Rost: Why the state of the Seahawks should be setting off alarms

The way this Seattle Seahawks season has started is a departure from what people have grown accustomed to over the past decade.

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The Seahawks are 2-4 through their first six games, their worst start since 2015 when they also won just two games through their first six weeks of play. The good news is that team rebounded, losing just two more games the rest of the way to finish the season 10-6 and make the playoffs. The bad news is that things feel different with the current team.

For starters, quarterback Russell Wilson is out of action while he recovers from finger surgery. There’s also the fact that top running back Chris Carson is on injured reserve alongside Wilson with a neck injury. And then you have to consider the struggles the defense is going through, which are much more pronounced than what the 2015 team faced.

So at 2-4, is it time to write off these Seahawks? Stacy Rost of 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jake and Stacy has heard that question from some fans recently, and she had a great explanation Friday for why the Hawks’ start is actually a very compelling story – and something that should be causing concern, not apathy, within the fanbase.

“If the Seahawks aren’t winning, you (don’t) just say, ‘Well, close the book on this season and move on,'” Rost said. “I’m sorry. Last time I checked, this was a team that has a franchise quarterback they’re paying $35 million to, an All-Pro middle linebacker (Bobby Wagner) getting $18 million a year, a strong safety (Jamal Adams) you just paid $17.5 million a year. You have a front office – a head coach (Pete Carroll) and a GM (John Schneider) – that have been together for 10 years heading into this season. You have every single reason to be a winning franchise and yet you are not. That’s still a discussion worth having.”

Rost went on to further explain her point. Listen to it in the video embedded above or find the entire segment in the podcast at this link or at the bottom of the post. You can also read the full transcript below.

Stacy Rost on the Seahawks’ slow start

(The question is) how are we still talking about this team somehow, mathematically with all the variables going against them having a winning season and trying to make the playoffs. So this is a pet peeve I have.

It’s not that other teams don’t deserve a lot of coverage; that I absolutely agree with. It’s that if the Seahawks aren’t winning, you (don’t) just say, ‘Well, close the book on this season and move on.’ I’m sorry.

Last time I checked, this was a team that has a franchise quarterback they’re paying $35 million to, an All-Pro middle linebacker getting $18 million a year, a strong safety you just paid $17.5 million a year. You have a front office – a head coach and a GM – that have been together for 10 years heading into this season. You have every single reason to be a winning franchise and yet you are not. That’s still a discussion worth having.

You don’t just suddenly decide that if your team – with all the weapons to be good – is not being good that you throw the book away and you just say, ‘Oh well, there’s always next year.’ No, you aren’t the Jags. You aren’t a team heading in here with absolutely no expectations. You’re a team that started your year with Super Bowl expectations.

You know what a fascinating conversation is to me? Why you aren’t in the race right now. Why aren’t you competing for a Super Bowl right now? Why are you 2-4? Why aren’t you, with Bobby Wagner, with Jamal Adams, with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, with Russell Wilson when he was healthy. You’ve got this new offensive coordinator (Shane Waldron) from one of the best offensive systems in the league (the Los Angeles Rams’) in the last five or six years. You’ve got Pete Carroll, the winningest head coach that you’ve ever had, one of the most successful coaches on the NFL and collegiate level.

You have all of these reasons to be a winning team. Why are you just deciding that losing is enough for you? It’s not enough for this team. I can guarantee you the players on this team are incredibly disappointed and frustrated. In fact, I know they are because of DK Metcalf’s press conference after their last loss at home. He sounded so frustrated – and not even frustrated. He sounded mad. It was a sobering press conference. You have this guy who’s probably used to winning but also knows they have the weapons to win who’s disappointed and doesn’t know the answer. That to me is a fascinating conversation, and it’s one we should be having.

More from Stacy: 3 Questions – Can Hawks’ pass rush succeed vs. Saints?

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