Huddle Up for Week 16 vs. the Vikings

Dave Wyman, Michael Bumpus, and Stacy Rost preview Week 16 vs. the Vikings at Lumen Field. Today’s Show: Recap Packers Loss and Leonard Williams Interview (00:09), George Holani Interview (10:14), Vikings Preview (19:24), Geno Smith Press Conference (28:51), In the Trenches with Ray Roberts (39:48), Steve Raible Interview (47:49), Athletics’ Alec Lewis (58:03), John Boyle Interview and Final Thoughts (1:08:37).

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
He's the huddle.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Every Thursday from noon to two.

Speaker 3 (00:07):
The huddle.

Speaker 4 (00:09):
You are listening to the Huddle with Dave Wyman, Michael Bumpus,
and Stacy Roskin. And take just a few minutes here
to look back at that Packers loss on Sunday Night football,
figure out what went wrong, what they can fix heading
into the Spikings game. During this segment, we're going to
be joined by Leonard Williams, so we will interrupt ourselves
once he comes in here, which could actually be fairly soon.

(00:29):
Let's start with this Packers game, h Wyman, this was
a game I didn't necessarily feel the Seahawks should win.
The Packers are very very good, and the Seahawks defense
had really turned things around, but they'd struggled. I wasn't
expecting the gap though. I wasn't expecting, you know, the
Packers to be quite as dominant. What did you see

(00:50):
in this one?

Speaker 5 (00:51):
I think the biggest problem was those first two drives.
They just got bullied up and down the field, and
you know, guys that are typically sure tacklers are missing tackles,
and you know, like Julian Love, and you know that
that was the part I thought after those first two drives.
I was like, man, they better do something to match

(01:11):
the tempo of this team because they were just so
I don't know, they were so sure of how they
were running their plays. It was just you know, up
and down the field. So that made it a tough beginning.

Speaker 4 (01:24):
Yeah, this was a game in which the Seahawks obviously
lost on Sunday night, and they're still in a tight
race with the Rams for the NFC West. It may
come down to week eighteen, still a couple of weeks
left to play, and that'll include a game against the
Minnesota Vikings. On the field for that game will be
Leonard Williams, so obviously defensive star Leonard. How's it going.

Speaker 6 (01:45):
It's going well, how are you doing.

Speaker 4 (01:47):
I'm good. I don't want to spend too much time
on the Packers game because we got to look ahead
and we want to have some fun, of course, but
we were noting throughout the week Bump and I and Dave,
I'm sure you did on your show that it felt
like things tightened up in the second half and it
really was a bummer because it felt more competitive late
than the than the box score indicate. It really did.
What did you guys change defensively.

Speaker 7 (02:09):
Yeah, I think first hitting on what you said is
we tightened up in the second half, but we knew
they were a team that's you know, started fast, especially
on offense, especially when they won the coin toss and
decided to receive the ball. Yeah, that's aggressive and that
shows that you know, they trust their offense to start
the game off fast. So we knew as a defense
it was going to be a challenge to go out

(02:30):
there and slow their offense down and start start fast,
which we didn't do. So obviously, we came out in
the second half and tweaked some things and started playing
more aggressive and stopping them in the run, which was
the biggest reason why we were able to slow them
down is slowing them down in the run game in
the second half. But by then it was just too little,
too late.

Speaker 5 (02:48):
Leonard, I always felt like every week going into a
game that like, there's always something that you haven't seen before.
Was that the case with Green Bay or where they
pretty much just execute or were there some plays that.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
You weren't You weren't either ready for you hadn't seen before.

Speaker 7 (03:06):
I think the one thing that they came out and
did that I was not prepared for. Is they started
us off with like screen games or really early on,
like I think the first play and then like maybe
the second or third play was also a screen, which
you know they're trying to get our d line or
the defense tired early on, and then you know after that,

(03:26):
they were just hurrying up. They were getting on the
ball really fast. They were executing at a you know,
high level, and uh, you know, kudos to their offense
for being able to operate that fast. And that's one
thing that our defense started working on and that we
got better adjusted to in the second half, is just
getting on the ball quick. When that when they're centers,
handles on the ball, we're ready to go.

Speaker 8 (03:48):
I mean, you're you're having a great season, so you're
going to get attention regardless, and your position just requires
that attention.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
You're gonna face some double teams.

Speaker 8 (03:55):
But it felt like when I'm watching the film, like
they made it a point like to get double teams
on you. Kind of did you feel like they were
kind of keying in on you.

Speaker 7 (04:02):
Yeah, I mean that's also just part of their run game.
I feel like because you know they have a big
running back, they trust their old line and they're running
back to get the ball going in the run game,
so their number one run players do which as a
three technique, you're going to face majority of the double
teams in the run game. So, you know, I was
joking around with you know, all the guys this week,

(04:22):
like saying that my neck is still sore from playing
like thirty double teams last week.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
A lot, Yeah, there was a lot.

Speaker 4 (04:28):
There was a lot you've been having, as bumpdoted in
unreal stretch of games. And it's not that you haven't
always been clearly a very good player, but I think
sometimes things, I don't know, if things just click or
if guys get in just stretches where you're like, man,
this guy could be NFC defensive player, Like every week,
is there something for you with this defense that just
kind of, you know, clicked where I don't know, maybe

(04:49):
like finally a full calendar year with a new team, Like,
is there something that felt different?

Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (04:54):
I mean I've talked about that with you know, friends,
family and my fiance and things like that. Of you know,
even seeing players like Sam Donald where you know, sometimes
being in a different environment, different coaching staff, different fan base,
all these type of things can affect someone's play. And uh,
you know, although I think of myself as a you know,
I've been a good player in this league for you know,

(05:15):
the amount of time I've been in it for ten years.
You know, I still feel like I'm playing some of
my best ball right now. And I think a part
of it is just, you know, being able to come
here and play in front of the twelves.

Speaker 1 (05:25):
And there's something.

Speaker 7 (05:27):
About the air out here with all these trees that
gives me extra oxygen or something like that.

Speaker 6 (05:32):
Yeah, it is.

Speaker 1 (05:33):
That's real.

Speaker 6 (05:34):
Man.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
When you when you're from La.

Speaker 8 (05:36):
I'm from La. When you step off the plane, is
it smells different?

Speaker 4 (05:39):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, yeah, Chris, it's Chris.

Speaker 6 (05:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (05:44):
So some guys complain about the weather and things like that,
and I'm like, man, I love this weather. It's like
the best football weather to ever playing, in my opinion.
It's like not too cold, not too hot. It's like
I have a bunch of oxygen out there.

Speaker 5 (05:55):
I remember when I first got heroes, Like there's like
a forest around the highways.

Speaker 6 (06:01):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (06:01):
I mean, it's just amazing how different it is. Hey,
I want to take you back to the interception. I
know I talked to you after the game, But that
pick six, I think the most impressive thing was how
that receiver just bounced off of your knee. But like
that play just kind of take us through, Like it
was amazing because at first I have to admit, I

(06:22):
have to admit I was like, you got to pitch it,
no way, man, you got up to eighteen miles an
hour that everyone.

Speaker 7 (06:28):
Thought, yeah, exactly, yeah, I mean, I guess if I'm
taking myself through that play, I just remember Coach calling
that play where you know, I've complained about dropping as
a defensive lineman a few times already this season, where
I'm like, I'm.

Speaker 1 (06:41):
Like, Coach, like what I do good is rush?

Speaker 6 (06:44):
Like why are you making me drop?

Speaker 7 (06:45):
You know, stuff like that, And like usually I'll also
take the short side of the field, so like if
we're into the boundary, I'll be the boundary dropper, so
I don't have to like do the long drop, right,
And this specific play, like me and jery Red just
decided to switch, and like it was funny because this
was the only time I ever took the long side
out of the field drop and then I just happened to.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
Be there where the ball was h. So it just
all worked.

Speaker 7 (07:04):
Out, and I just remember the ball coming out there.
I reached out, had long enough arms to poke. The
ball bounced up in the air, and I caught it.
And like you said, I like, out of my pariff
when I'm not going for the ball, I see this
one receiver like also going towards me and the ball.
So I'm just like, okay, just make sure you catch
the ball at least. And you know, I didn't even
realize that guy even touched me, to be honest, like,

(07:26):
I like all the guys were joking about it too,
how like he just like bounced off my leg and
I did even feel it. Then after that, I just
you know, h hit it down the sideline.

Speaker 1 (07:34):
Was Jery reed mad at you first switcher?

Speaker 7 (07:36):
No, he was. He was happy for me, but we
obviously joked about it after. He was like, man, that
was supposed to be my drop, you know, yeah, exactly, No,
that was filthy.

Speaker 8 (07:47):
I was putting myself in Aaron Rodgers's position. I go, man,
you get your two bigs right there, Your edge rushers
are walked up right. There's no way you're thinking you
guys are going to drop into that zone. And I
would have thrown the slant too. Man, he's got your
palls on. It was just a great football play man.
So you're a leader on this team, man, And you know,
when I sit up in the press box and then
I'll just I'll put my binoculars on. I'll just zone

(08:09):
it on a player, you know, for every sing, not
every play, but every now and then.

Speaker 2 (08:12):
ELS want to check and see what everybody's doing.

Speaker 8 (08:15):
And you seem like you chatter a little bit with
your teammates with and with the with the other team,
like what's your personality out there on the fullall field,
because you seem like a chill dude right here.

Speaker 2 (08:24):
But when I zoom in on you, it's a bit
more going on.

Speaker 7 (08:27):
Yeah, I mean, you know, since we have a new
coaching staff and then also still a lot of new
players that I've you know, I only got here last year.
So even though I got here in the middle of
the season last year, I got to know some people.
But there's still is a little bit of a learning curve.
And I remember way back to camp when we had
like a joint practices with Tennessee, Like I'm one of
those players that's like when I'm on the field, It's

(08:48):
just like I'm just ingrained in my head to like
finish in a dominant position. So like, if there's ever
a time when like an offensive lineman's hand is only
for too long, then necessary, I'm like the type of
guy that's like, get off me, you know what I mean,
and stuff like that. So, uh, you know, the whole
staff and players always joke about how like I can
turn it off and on because you know, like off
the field, I'm just very chill and relax, but on

(09:11):
the field, I'm just like I'm going one hundred miles
an hour. I'm like pretty feisty out there. I'm like
talking crap to the other team and things like that,
and then on the sideline I go right back to
being chill, and I'm just like hyping my guys up
and being like, good job, good job, you know, trying
to keep everybody together.

