Feelings after a Second Super Bowl Title for the Seahawks

I realized I hadn't talked about it on here yet, but yes, my Seattle Seahawks are once again Super Bowl Champions!  I don't know if it hasn't fully sunk in yet or if I've almost become numb to winning, but I'm not overly ecstatic about this one for some reason.  I am, of course, very surprised that in Mike Macdonald's second season EVER as a head coach, he won a Super Bowl with us.  He turned us around so quickly.  The unfortunate thing for him is that this will be hard for him to live up to.  But on the flip side, he will be able to coast on this one for a while, regardless of how the Hawks do in the next few years.  I'm going to go over my overall thoughts about this team, what I expect going forward, and if we have a potential dynasty brewing here.

I honestly believe that this defense had a better year than the 2013 Seahawks did.  They were dominant against the run, and outside of Puka Nacua, no star players had a good game against the Hawks this past year.  The 2013 Hawks were hard-hitting and forced turnovers, while this defense just doesn't allow yards or points.  I think the latter is overall better, because they didn't have to rely on turnovers to do well.  

I'm just mostly stoked we have a competitive team with likable players.  Sam Darnold, our quarterback, is one of the most likable quarterbacks in the league after what he has gone through.  Geno Smith had a similar arc and story, but he didn't exude likability.  We know that if we build a consistent winner here, Sam will do what it takes to agree to a contract extension when the time comes, rather than demand a high amount that would hurt the team to give out.

What's crazy about this #1 defense is that there aren't really any huge stars on it.  Sure, there are Leonard Williams, Devon Witherspoon, and Ernest Jones, all of whom have gotten a Pro Bowl nod, at least second-team All-Pro, or both.  But they aren't the marketable defensive stars you see on other teams like TJ Watt, Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, Sauce Gardner, or Myles Garrett.  They're just a bunch of dudes.  It's funny that the best defense in the NFL only had one first-team All-Pro in Williams.  It shows the depth of this defense and how well-rounded they are.  Some defenses are poor against the pass, run, or both.  This team is poor against NOTHING.  There is not one situation or type of offense that they are weak against.  They can play heavy or light, whatever the situation calls for.  

I fully expect this team to continue to build, plug in holes when guys leave or retire, and continue to compete each and every year.  And if, worst-case scenario, they have a really bad year, general manager and team president John Schneider has shown he can build a team out given a few top picks, and isn't afraid to dish away a star player to help build a new team.  

It's crazy how the trades in recent years were mocked and lauded, only for them to work out swimmingly.  First, of course, was the Russell Wilson trade, which netted the Hawks multiple firsts and helped them land their stud left tackle in Charles Cross and a stud corner in Devon Witherspoon.  Then, just this past off-season, the trades of DK Metcalf and Geno Smith that netted the Hawks a second and third round pick.  The second round pick would eventually (after a trade with Tennessee) net them stud safety Nick Emmanwori, who was a vital contributor on the Super Bowl team.  The third round pick netted Jalen Milroe, who is a project QB, but I guarantee the Hawks are not going to just let him walk in a year or two.  

Do we have a potential dynasty?  Possibly.  The key will be if they can establish an identity on offense, and either get an offensive coordinator who will stick around, or establish an identity well enough so that it doesn't particularly matter who the OC is, as long as they stick to the script.  I think we're going to see a very competitive team from the Seahawks for the next several years, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if we saw another Super Bowl appearance or win.  I think best-case scenario we have a borderline dynasty, one that we could argue is a dynasty or not, similar to the Legion of Boom years in the 2010s.  

One thing that is potentially looming is the sale of the team.  Rumors have started sprouting about the team possibly going for sale.  If you have a good ownership situation, you do not want your team sold, but unfortunately, it will have to happen at some point, due to Paul Allen's passing and his sister Jodi serving as the temporary chairperson.  If the Hawks can get a good owner or a good ownership group, we should be ok.  I worry that the Hawks could go into someone's hands, like Jeff Bezos, who would only want to use the Hawks to further line his pockets and not be emotionally invested in the team.  I'll likely most a post about my thoughts when that happens, so I'll worry about that when the time comes.  

Ownership aside, I'm excited for the future.  Mike Macdonald will likely be our coach for a long time, and we know he's a good one.  And he seems like the kind of guy who isn't set in his ways, and is willing to evolve and change as the NFL game evolves and changes.  That's not something I could say about his predecessor.  And Sam Darnold, our QB, is already one of the top QB's in team history after just one year, so hopefully, he will grow and evolve as well and be a Seahawk for a long time, too.

My Thoughts on Amanda's Move Up Here

Amanda will be moving up here in about a week, so it's time I give my thoughts on it.  All I can say first off is that it's about time.  We've been in a long distance relationship for four years, and it's about time something happened.  We love each other and we had to see what a regular relationship would be like between us.

The reason she's moving up here and not me moving down there... well there are a few of them.  One, she is more financially able to do the move.  She makes more money per hour than I do.  Two, we agreed that Washington is a much better place to live than California.  Washington's weather is calmer, the people are nicer, and traffic isn't quite as bad (usually).  Also, Amanda is more comfortable here than when I am in California. 

The move will hopefully happen smoothly.  We will be driving a Pennske truck all the way up I-5 North, about 750 miles worth.  We'll stop in Oregon for one night so we don't put too much strain on ourselves or the truck.  All the while we will be towing her car behind us so she can have it up here.  We've done a long driving trip before, when we drove from the Bay Area all the way to Los Angeles/Anaheim.  This is certainly going to be a taxing trip on both of us, but we both know that in the end, it's worth it.

This is something that I've wanted to have happen for a long time.  I've never even really been in a normal non-long distance relationship.  It will probably take some getting used to and I can't wait for Amanda to adjust to life here and start at our store and make new friends.  I truly feel she will love Washington.  We will of course visit her family whenever we can, perhaps for the Christmas season later this year. 

I can't wait for this to happen, but more importantly, I can't wait for the move and everything to be over.  I can't wait until Amanda' s transfer has fully gone through and she has a job here, and I can't wait until she finds a place that fits her, and I can't wait until she possibly gets a new car.  I will do my best to help her out with each of those.  There will be an adjustment period for us, but we've always adjusted well to new situations. 

I know she's a bit anxious for the move, but to be honest, so am I.  There's a lot of things I'm worried about for her.  I still feel like there are many things that could go wrong.  That's just me though.  I'm a worry-wart.  I know in the end, even if things go wrong, that it will be all right in the end.  Now let's get this move started!  I'm tired of waiting.