Hawks LiveHawks Live with Roy Robertson-Harris, Charles Cross, & More
Hawks Live presented by the Dining District at the Bellevue Collection at Bellevue Squares Center Court, every Thursday from seven to nine, live on air on Seattle Sports Now. If you're your hosts Michael Bumpis and.
Paul Moyer, Welcome to Hawk's Slide, presented by the Dining District at the Bellevue Collection.
The show is at seven o'clock every.
Thursday right here on Seattle Sports seven ten, broadcasting live from Bellvy Square Center Court.
I am Michael Bumpus with my guy, not Paul.
Moyer this week. Paul, not Paul Moyer this week. I'm sitting here with big Play Bass Seek.
What a treat you guys finally got the upgrade.
That's like riding coaching.
Somebody tap you on your shoulder and said, hey, we got a first class seat for you.
I'm excited to be back. Bump Oh, coach, you're skipping business class. You're going coach straight to first class.
Is what you're doing.
Kind of the same, kind of the same these days. Okay, I get you, I get you. How you doing the holidays and you're so far well.
First of all, I'm so excited to be in front of at least twelve hundred screaming fans here at Bellevue Square.
Do you guys always get this kind of crowded just when I come.
This is a small crowd.
Actually we should get about five thousand, but you know, we'll settle for twelve hundred.
It's all good, all right. I'm sorry it got downgrade a bit.
No big play Bass.
You know, me and Bass played together back in the day, and all he did was make big play. So I'm happy that he's here with me on this stage. Two day, I got a Christmas note. You got a car right here from right here.
Okay, well, thank you, hey.
I hope you have a great merry Christmas and a happy New Year. That's what I'm talking about. Well, thank you so much. Holiday season. How many of you guys out here are going to Snowflake Lane?
You guys done with that stuff? Snowflake Lane one right there?
Okay, Look, if you just walk outside to your car, you in the middle of snowflake Lane.
It doesn't even matter if you were right in the middle of that thing. I didn't realize it started so close. I thought it started half a mile around the way, and then it made its way here. No, it starts right there. But just setting the scene for you guys here at Bellvy squaresit in the court. Like I said on Michael Bumpas that is Jordan Baveno, le, let's reflect a little bit of what we saw last week, Babs. We saw a team that just came out special teams. You block a kick, so that's cool, block a pat, then you have a pat block a punt to the house. Excuse me, a kick return to the house, fumbles on pump return, fumbles on kick return.
Man. How rocky was that start for these guys last week?
You know, I mean, it couldn't have been a worse start, especially on the road. One of the things that we've always been taught in that locker room in terms of, you know, getting the mentality for road games is you gotta pack your defense, you gotta pack your special teams. And in most cases, special teams they're responsible for winning three games throughout the season, four games maybe depending on the goals, but you know, whether that's field goals, field position, whether that's forcing a fun creating a takeaway on special teams. That was not one of the best starts for the Hawks, and I know they've struggled and talked about how to consistently get a fast start, how do they score points on opposing teams early in the first quarter and make it tough. That was one of the worst starts that you could possibly have. But this team has prevailed and they've done it a number of times over throughout the season, and that's why they're in first place in the NFC West.
Bad I'm looking at that game and the Jets are driving to go up twenty eight to seven, and in my mind, I say, if they go up twenty eight to seven, it ain't gonna happen.
It's not gonna go down here in New York. But then you got big Cat.
Dropping into the hook to curl the flat making a big play. I haven't seen a big man do something like that since eighty seven.
Though.
Wow wow, you know, it kind of flashes back who was a leon let when he you know, kind of trucked along the ninety something yards before Don Bb made the great heroic play at the goal line. You know, a lot of I'm dating myself a little bit astro turf. Yeah, you know, I think it was a snow game too. You know the best thing about that is that. I mean, you talk about one play changing the outcome of the game. The prior play, Aaron Rodgers missed a wide open receiver in the end zone, which you know most times he normally makes that makes that throw and the next play, you know, that's just credit to the defense being able to you know, disguise coverage. It looked like they were showing zero blitz the empty the post safeties were in coverage on the slot and Big Cat, I mean Big Cat did something that I didn't do in my nine year career.
Picked off Aaron Rodgers.
I've seen six or two from you.
Hey what he picked off Aaron Rodgers.
And not only that, I mean he looked athletic doing it, you know, tipped the pass to himself. Just disguise was I mean, that was just great disguise by the defense and really made Aaron Rodgers have to do something he didn't want to do. He threw the ball a little earlier than he wanted to, and defense it's made them pay. Big Cat Player of the Week Defensive Player of the Week this week after a back to back two sack performance. He's definitely playing at an all pro level and certainly a big staple to the success and turn around.
Of that defense.
All right, So I'm gonna tap into some bad memories for you and don oh Man, how bad man we used to go back to the East Coast and that play some.
Good football, man?
All right?
So what do you think it is?