Speaker 5 (09:26):
I'm sorry really quick. I just wanted to mention in
Tennessee the joint practices. I remember you had a guy
on the ground and you were.

Speaker 7 (09:33):
Like, okay, I'm not yeah, So that's one of those
things where you know, finishing the dominant position is just
like I remember this guy was like trying to dump
me over the pile, and like that was another thing
where like the coaches were impressed because like the pile
was already behind me. I'm kind of already like folding
over it, and then like somehow like on my big toe,
I'm like just stop all the momentum and just like

(09:53):
swing them to the ground. And like I remember, Mike
said he's seen my fist go up in the air
slop motion, and he's like, no, I didn't throw the punts,
but I just wanted to let him know, like you
know they could.

Speaker 1 (10:04):
Yeah, exactly, yeah he is.

Speaker 4 (10:07):
Leonard Williams kind of have to join us for the huddle.
You have a very busy week. We got to let
you go get ready for the vikings here on Sunday.
Don't go anywhere.

Speaker 3 (10:14):
This this is the huddle every Thursday from noon to
two on Seattle Sports.

Speaker 4 (10:20):
You are listening to the huddle. Joining us now, George
Holani and uh and George. This is a really, really
fascinating time the year for the Seahawks. You guys are
in the thick of it. Man. The NFC is so tight,
I mean, the NFC West still to figure out the
NFC South. Uh, do you start to feel kind of
this special like winter pressure around all these games?

Speaker 9 (10:41):
I mean, yeah, for sure, for us, just continue to
prepare for one game at a time and taking one
game at a time like each game is really like
a playoff game.

Speaker 1 (10:50):
So that's how we see it. What our rookie I
didn't have my microphone on. Hey what uh? What was
that like? When when you got when you get called up?

Speaker 5 (11:01):
And when when did you realize during camp by the
way that you were going to make the team?

Speaker 9 (11:08):
I would say for me, it was probably just going
into the preseason games and just continue to make plays
out there and make the best of the opportunities, and
then yeah, get getting caught up and then obviously this
past week and getting my first you know, first regular
season carries.

Speaker 6 (11:26):
So uh, that was that was a blessing.

Speaker 1 (11:28):
It was pretty cool.

Speaker 9 (11:29):
I didn't really know I was going to go in
there until coach kp was like, oh yeah, George, if
offense goes back out there, you're going to be up.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
So I was like, oh, okay, here we go. Sweet.

Speaker 9 (11:40):
But it's been it's been pretty cool experience for.

Speaker 1 (11:43):
Me for sure.

Speaker 8 (11:44):
I know we're in Washington, but off from Cali you
went to Bosco and uh man, there's some some battles
between you guys modern day mission via ho. How has
Bosco kind of shaped you and the players that we've
seen coming out because you guys put them out like
like a football fact you're down there in California.

Speaker 9 (12:01):
I mean Bosco for sures, you know, one of the
best top schools out there. I think they really helped
me focus and uh it's all boys school anyways, you know,
really focused, just continue to build discipline and be around guys.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
Who want to compete.

Speaker 9 (12:21):
You know, we had my class, I think we had
like twenty players who signed D one crazy, So it's
it was pretty cool to see that and then just
continue to see them. They're still playing in college right
now or some of them in the league, so it's
been pretty cool.

Speaker 4 (12:36):
Jordan, I'm gonna have you move your mic just a
little bit closer up this way. Perfect we I'm actually
really fascinated. Would you mind talking a bit more about
that experience and what that was like just with all
guys and that entire stretch of a sister school.

Speaker 2 (12:51):
Who's your sister.

Speaker 9 (12:51):
Yeah, Saint Joseph okay okay, okay, I would say it's it's.

Speaker 1 (12:57):
Similar to here.

Speaker 9 (12:58):
You know, you're you're at work every day, You're you're
around the guys, you're just kind of talking football, and
it's it's, uh, it's like a lot of uniform you
gotta make sure it's clean, safe. So we have to
make every make sure everyone was locked in. And I
mean it was pretty cool though, Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 4 (13:19):
Rules.

Speaker 5 (13:20):
Yeah, Hey, what were some of the other choices you
had besides Boise State that where you were recruited.

Speaker 9 (13:28):
I would say the last three came down it was Boise,
Oregon State, b YU.

Speaker 1 (13:34):
Yeah, yeah, you chose wisely appreciate it.

Speaker 8 (13:38):
Oh yeah, Boise statement in the college football playoffs. I'm
sure you still got some some homies on the squad.
Have you spoken to him or how are they feeling?

Speaker 1 (13:47):
Oh?

Speaker 9 (13:47):
Yeah, I'm locked in with him. I always played a
game with them. I still chop it up with with
all the guys. So it's it's pretty cool just to
see them have that run they have this season. It's
been a great season and obviously asking having a hell
of a season. You know, one of the best players,
literally the best player in college football.

Speaker 4 (14:06):
He's been absolutely unreal to watch. I mean, we talked
about how any other season it would have been his heisman.
But then you've got Travis Hunter, who I'm sure you
can also appreciate from afar, are you like Rob, Yeah, yeah,
for sure, I can see a loyalty.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (14:21):
I mean he's on pace to beat the record, so yeah,
I believe he's gonna do that next game. So yeah,
we're gonna see that pretty soon.

Speaker 1 (14:28):
Yeah. Tell us about your your running back room.

Speaker 5 (14:30):
You got some good guys in there, Charbonne and I've
known Kennedy uh KP since like we were in high
school and just a just a great guy. But seems
like you got a you got a fun room there.

Speaker 9 (14:42):
Oh yeah, it's a real tight, tight knit room. I
mean everyone's, you know, always cheering for each other and
making sure everybody's locked in with the game plan going
into the game, and we're all asking questions, making sure
everyone's doubt in on protection and then obviously KP getting
us right and there and being able to teach us

(15:03):
like the cheats each game, and what he sees from
his point of.

Speaker 5 (15:07):
View is that the hardest saying the past pro just
because I feel like, if you're a really good player
in college you're either running the ball or you're catching
the ball. Is that one of the things that's maybe
the toughest to pick up?

Speaker 9 (15:19):
I mean, yeah, for sure, a lot. I mean a
lot of running backs in general, they have that problem
in the league, you know, blocking and being able to
pick up protection because you know, the guys would get
paid the most bucks is a quarterback, the.

Speaker 1 (15:30):
Guy on the side of you.

Speaker 9 (15:31):
So just having the you know, coaches and a quarterback
being able to trust you and running backs and protection
is definitely important.

Speaker 8 (15:39):
I know your favorite play is whatever gets you the football,
But if you had to pick a gap, scheme or zone,
which which one do you feel like you like the most?

Speaker 9 (15:50):
Honestly, I'll say duo?

Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yeah for sure.

Speaker 8 (15:54):
We're just talking leonardbout duo. You get that double team
they climb to that back. Yeah, you kind of influence
a bit more. You can be more patient with the door.

Speaker 2 (16:01):
I assume I played running back in high school. It
has been a while.

Speaker 1 (16:04):
Yeah for sure.

Speaker 9 (16:05):
I mean do a literally get hit anywhere. So that's
why it's my favorite play. Can hit inside outside of
just being able to be patient, hit it downhill and
then react off, you know, whatever is in front of you.

Speaker 4 (16:18):
How's Grub speaking of as a as a play caller, Like,
do you spend a lot of time talking to him?
I know it's probably mostly mostly position coaches, But what
do you make of his first season?

Speaker 9 (16:27):
I mean, he's doing a hell of a job, you know,
first as a you know, NFL coach, and he's we've
been meeting as offenses and like I mean as an offense,
and we've just been able to just break down the
game plan each week and what we expect from different
teams and how we're going to attack them. So he's
been on point with everything and we're continuing to grow

(16:48):
because we can get better in every phase.

Speaker 1 (16:51):
Georgia.

Speaker 5 (16:52):
Seems like everybody talks about Gino's toughness, like the you know,
his physical toughness, you know, which we're seeing now, but
like a lot of it is his mental toughness. It
seems like like he tell us about your your leader
there on offense, it just seems like he didn't let
anything rattle him.

Speaker 9 (17:09):
I mean, yeah, for sure, he's real confident in the
way he carries himself. Every time he steps on the field.
He's he's able to, you know, get the job done
and he's able to make sure we're dowt in on
the plays as well. I mean, you know, that's that's
the leader on a team who's always wanting the best
for the team. He's making sure guys is locked in,

(17:31):
walked throughs, just being intentional with everything we do. He's
that guy who's gonna, you know, just carry himself and
we just you know, watch him what he does and
trying to follow in.

Speaker 2 (17:42):
So, how do you like the Northwest?

Speaker 8 (17:43):
You go from Cali to Idaho to Washington. How do
you like the Northwest so far?

Speaker 9 (17:48):
Oh? Yes, I go from like, you know, beach weather's
like a lot of snow and Idaho and then a
lot of rain now, so I mean I get I
get it.

Speaker 1 (17:56):
I get it all.

Speaker 9 (17:57):
So it's been pretty cool being able to adapt to
it and then just going out there and practicing in
the rain. I'm not really used to we just going
to indoor and stuff. But it's been pretty cool just
getting used to it. I mean, it was good weather
this in the summer.

Speaker 4 (18:11):
This, Yeah, you think it's not so bad and then
you get a full week of rain where you're like,
I don't think it's stopped. Yeah, Uh, do you what
do you do outside of football? I mean, speaking of
the area, right, lots to explore, Like if you were
an outdoor kind of person, there's a lot to do.
But are you Are you a foodie? What do you
like doing?

Speaker 9 (18:31):
I mean, uh yeah, me and me and my girl,
we always go eat out, I always. I always play
video games or just hang out with my cats at home.
So yeah, it's pretty cool. I don't I don't really
go outdoors. I'm just you know, chilling at home for
the most part.

Speaker 5 (18:46):
Yeah, you're a cat guy. I was just gonna say,
I just became a cat guy. Well I got married
a long time ago, but that's when I became a
cat guy.

Speaker 1 (18:55):
I was a dog guy, but you're a cat guy.

Speaker 10 (18:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (18:56):
I used to be, uh a dog guy as well.

Speaker 9 (18:59):
And so you know, I met my girl and then
see I kats and then kind of just rubbed off
on me for sure.

Speaker 5 (19:05):
You know what I appreciate about them is that they
hunt for sport. That's pretty badass.

