This game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday was one that had my mind filled with emotions, and thoughts. It was the Seahawks 50th Anniversary Game with a halftime celebration of the 50th best players in franchise history, and I would have loved to have been there for that. Due to the significance of it, I really wanted to see Seattle win this one. Then there is the issue with the quarterbacks.

I was very much looking forward to seeing a QB duel between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. I liked both quarterbacks a lot coming out of the 2018 draft, and when Seattle was looking towards trading Russell Wilson, they were the two quarterbacks out there who I was most interested in seeing Seattle acquire. I felt either would have been well worth a shot to see if they could be the guy. So, with this particular match, I was really into seeing how these guys would play against each other, and it did not disappoint. I just didn’t love the outcome.

I would also say that Emeka Egbuka was very much a player that I was interested in Seattle drafting last Spring. Given that he was a local kid who grew up a Seahawks fan, that Seattle had some need at receiver, and he was very good at Ohio State, I loved the idea of it (even though I preferred them drafting guard Grey Zabel given the bigger need). So, I could say that his stellar play in this match has given my views on him further credence, as well. Imagine him and JSN together up here with Darnold throwing them darts.

Overall, my biggest reaction to this game is that it was a shame Sam Darnold’s last play in this game ended with a pick over the middle on a pass deflected off of a helmet. Aside from that moment, Sam was having his best game as a Seahawk, and was poised to have perhaps the best game of his career with an opportunity to lead a game winning drive with a minute left to go. Up until that point, he had been damn near perfect throwing for 4 TDS, over 300 yards and completing over 80 percent of his passes.

I imagine there will be some wee bit of dumb talk on sports radio this week and maybe some chatter online that Sam Darnold is not really a franchise quarterback because of that pick. I couldn’t disagree more. Not only do I believe that the Seahawks have their franchise quarterback in Darnold, I would say that I feel even more optimistic about good things coming around the corner for this team, if they properly build it around him.

Let us keep in perspective what Seattle was faced with in this game. They were hosting a very talented and scrappy Tampa Bay team led by one of the hottest quarterbacks in the league. Seattle entered into the game without their pro bowl free safety (Julian Love), without their best edge rusher (DeMarcus Lawrence), and without their best corner (Devon Witherspoon). In the course of the game, they also lost their other starting edge rusher (Derick Hall), and they lost their other starting corner (Riq Woolen). When Darnold and Baker were playing a shootout game, Seattle’s defense was without five of its eleven starters on the field. That’s nearly half of the starting defense.

Still, if it wasn’t for a missed 42 yard kick by the usually dependable Josh Meyers, and a very stupid option play that led to a lost fumble by Jalen Milroe with a red hot Darnold being pulled off of the field for it, Seattle might have won this game in a shootout a bit more easily. In a game that was going to be close, they made more mistakes than Tampa did, and this was the difference.

That said, Seattle appears to now have a formidable offense emerging. With the play calling of Klint Kubiak, the quarterbacking of Darnold, the receiving talents of JSN, Cooper Kupp, AJ Barner, and Tory Horton, and the running styles of Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet, there is reason to feel very optimistic, especially with a young offensive line that is showing clear signs of improvement. Generally speaking, I feel very good about this offense. This is the silver lining coming out of this game.

The concern, however, is that Seattle’s defense showed its alarming lack of depth when numerous starters are out of the game against a talented offense. If they had played against a bad Titans team, they could have possibly gotten by, but the Bucs right now feel like a proper contender, and this is what happens against a proper contender when you are running a platoon of two players at WILL linebacker, and your safety and cornerback depth is exposed.

Last week, I wrote a piece about the Seahawks making a trade before the deadline, and most of the players I suggested were offensive fellas. After this game, however, if I were John Schneider, I would probably be getting on the phone with teams that who have four losses or more and discuss trading for a defender, most likely a quality veteran cornerback, another middle linebacker, or edge rusher. Perhaps even a safety, even, if a special player is there, and maybe consider shifting rookie Nick Emmanwori to WILL linebacker duties in nickel packages.

The Ravens are now 1-4, so are the Browns, the Saints, the Giants, the Dolphins, the Raiders, and the Titans, and the Jets are now 0-5. Could cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who Macdonald knows well, be pried out of Baltimore? Could they bring corner Denzel Ward into this defense from Cleveland? Could Bradley Chubb be had from Miami? How about former Seattle LB Jordyn Brooks with the Fins, or Saints MLB Pete Werner? Or Fins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick? How about Kayvon Thibodeaux of the Giants?

This can be a very long list of possibilities if I wanted to waste more space on this post. The point is, I suspect there will be deals to be had, and Seattle should be very active.

If it were me, I would say that enough is enough at the split duties at WILL linebacker next to Ernest Jones, and go trade for a quality proven off ball linebacker who can play the run and pass. Then, I would say go get another edge rusher. I wouldn’t be upset at all if they traded a second round pick to Cincinnati for Trey Hendrickson at this point, to be honest, or Thibodeaux, for that matter.

Then there is this issue with the secondary that sorta has me feeling some extra dread after this loss. If I am to be honest, I would say the news of Julian Love and Devon Witherspoon missing this game against the Bucs after ten days rest coming out the TNF game against isn’t the most encouraging.

Against Baker Mayfield and these Tampa receivers, the Seahawk defense needed all hands on the backend yesterday, and who knows how severe and how long Spoon and Love will be out. We need better clarity here with them in order to project what Seattle might look to do next.

At the very least, I think Seattle should now call up Shaq Griffin from the practice squad to get some veteran stability active on game days. He certainly can’t be worse than what Nehemiah Pritchett was in relief duty, and in all probability, I think he would provide a solid fourth option on game days.

But what about safety if Love is going to miss further games? Should they look to the free agent market for a veteran such as Justin Simmons or former Raven safety Marcus Williams? Or is there an opportunity out there in a trade?

I wasn’t necessarily thinking this would be an easy game against the Bucs, and I certainly didn’t foresee a shoutout, but this shootout was encouraging enough to think that perhaps Seattle now needs to get very greedy about their defense. Mike Macdonald was not hired to coach this team to win shootouts. He was hired to coach a team that wins with a dominating defense, and while it is good to know that Darnold and company can play admirably in a shootout, it is time to make sure this defense is more fortified.

So, let’s get back to winning defense, again. Time for John Schneider to cook.

Go Hawks