I mean, I'm sure, obviously you don't know the science behind what might be Donald Pete Carroll had been doing. But what do you see from the team that's been able for them to wake up early in the morning. What does it ten o'clock start for us over here, one o'clock for them on the East Coast and still be able to play some good football. It looked like they woke up Lake though, because the way they started to get the.
Way they start, I mean a few of them were out there sleepwalking. I think they've just gotten a better hold on And again, you know Pete Carroll had the recipe, but you know Snyder's still in the building, so he can share a little bit of that knowledge with Mike McDonald and how they went about the routine for us, I don't think Coach Holmgren and I can't even recall that well. But what I'm guessing is that he didn't deviate from his plan. It was always, you know, we're just going to out execute you. And that wasn't always the case in what I believe we've seen, at least in terms of getting it right that even dating back to Pete Carroll, they changed a little bit. They changed a little bit, so they adapted to the change of that start time.
They've had incredible success.
But I can recall going back and you remember this, this was back in the day, even in Saint Louis when the Rams were there, they would barely cut on the lights in the dome and they would play some slow ass country music or something and just low us to sleep. I'm not kidding. It was about thirteen people in their total by the time we were warming up on the field. It wasn't a real pro football experience in terms of the ambiance and the energy in that stadium, and it was just low you to sleep. But I think, you know, now, looking I don't even think that's an issue moving forward to what this organization has done and the success that they've had under Snyder.
I like to think that Pete Carroll had a little vault in his office and say, hey, Mike, when you travel to the east coast. Here's the code to that vault, and here's the recipe. This is how we got it done. But we've also seen this this defense take a step forward. And to me when I watch film, the first thing that sticks out is just man, the gaps are filled, the edges set, the alleys are filled, the coverage is good over the top. I mean, over the last three or four games, we've seen this defense take a big step. Over the last three games, they're the sixth best defense in the game right now.
What are you seeing out of this defense?
And why do you think that they should be able to continue what they've been doing?
You know, you know the first thing that's pretty obvious and Seahawks fans would agree, they're stopping to run. And you know, it's to play really good ball at this level if you can't stop the run. I mean, you date back until you know, the last three games coming out of that by they go down to Santa Clara play the Niners, I mean, I mean they still rush for you know, over one hundred and twenty yards, but it wasn't as big of a plays that we saw, at least even in the first game when they played the Niners first down. You know, Shanahan was clipping off about seven or eight yards of pop on first down. You know how easy that is As a player, I would say easy, But it's a little lighter of a of a of a you know, of a lift calling to play on second and three, you know, and demoralizing to a defense when you're losing those early downs and they're able to move the ball at eight yards seven yards of pop, pretty soon they're going to break a twenty something yard run and we just haven't seen that.
You know.
Obviously there's been a lot of change at the second level. The linebackers are no longer there. They brought in Ernest Jones, Tarres Knight is stepping up. These guys are tackle machines. And that's part of the recipe of McDonald's defense. It's placed stout up front, fine penetration and at one dog up front. That makes it easier for the other players, Leonard Williams being that dog, making it I say easier, but creating those one on one matchups for the boy a ma phase of the you know, to get you know, pressure and beat a tackle. And then now you're seeing, you know, in the back end secondary making plays. Pick six, Kobe Bryant stepping in there. You bringing back Rayshawn Jenkins, who you know was went on an ir and now is healthy. So they're getting healthy at the right time, and they're playing good football at the right time, moving into the last four or five games of the season.
Real quick, about thirty forty seconds. This is something I appreciate about John Schnyder at this point of his career is that he ain't afraid to make changes linebacker spot Baker, you're not getting it done.
Dotson, You're not getting it done. Expect you for who you are.
Bring another guy in, elevate a rookie return game, Laviska Chanolt. He said on this couch right here, man, I feel bad for my guy took one to the house, but you drop a couple of kicks. Thank you for your service, your route. And then now Dee Williams who has been released as well.
Uh.
But that's the reality of the NFL. I think people don't really realize that is it's a performance based business. Unless you are a first round pick, second round pick, you can't get got. And I appreciate John Schneider and these guys for making those adjustments.
We've seen this organization really transition because in the early two thousands under Coach Holgrens leadership, they were pretty respectful of their draft picks and investments in those in those in that draft class, and it was hard for them to eliminate, you know, those draft picks through you know, through cutting. They gave them every opportunity. Now I think it's even harder. And for you and I you made the club as undrafted free agents. I don't even know how undrafted free agents are even finding ross spot isn't There aren't enough plays throughout the preseason for you to even get a look a fairble affair chance.
And it's definitely got a lot harder.
But we've seen this organization really transition its profile and persona from that perspective, and now they're not afraid to make those changes because the urgency to win is now.
All right, Well, we are just getting started.
Thank you all you guys for showing up on this Thursday. When we come back, we'll hear from defensive lineman Roy robertson Harris That is next right here on Hawk Size.
I'm Michael Bumpas. That's Jordan babinon.