Speaker 4 (19:10):
I like that. George, Okay, George, we're gonna let you go.
We're gonna let you get out of here. Thank you
so much for taking the time, man. We really appreciate it.
The three of us are going to continue our vikings
preview coming your way. Next. This is the huddle.

Speaker 3 (19:24):
This, this is the huddle every Thursday from noon to
two on Seattle's Sports.

Speaker 4 (19:31):
You are listening to the huddle and we're starting our
vikings preview. Time for a look ahead. Let's kick that
Sunday night lost for the Packers to the curb. I'll
start with you bump. Minnesota is fifteenth in rushing offense,
and that's pretty much the only thing I could find
where I was like, well, that's not so that sounds
pretty good. Everything else is stellar. I mean, this is
a twelve and two team that has an excellent defense,

(19:55):
two excellent wide receivers. They will pack a punch. I'm
very nervous about this upcoming game. But let's talk about
what's been working and maybe you know where there's some
opportunities for Seattle. As far as what's been working, you
can't start the conversation without looking at Sam Donald, right.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
I mean, yeah.

Speaker 8 (20:12):
Sam Donald is one of the stories of the NFL.
A guy who was drafted by one of the worst
organizations in all the land, bounced around to a couple
of teams with the Panthers, then the forty nine ers
and found a home here and was paid ten million
dollars a year just to be the back of Essentially,
JJ goes down, has to have a surgery on his

(20:32):
knee and he starts the season hot and people don't
want to believe in it. And he has shown that
if you surround him with good talent, he can make
things happen. And I feel like there's a lot of
quarterbacks who haven't gotten the opportunity that Sam Donald has
gotten that would have performed at a high level if
they were surrounded with talent. We're seeing brock Perdy do

(20:53):
that and he's having it down Yere because the talent
has been banged up. So I think Sam Donald is
a perfect example of this.

Speaker 2 (20:59):
Is the complete team sport.

Speaker 8 (21:01):
Talent around you can uplift you, or the quarterback can
uplift the talent.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
It has to work either way.

Speaker 8 (21:07):
Right now, he's just in his zone and he's so
calm in the pocket. He understands the offense. He's great
under center, which I love.

Speaker 1 (21:16):
Man.

Speaker 8 (21:16):
I me being a receiver and when I started coaching football,
I used to love shotgun.

Speaker 2 (21:20):
I still love shotgun.

Speaker 8 (21:20):
I think there are some benefits, but when you're under
center and you can run the ball and use that
play action, the influence of the defense is just crazy.

Speaker 2 (21:27):
And Kevin O'Connell loves him under center.

Speaker 8 (21:30):
I pointed out to Stacey earlier, Dave, ninety percent of
the time when they're in shotgun, they're throwing the football,
it's second and nine, it's third and long, like there's
no there's no hide in it, and he just seems
like he's in complete control. And it's fun to watch
man because when the season started, Dave, I said this
is gonna be good for Sam Darnold and they laughed
at me.

Speaker 2 (21:49):
Yeah, and look at him now, well.

Speaker 5 (21:50):
I mean, I guess if you look at his past,
it's easy to laugh at that, right.

Speaker 1 (21:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (21:56):
We had a whole discussion about that, and it's dems
from Bob Stelton and Brock Hewart having a little disagreement
about you know, Sam Donald and Brock's been talking about
him for a long time, and it's just weird to
me that somebody you know, And I think it brings
to light like how important coaching is, because obviously O'Connell

(22:19):
is saying something to Sam Donald that's clicking for him
because you know, you look at his even having won
what are they twelve and two, you know, he still
has a negative record in his career. I mean, he
lost a ton of games and lots of interceptions, and
it's just very fascinating to me. And really this year,

(22:39):
I mean you've got Baker Mayfield. Look at Jared Golf.
I mean that guy went eighteen for eighteen against US
and he you know, they basically kicked him out of
LA and mcveigh's system. So yeah, I just I think
it's very interesting.

Speaker 1 (22:53):
I believe it.

Speaker 5 (22:55):
But I mean I guess, like I said, I think
it really brings to light the coaching and just saying
the right words to the right you know, teaching a
guy the right way. It's it's very it's a very
interesting thing that hopefully doesn't you know, bite us in
the backside here because he's having a really good year
and I mean he's got eleven interceptions, but Matt, he's

(23:17):
been sacked forty two times and he's still with what
sixty eight sixty seven percent completion percentage. Yeah, and they
throw the ball a lot. So it's very very fascinating
to me.

Speaker 4 (23:29):
Conversations about coaching. When we talk about Sam Darnold and
the Vikings understandably center around Kevin O'Connell, who's a favorite
for Coach of the year, rightfully so. But if we
talk about coordinators and coaching there we've got Brian Flores' defense.
This is a number five passing defense in terms of sacks,
limiting yardage, bump. You've noted they're crazy turnover stats. I'm
going to start with you again and go to Dave

(23:50):
with just what you guys are seeing with this defense
and what kind of challenge it's going to present for Seattle.

Speaker 1 (23:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (23:57):
Those those backers are good, man. Those backers are really good.
They use them a lot in the blitz game. They're
one of the the higher percentages when it comes to blitz.
I believe they blitz about thirty six percent, which is
top one or two in the league. They blitz from depth.
They're multiple. When you look at their fronts. On the
back end, they're good. You have a Griffin on one side,

(24:18):
you got Stefan Gilmour on the other side, who I
kind of forgot about, right. He had that run with
New England and he bounced around like four teams in
four different years.

Speaker 2 (24:26):
It seems like he's found his home.

Speaker 8 (24:28):
And Brian Flores, I think he understands his personnel and
he's extremely aggressive when it comes to play. Colin Like,
these guys are the dogs barking on the other side
of the fence, but when you open the fence, they're
really gonna bite you. Whereas you know, back in my day,
there's some dogs who all that bark you open that fence,
they ain't bite nobody.

Speaker 2 (24:46):
But these dudes are taking on.

Speaker 8 (24:48):
Kind of the personality of Brian Flores and it should
be interesting.

Speaker 1 (24:52):
Man.

Speaker 8 (24:52):
I want to see how the offensive line handles the
blitz that they're gonna see because they're gonna come from
depth and they're the lineup tight. They do a whole
bunch of stuff that I think makes a difficult pre
snet for the office in line in the quarterback.

Speaker 4 (25:05):
Hey, why, I mean, I want to stick with the defense.
And I misspoke earlier. I said they were a top
five passing defense, which they're not. They're top five in
sacks at number five, and they're number one interceptions. In
terms of passing yards allowed, they're actually the fourth worst.
Now they're an excellent defense, so I say fourth worst
take it with a grain of salt, But is this
a defense that just capitalizes on turnovers and big plays, right,

(25:27):
because they're not like locking down receivers and quarterbacks. They're
just really I don't know, they're they're stifling people with
big moments, right yea, yeah.

Speaker 5 (25:36):
I mean that they're plus eight in the turnover ratio
and we're minus five, and that's the killer. And then
you know, they just got certain guys playing really well.
I was watching that Josh Mintallas. I mean, he is
just all over the field. Never really heard of him before,
I'll be honest, I haven't, and he's just a really
really good player. And you know, they're getting a lot

(25:57):
out of the guys they have, so yeah, it's coach team.
I Mean, the thing that bothers me when I look
at their record is they beat the Packers, and they
have the Packers left on their schedule, so they beat
the Packers and then you know, they lost to the
Lions and the Rams, so that that's kind of like them,
Like how they lose to the Rams. They're playing really well,

(26:18):
and it bothers me because that's the last game. Yeah, obviously,
but but yeah, it just seems like it's a very
well coached team, and yeah, they take the ball away
a ton. I think they have twenty eight takeaways. So yeah,
it's it's going to be a challenge. It's going to
be much like it was last week.

Speaker 4 (26:35):
It's not the first time the Seahawks will be underdogs
in a game, and they have one as underdogs, as
have many teams around the league. Bump when you go
in with the rest of the world thinking you're not
going to win. What typically needs to go right in
this case, specifically for Seattle, Like what's going to need
to go right on Sunday for Seattle to walk out
with a win.

Speaker 2 (26:54):
Often it's got to step it up.

Speaker 8 (26:56):
You know, defense had a slow star last game but
figured it out. But it feels like Gino hasn't had
our Gino didn't have in the last game, obviously his
best game, and the run game didn't even going. There
has to be a game where the run in the
past are working at the same time.

Speaker 2 (27:12):
I think Gino.

Speaker 8 (27:14):
We said this before on this show plenty of times
this year, Dave, like, Gino just has to go for
like two fifty two point fifty one or two touchdowns,
no interceptions, run game gets over one hundred. I feel
like the defenses now can now it's now capable of
kind of taking a charge in and creating the identity
of the game. But we still haven't seen the run
game in the past. Game get going, and I'm waiting.

(27:36):
I'm starving. I need to see it.

Speaker 5 (27:37):
Maybe maybe the closest to the Arizona game. Down in Arizona,
I think, yeah, Atlanta, they were like within four or five.

Speaker 1 (27:45):
Plays as far as fifty to fifty goes.

Speaker 5 (27:48):
So yeah, that's that's kind of what we what we
need to see. But you know, an offensive line, I
feel like, you know, they played really well in that
game against Arizona, so I know they've taken a lot
of criticism, and I know my.

Speaker 1 (28:00):
Talked about that afterwards.

Speaker 5 (28:01):
He said, yeah, we've been we've been criticized at our
offensive line.

Speaker 1 (28:04):
I was thinking, I hope he wasn't listening to Whine
and Bob.

Speaker 4 (28:10):
Maybe the podcast rightfully.

Speaker 5 (28:12):
So I mean, look, it's it's it's been an adventure,
and especially if you look at you know, I feel
like going well, of course it's a struggle offensive line wise.
You went to your fourth string right tackle. How many
guys at right guard? Three, two or three at center.
I mean, it's it's been it's been tough. And Tomlinson
and Cross. I don't think I've had had the years

(28:33):
that they that they want, but but those two have
been solid.

Speaker 1 (28:36):
They've been in there the whole time.

Speaker 5 (28:38):
But yeah, I just I think it's when you lose
that many guys, it's going to be a tough go.

Speaker 4 (28:43):
We'll jump back into this part of the conversation with
Ray Roberts and keep focusing like bumps out on what
the offense needs to do. Coming up next, we'll hear
from the quarterback Gino Smith. Don't go anywhere.

