris Spencer’s hand. Something else occured or has been building from meetings with Greg Knapp and Mike Solari. Something is more wrong than the hand.
I’m sorry, but if it was just an ouch question I don’t think Mora sounds half as desperate or angry.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 7:10 PM PST reply actions
I think there's just as much speculation in some of the interpretations that are being put on what Mora said
Krazyleggs’s hypothesis fits the facts as well as anything else I’ve seen
I'm fine with firing Mora unless they put in a fantastic effort the final 3 weeks
Otherwise I think he is a lifetime assistant.
ME! BANE!
Agreed.
More than anything, I’m tired of him throwing players under the bus. Good coaches never, ever do that.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
"I never met a llama I didn't like." - TJ Duckett
All I want for Christmas is Joe Haden, Eric Berry, and Nandamukong Suh in Seahawks blue.
by Wayward Llama on Dec 17, 2009 4:00 AM PST up reply actions
That isn't correct. Bill Parcells has done it a ton in his career.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 17, 2009 8:14 AM PST up reply actions
Holmgren did it too, but in a sly fashion
Remember all of his remarks about the “young pups”? Very condescending, and always serving the purpose of identifying who it was he thought needed to improve their game.
I've often thought of Parcells & she, during these matters
I’m on the side that thinks Mora’s calling out is BS. But I wonder, how does Parcells get away with it, how can style make it acceptable if those of us who dislike it don’t dislike it aesthetically but in principle?
I spose Mora hasn’t earned the kind of respect, that his comments would carry more weight.
I definitely have noticed they aren’t well tempered or balanced by praise or supportive statements. Honey and vinegar, it’s like a yin & yang. Been missing the honey.
I don’t know. I don’t know how it’s different. But I know Mora’s just not shown good composure.
by jacobstevens on Dec 18, 2009 12:19 PM PST up reply actions
He was the secondary coach. If he's fired, I'd rather not have him around in any capacity lol.
The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.
I'm just happy Unger is at center. because at least the snap will be good
And then I can watch Sean Locklear turn guys loose while blocking air. Sims miss a simple stunt and just generally looked surprised at typical things that blocking basics 101 covers in training camp.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 7:26 PM PST reply actions
Sims, for instance
has as many holds for his career as Unger does this season, and hasn’t had a false start since 2006.
I'm starting to not like Willis anymore
Without looking this up I would bet he has the most penalties among all of the Seahawks offensive linemen.
ME! BANE!
He's completely out of place
One of many players being used to their weakness by the coaching staff.
He does, but mostly because of his three false starts last week
Willis is a good reserve and good depth that belongs in a power blocking scheme.
I'm not so sure I don't want a power-blocking scheme.
Seems both Sims and Willis are best suited to it. Same is certainly true with Spencer, I think.
This.
Spencer has destroyed both his shoulders and had back injuries and leg issues
He’s more injury prone than Pork chop and had more Surgeries than Mark Schlereth.
If Spencer was capable of success it was going to be in this scheme that is less mashing and more guiding (as described by Ray Roberts)
What’s sad is I think he was starting to come through and play well and yet another injury destroyed his chances of maybe returning to the Seahawks. If I’m a GM that position is too important to have an injury prone person as even depth.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 17, 2009 8:57 AM PST up reply actions
The new CBA may make it possible for Spencer to return, but on the cheap.
Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.
by Carl Shinyama on Dec 19, 2009 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
I like him, because he busted his ass to learn the position, the scheme, etc.
He’s just playing out of place, like Nate said. He’s more of a guard, and a mauling one at that. I think he would be a monster in a scheme such as the one run by the Cowboys.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
"I never met a llama I didn't like." - TJ Duckett
All I want for Christmas is Joe Haden, Eric Berry, and Nandamukong Suh in Seahawks blue.
by Wayward Llama on Dec 17, 2009 4:02 AM PST up reply actions
His knees are pretty bad though according to Clare Farnsworth and Danny O'neil
He probably isn’t fast enough to play guard in the zone scheme according to them. In Holmgren’s straight up mash and move scheme maybe he’s serviceable.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 17, 2009 8:46 AM PST up reply actions
I'm angry that everything looks so messy like last year
And that everyone thinks the way to build stability is to turn everything into a turnstyle and start over again when I thought that’s what we were doing this year. Holmgren had 7 years to win his first playoff game and none of the widespread pressure to succeed until really his 5th Season.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 7:33 PM PST reply actions
In his first year as coach
Holmgren took the Seahawks to the playoffs. Their first playoff in over ten years.