Hawks Slive presented by the Dining District of the Bellegue Collection at Bellevue Square Center Court, live on air on Seattle Scores.
Welcome Back to Hawks Live, presented by the Dining District at the Bellevue Collection of Michael Bumpus.
I'm here with my guy, Jordan Babanon Babinon.
Your last name allowed me to understand how to how to pronounce that last part of your name because working for the c W, we go to the A c C. There's a lot of down South influence, you know, the uh, the the French, Louisianians and all that good stuff.
So I appreciate you.
Just knowing you allows me to know how to pronounce you know, some last names out there.
So I'm forever indebted to you.
You are you are indeed, But thank you for the appetizers and getting me here today. Uh, we're hanging out over at Legion, you know, Camp Chancellor and Richard Sherman's bared right across the way. You guys never had a chance to make it on down there. Good little small bites, nice little no not yet.
Not yet.
Yeah, we're going to give out tickets and all that good stuff.
And then and then you could advertise it all you want to.
All right, let's do it.
Not yet we got got We're way up. I'll tell you.
Uh, we're waiting on uh roy Robinson Harris. He was at the cheesecake factory and uh it must it must have been popping. Must have been popping because he couldn't he couldn't get his check in time. So we'll vamp a little bit. If he gets her own time, all good. If not, then we shall adjust. That's what we do. That is football. We adjust. But Royd's on the defensive line. My man was a safety. He's in the back. He has a panoramic view of everything that's going on. And when we were talking to him, and I knew that you were coming on on the show, my first question was I got to ask Babs, like, how does a defensive lineman help kind of paint the picture for you guys on the back end?
Yeah?
You know, well, one of the things that we're responsible for on the back end is making sure the guys in front of us are right.
You know, That's what I did.
So lofa Tatupu, who I know is listening right now, Lee roy Hill, who I know is listening right now, and Julian Peterson like every time that they've screwed up a gap, I had to make them right.
And that was how we played defense back then.
These guys were yelling, what's your approach? How you talking to oh?
I was like, you know, really it was most of it was just kind of on the flying because you know, we just like adjusted that way. Ken Hamlin was the of the safety and I mostly played the box, so I was I was the down guy to the eighth man in the box, you know, cleaning things up and really enjoyed it.
I mean, talk about a great time.
And Loaf and Leroy are probably.
Uh, you know, hanging out together right now, and I wish I was there. But these guys were phenomenal athletes, and it's it's you know what I see the transition from coordinators back when I played, you know, over the change. You know, it was John Marshall and Ray Rose at the time on the coach Hongren and then transitioned into coach Carol ken Norton and Chris Rashard. The safeties were a vital part of the success of the defense. But now you look at the regiment now and the changes that have made in Mike McDonald's defense, and the key players in the defense are at the second level, the linebackers, I.
Mean they are machines.
And how the d defense, how the defensive line plays, just helps every level moving backwards and you're seeing success.
I mean, we didn't the early part of the season.
While I think there are a lot of it was just based on energy and many people, you know, say that we didn't play like great teams and great quarterbacks, you know, the Jacoby Brissetts of the world. We had the rookie bow Knicks, the early three game win streak. I think a lot of it was emotion too as well. Now you're seeing this defense settle into themselves kind of form and have their own identity, and much of it is a part of what you're talking about the success.
Of the D line, all right, So the D line sets the tone, second level cleans it up, and then the back end is there for safety hints the word free safety and strong safety. Transitioning over to the Arizona Cardinals. When I watch them on defense to film, they have one of the best safeties to play the game in Buddha Baker. They also have a couple of good linebackers. What do you see when you look at this, oh, whether it's offense or defense. Just break down your initial thoughts of the Cardinals.
Of the Cardinals, well, offensively, I mean I was starting the offensive side of the ball. That's where my threats are. Specifically Kyler Murray. Again, he's just a wild card in terms of his ability to to escape and use his legs to extend plays and certainly the run game, which was non a non factor when we played him in in you know, a few weeks ago. But James Connor, you know, has already have you know, four one hundred yard rushing games. He's had a lot of success in terms of how they go about, you know, calling the plays. But Seahawks got on track, and you know, the Cardiners.
Were hot and the hot team.
I mean they lost the last two, but I mean they had a they were riding a four game win streak with a bye week coming into loomingfield, and uh, you know, I think the Seahawks have found something over the last three weeks where they started to create and form their identity, mostly defensively.
And speaking of defense.
We started with that D line we're drawing by now Roy Robinson Harris, your defensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks. Roy, we appreciate you taking time out of your day to join us on a Thursday. Not a convenient day, you know, but we appreciate you. Man got here, Yeah, we got on honey man. I when they picked you up, I looked at where you were and what you were doing.
You were you were out in London, right.
Yeah, we usually go out for two games, and.
So you were, you were out in London, fly to Seattle, then go to Atlanta. I don't think people realize what that does to the body. What was that whole experience?