Speaker 3 (28:52):
This This is the huddle every Thursday from noon to
two on Seattle Sports.

Speaker 4 (28:57):
You're listening to Battle with Dave Wyman, Michael Bumpa, San
Stacy Ross speaking. Now it's quarterback, you know Smith, Let's
take a listen.

Speaker 1 (29:04):
Well, how are you feeling?

Speaker 11 (29:05):
You know, uh, yeah, I'm getting better every day, you know,
looking forward to Sunday.

Speaker 10 (29:10):
When you got your leg twisted, you fear something worse.

Speaker 11 (29:13):
Yeah, yeah, I was definitely like one of those scary
falls where you know, just didn't know what was going on,
but definitely didn't feel stable enough to get back out there.

Speaker 12 (29:22):
Mike said, you were, you know, trying at some point
to get back in. Just what are those conversations like
where obviously you want to be out there, but you're
also trying to take care of yourself.

Speaker 6 (29:29):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (29:29):
I think that's the toughest thing, is like, you know,
trying to fight the competitiveness, you know. Uh, you know
once before I told my a cl and actually was
trying to go back in that game, you know, so
you know, I'm always gonna you know, be precautionary, you know,
just because I feel like I tolerate pain well and
if I can do anything to get back out there,
I will. You know, just felt like, you know, it's
a decision made that you know it was best to

(29:51):
not you know, you know, risk it anymore.

Speaker 13 (29:53):
There was a moment there where it looked like you
grabbed your helm and you were ready to go back
on the field, And did you feel like.

Speaker 6 (29:57):
You were about to? Yeah, I was trying.

Speaker 11 (29:59):
I was trying to, you know, I was trying my
best to get out there, just you know, had to
make a decision in that moment.

Speaker 10 (30:04):
And just to clarify, do you do you expect to
play something?

Speaker 6 (30:07):
You know, Yes, I do.

Speaker 10 (30:09):
Is it accurate to say you gonna be less than
a hundred percent not fully recovered?

Speaker 11 (30:13):
Yeah, I mean we've been you know, a lot of
guys are less than one hundred percent. I've you know,
been that way, you know, pretty much the majority of
the season. That's just the way the NFL goes. But
no excuse is got to go out there and perform.

Speaker 10 (30:25):
Do you know you you pop back up there initially?

Speaker 12 (30:27):
Did you know right away it was his biggest thing
or did it take a couple of seconds to kind
of ring thirty of it?

Speaker 6 (30:32):
Yeah?

Speaker 11 (30:33):
Yeah, once I put pressure on it and got up
and stuff.

Speaker 6 (30:35):
You know, I just you know, felt it there.

Speaker 14 (30:38):
What did you think of how the offense was performing
before you got hurt?

Speaker 11 (30:41):
Yeah, I thought we uh, I thought we were moving
the ball. It seems like all year, right like twenty
to twenty, man, we moved the ball.

Speaker 6 (30:48):
We're we're doing a lot of good things.

Speaker 11 (30:49):
In the play action game, you know, we ran the
ball pretty well, got a couple you know, big runs
when I was in there, and I just felt like
we didn't finish again, you know, in the red zone.
Once we get you know, past the fifty yard line,
we got to execute a little bit better there. So
I just felt like we didn't finish when we had
our opportunities early on.

Speaker 14 (31:05):
How do you feel about that that part of the
game is where you guys are not consistent, particularly at
this time of year.

Speaker 11 (31:10):
Yeah, it's just something to work on, man. It's something
that we gotta strive to perfect. We gotta get better
at it. You know, We've got to execute better. It
always goes back to that. I always say this, man,
like the coaches can only do so much for us.
We got to go out there and we gotta play
the game. And so yeah, it's something that I'm working
hard on, studying and doing everything I can to make
sure that we can get better in that area. It's

(31:32):
something that I feel like we definitely need in order
to go where we want to go.

Speaker 12 (31:36):
When you do, you know, when you look back on
the interception, what what stood out to you about that
about that play?

Speaker 1 (31:41):
Maybe what you saw a.

Speaker 2 (31:42):
Field with that one?

Speaker 11 (31:43):
Yeah, I mean the corner was man doubs man coverage
one double. They were doublin DK, so basically cover zero
for everyone else to the field. I felt like Noel
won on this route, you know, I gave him a
ball that was catchable, and the corner wheel back he
was covering lock will back and made a heck of
a play. You know, always gonna say that. You know,
I got the ball, I got the decisions to make,
and whenever it's an interception, you know it's gonna be

(32:07):
graded as a negative decision. You know, if that guy
to make that play and Noah catches a touchdown, then
you know it's a positive. So I think again, just
focusing on the process, making sure I'm reading the right things,
right keys, and you know, doing the right things, and
most importantly protecting the football.

Speaker 12 (32:22):
Minnesota's defense obviously has been doing a lot of things
well this season.

Speaker 15 (32:25):
Just what when you put on the tape, what jumps up?

Speaker 9 (32:27):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (32:27):
I mean they're first of all up front.

Speaker 11 (32:29):
Man, just got a lot of stout guys up front,
a lot of veteran guys in their secondary. They do
a lot as far as you know, personnel, different fronts.
They like to show you a lot of different blitz looks,
try to confuse the quarterback in that way. I think
they have a you know, a really good scheme, really
good playing Coach Flores has done a great job with
those guys. You know, it's something that we've been you know,
kind of similar to Arizona, you know, where it's gonna

(32:51):
be like blitch bluff bandits a period that we have
in practice. And uh is it cover zero? Are they
going back to cover two? Are they spinning it to
cover three? A lot to decipher try to put pressure
on the quarterback in that way.

Speaker 6 (33:03):
Uh, they've done a great job.

Speaker 10 (33:05):
How did did things change?

Speaker 3 (33:06):
It?

Speaker 7 (33:07):
All?

Speaker 13 (33:07):
I told who got hurt? And you had that go
with Jalen? Or how did you feel like kind of things?

Speaker 11 (33:10):
You know, I thought Jalen did an outstanding job. You know,
all along we've always spoken highly of him, and uh,
he's been so professional. He's he's a young guy, but
he's got you know, such a wise demeanor to him,
and so you know, I thought he stepped in, he
was calm, you know, I thought he you know that
that one touchdown that sharp and they had you saw
him out there leading that and uh, you know, he
knew the assignment. He was getting the guys lined up.

(33:33):
You know, he's communicating well and I was really happy
for him to get out.

Speaker 6 (33:37):
There and show what he's got.

Speaker 10 (33:38):
What challenge has three different Centers presented you this year.

Speaker 11 (33:41):
Uh, you know, it's it's football, man. You got guys
in and out the lineup. Uh, we would like to
have a lot more stability there, but that's that's the
way the game goes.

Speaker 1 (33:50):
Man.

Speaker 11 (33:50):
Guys are fighting their butts off and at times, you know,
get injured and other guys that got to step up.
So you know the challenge is to to go out
there and execute no matter who's out there. And uh,
that's something that I take. So there'll never be an
excuse or anything like that for me.

Speaker 4 (34:04):
How was your visit uh at the Chunton's Hospital.

Speaker 3 (34:06):
Earlier this street.

Speaker 11 (34:07):
Uh, that was that was awesome. You know, I was
right after the injury. I I was able to go
out there and you know s you know, see the
kids and you know for.

Speaker 6 (34:15):
About a hour.

Speaker 11 (34:16):
I wanted to be there for two hours, but you know,
obviously had to get back to recovery.

Speaker 6 (34:19):
But you know, I.

Speaker 11 (34:20):
Felt like it was healing me, you know, just being
around uh all those smiling faces and uh, you know,
being able to kind of spread some Christmas cheer, some
holiday cheer.

Speaker 15 (34:29):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (34:29):
Man, It's it's just one of those things where you know,
as an athlete. It just warms your heart, you know,
the more that you can go out there and do
those things and and be a part.

Speaker 6 (34:37):
Of the community. Uh, uplift people, you know, it's it's
what it's all about.

Speaker 10 (34:41):
The first time you had to seay Ottle Children's with
Russell Wilselm. No it wasn't in s in Seattle. No. No,
what do you get out of that personally?

Speaker 11 (34:50):
Yeah, I mean, just like I said, just being able
to number one, you know, uplift you know those in need.
You know a lot of kids have to spend their
holidays and hospital you know, you can just think about,
you know how trying that is for them and their families.
And there's one specific kid who couldn't leave his room
that I was able to go and you know, deliver
some gifts to him. And he's a big Seahawk fan,

(35:12):
big dk Metcalf fan, and uh, you know, it's just
one of those things where for me, the more that
I can get out and just lend a helping hand,
try to put some smiles on some faces, you know,
be a part of the community.

Speaker 7 (35:23):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (35:23):
This this community that that supports us so well and
that we represent just means the world you know, really
means the world. I know, my mom's happy, my grandmother's
happy that I'm able to do that.

Speaker 10 (35:33):
What's the most memory reaction again to remember.

Speaker 6 (35:36):
A long time.

Speaker 11 (35:36):
Uh, it was, uh, you know, just the kids seeing Santa.
You know, a couple of kids were saying, you know,
because a lot of people go down to the mall
and they take pictures with Santa, and uh, the kids
are like, no, we can stay here. You know, Santa's
coming to see us. And you know, just with the
kids to be able to you know, tell Santa what
they wanted for Christmas, and you know, for me to
be a part of that and just help them, you know,
try to uplift their spirits. I mean that's that's what

(35:58):
you know means the most of.

Speaker 10 (35:59):
Me as a team talk about that because there's a
lot of players that are doing that there. You want
to echo Bland and is that something in manifest and discuss.

Speaker 11 (36:08):
Yeah, I think all the guys you know, you know,
and you talk about Chenna, you know, being the Walter
Payton Man of the Year nominee and just the stuff
that he's done in the community.

Speaker 6 (36:17):
But we all want to strive for that.

Speaker 11 (36:19):
That's something that I want to be nominated for you know,
we all want to be a part of the community
and uh, you know, we want to be supportive because
they're so supportive of us, and so we all in
the locker room on the team want to be a
big part of the community.

Speaker 1 (36:31):
Uh.

Speaker 11 (36:31):
They mean so much to us, and we want to
continue to, like, you know, bring that together.

Speaker 9 (36:35):
You know, much has been made throughout the season about
the number of opposing fans at the midfield.

Speaker 10 (36:41):
I know, you waiting and A waiting on.

