Hard To Watch

The Seahawks lost to the Steelers today 24-0.

It was ugly.

Let me start by saying that I'm a big proponent of the current rebuilding process, and I'm the first to preach patience.  The choice to completely remake the offensive line was the right one to make, but it's going to take time and it's going to be a furstrating process.  But today, the offensive line was not the problem.

Defensively, the same issues remain.  No pass rush.  No corners who can cover.  Poor tackling.  But... defense was not the problem today either. 

The problem was at quarterback, plain and simple.  Some will look at Tavaris Jackson's 20-for-29 statline and say he wasn't that bad.  But he was. 

There were throws all over the field that he didn't make, and I'm beginning to think it's because he CAN'T make them.  He was given time to throw but couldn't make any plays downfield. 

On the ball that Polumalu almost intercepted in the third quarter, Jackson had all day to throw.  Yet, instead of planting his foot and striding into the throw, he two-footed it, like a basketball player shooting a jump shot.  On other plays he took sacks when he had all day to throw the ball away, or failed to be decisive.  When he did complete passes, they were often too high or behind the receiver. 

I've seen all I need to see to conclude that he's terrible.

The bigger concern is the continued support he's getting from Pete Carroll.  After the game, coach said the loss had "nothing to do" with the QB position.  If he breaks down the film of this game and still feels that way, then for the first time since he was hired I'm going to have to seriously doubt his ability to evaluate talent and lead this organization. 

Furthermore, I need to see more from Darrell Bevel.  He hasn't shown me any ability yet to game plan for the talent that he does have.  Not a single target for Mike Williams in the first half, no attempts to get the ball to Tate or Miller in the short passing game, or to involve Leon Washington despite an impressive preseason and promises to get him the ball more. 

I'm okay with rebuilding... hell I'm in favor of it.  But I need to see progress, and today showed us almost none. 

The worst part is, there were actually signs today that the offensive line is improving.  But until changes are made at the quarterback position, it may not matter. 

Charlie Whitehurst may not be much of an upgrade, but unless T-Jack looks markedly better in the home opener next week, Carroll is going to have a hard time justifying why he isn't at least taking a look at his second QB.