Like I was hurting, man, So after that, I was happy. We had two home games the back. Yeah, but we got the dub in Atlanta, so that was the most important. And then I got to come and joy Looming Field for two weeks.
Certainly a different path, I mean, I think I'll share this with you because you may not know, but three of us have something in common, all undrafted free agents that made it to the nf FELT. And certainly this is your eight season, I believe, and you've had a chance to, you know, move around the league.
You've played in.
A lot of games. You've been a starter.
Talk about this journey from UTAP By the way, it's a Texas thing, and we'll get into that later. I got a calated guy. We'll talk about this Texan callagy at nowhere. We got time for it. As you know, I'm just setting it up. Talk about your experience, you know, leaving U tap and and and then you know that journey into the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
Well man, there was a lot of uncertainty. I wasn't sure, you know, how everything was going to play out. First, stay at OTA's coming into the room, the olb room, and I saw those guys established and you know, pro bowlers, guys that had their bag already. My maynhamma make this team and long story short play special teams, handled my business, was able to get some good looks on defense, and enjoyed my time in Chicago. Was fortunate enough to get signed in Jacksonville and extended out there and enjoyed my time there. And God said it was home to come to Seattle. Hey, you ready, what what you don't know? He's from Oakland.
Though, yeah he was going from l A. But you know what I'm saying, I'm just saying high school ball fun. He got both. You tried to claim all of them. I got, I got half.
Yeah, you got, you gotta half.
I love the defensive linement. That's such a position that is thankless. Sometimes, like people.
Don't realize how important you guys are.
When did you make that transition of D line in your career and you knew, like, all right, this is gonna be it.
I'm taking on double teams. It's getting grimmy in here.
Yeah.
Well, in college, I was a four down end. In high school, I was we were in the three three front, So I've always played D line. People assumed that I was an outside linebackers just because I came in as a linebacker in Chicago. They did me athletic and I can you know, I'm big, I can move and everything.
I always be, always been a D lineman.
Moved inside when I put weight on, and they were like, okay, you're a big athletic guy who can really use you thing.
It just worked out.
That's awesome.
I tell you what.
The other thing that I found out about is that we all have in common.
Again, that you're a golfer here.
You're hitting that ball man.
Tell me about your game. You got a handicap or the game.
I'm still in the twenties, man, I got a bad slide. My pro shot is beautiful. Man, anything one hundred and fifty end, one fifty end. I'm good to go. But still working on that te off shot.
Man saying a great scrambled player. Yeah, absolutely, yeah, absolutely scrambled team good. I'm good to go.
What got you in the game, I tell what got me into the game, Being in the locker room and seeing guys like baths and all these dudes disappear and where all going, and they come back talking about their rounds, Like I got to get into it.
What got you in?
Just the same thing, man, seeing guys. I mean I lived in Florida for a few years, so where we stay out in Jacksonville, it's a golf course every mile and a half to two miles, so you just you see it all the time. Man, Just being around guys at play and I just got into it. Got me some custom clubs that fit me good. And just getting out there. Man, I can have a bad game, I could play a good game just being out there with the guys and just vibing and.
It's just as good.
It's peaceful, and you know, especially you go to a nice course, you know how to get to a nice course. You can enjoy the views and everything like that. So ain't no rush exactly exactly. So it's it's a good vibe man outside the ball man, it really just gives me peace.
Hopefully, get a chance to play some golf. There's a there's some great golf courses off season. Get ready to bring you club, not in the next three three months.
You don't want to know. I hate him up like bass. Get me on the country course, real quick, man, he guy.
Yeah, we'll get you. We'll get you right right.
Look as far as I know, all men from Texas can cook.
I hear you. You're a big man, so I know you'd.
Like to eat.
And you a foodie somewhat. I've hear you a foodie. So let me let me first of all, I ask you a little bit about your chef, your cooking game, Like what's your favorite dish to cook or easiest dish to cook?
Don't have to look at a recipe. I could do it unmeasured.
Well, I'm not I'm not big on cooking. I let wife you do that.
But I'm gonna smoke it, though I do brisket beef for real chickens.
That's a Texas thing. They ain't smoking no brisk y'all eat avocado, smoking.
Avocados in California.
Man, don't do that.
Smoked avocados and cat all right, So I want to, I want to. I want to run you through this gauntlet real quick. It'll be a little fast response. It'll be a little game called this or that.
You're ready, I got you?
All right?
Here we go pasta or rice, pasta, fried, or barbecue, barbecue, salad or fries.
I'm gonna go salad. Man, I gotta stay here. I gotta go. I gotta stay healthy. I'm gonna go yeah, but the season, I'm going fries.
Alright.
So now you don't have a choice to be healthy. Cake or pie O cake all day all day? Okay, home cook or takeout o home cook?
Beer or wine.
Oh, I'm gonna have to go wine. I've been on the wine lately. I've been on the lately which is rice wine for anybody that doesn't know. I'm been on the wy lately. But if I'm listening to some country, I definitely got to have me a cold.