Speaker 14 (36:43):
It a little bit out of the Buffalo game, DK
waiting on it yesterday.

Speaker 10 (36:47):
I'm just curious now that you just got one home
game left, what have you thought about that situation and
what would you like to see different?

Speaker 11 (36:53):
You know, one thing about it, Like when I was
on other teams, you know, before I got to the league.

Speaker 6 (36:59):
Uh, there was all.

Speaker 11 (37:00):
Always always the aura of the of the twelfth Man,
and playing in Seattle has always been like a tough
task for anybody, and I think it still is, you know,
as far as like opposing fans and ticket sales. I mean,
you can't really control that, you know, that's not in
our control. But what we can do is go out
there and be the best team at home, you know,

(37:20):
and give our fans something to cheer about, give them
something to you know, want to pack the stadium and
be a part of it. And like I said, they've
been that, you know since I've been here before I
got here, and I think that'll be long after I'm gone.
You know, this fan base is one of the best.
And like I said, man, the more we win, the
more that atmosphere gets crazier and crazier. So that's something

(37:40):
that we're building, we're working towards.

Speaker 13 (37:43):
Like on Monday said that you were back in. You
were back in just kind of doing your regular routine
and everything, your workout and stuff like that. Yes, sir, yeah,
I mean so from from the start of the week,
you kind of had it in your mind that you'd
be able to overcome.

Speaker 10 (37:52):
Us and kind of play.

Speaker 3 (37:53):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (37:54):
Yeah, you know, honestly, I you know, I really wanted
to get back out there on Sunday. But you know,
these things happen, man, Like everybody's gonna fight through something,
and uh, you know, I wanna be be the guy
who's known for, you know, pushing through and so I
wanna finish the season h on the r on the
right note, and I wanna, you know, make sure that
we get every opportunity we can to uh close it out.

Speaker 6 (38:13):
The right way.

Speaker 10 (38:14):
What what do you think of the play itself.

Speaker 1 (38:15):
That you got hurt on.

Speaker 11 (38:17):
I mean, there's a lot to be thought of. You know, Honestly,
they didn't call it flag, so I'm not complaining.

Speaker 6 (38:23):
It is what it is.

Speaker 14 (38:25):
Considering where you guys are in the playoff picture and
how many games are left, it feel like there's a
sense of urgency this week to win against the Vikings,
particularly since your last home game as well.

Speaker 11 (38:33):
Yeah, yeah, there's definitely a sense of urgency. And uh
that's every week, you know, that's every week. We gotta
take that approach every single week. We've been all we've
been talking about being in playoff, molding all those things.
But yeah, last home game, big game against a really
good team. We look forward to it and uh, you know,
our last home game of the season possibly. Uh so
we'll we'll, we'll see how it goes. But yeah, we
wanna make sure that we go out there and we

(38:55):
put on a good show for our fans.

Speaker 7 (38:56):
But do you know, as a leader of this team,
how much you take it up out yourself to get
back on the field left of injuries, prepare after.

Speaker 10 (39:03):
Losses, those kinds of things. How much of that do
you take upon yourself.

Speaker 11 (39:07):
Yeah, I think that's a big part of the NFL.

Speaker 6 (39:10):
You know, It's it's the ups and downs of it.

Speaker 11 (39:11):
It's the you know, the wins, the losses, the injuries,
the next the bruises. You know, those are the things
that make this game so special. It's the adversity that
you face and you got to push through, you know.
I think I'm a living example of some of that,
and uh, you know, I just want to continue to
be the same way. You know, if I can go
out there and help my guys in any way, shape
or form, that's something I'm gonna do. I'm always gonna
try and push through injury. I was just I've always

(39:32):
been that way, you know. I just want to go
out there. I love playing the game, and uh, you know,
I just want to make sure that I'm you know,
giving myself every opportunity to be successful, but also my teammates.
And that's a big part of it. Like you said, man,
just pushing through things and being available.

Speaker 4 (39:46):
We are going in the trenches with Ray Roberts next.

Speaker 1 (39:49):
This is the huddle.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
Every Thursday from Mune to to.

Speaker 1 (39:56):
The Huddle of.

Speaker 4 (39:58):
The trenches with Ray Roberts. Ray, how's it going the coron?

Speaker 1 (40:02):
All right?

Speaker 4 (40:02):
How are you guys doing good?

Speaker 1 (40:04):
Good?

Speaker 4 (40:04):
Excited to kind of wash away Sunday nights lost to
the Packers and look ahead to the Vikings. I know
that we aren't just talking about the offensive line. We
talk about all kinds of things with you, Ray, but
I do like starting with the offensive line when there's
something to ask, because you're an expert. And I felt
so good about where they were, or at least the
performance they had against the Cardinals, and then it was

(40:25):
like we saw a night and day switch against the Packers,
allowing seven sacks and just not getting a run game going.
What do you think happened for them in this one?

Speaker 16 (40:35):
Well, honestly, I felt like in the Arizona game, they
found something that the offensive line could execute on that
they felt confident that they could do, and it was
really the counter getting between the tackles, getting downhill as
soon as possible, you know, limiting the amount of opportunities

(40:56):
for negative yards. I think in that game they've only
I think Charmany had one run for a negative one
yard and that's an important part of it, to stay
ahead of the teams. And then when it came out
last week, they were more horizontal. They were trying to
do the same concept but taking it one gap further
to the outside to try to get around the edge,
and they did early in the game. I think Charbonnaye

(41:18):
had a nice little run with it, and then later
in the game they scored a touchdown with it. But
the other times they were trying it in the game,
you were asking the tight ends to be the guys
that are selling the edge, and tight ends they worked
hard at blocking, but I can't say that they're the
dudes I want to rely on to make those blocks.
And so then the players kept getting stretched from sideline

(41:39):
to sideline and there was nothing there. And so what
I think that they need to do this week is
it has to be a statement game, and not a
statement game for the other team, but a statement game
for Grubbed, a statement game for the oppositive line, and
a statement game for the running back to themselves that
this is who the heck we are, Like, we're going
to run this counter thing between the tackles and we're

(42:02):
gonna play a smot bubble freaking football game. Because this
is the type of football game we want to play.
We're gonna mite Tyson the hell out of this game.
And then and then as soon as you start to
sit down on those jabs and those right crosses and uppercuts,
then we'll hit you with the CounterPunch and take the
play one gap to the outside. To me, they have
a lot working for them, and those two schemes, along

(42:25):
with some of the double teams that were having and
the split zone, because you can make the backside double
team in the split zone look the same as the
deuce block on the front side of the counterplay, and
so then you can get the defense the twich in between,
as my mom would say. And so that's what I
feel like the offensive line, grub and the running backs

(42:46):
need to do. We're gonna come and we're gonna punch
in the mouth and punching the mouth until something tells
us we need to stop punch you in the mouth
until you can prove to us that you can stop
us from doing that. And if you can prove that,
then we have these other things that we can try.
And I think they need to show up in the
I can't. I can't think of the word in the

(43:06):
posture that this is who we are and this is
who we're gonna be, and damn it, you're gonna have
to prove us that we're not that before we move
away from it.

Speaker 5 (43:16):
You said something about the tight ends, and I feel
like I say this a lot, like you can't block
that guy with a tight end. Yeah, every once in
a while I'll see that, Like, you know, whether it's
a guy like Dre Jones or whatever, is that is
that something that you find? Is that a one of
the complaints that you that you have when you're looking

(43:37):
at a game and you're like, man, you know, do
you think offenses try to rely on that too much?

Speaker 16 (43:44):
I think sometimes obviously just tight ends that do a
really good job blocking, But do you have to you
have to know your personnel the same as like marsh
Levers was saying, you know on the show the other day,
is that you have to know who can do what
and then what plays and what concepts to kind of
set those those guys up with. Sometimes I think, uh,
we have tight ends that are willing blockers. I don't

(44:05):
know that there are guys that where you can say like, Okay,
go block Derek Hall. You know what I'm saying, Like, like,
I think that would be that would be a tough
ask for them to consistently do that. And even in
some of that outside kind of can and pull that
they were doing, they're asking like JSN to go inside
and block a inside linebacker or at least get in
a way or whatever. Like you're like, that's something that

(44:26):
where you just you don't want to like make your
hate on those blocks because they're gonna probably probably lose
more than they win. I'm not like these guys, but
you had something really positive going with your offensive line
and just a traditional counter and then they change it
up a little bit. It was a garden to tackle

(44:47):
and then sometimes it might be the guard and the
tight end, but it was but that concept between the
tackles is something that the team, that that group of
dudes have felt good about. And to go away from
that to try to already do the count to that
and that's what you are gonna make your pay on it.
Last week, just to me, it just wasn't I don't know,
it just wasn't fitting the tetris pieces together the right way.

Speaker 8 (45:10):
Hey, Ray, let's go to pass pro now man any
improvement from last week. I mean, we assumed that they're
gonna be ups and downs with this line. You got
young guys at a couple of spots. But how's the
progress going with the pass pro?

Speaker 16 (45:24):
Well, last week it just really got away from them.

Speaker 1 (45:26):
Uh.

Speaker 16 (45:26):
And then also they didn't do the any favors by like,
they weren't moving the pocket, they weren't undersend there doing
a whole lot of play action stuff. They weren't like,
you know, throwing the quick game as much and like
those types of things. I think they tried one screen
and so they weren't give they weren't equipping the offensive
line with other tools that they could use. And so

(45:47):
then it was especially once it started kind of getting
away from them, and then I think just thee the
defense just had their day with them. I think it
was what seven sacks, and I think six different guys
got sacked, So that meant that everyone across the line
of scrimmage was during that part to contribute to the
sack total. And so I don't know that they did

(46:07):
any favors, especially when shoot, I figured the back up
quarterback came in and you run eighteen nineteen plays and
nineteen or eighteen of them are pass plays, like they
just weren't doing the pass detection any favors. And so
I think though, that they can get the running game going.
In the last three games, I think it is the

(46:30):
Vikings have given up I think four hundred and twenty
five yards rushing almost one hundred and forty forty yards
a game, almost four point six yards per carry, and
so I think if they can get that going, then
they can create space to use some of this play
action pass move the pocket told the pass rush down
because they can't get out to the quarterback if you
let them, And so I think you have to find

(46:50):
that balance, and that balance is you can't have four
rushes in the first half eight carries for the game,
Like even if you're only getting two or three yards,
you still need those plays to keep things.