My God, well lets just fire everyone and bring in the Seattle Mike Holmgrens'
If Mora isn’t the man for the job, this season was entirely pointless for the future in every imaginable fashion. Do you not see that? So then, our next coach, who probably won’t be any of the coaches everyone imagines….what’s he left with?
Nothing, or a directionless franchise thanks to the CEO. This is entirely the most awesome thing since Pat Gillick left the Ms and we brought in Bevasi
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 7:42 PM PST up reply actions
I'm not trying to troll, I just am becoming increasingly just as desperate as Jim Mora
To see just what the hell kind of direction this team will go in and if this season is a waste, which I believe it is if Jim Mora is fired. What has any of this season meant for the future, can you tell me that?
Can you give me some hope that these last games whether this staff stays or goes aren’t entirely pointless.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 7:49 PM PST up reply actions
I'd recommend you enjoy the last 3 Seahawk games of the year.
It’s going to be a long time before we get any more and there will be plenty of opportunities to worry about the future of the team during the offseason.
Retaining Mora does not make this season productive
That’s a typical sunk cost fallacy. The team should not stick with Mora if they don’t think he is a good leader. Retaining a failed coach does not give Seattle direction. I am not saying Mora is failed or has to go, but I am starting to think he has some major weaknesses. Maybe he can correct them. Maybe he will prove that he is not the right guy for the job.
No season is ever wasted. Players develop. Players break down. Teams change. If you’re looking for progress over the next three weeks, watch the young players grow. Sometimes growth comes from screwing up. In fact, it usually does.
Everyone should be happy this time next week, because instead of playing a team on the road that is better than it, Seattle is playing a terrible team at home. All of our woes should be fixed. Unger will be the future, blah, blah, blah.
suprised no one has really looked at...
Solari. Is it coincidence the line has become injured often and performed horribly since his arrival?
We never talk about the lie coach, but we seem willing to talk Mora, Knapp and each member of the line. As I recall, Solari was rought in by the savior of Seahawks football. Did Holmgren really bring him in or was he forced there by Ruskell? Holmgren seemed to praise him highly.
I don't blame Solari
because I don’t see an underachieving Seahawks line. Seattle is starting a below average and injured left tackle, a good left guard and center, a rookie at right guard and a organizational soldier at right guard. It’s best talent at the skill positions is at wide receiver, and whether it’s Knapp or Hasselbeck, the passing offense couldn’t be more poorly run. It has a well below average offense constructed from below average parts.
If Chris Johnson was rushing for this line
we would think it was better. If Peyton Manning was passing behind this line, we would think it was better. It’s an average to below average line talent-wise and it’s being leaned on because Hasselbeck looks broken.
Hasselbeck, whoever we want to point are finger at, is playing like one of the worst quarterbacks in football right now
No offense can succeed without a good quarterback.
by John Morgan on Dec 16, 2009 7:44 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Fair points
Still, the line is in shambles and not performing. I agree with moving on from Matt, wanted to last year. I agree our RB’s are weak, I too wanted better. I didn’t want to see anyone drafted but Oher for LT, even at #4.
None of that matters, though. We have not those outcomes. We instead have an underperforming line and many injuries. e have some talent that is not progressing, we have not seen improvement, even though the positions have stabilized. Solari has a hand in this, it is his line. Is he victim? Did he convince Mora to keep the gimp at center while taking the risk of poor snaps? Did he fight to replace him? He must have said something, it is his line.
I think Solari is free of blame because positional coaches are not the lightning rod head coaches and coordinators are
As far as Sims hand, he did this in 2007 and for much of 2009. Suddenly, it was a problem in Houston, and just as quickly, he was benched.
But, I don't know if Solari deserves blame or not.
I guess he should be in the discussion for anyone looking to assign blame. I’m not inclined to blame many of the offensive coaches. The offense is playing to its talent. The defense is most certainly not.
From where we sit
We simply can not know, unless we are told. We won’t be told, because thats not fit to print according to the front office marketing folks.
I don’t understand the heirachy of an NFL coaching team. I can only assume there is some influence at every level. A head coach can not make every decision. I suspect they instead review their delegates decisions and only intervene when they feel it necessary. This also assumes too much. I’m sure in some org’s, its my way or the highway.