One, last one, pancakes or waffles, waffles, waffles, all that, And I'm gonna.
Go ahead and say French toast. I'm a big French toast guy. If you got good French toast, I'm there. Yeah, yes, sir, yes, sir, I'm the same.
My wife hates it, so I gotta make Frinds toast. Yeah all right, Well let's uh, let's let's get back to football. Man, it's been it's been fun to see what the defense is doing, you know, And I'm sure when you were at Jacksonville you're not keeping up on what the Hawks defense is doing and all that good stuff. But since since you and and Earnest have come over and then with the leadership of a Big Cat and everybody else, the defenses seems like they're meshing.
Like what do you think it is?
Is it as simple as gods just believing in their assignments?
The coaching like, how do how do we how do we measure this?
Guys are just believing in each other. Man, is everybody's coming together at the right time? What is it week thirteen now? So I mean this the perfect time for the for us to get a good role man and guys are. Guys are trusting each other, believing each other, speaking the same language on the field, trusting the coaches, trusting the scheme, and we'll go out there. It's showing even in practice. You know, guys are able to communicate, and it shows up. It shows up in practice, shows up in the games.
Last few games.
Fourteen points against the Jets last week, six against Arizona kept him out of the end zone, and seventeen against a Shanahan offense that has given the Seahawks problems for the last several years. And now of that was to you know, Bigcat, you know and his play up front. What is it like playing next to a guy like Leonard Williams and the game plan and offenses have to prepare for with someone like that, And what does it do for you in getting those one on one opportunities?
Man, I ain't gonna lie bro I never played with a dude like like Leonard. Man, big Cat is a different dude. He's a game wrecker and man, he just he just knows the opponent before he gets out there and he has shown this season. But Man, super humble dude, great communicator, he's a great teammate. Man great dude to be around.
So when I when I was with the Hawks, there's always a couple of Washington State guys sprinkled.
On the team and throwing that in there. But you know what I mean, So you know, sprinkling in there.
Uh you got a UTEP you know brother on the team a bit younger than you.
Yeah.
You guys ever connected to talk about your experiences all?
Oh, for sure?
Many Night by the way, Yeah, Tea Night, Yeah, man. We So I linked up with him first day I got in. Man, I had to talk to my youtub anytime I talked to any UTEP guys. Has always loved man because there's only a handful of us in the league, and guys that I played with, you know, we're still playing Aaron Jones, Eric Thomlinson, Will Hernandez. So man, super proud of Tea Night being drafted and handling his business and coming into the league and doing his thing. Man the past few weeks he's been handling his business and doing just playing good linebacker play man. So super proud of him coming out out the tech man for sure.
That's awesome. I told you we were going to get back to that.
Texas and California conversation in terms of the best athletes you've been on both sides. You play Texas ball, What is it like playing Texas high school football? We'll start there and then you tell me, just from your professional opinion, the best athletes Texas, California.
We played the high school stoptball in Texas.
Stop it.
Hey, man, I love Cali, I love to Bay, I love where I'm from, but look Texas, man, Texas, Texas puts out the best football players in the country.
That's point blank.
Let me say something. That's facts.
It's done.
Can I talk. I ain't gonna lie. Football is different in Texas. Different, but it just is as much as.
Much as I wanted to put on for Cali, and then like, I'm okay being number two or number three.
It's just different.
When you have thirty thousand seats in a high school stadium, when you have civilians saying tax me, I'm willing to pay for this stadium. It's just different. So I ain't even gonna front it's different, but uh, it.
Is, you know.
And then Jay Santa is from Texas, you know obviously all around. So no, I got I got much, I got much love and respect.
I still think, by the way, I gotta I gotta check my my facts. But Texas has produced or currently has the most NFL players, most players in Who's state?
Who's the state?
Yeah, Texas, Florida.
Maybe Georgia and Cally that's a that's a close Georgia County.
That's a close for third, Yeah, Georgia. Yeah, I just been disrespectful.
I just about him Cali up here on the stage with me real quick, man, It is gracious, but no, it's all of it in respect, man. And you've been able to to carve out like a good career man. And I think that people don't realize there's always a stat that goes out there every year where it's like there's X amount of high school players, X amount of college players and then uh so and so like one point five make it to the league. I mean, the undrafted route is a crazy route. You know, we all have been there and understand it. What what was it about you that allowed you to kind of find your path and build this career that you have.
Just trusting the guys around me, man, and trusting the the advice that I get, you know, I mean, you know, it's been a it's crazy looking back, you know, eight nine years ago, coming in undrafted, but just stuck to the plan and stuck to the grind.
You know, there it is and we're running out. Yeah, we got a wrap.
I wanted to give him a chance to talk about his charitable interest.
I know you got a you know is Mike cause Mike cleats and you got foundations and you support the Big Brothers, big sisters. I know a lot about that as well. For sure, give a chance to speak to the terrible, terrible work that.
You're geting it.