Speaker 4 (47:02):
On try he is Ray Roberts. We go in the
trenches with Ray Roberts every single Thursday for the huddle.
You can hear more from Ray on the Seahawks pre
and postgame show. Thanks so much, Ray, Thanks Ray Pea.
We still have a couple of things coming your way.
The Voice of the Seahawks Steve Rabel is going to
join us at one point fifteen. Alec Lewis, who covers
the Vikings for the Athletic, is going to join us

(47:23):
at one thirty, and we've got a lot of questions
to him, including, Yes, what are some weaknesses Seattle can exploit?
What's an achilles he here for this team? And also
what have you seen from Sam Darnold? When did you
start buying into it? So we'll ask him all of
those questions coming up at one thirty, and then John
Boyle if Seahawks dot com is going to join us
and run over what's been an interesting injury report this week,

(47:45):
as well as the latest on Gino Smith. All of
that coming your way next this.

Speaker 3 (47:50):
This is the Huddle every Thursday from noon to two
on Seattle Sports.

Speaker 4 (47:56):
Joining us now on the Huddle, it's the voice of
the Seahawks, Steve Rabel, rabes how.

Speaker 17 (48:00):
Going, baby going well?

Speaker 4 (48:02):
Thank you and you fantastic. I'm excited for Sunday, a
little nervous for Sunday. This is a very very good
vikings team and one that raves. As you know, we
weren't expecting to be this good. They're twelve and two
and I did not see the season coming from Sam
Darnold or from Minnesota. What to you is the single
biggest threat they're going to be bringing to Century.

Speaker 17 (48:22):
Link that they're twelve and two. They are you don't
you are what your record says you are, as some
wonderful coach said one time, And that's exactly who these
guys are. Now. When you go start to look through
the schedule, you know they've beaten a lot of teams that,
quite frankly, aren't great teams, and so that should give

(48:45):
a lot of us hope that they can be beaten.
And that I think is something that I know Mike
and the players are looking at saying, listen, we can
beat anybody if we play our game. The problem is
you can't kind of repeat what you just did a
week ago, and that is fall behind fourteen nothing and
uh and not be able to carry out the kind

(49:09):
of offense that you want to do to keep you
in the game. You just can't do those things. So
you're gonna have to get back to play in that
game you played during your four game win streak.

Speaker 5 (49:17):
Hey, Rabes, I'm sorry I can't be your date at
the holiday party. I've got other plans, but yeah, I do.

Speaker 1 (49:26):
Hey, what was I kind of felt like that.

Speaker 17 (49:30):
About that, by the way, the third leg on that table.
But that's okay, go ahead.

Speaker 1 (49:38):
I think we spend enough time together.

Speaker 6 (49:40):
Yeah, yeah, me too.

Speaker 5 (49:40):
So hey, I kind of felt like in that game
the other night that after the first two I think
that's the first time I remember in a long time
where they just got beat up. I mean, this has
been such a physical team, and especially on defense, and
I don't know that that game.

Speaker 1 (49:59):
The other day.

Speaker 5 (49:59):
Just going back to the Packer game, I feel like
those first two drives almost felt like it was over there.
I just hadn't seen that was very I thought atypical
for the way that this team has been playing.

Speaker 17 (50:12):
I agree, and I'm not sure why that is. I'm
sure the coaches when they sit down and analyze the video,
which they already have in tech. You know now that
it's Thursday, twenty four hour rule is long since up.
So you looked at it, you make corrections, you talk
about it in meetings, and now you get on with
the vikings. And as long as there's another game to play,

(50:33):
as you know, and as we always say, then you're
always planning for the next one as opposed to thinking
too much about the last one. But you know, I'm
not sure if we if we altered some of the
things that we had done that were successful. You and
I talked about today. We've got really excited because of
the way we played against Arizona, and we all we also,

(50:54):
you know, made that caveat that Arizona is a different
sort of cat when it comes to defense. They played
some things, They do, some things that are unorthodox sometimes
and that leave them open for issues sometimes, and I
think that's one of the things we did. We took
advantage of that. This this Viking team, I think defensively especially,

(51:15):
is going to look a lot like the Packers team.
They're not going to give you anything. They're not going
to do anything crazy. They're going to just come up
and hit you in the mouth and expect you to
have to make the adjustments or to just win your
one on one battles. And I think that's what we're
going to be seeing from here on out. We have
to win these battles against these last three teams.

Speaker 2 (51:36):
Is there such thing as a quarterback whisper?

Speaker 8 (51:38):
I guess Kevin O'Connell a quarterback whisper because I mean raves,
you could imagine how difficult it is to go through
the league for three four years and be beat up
and everyone tell you and that you're not good enough.
But then all of a sudden, Sam Darnold is playing
some good ball. Obviously his talent helps them, right, But
I think you gotta tip your cap a bit to
O'Connell as well.

Speaker 17 (51:59):
Yeah, I mean he may be whispering as well. He
might also be shouting sometimes in the quarterback meeting rooms,
but about this is how we want to play and
this is what our offense is.

Speaker 10 (52:11):
I mean.

Speaker 17 (52:13):
The story that I can compare this to best is
when Sam Adkins played with us. He was our backup
quarterback and everybody knew Jim was the starter, and when
Dave came along, eventually Dave Craig was the starter. But
Sam was the guy who understood better than anybody I
think on our offense, what exactly our offense was capable of,

(52:35):
and how we go about that, how we play. And
I distinctly remember our offensive coordinator, Jerry Rome had a
chance to become a head coach in the World Football
League at one time, and one of the questions he
asked was of Sam, would you like to be my
quarterback coach, my offensive coordinator. And I don't think Sam

(52:55):
didn't do it, obviously, I don't think Jerry even got
the job. But the point guys sometimes who are the
backup quarterbacks? And you know Conle was, Kevin O'Connell was
a backup quarterback. And you've seen more, you listen more.
You have to be ready for your opportunity, and those

(53:16):
guys are they're smart guys. And so this guy has
played the position. Even though he didn't do much in
the NFL, he hung around for a while with a
bunch of different teams, so he knows what he's talking about.
And it's a long way of saying he found something
in Darnold that he said, we can work with. We
can make this guy a good quarterback in a system

(53:37):
that we know works.

Speaker 4 (53:40):
This is a game in which the Vikings are heavily favored,
and that's not surprising. I mean, they're twelve and two.
The Seahawks have been a far more volatile as a team.
The Seahawks, though like any other team, can always upset
and can always play their best football when it matters most.
I mean that's nearly how Chicago beat the Vikings earlier
this year, took them into overtime. It was their very, very,

(54:01):
very best game. Have you, obviously you've been on the
call for Seahawks games, is there ever one that comes
to mind when you think of the Seahawks kind of
surprising you that day, Like maybe you privately went into
the game thinking, I don't know about this one, and
then they kind of shocked you.

Speaker 17 (54:16):
Oh well, I mean, you can go all the way
back to nineteen eighty three, and that was long before
all of you except Dave were even born. Dave was
I think already in his forties then. But if you
go back, if you go back to nineteen eighty three
and take a look at what the Seahawks did first
year under Chuck Knox and playing as well as they

(54:41):
did down the stretch, and then getting through the playoffs
and eventually going to Miami to play a divisional playoff
game against the team with Dan Marino and a lot
of weapons, and that everybody we thought was one of
the best teams in the league and went down there
and beat him. In my that was that was surprising

(55:03):
to the extent that it was amazing they played that
well that soon under a new head coach. So nothing
is impossible. Put nothing past a group of football players
and a good, solid, smart coach, and you know, you
never know what can happen. You just go out there
and you play. The thing you do know, however, is

(55:24):
that you have to believe that you can do it.
I really think and Dave, we're around these guys a
pretty fair amount. When you get when you look at
guys like Leo Williams and Jay Reid and Julian Love
just on the defensive side and Gino on the offensive side,
this guy, these guys believe that they can win every game.
And that's half the battle right there.

Speaker 5 (55:45):
Ray, if you get a chance to talk to Mike McDonald,
you know, every every week, and what about him stands
out now that we're you know, down down the line
of fair fair amount? Got three games left? And what
is there anything that during your interviews that you've seen
him either you know, change or like mature or something

(56:07):
that he's he's wiser now, or anything stand out with
your your chats with him.

Speaker 18 (56:13):
I think the thing that stands out most is just
his consistency. He's as even keeled, I think, as as
any coach I've I've been around, and I.

Speaker 17 (56:23):
Think that comes with a with a sense of confidence
that he knows his stuff and he knows he's going
to be prepared, and he knows his coaches are good teachers,
and he knows he's got players that can understand and
can and can do the sorts of things that he
believes and he knows that work. So no, he's been

(56:44):
really Uh, if anything, Dave's he's gotten a little looser,
a little more. I don't want to I don't want
to go out on a limb and say fun, but
I mean he's actually, you know, we do. We have
an enjoyable time chatting both before and after our interviews
about a variety of things. And I have found in
all my years of doing this that you can develop

(57:07):
those kind of relationships with these coaches. I had one
of those with Mike, and with Pete and now with
when I say Mike, Mike Holmgren and now Mike McDonald, and.

Speaker 16 (57:18):
It just makes the job easier.

Speaker 17 (57:19):
And I think he feels like with guys like Bump
and all the rest of us on the pre and
post we're all former players. We've all been there, and
so we know what he's talking about we can understand,
and I think he appreciates that too. But mostly David's
just the consistency, and I just find that really great
in a young coach.

Speaker 4 (57:40):
He is the voice of the Seahawks. Steve Rabel going
to be on the call this Sunday alongside Dave Wyman.
Thanks Rapes, Thanks Raves.

Speaker 17 (57:46):
Thanks guys. See you later. If we don't have a
chance to talk much, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas to you
as well.

Speaker 4 (57:53):
Ravees Rabes. All right, we are gonna take a dive
in to understand the Vikings a little bit more with
an expert who covers them daily. Alec Lewis of the
Athletic joins us next.

Speaker 3 (58:03):
This This is the Huddle every Thursday from noon to
two on Seattle Sports.

Speaker 4 (58:08):
Joining us right now, Minnesota Viking speed writer for the Athletic.
It's Alec Lewis. Hey, Alec, I gotta be really honest,
Bump and I have been previewing this game all week,
and I am a little bit nervous. The Minnesota Vikings
look phenomenal this year, but surprisingly we're not at all
expected to be that. What was this year supposed to
be about? Like, what kind of conversations were you guys
having in August.