Hasselbeck has been
Horrid since last year even before he was hurt I hope to God we dump him this off season.
by A'Seahawks_Warriors on Dec 17, 2009 2:04 AM PST up reply actions
Wasn't this bad
And was obviously we know of a few linemen changes that brought it down from 05. Probably not wise to rehash that again. Then again, not sure you had a meaningfull point w/ this comment or just wanting to vent w/ sarcasm.
Chris Gray was often goated by the fans in 2007's line
but his veteran savy helped that line be really solid in pass protection because of his knack (According to Robbie Tobeck) to spot a defense’s blitzes before they showed up. Sims said earlier in the year he’s trying to pick up that kind of anticipation that Gray had but he’s somwhat struggled. I don’t hate sims, but I’m just in a bad mood because of something I perceived John to be saying. It would have been quicker on my part, but my anger makes me dense at times.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 8:00 PM PST up reply actions
We all get mad about stuff
but let’s not get mad at each other. We may disagree who is at fault, but we’re all fans. We all want the same thing. I do my very best to be fair, but I don’t think I am categorically right. I provide the most informed opinion I am capable of. I was as open and welcoming as anyone to Mora, but he deserves criticism.
And I want to say
Part of why I am taking it to Mora is because the media won’t. It frustrates me to watch a press conference and see so little asked about obvious and pressing problems.
Seattle media is soft in general
His post game interview, while the emotions were still high, didn’t sit right with me either. Still, it wasn’t overly inflamatory in my opinion.
His Monday presser was much better. He seems to have the Mora gene in him, his dad wasn’t very good either. His Monday presser had some evidence he learned something from Holmgren.
I guess what I was looking for was an answer for a what do we do now kind of deal
It’s frustration because I felt like you pointing that out also meant you needed to answer that question too and that isn’t fair because I can’t even answer it without taking a total shot in the dark.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 8:10 PM PST up reply actions
Truthfully, I am at the same point with Mora as I am with Holmgren being hired as GM
I think the team can do better. I hope what the organization does now is humble itself like the Mariners did and start an exhaustive search for the very best executive and coaching talent, and not just settle for a familiar name.
Well put.
I constantly flip flop between wanting Holmgren and not wanting Holmgren.
At least with Holmgren, we’ve got a general idea of what we’ll get. A great defensive mind, a stubborn play caller, and a generally clueless manager when it comes to defense.
An entirely new GM … is kind of scary. What if we end up with some complete numbnuts?!
This is scary!!!
The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.
You know, what if Mora blamed me for not caring about the Hawks enough
“I want fans who bring it week in and week out. I don’t need fans with cerebral palsy and their inability to yell effectively. I don’t know why that hasn’t improved but it’s an issue, especially with Krazyleggs”
And I thought up that after John said I deserved Jim as a boss.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 8:05 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Mora would have trouble getting a six-figure assistant job after saying something like that
He would have to settle for his born into wealth and a six-figure analyst job instead.
by John Morgan on Dec 16, 2009 8:09 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
He sure seems to be.
I think he took criticism that he is a player’s coach to heart and thinks the fiery, new-Mora is a better leader.
In my limited experience
Mora’s new leadership style does not work. It produces a lot of eye-rolling. True leaders make you fear being the one they come after. I don’t get that sense from Mora.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
I’d much rather Mora said nothing and benched Spencer quietly if he thought that was the solution.
In a weird way, the Incognito situation is a good example
Bench him. Bench him again. Cut him. They didn’t blast him in the media even though they could have. It seemingly gets the point across.
Agreed
Not only do I not agree with the move to bench Spencer, but the timing of the move makes me question Mora’s decision making. Maybe I’m unaware, but I don’t remember Mora ever indicating Spencer was a problem or in danger of losing his job before last Sunday. And, further damning, the worst lineman is promoted and the best, demoted. It looks to me like this is all about the snaps and saving face, and I find that very unsavory.
Maybe I'm just sensitive to Spencer getting the short end of the stick but this has completely soured me on Mora
The buck for our defense getting trampled stops at our injured center I’d cleared to play for the past few weeks.
Because now we have Mike Gibson (?)
at right guard. Fare thee well, Hasselbeck.
It's Great to be a Florida Gator!