So, so a little over a year ago, I started my foundation, Inspiring Greatness Foundation. We're here to basically help inner city youth and single mother So I grew up with a single mother and she's here with me today and she's she's done everything she could help me get to where I am today.
Huge, huge part of my life.
And so I'm trying to make sure I get back to any single mothers that need help, anything you know, financial wise, any you know, supplies that their children may need for school, or just anything that we can do to help. That's pretty much the target on my foundation. That's the goal of my foundation. With Tramon's name Treville, Treville, Robertson, Tavell. We love you, we appreciate you. That made a beautiful young man right here. That's awesome, all right, man, That is Roy Robinson Harris.
Who appreciate you. Guys hanging out. When we come back, we'll talk to Charles Cross. That's next here on Hawk's line.
Hawks Live presented by the Dining District of the Bellevue Collection at Bellevue Square Center Court, live on air on Seattle Sports.
This is Hawks Live presented by the Dining just at the Bellevue Collection on Michael Bumpas with my guy Jordan Babado and now, oh yeah.
That people are hype.
You know why they're hyped because we're about to talk to Charles Cross.
Charles, how you doing today? Man?
I'm doing well. How about our tells?
We're good? Man, can't complain. It's uh.
The holiday season is a Thursday and we're talking to you, man. Something I like to check in with folks man because the holidays or if we're in the holiday season, Thanksgiving just went by your week? Thirteen? Man, how's the body? How's the mental health and spirit?
I'm feeling well with these and my third years here. I feel like I pretty much you know, got my routine down packed, body feeling good, mine feeling good while everything's in line.
That's awesome to hear a cross look, I.
Know one, thanks for texts, for taking time out, jumping on a car.
We'd love to have you down here. You ought to see the scene right now.
It's at least fifteen hundred screaming twelves fans here, and I tell you that the line for autographs might be just a little bit too much to handle. But look, talk about this success of the team over the last three weeks since the bye week.
What's changed?
I feel like just just how mentality has been, you know, go one oh each week and it's just playing well together the office, depending on the defense, defenseive pen on the offense, and just playing comformbility football.
Man, What what's it like preparing for a team.
You just saw a couple of weeks ago when I was on my show, the Bumping Station Show, I said, man, it's almost like they hand you the same scouting report and said, all right, there's a couple of wrinkles they threw in there, but they're pretty much the same team.
What's it like for you? Guys.
Yeah, really do some just looking at the ringers they put in on, seeing how they do things differently, like what they changed, and like you said, pretty much going to get the same guys. So it's being detailed. It's a detailed you know, this second time planning. So we just dive into the details and I'm working with h Q.
All right, Charles, here we go first and goal on the one yard line.
Call your play set?
He I mean, is it in the playbook? I think all of the twelves want to know. Is it in the short yards play call sheet?
Yeah, we got it in there. We got it in there for seeing.
Charles.
Don't tell him too much, man, don't tell him too much. Don't sound too much.
You guys are pretty close to unlocking the run game on all serious list, And I know Kennith Walker and Charbonney are really working hard to really find some balance, particularly after you know, Ryan Grubb has you know, felt to have been a little past heavy in the first half of the season. How close are you guys to unlocking the real potential of what this run game can do for the offense?
Oh? I feel like I feel like we defintely on like hitting the right direction. We yeeling Will. We're playing Will at a great time in the season. It's like we're there, We're there on no contuin to inscute and play it high level and everyone be on the same page. And those guys got a lot of succists coming their way and they helps the team and it helps me in only fighting for those guys to you know, get the opportunity to do it.
And man, I know that.
I mean, you're a veteran in the game now and you've seen guys coming go on that offensive line and you don't play.
Next to this guy.
But what is it like having your boy Abe Lucas back at and what does that do for the offensive line room?
Man? As a great thing. Man, you know, he's he's a very smart, physical, tough guy.
Man.
You know, he's just a great player overall. He's only he understands the game well and he's a great essay to our team.
You know, Charles, I think one of the most fascinating things at least and you know, and my time in the locker room is that the build up that it takes to get to game day and you know, getting yourself, you know, healthy, acclimated, with the editions getting back ready for performance high performance. Do you have certain routines or things that you always do on game day or things that you do during the week to get yourself ready for Sunday.
Yeah, I have, Like you know, over the over the past couple of years, I definitely on like credit routine, tweaked their times and like just pripping throughout the week make sure my body's ready for practice to the game is definitely something that I been big into this year. You try to make you un prepared at my big though mentally physically, expiritual.
Charles.
I go back and I talked to my kids and they asked me, if I can change anything, what would you change? And I said, maybe maybe I would have played dB if I can go back and do it, if you could shape your body into whatever you want it right, I know you're a big man, so you got to play on that deal our old line. If you could play any other posiition, what position would you want to try?
I wouldn't want to play any little police.
Straight up there, it is hey security, And that's a that's surprising to here.
Man.
I know you have because because I know when offensive linemen see the running back break a big one. You know it kind of have some reminiscent days of younger Pop Warner when they was a little jitterbug.