Speaker 19 (58:29):
Yeah, well, first, thank you guys for having me. The
conversations we were having in August would be how long
is Sam Darnold gonna play? When will JJ McCarthy, who
they drafted with the number ten pick, when will he
take over? He looked, he looked phenomenal, honestly in training
camp and in his first preseason game, and then JJ

(58:50):
Torres meniscus that kind of popped up randomly after that
first preseason game against the Raiders, and at that point, frankly,
the expectations around here we're low. I mean, I think
the over under for this team was around six and
a half wins. There was optimism with the staff, with
head coach Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores as a defensive

(59:11):
coordinator and what those guys could do and how they
could maybe allow this team to overachieve, but I think
essentially the fan base was kind of like, Okay, we'll
see what happens. This might be kind of a lost year,
a transition year, and it has been really really impressive
to see what they've done, to see what Sam Darnold

(59:33):
has done, to see what the defense has done.

Speaker 6 (59:36):
And I think.

Speaker 19 (59:37):
People here have had a blast with this year in
a way that's it's been really fun to cover, been
fun to watch a very very very tight knit team,
a very well coached team, and they are buying now
for the NFD North and the number one seed.

Speaker 8 (59:53):
Hey, as you know, there are only a few quarterbacks
every single year. You go into this season and you go,
these guys have a legit chance to win the division,
win a championship, even if they start off horribly.

Speaker 2 (01:00:04):
Joe Burrow's balling. But at some point they were playing as.

Speaker 8 (01:00:07):
A team bad football were like, well they got Joe,
they should be fine. When did you, guys and Vikings
fans really start believing in Sam Donald, when you just
bought in and said, okay, he's as good as he's
playing right now.

Speaker 19 (01:00:18):
I think for me the point was probably about a
month ago in Chicago in overtime the Vikings had I mean,
they were winning the game for the majority of the game.
Chicago storms back at the end, they got an on
side kick. It was almost a terrible collapse for the
Vikings and the game went to overtime. Sam Donald in

(01:00:39):
that overtime period go six for six for ninety yards,
was threading the ball in all over the field to TJ.
Hockson at tight end, to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Edison, and
at that point for me, for him to do it
late in the game, in that type of moment, that
was kind of validating. But the reality is, I mean,
I believe the week before the Vikings in Nashville and

(01:01:01):
and and he displayed some pocket movement stuff there even
earlier in the year. I mean, I'm week one against
the Giants, he looked solid. So I'd say, you know,
there was optimism even coming even in training camp. Coming
out of training camp, there was optimism. And through the
early part of the season there was. And I last

(01:01:21):
and I still do often at people who were like, man,
when is Sam Donald just gonna come back down to
earth and be Sam Donald? And I'm like, well, that's
assuming that he's gonna come back down to earth and
have Adam Gasee as his coach all of a sudden
and not have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and not have
the offensive line that he had that he's had. So

(01:01:42):
to me, I think, you know, we talked so much
about quarterbacks in this league, and I really understand it.
They are the superstars, the most important positions in sports
and in this society probably, But I don't think we
put enough still and just in terms of the importance
of and the impact of the infrastructure. And that's coaching,

(01:02:03):
and that's skill players, and that's offensive line, and that's environment.
Really and so I think that stuff is just paramount
when we talk about these guys beyond just their own
play themselves.

Speaker 4 (01:02:15):
Hey, I listened to a couple of different podcasts that
did this exercise, and I just thought it was a
really fascinating one for contending teams, which the Vikings certainly are,
and it was, Hey, for all these really good teams,
they looked at the Lions, they looked at the Bills,
they looked I mean the Vikings teams that had just
really either overperformed or were just really dominant, and they said, Okay,

(01:02:35):
if I have to isolate a red flag, like what
would cost this team in the playoffs and what red
flag would somehow pop up? And the point was, you know,
for the team like the Vikings to go, okay, even
really good, but where's the Achilles heel? So I'll throw
the question your way. They've obviously AD twelve and two
been phenomenal, But where's the Achilles heel?

Speaker 16 (01:02:54):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (01:02:55):
To me, it's probably at the interior of the offensive line.
I believe there was a statistic last week that I
spotted on Next Gen Staffs or NFL Pro where it was,
like the Vikings interior the offensive line had given up
one hundred and forty pressures this season, which was the
most in the NFL. And I mean, as you guys

(01:03:15):
very well know, I mean, there's Leonard Williams over there,
so you guys know it integray. But I think these
a lot of these NFC playoff teams have serious talent
on the interior of interior of their defensive line. I mean,
whether it's Tampa Bay and Vidavea, whether it's the Eagles
and Janlen Carter, whether it's the Rams and Kobe Turner
or Braden Fist, whether it's the Commanders and darn Payn

(01:03:37):
Jonathan Allen, like all of these teams that the Vikes
could ultimately match up against. Even the Packers with Kenny
Clark and Devonte Wyatt like, they have furious talent on
the interior defensive line and that will complicate things for
the Vikings interior the offensive line, and I will say, like,
the Viking staff does a very very very good job

(01:03:59):
working round protection, being very mindful of protection as they
game plan and designed the offense for each of these games.

Speaker 1 (01:04:07):
But at some.

Speaker 19 (01:04:08):
Point, like the players make the plays, and so that's
the spot that I've watched. And then other than that,
I would just say, like the turnovers, they mitigated them
in the last four weeks or so, but early in
the season this team was turning the ball over at
a pretty high clip, And I stayed all the time,
it's the most important predictive stats winning. So that's that's

(01:04:29):
what I said. But I think it's a great question.

Speaker 8 (01:04:31):
Speaking of turnovers, Vikings are plus eight in the turnover differential.
And the first thing I do as an offensive guy
is I scouted the defense. Last week, I looked at
the Green Bay Packers and that defensive line was better
than I thought. This week, I look at the Vikings
and I described the second and third level as like
flight of the bumblebee, Like these dudes are flying around
to the football. How has there been such a change

(01:04:54):
in this defense? Last year you were and so are
they weren't so great? And in the turnover department. This
year they're in the the plus the plus range.

Speaker 2 (01:05:01):
What is it?

Speaker 1 (01:05:01):
Is it?

Speaker 8 (01:05:02):
Brian Flores is kind of getting that message across.

Speaker 2 (01:05:04):
Is it personnel? What do you think is the key
to this?

Speaker 19 (01:05:08):
Yeah, personnel is where I start. I mean the Vikings
and it really it's a fascinating team build and kind
of progression. But when Kirk Cousins departed before freight or
in free agency, and Daniel Hunter as well has been
a phenomenal pass rusher this year for the Houston Texans,
the Vikings had had some money to spend and they

(01:05:28):
identified a bunch of guys that they brought in. Jonathan Gernard,
Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Shag Griffins, Defon Gilmore, Jerry Tillery.

Speaker 1 (01:05:37):
All of the jahad Ward.

Speaker 19 (01:05:38):
All of these guys were free agents, signing pretty early
in the free agency periods, and they've all performed to
their evaluation of what they were paid, if not beyond that.
And so in terms of the turnovers and kind of
how I mean flying around the way that you identified
and noticed, to me, it starts with the pass rush.
I think they've been able to get more pressure with

(01:05:59):
a four man passed rush with Jonathan Gernard and Andrew
Van Ginko, And I think that's been that's been huge,
the less time the quarterback has to throw, the less
time the secondary has to cover. And then I also
think beyond the personnel that they have, Like I remember
sitting before the season and I watched film with Harrison Smith,

(01:06:19):
who is a longtime safety, potential Hall of Famer. Here
he's still playing at a very high clip, and we
were sitting in a meteora room even up on the
third floor of the Vikings facility, and on the whiteboard
kind of in front of him as we were watching
some film together, Like the number one priority on the
whiteboard is like, be all about the ball. And so
they have done everything they could possibly do every day

(01:06:40):
within drills to prioritize turnovers, to prioritize punching the ball loose,
to to you know, just value interceptions as much as possible.
And so I think it's been a kind of just
a pair of better personnel, very sharp scheme by Brian Flores,

(01:07:01):
and then just the turnovers being such a priority, and
it's it's been massive in their record right now at
twelve and two, is there.

Speaker 4 (01:07:09):
A matchup you're especially curious about when these two teams
meet Sunday.

Speaker 19 (01:07:14):
Yeah, I mean I every week the Vikings play football,
I'm so fascinated to see just how the opposing defense
tries to defend Justin Jefferson. It is a question every
single week of will they will they man him up?
Will they shadow them with one specific corner? Will they
will they? Will they bracket him? Will they play cloud?

(01:07:34):
If they if they allocate two defenders on him, does
that mean Jordan Addison is one on one? Because Jordan
Addison has produced to an exceptional level this year. I
also am fascinated by this specifically with this game because,
as you guys know better than I do, Devion Witherspoon,
Tyreek wooland these guys are long and their physical corners,

(01:07:54):
and I'd say one way to limiting Justin Jefferson Jordan
Addison is to be physical with those guys. So really,
for me, it's how Mike McDonald tries to limit Justin Jefferson,
how much split safety, two high safety they play. All
of that to me is an every week fascination because
these guys are very, very very hard to defend, and

(01:08:17):
I have a lot of respect for Mike McDonald's I'm
just fascinated to see how he goes about that.

Speaker 4 (01:08:22):
This weekend Minnesota Vikings feat writer for the Athletic Key
is Alex Lewis kind enough to join us for the huddle.
Thanks so much, Alex.

Speaker 19 (01:08:30):
Yeah, thank you guys for having me. I appreciate enjoy
the game. Sunday should be.

Speaker 4 (01:08:33):
Fun you too, Thank you. John Boyle joining us next.

Speaker 3 (01:08:37):
This This is the huddle every Thursday from noon to
two on Seattle Sports.

Speaker 4 (01:08:43):
You are listening to the huddle. Joining us right now,
John Boyle, reporter for Seahawks dot Com. John, it sounds
like Gino Smith is good to go. For all the
worry that we had during the game when he left,
and certainly on Monday waiting for updates, it feels like
that storyline is kind of waltzed back into the background
or not. Am I around?

Speaker 3 (01:09:01):
No?

Speaker 12 (01:09:01):
I mean he practiced fully yesterday. He told the media
today he plans on playing. He said he's looking forward
to Sunday, and you know he may not be one
hundred percent, but it's you know, usually you see a
guy leave a game with the knee injury and not return,
you fear for something, even if not long term, like
it's the end of the season, he might you know,
you worry he might miss a couple of games. So
for him to be out there practicing and be ready

(01:09:22):
to go is obviously a huge deal for the team
that needs to win these you know, probably all three
of these last games.