"I never met a llama I didn't like." - TJ Duckett
All I want for Christmas is Joe Haden, Eric Berry, and Nandamukong Suh in Seahawks blue.
by Wayward Llama on Dec 17, 2009 4:12 AM PST up reply actions
And if Spencer was the problem
I would assume Mora would have hinted at it sometime prior and not waited for a run of botched snaps to call Spencer out and then bench him. In light of Mora’s reaction to Mare missing field goals, I believe Spencer is being benched for the botched snaps, and maybe only the botched snaps.
Spencer has essentially been doing the same as Hasselbeck
Toughing out injuries to battle for your team.
The nail got hit on the head.
I would assume Mora would have hinted at it sometime prior and not waited for a run of botched snaps to call Spencer out and then bench him
I was just thinking that when I was reading some of the quotes in this thread.
Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.
by Carl Shinyama on Dec 16, 2009 9:11 PM PST up reply actions
Seems to me that at some level
Spencer is not able to do the job as evidenced by the botched snaps. Maybe benching him is also in the best interest of the player, which I haven’t seen considered by anyone yet. If he’s forced to play with his bad hand/cast and continues to botch snaps he looks bad (and the team suffers). If he looks bad and plays poorly/makes mistakes due to having to snap with the wrong hand and play with that cast and likely create frustration for Spencer and a loss of confidence. Benching Spencer might be best for him and the team right now, regardless of which factors are correct.
This.
Maybe, but that doesn't really excuse Mora.
If Spencer was unable to do the job, the coach shouldn’t have started him.
I agree.
And I continue to contend that Mora needed more evidence in order to downgrade our overall line by benching Spencer. He got that evidence last week. Turnovers lose games and we cant risk him turning it over due to a simple C-QB exchange. Maybe he shouldn’t have been as patient as he was in hindsight, but it is the right decision now. Criticizing him for not doing it sooner may or may not be warranted. He’s one of our best linemen and Unger may not be strong enough yet to man the Center position.
This.
He really wants to win and isn't handling the losing very well
It’s hard to blame him, he probably feels like he’s letting his home town down and his dream job slip through his fingers.
Sorry guys
Planned this as a big day for posts but life came up and now I’m running out of time. I’ll double down tomorrow.
I think it's time we bench John
This kind of thing will not be tolerated. We expect full devotion to this site REGARDLESS of life. If things get out of hand we will cut him
ME! BANE!
Get that "life" cast off your hand, John
I don’t know why it’s taking so long for you to get that stuff squared away.
Mora disagrees.
Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.
by Carl Shinyama on Dec 16, 2009 9:12 PM PST up reply actions
Do you think a situation where Mora has to reinterview for the job?
I wonder if the organization truly had a Mora expectation not just a team one.
I know that sounds weird, but Mora didn’t seem to me like a blockbuster, more like a keep the flow going with a puppet coach. Tim Ruskell pulling the strings. Maybe it’s a situation where he’s not fired right away and the organization says here’s what we think went wrong, here’s where we’re making changes.
It’s unlikely, but when he was announced I just really felt if I were Mora that I wasn’t brought into the fold as an equal.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 8:30 PM PST reply actions
I would think its not up to an interview
A new GM wants his own guys. It would take a coincidence that their philosophies line up. With how I feel about Mora right now, god help us if they do
That depends on what the rest of the team thinks of the guy under the bus.
If they all think he’s a jerk that hasn’t been doing his share, they’ll applaud when the coach calls him out.
Mare reacted well.
Coincidence or Mora nightmares?
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 8:44 PM PST reply actions
Mare is a fine kicker who suffered through some expected varience on a single game.
Mora calling him out didn’t make any difference.
From the interviews I heard
Mare was not happy at all that he was singled out. His success after is because he is a great kicker and was before the Bears game.
Looks like I have a little time yet
Here’s an interesting detail that I left out on purpose but was going to reveal tomorrow. Hawthorne was green dogging on the blitz. He was slow to read that the back was staying in, and because he didn’t blitz quickly enough, Curry was exposed to a blocker he wasn’t supposed to face.
I think Mora, and Ruskell before him, are big believers in football intelligence. The Kiffin-way: Simple schemes and smart defenders trusted to read and react within them.
It was a pretty bang-bang pass though
So I’m not sure if it would have mattered, but, yes, there’s blame to spread. Even a seemingly bad idea can be executed well or poorly.
Guh.
I’m insane. I should go. I should go. I should go.
by John Morgan on Dec 16, 2009 8:51 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Mora picks very strange times and questionable players to go off on.