Did you did you play any skill positions?
Or you were just a big your whole life, always moving piles and moving people.
So so so in my hometown when when you played little Lead, they had a weight limit on the quaal key, and unfortunately I was a bully.
A weight unfortunately fortunately because it turned out well indeed, all right.
Well, you know what he said, This is all I wanted to do. You're doing that at a high level, Charles Man. We appreciate you taking time out of your Thursday hanging out with this man.
Give us one more thing, Give us one more thing, Big Crossing, No, you gotta go.
We are gosh, don appreciate Charles oh Man.
Okay, I'm gonna have to stop at the vmack and come check you out.
Okay, okay, all.
Right, cross Man, have a great game on Sunday.
Hey, somebody tell Big Play how this works here. You guys who have been here. All right, we got we got brakes, we gotta hit we had time, we gotta hit the top shows. We come back, man, We live on the radio. Bro, We'll go, We'll go around the NFL. That's next here on Hawks Live.
Hawkss Live presented by the Dining District at the Bellevue Collection at Bellevue Square Center Court, live on air on Seattle Sports.
You are listening to Hawks Line presented by the Dining disc Got the Bellvy Collection.
The show starts at seven every Thursday.
Right here in Seattle Sports seventeen, broadcasting live in Bellevue Square Center Court. I am Michael Bamas along with Jordan Babno. So, last time the Hawks played the Cardinals, they held them to forty nine yards Russian Kyler Murray had no nine yards rushing last week against the Vikings, who only allow around seventy five yards per game.
When it comes to the rush game.
They allowed about what a buck fifty or something like that, something close to that.
They got things going.
But when you look at what the Hawks were able to do the last time they played the Cardinals, what did you see in how do you think that can transfer to this week's game?
Yeah?
You know, the one thing that stands out at least offensively that that probably you know, has garner some attention if they're tied in Trey McBride. I mean, I think he went for over one hundred yards against the Hawks in the first game. You look at his numbers, I mean, ninety two targets this season, thirteen most in the NFL, and he missed the game. I think the other thing too, about a guy like Drey is probably fascinating too, isn't He's yet to score touchdown?
Crazy a receiving touchdown.
I believe he has like yeah, yeah, receiving a rushing touchdown and something else going on.
I think a fumber Recupah, yeah, a rushing touchdown from recovery. But but I think the tight end position for the Cardinals that that has been a bright spot for him. James Connor has been dealing with some some you know, nurses, some injuries. Their run game is kind of you know, wavered a little bit. But again, the bright spot again in the passing game is that tight end position.
Yeah, the tight ends. The Hawks have had a tough time with some tight ends. Obviously, George Kittle had a couple of touchdowns the first time they played him. I believe he had won the second time trade McBride. So so then I look at the safeties because typically the safeties and the nick are the ones we're gonna handle the tight ends. And Julian Love has had himself a good season. What have you seen out of Jay Love?
See?
It feels like a Pro Bowl season to me.
Back again, I mean back to back, right, I mean, how special would that be? I mean, that's hadn't happened, that hadn't happened at the safety position for the Hawks since I want to say Earl, Earl did it a few years ago. But I think Julian Love has been a staple, no drop off from last year success. He's definitely been available giving all of the changes that's happened in the secondary. Uh and then still kind of helping you know, the young players, you know mature. So I again, I I I see him high on the on the on the ballot for Pro Bowl twelve. You guys are responsible for getting Jay Love to the Pro Bowl again this season?
Come on now, And I think voting is already open that sort of thing. But yeah, Jay Love is.
I mean, he's have a definitely a matchup challenge with with Trey Bryan.
And and then and down in in Arizona. It's fun to see the maturation of Jay Love.
He's already been a mature guy, but the maturation in his role as far as here in Seattle because he played behind Kwandre and Jamal and he was trying to scraping to find some playing time.
And now he's the guy.
And you look at that safety room, man, you got some guys over there. Man, Kobe has stepped up and it's doing a good job. So I feel really good about the safety position. I feel really really good about the uh the Seahawks chances against the Cardinal this weekend. Okay, short sweek for this one, but you guys don't go anywhere when we come back, we will go around the NFL. What is catching your eyes and your ears? That is next here on.
Hawkslot Hawks Live presented by the Dining District of the Bellevue Collection at Bellevue Squares Center Court, every Thursday from seven to nine, live on air on Seattle Sports.
No.
If you're your hosts Michael Bumpis and.
Paul Moyer, you are listening to Hawk's Lide presented by the Dining District at the Bellevue Collection. On Michael Pumps No, Paul Boyer, we got Jordan Avenue today, Yes.
Yes, What a treat you guys have today.
I told you you guys just got upgraded from the coach to first class.
Hey, y'all tell Boyer that too. What do you here this week?
He's listening right now.
You'll better tell Moyer to that man.
