Week 1 Recap : Seahawks Stress is Back in Full Swing
Last year ended with a strange sense of hope. We finished 10–7, barely missing the playoffs, and capping the first season in the Mike Macdonald era with a divisional win over the Rams. I walked into the offseason wanting more. That night is still burned into my memory.. and not because of the win, but because my heat was broken at home. We were staying with my in-laws and I stepped outside in the freezing rain wearing my jersey after the game and started walking. The cold rain felt strangely therapeutic as I began processing the whole season- the let downs and the pleasant surprises. I was so cold by the time I got back to my in-laws place, but fired up for what was ahead.
That’s why this loss to the Niners stings so much. It wasn’t just a division game.. It was supposed to be a celebration of a step forward that I felt coming at the end of last year… but instead we stumbled out of the gate.
Defense: The Good, the Bad, and the Riq
For the most part, the defense looked solid. Ernest Jones? The real deal. He’s quickly becoming a centerpiece that I trust. And that’s a hard spot to fill in my heart. My Bobby Wagner jersey is still my go to on game day. I always favor LB’s and Ernest has quickly become one of my favorites.
…but then there’s Riq Woolen. At times, he looks like the lockdown corner we’ve been waiting for since Prime Sherm. Other times.. let’s just say he’s earned the nickname “Riq,” because he REEKED. The missed interception in the end zone summed it up for me. He waited for the ball instead of attacking it. That’s not hunger. That’s not desire. I need to see him want it. I need to see Riq want to be HIM. Until then I’m officially going back to calling him Tariq so we can maybe will him to play like he did his rookie year when he went by his full government name.
Offensive Offense: Still Searching for an Identity
I’m still not sure what our offense is supposed to look like. The rotations felt disjointed, and Milroe coming in after just one play was downright weird. I love gadget plays and I love creativity on offense, but I was definitely scratching my head several times during these play calls. And we need to get the ball to someone in addition to JSN! Love the effort by number 11 though.
I’ll say it out loud and it feels obvious: Zach Charbonnet needs to be RB1. The guy runs angry, and the offense should be game-planned around that energy. Right now it feels like we’re trying to force an identity instead of leaning into the one that’s right there. K9 is THE MAN when he’s on… but waiting for him to ignite is like watching a kettle come to a boil. Not sure if the stove is even on right now.
In the Details
This game didn’t come down to talent. It came down to details and desire. When Woolen doesn’t attack the ball, that’s a detail. When Abe Lucas takes one play off and gets manhandled by Nick Bosa, that’s desire. And in games against a team I flat-out hate like the Niners, those tiny cracks become giant holes.
If we plan on making any move forward from our progress last year, for me it comes down to seeing the teams desire and attention to detail. I think those things will come when they feel ownership of the team. Watching some of the missed details that (Ta)riq had- it showed me that our team isn’t fully playing “Seahawks Football”. It’s more like a bunch of talented dudes that aren’t functioning as one yet. It can happen! And I’ll be looking for those advances against Pittsburgh.
The Season Ahead
As rough as this was, I’m still excited for the season. Mike Macdonald is legit. The defense has teeth. The run game can—and should—be a foundation. But for now, it’s a real gut-check. And for me? It’s back to living in that tension only Seahawks fans know: hope mixed with stress, a cocktail I never ordered but keep drinking anyway.