And it shouldn’t be viewed as a coincidence that the D isn’t getting any of his wrath
Mora says
“If you’re going to be a good offensive lineman … you’ve got to be a little bit of a dirtbag. Not as a person. But on the football field. Because in the pit where all that stuff goes down, man, if you don’t have some frickin’ toughness, you’re going to fail, you know?”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2010527177_hawk17.html?syndication=rss
Can we put tape around his mouth?
ME! BANE!
Dear God.
No, Jim. We don’t need players to bloody the waters, we need players to play smart./
Waters?
I’d settle for opposing defensive players.
Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.
by Carl Shinyama on Dec 16, 2009 9:13 PM PST up reply actions
I once went off on my dog when I burned my dinner
It was his job to warn me, just like it was Mare’s job to defend the last Jay cutler drive. Come on, the Leap isn’t that hard to make guys anyone can do it, like the Macarena.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 8:57 PM PST reply actions
Do we know anything useful about why MIke Gibson will play this week?
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 9:01 PM PST reply actions
Week one 2010 - over/under. Current Seahawks on the starting O-Line...
I say 2 is the number. And I predict a push
Yeah, 3 is likely
Sims and Spencer are both in contract years. I don’t see both if either one coming back. Willis shouldn’t start. That leaves Unger and Locklear.
I think Sims and Locklear and Unger will return.
As I said, I still think Rob Sims is good enough to get it done and that allows them to Draft a true guard and Tackle or make a move for someone in FA as well.
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 9:20 PM PST reply actions
Although I've always thought Sims seemed a little bit Narrow for an OG is that just me?
by Joshua Kasparek on Dec 16, 2009 9:21 PM PST reply actions
By the end of the year free agency might be determined by whether Mora is going to be back.
If Mora’s act wears thin it could have very damaging consequences.
I do not know if Mora should stay or not, but I do know I wouldn't be too upset if he does get sent packing
Our main insights into him have been the randomly vitriolic press conferences and various instances of being outcoached. It hasn’t left a good impression.
by Gihyou on Dec 16, 2009 10:23 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
This is pretty much how I feel.
I can’t speak for his actual on-field coaching, other than the fact that this team does not appear to be particularly motivated. But his general demeanor is awful, in my opinion, and it doesn’t inspire any confidence in me that he is “the guy”.
I would not be unhappy with a coaching change.
Well the Seahawks record is better this year than last.
Mora has joined a franchise in transition, growing pains and such. Lynch made some good observations, he could probably be a good secondary coach.
"Superhero like even"
When are we getting some analysis
Of all this Mora jive talkin and the fact Chris Spencer isnt startin? Seems like Chris Spencer is a Seahawk no more in 2010.
Easy fix.
This is an easy fix, get rid of Knapp as your OC. I get Mora is emotional, but your next GM needs to tell Mora (a defense first coach) to stay on the defensive side, and let a OC (with a brian) run the offense. Knapp is not the answer and Mora telling Knapp what to do (at all) is the problem.
Get a O-line, and a running game that at least can take SOME pressure off the QB, and a defensive front four that can get SOME pressure on a QB and stop the run (once and a while) and you will have a playoff team again. Oh and get some coaches that get what they are doing, that would be HUGE!
I completely disagree with everything you said(except d line).
Knapp has done a fine job in my eyes. What would lead you to believe that any OC would continually call a play for a FB pass in the flat. Knapp can only call the plays, Hasselbeck is the one executing or failing to execute depending on how you view it. He is double clutching, slow to make his reads, and doesn’t seem willing to take a chance down the field(10 yards even) anymore. Could the offensive line be better? of course. But it’s decent especially the interior. Like others have said Locklear is average and Willis couldn’t be less of a fit for our scheme. Spencer, Simms, and Unger have proven to be pretty good together.
We have done only one thing consistently well the last 4 years and thats stop the run. We continually rank in the top 10 in Rush Defense DVOA. Thank Brandon Mebane for that.
actually about the dline
I don’t know how convinced I am at this point that the dline is unable to create pressure. The more I watch this team I think its a terrible combination of scheme and facing elite quarterbacks. The hallmark of any great QB is quick decisions but I swear watching the Seahawks defense opposing QBs see open guys before they have even finished their drops.
by Hancock.Brett on Dec 17, 2009 11:43 AM PST up reply actions
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