BROCK AND SALK

Huard: Skidding Seahawks need to keep an eye on ‘friction’

Oct 11, 2024, 11:07 AM | Updated: 11:18 am

Seattle Seahawks Geno Smith 49ers...

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith reacts to a flag negating a TD pass in a loss to the 49ers. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Team chemistry rarely comes up as an issue when a team wins three in a row, like the Seattle Seahawks did to begin the season. But when a team loses three in a row, it’s a different story.

It also becomes a likely challenge to manager, particularly for a team under a first-year, first-time head coach.

Déjà vu: 49ers dominate Seahawks on the ground once again

FOX football analyst and former NFL quarterback Brock Huard made that point Friday on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, about 12 hours after the Seahawks lost 36-24 to the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers in primetime.

Specifically, Huard mentioned Seattle’s starting quarterback, Geno Smith, and its star wide receiver, DK Metcalf.

“My own judgment, my own speculation without seeing all the tapes is when you lose like this, some of that friction and some of those sparks that those two – DK and Geno in particular – have had over the years starts turning into a little bit more,” Huard said.

Huard was clear about how viewers only see so much on a TV broadcast, but he thinks a few things seen Thursday night – a visibly frustrated Metcalf getting on a headset during the game to presumably speak to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and Smith’s postgame press conference – didn’t paint the prettiest picture.

“We’re a prisoner to the cameras and the angles we see,” Huard said, leading with a caveat. “… Did we see Geno having any conversations with DK yesterday on the sideline?”

Not that that’s completely out of the ordinary. One person who was seen talking to Metcalf on the sidelines was backup QB Sam Howell, which is something Huard can relate to from his own experience serving as Peyton Manning’s backup with the Indianapolis Colts, who had a star receiver at the time in Marvin Harrison.

“I saw Sam Howell down there trying to calm DK down, which is a good move. That was often the move that I had to play for Peyton to calm Marvin down when Marvin didn’t get enough touches,” Huard said. “I had to kind of be the one to go down there and handle some of that. … God bless Sam yesterday, Sam was the one – ‘Hey, will you go deal with that guy? Will you go try to help him, calm him down?'”

Now, what if there really is a problem and it persists beyond Thursday’s game?

“That’s going to be critical to calm down. Really critical for this young coach and this young staff to try to find a way,” Huard said. “These are not 18 to 25 year olds in college anymore. These are 26 to 34 year olds, and pretty hardheaded and pretty big egos and will talk back and will get after it. Handling that relationship here in the coming days and weeks is going to be hyper, hyper critical for Mr. Grubb and Mr. Macdonald.”

Hear Brock Huard’s full thoughts from Friday’s Blue 88 segment in the podcast at this link or in the player near the top of this post. Huard answers three football questions during Blue 88, which airs at at 7:45 a.m. during each edition of Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk (6-10 a.m. weekdays).

More on the Seattle Seahawks

Two new injuries for short-handed Seahawks secondary
Seahawks Instant Reaction: 49ers hand Seattle a third straight loss
Rost: What another Seahawks loss to 49ers reveals about them
Observations from Seahawks’ loss to 49ers on TNF
Recap: SF 49ers beat Seattle Seahawks 36-24 to move atop NFC West

Brock and Salk podcast

Brock and Salk

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger calls #Seahawks O-Line “backups”

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger joins Brock Huard & Brady Henderson to discuss the current state of the Seahawks as the team heads into the bye week sitting at 4-5. Listen to The Brock & Salk Show weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Seattle Sports 710 AM or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts. […]

11 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks offensive line Los Angeles Rams 2024...

Cameron Van Til

Baldinger on Seahawks’ O-line: ‘They look like backups’

NFL Network's Brian Baldinger dived into the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line woes and how they can better scheme to help mask their issues.

13 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks Geno Smith Los Angeles Rams 2024...

Cameron Van Til

Are the Seahawks operating out of shotgun too often?

Mark Schlereth, Dave Wyman, Ray Roberts and the Huard brothers share their views on whether the Seattle Seahawks use shotgun too frequently.

1 day ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: Has #Seahawks QB Geno Smith HELPED or HURT his value through 9 games? #nfl

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah joins Brock & Damon Huard on Seattle Sports as the #Seahawks head into their bye week sitting at 4-5 through 9 games. For more Seahawks coverage, visit SeattleSports.com.

2 days ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah explains WHY #Seahawks keep losing

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah joins Brock Huard & Damon Huard (in for Mike Salk) to discuss the Seahawks team who hits the half-way point at 4-5, share a recap of the trade deadline, Geno Smith’s value, and what #Seahawks fans could be looking at from a 2025 QB Draft Class. 0:00 – Trade deadline recap […]

2 days ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: 3 Mid-season Positives and Negatives for #Seahawks

The mid way point is here for the #SeattleSeahawks heading into their bye on Week 10, and Brock Huard & Mike Salk share their 3 POSITIVES and 3 NEGATIVES following the Week 9 overtime loss to the LA Rams. Listen to The Brock & Salk Show weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Seattle […]

3 days ago

Huard: Skidding Seahawks need to keep an eye on ‘friction’