Speaker 15 (01:09:28):
But got to get back on track.

Speaker 5 (01:09:30):
I feel like Gino has like not just because I
played the position, but I feel like he has a
linebacker mentality kind of like he's he's like more I
feel like he's more apt to get pissed off.

Speaker 1 (01:09:44):
Yeah, than most quarterbacks. And I love that about Yeah, he's.

Speaker 12 (01:09:47):
Definitely a little fiery then your kind of traditional quarterback
you're thinking as just this like stoic leader and he
I agree.

Speaker 15 (01:09:55):
I like that.

Speaker 12 (01:09:55):
And we've seen him get really fired up in games
and he usually it's the key there say, it usually
serves him well. Like you see guys in sports who
get mad and they kind of get on tilt and
they start messing up. But like there's a lot of
stances where things aren't going well, whether it's he turned
the ball over or a call he doesn't like, and
you see him fired up on the sideline and then
the next drive he's you know, lead leads a touchdown

(01:10:16):
or something.

Speaker 8 (01:10:17):
I can't believe you too, but quarterback does it, linebacker
does it.

Speaker 2 (01:10:21):
He's fiery receiver.

Speaker 4 (01:10:23):
Were double standards?

Speaker 1 (01:10:29):
You know it's true.

Speaker 15 (01:10:32):
Have I ever said that about it?

Speaker 8 (01:10:34):
I say it so we always say that, Come on,
Ken Walker, man, we'll see we can.

Speaker 12 (01:10:41):
We don't know yet, Well, he was he didn't practice
on a day, did he. But Mike McDonald said, he did,
you walk through and the hope was to kind of
ramp him up starting Thursday.

Speaker 15 (01:10:50):
So you hope that's a good sign.

Speaker 2 (01:10:53):
I mean, we'll know a lot.

Speaker 12 (01:10:53):
More, probably Friday, after they practice and we hear from Mike.

Speaker 8 (01:10:56):
But yeah, the worst case scenario, we're going Kenny mc
andsh and George I get.

Speaker 12 (01:11:02):
I mean, we don't know yet what's going on with
Sharponay other than that he did show up on the
injury part Wednesday. That was one of those you know,
if you don't know about injury coming out of the game,
no one knows to ask Mike McDonald about it. And
then we get the injury part Wednesday, and the press
conference has already happened, so then you have to kind
of wait till Friday for any details. So he was
on the injury port. We'll see, you know, maybe it
was a little light thing and he's out there today.

Speaker 15 (01:11:22):
Maybe not what you know.

Speaker 2 (01:11:24):
Always Yeah, that's kind of tricky.

Speaker 15 (01:11:26):
It's not injury loved you yet.

Speaker 4 (01:11:27):
Mike mc donald has said that red zone is a
particular focus for the team right now. That's especially with
the turnovers that they've had there that Gino has thrown there.
What do you see happening for this team in the
red zone, because we've all seen them struggle there before.
They're certainly not one of the best teams. What do
you think is happening with them? And are there any
patterns you've noticed that are Yeah.

Speaker 12 (01:11:49):
I mean, not running the ball well in the red
zone hurts you a lot because when you know it's
people says all the time, and it's true, like it's
hard to throw in the red zone because everything's so condensed,
like they don't have to respect the threat of you
throwing over the top. So it's it's easier to pass
defend in the red zone than the rest of the field.
And because of that, if you can't run the ball,
it's really tough. And I mean, like Gino Smith said

(01:12:10):
on that, you know, the way that play developed, the
interception he threw this week or last week in the
red zone, if you go back and watch it, like
no offense does have a man beat and that throw
very well, maybe a touchdown if it's just no fent
on his man. But again, red zone things are condensed,
and the guy who was covering Tyler to Walkett was
able to peel off and make a play.

Speaker 15 (01:12:29):
So it just you got to be really precise.

Speaker 12 (01:12:31):
In the red zone and you got to run the ball,
and those are things that just haven't been consistent enough.

Speaker 5 (01:12:36):
Have you been kind of fascinated with the Sam Darnold
resurgence and the connection with O'Connell, And I'm just curious
what you know, what you've heard, like Mike say about it.

Speaker 1 (01:12:47):
It's it's pretty it's pretty interesting.

Speaker 12 (01:12:49):
Yeah, I mean it, you know, it's kind of no,
not the exact same scenario, but it's kind of like
what we saw Geno Smith a couple of years ago.
The guy who you know, happens to be the Jets
both times, but a guy who's considered a you know,
highly toned of guys, start at early in his career,
and then things don't work out, and most of the
league and fans kind of just pencil him in as
a backup and move on and give up on him.
You put a guy in the right situation where you know,

(01:13:10):
O'Connell's a former quarterback himself, he's a great offensive mind,
and all of a sudden you stout him with the
right talent and oh, hey, this guy's the first round
pick for a reason.

Speaker 15 (01:13:19):
He's got a lot of talent. So you know, they're
fun stories.

Speaker 12 (01:13:21):
Like Geno Smith said, you know, he's rooting for a
guy like that every week except on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (01:13:26):
So what teams need to do now is go get
Zach Wilson.

Speaker 15 (01:13:29):
I mean, maybe I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:13:34):
Jets.

Speaker 12 (01:13:34):
I mean not to like pile on the Jets, but
I do think there's something to be said for looking
at former quarterbacks who you know, have a lot of talent,
a lot. It's not one team that like those guys
coming out, Like a lot of teams had high opinions
in these players, and you know, maybe look at okay,
why did they fail and is there stuff that that
they can still do to get better?

Speaker 15 (01:13:52):
And you know there's some value.

Speaker 8 (01:13:53):
In that Brian Flores has this defense playing well. Last year,
they weren't that great this year. They they may some moves,
get some backers, some quarters and they're flying around. Do
you think he gets another shot as a head coach
in the league eventually?

Speaker 1 (01:14:06):
That help?

Speaker 12 (01:14:06):
So, I mean he's doing a good job there, and
I think, you know, there's too many instances of the
guys who don't get second chances that probably deserve him.
So uh yeah, I'd love to see him, you know,
you know, not build his resume this weekend. But yeah,
I mean he's doing a good job. As you said,
they added some pieces and uh yeah, I think he
his name will definitely be in conversations for sure.

Speaker 4 (01:14:25):
What did you see from Seattle's defense against Green Bay?
Because I think it's easy for people to go, oh,
they finally faced a tough opponent, but I mean they
handled the Rams through most of the game and played
really well against Cardinals offense that can run the ball
well typically, so they've they've had tests. It just kind
of fell apart, particularly early. What did you see defensively
on Sunday?

Speaker 12 (01:14:44):
Yeah, I mean we've heard a couple of players talk
about this, but it was just it was a it
was a tough half. It was you know, the for
whatever reason, some of the things that the Packers were
doing temple wise, like you go back and watch those plays,
guys just wen't really set yet.

Speaker 15 (01:14:57):
They're kind of you know guys, they're moving guys on
the defense of Lyne.

Speaker 12 (01:15:00):
The linebackers still communicating balls out and that's it's really
hard to play defense when you know, as players, I
think phrase like when your cleats aren't in the ground.
So they cleaned it up and they played really well
in the second half, but you get behind seventeen points
to a good team, a good second half isn't usually
going to help you, especially when you're playing with your
backup quarterback for.

Speaker 15 (01:15:16):
A lot of that half.

Speaker 12 (01:15:17):
So yeah, I mean, it was obviously not a great
game for them, a great first half, but when you
put it on balance with what they've been doing for
five games previous and the fact they played a good
second half, I still really like a lot about this defense.

Speaker 15 (01:15:30):
And I think they'll respond, well.

Speaker 1 (01:15:32):
You saw that I didn't even touch.

Speaker 5 (01:15:34):
That, yeah fell, So it's yeah, thank you, thank you.
I asked for Abel the same question, and you're around
Mike McDonald A lot. So I ask you too, is
as he has, you know, gone through the season, what
have you you noticed about Mike like settling into his
job and you know, getting getting more comfortable. It seems

(01:15:55):
like he seems very consistent. He's got a pretty decent
sense of humor.

Speaker 15 (01:16:00):
Under ad sense of humor.

Speaker 12 (01:16:01):
I think people were kind of sleeping on that because
it's sort of the subtle like dry is because you're
a dad maybe, I mean before he was a dad,
he had the dad just I do like we're.

Speaker 15 (01:16:10):
Learning that he's superstitious. He uh so, you.

Speaker 12 (01:16:13):
Know when they come in for the fans who've never
been in the building where the press conferences are, it's
an auditorium and there's ros coming down both sides, and
usually everyone comes in one side for the press conference,
And for whatever reason, a few weeks ago when they
won a game, he had happened to come down the
opposite side. So he did that for the last five weeks,
coming down the right side of it. And then this
past week after they lost, he came back and went

(01:16:33):
and did the other side. So he's you know, he's
showing us a little superstitious. But yeah, I mean I
think anyone first first time that job. They're going to
learn and they're going to get more comfortable, and we're
just seeing him settle in. I mean the way players
talk about him really the whole year, but especially as
his defenses really start to click.

Speaker 15 (01:16:48):
It's like just the way they're kind of.

Speaker 12 (01:16:50):
In awe of his knowledge of the game, the way
he sees things and tells them what's coming, and then
it happens the way he says it will.

Speaker 15 (01:16:56):
It's, you know, he's he's really making a good impression.

Speaker 12 (01:17:00):
King of Rabes. Did you know his longest career touchdown
came against the Vikings?

Speaker 1 (01:17:03):
Is that right?

Speaker 12 (01:17:04):
Eighty Rtdeen nineteen seventy six.

Speaker 5 (01:17:07):
I believe you know what the thing about that is
He's probably told me that like twelve times, but I
just fifteen minutes ago.

Speaker 4 (01:17:13):
That's probably the longest record. All Right, we're done.

Speaker 12 (01:17:17):
Where two people got that.

Speaker 4 (01:17:20):
Cutting everyone else? All right? He is John Boyle. You
can read John's work at Seahawks dot com. Wyman obviously
going to be on the call alongside Rabel and tune
into her bump on the Seahawks pre and postgame show.
Seahawks Taken on the Vikings Week sixteen, Sunday