But man, if you guys haven't been paying attention to the Thursday night game, and it's thirty one and twenty eighth, the Lions are up six minutes and thirty two seconds left. The Packers have the football, the Lion's rubbed ten. Then they're up seventeen to seven, and then the Green Bay Package going twenty one to seventeen, and now the score is thirty one to eighteen.
A lot going on there.
Hey, make sure you get out to the Bellvy Collection dining district. So many great restaurants to choose from. Today we had our pre show meal at Legions Sports Bar. I had the Juicy Jerk Chicken sandwich.
It was bombed.
They have a great happy hour. It's a great place to watch the Thursday night games too. You can't watch it everywhere. If you don't have that Amazon Prime thing going, you're not gonna be able to watch it. You should go there before and after Snowflake lame, So you know, put the kids asleep, dude, you gotta do, put them in the rocker and you go check it out. And then they also have great Christmas cocktails. What is a Christmas cocktail? All I know is eggnog. That's all I know. So if you know anything else, holler at me and let me know. Okay, all right, man, let's get into it. It's time to go around the NFL. So I'm gonna I'm gonna ask my guy about one of the plays that were deemed dirty. I'm doing air quotes for guys who aren't here right now, all right, for the millions at home listing, Okay, dirty play you got asis for the Atlanta Falcons hits Trevor Lawrence knocks him out, boom Head hits the turf and a flag is thrown. I'm sitting here with a safety who played during an era where you could do that and it wasn't a flag. It was a bit different now. But so how did you break this play down? What did you see?
Babs?
Do you think it was warranted? Are there some compromising situations? It's complicated in my opinion. What do you think you know?
I think that the tough thing now for defenders is when do you think the quarterback is going to slide or what do you think is actually going to fold up and do a spin move and try to keep running or get extra yards. And it makes it tough for defenders really to play all out now. Again, I think a lot of it is predicated to on looking at the tape of the quarterback knowing that are they a run more of a runner who they challenge defenders? Josh Allen, he may be made, you know, try to run over your make a move. Lamar Jackson, he may try to make a move. Look come on, man, there's nothing happening with Trevor Lawrence. He don't have no wiggles like that, you know. And he was already surrendering himself. I think the biggest thing too, that that balled down to wild was so egregious as it was because alsha here has he has a history.
He got a history.
He had history, man, you know, and once you start putting that on film and the powers that be in the league is watching that, they're gonna protect the players.
Man.
You you have to know that they're gonna protect the players, you know, what's the timing of it. You know, I hate the bang bang plays in the moment of but I think just mentally, you just gotta know that he's probably gonna slide coming in.
With that kind of force.
Look, I think that was the three game suspension was definitely warranted.
My if he didn't have the history that he had, I would go to bat form a bit more. But I also didn't like the way he responded after he got up trying to fight. Everybody was like, bro, my man is on the ground knocked out. Yeah, it was a it was a dirty play. It is what it is. People make mistakes. It's hard to play defense in the league these days. I get that it was more of his reaction afterwards, where I'm like, show some remorse and be like, hey, my bad, you know, things happened.
That's the thing that got me with that.
So I though he eventually came out and apologized. But you know, sometimes in the heat of the moment, you know, I mean, I just you know, it can kind.
Of act outside myself.
But again, definitely warranted the three game suspension, and again, if that happens again, I gotta believe that the league is probably gonna take a higher discipline in terms of what happens next.
My man has had some fines.
Man, some ten thousand and fifteen thousand dollars fines, So I think that complicates things.
All right, Let's move on.
Mike Holmgrid has emerged as a finalist for the Hall of Fame as a coach.
Mike gave me my.
Chance chance in the NFL one of the most nicest but demanding men I've ever worked with in my life.
Nice.
Yeah, I wouldn't put nice well you on the defensive side. He didn't rock with you like he rocks with me.
No.
No, And I'll tell you what if I had my run ins with coach Honger many times, and I'll never forget the one story I'll share with coach Honer before we start talking about.
His stats in his career.
We were at away game and we're getting on the elevator and he was with security detail, and Mike takes his elevator up to the penhouse or wherever. He states, I've never been in one of those before, but the presidential suitep, the bell rings, the elevator opens up and it's home grown and security details Rick at the time and Homegren looks at us. I think it's myself and Marcus Truefons. He gives us the fingers like, yeah, take the next one. No problem coaching. There's those awkward moments, you know. But yeah, you talk about demanding, I mean he had a you know, first of all, he sits you know, six ' ten or whatever size, the stature of a man that just would just I mean he would. He had old school coaching tactics and ways to get guys motivated. But one of the most brilliant minds in terms of our offensive game and how the game has developed, you know, being under that.
Bill wash coaching system, the coaching tree.
And then Honger went on, I have a great coaching tree himself. All list out a few names, Andy Reid being at.
The top of them.
When you start to talk about Mike Hogan's uh, you know, you know projects. In terms of coaches, Ron Rivera, John Harbaugh, Sharan McDermott, Doug McDermott, and Doug Peterson, who may be on the hot seat, but again truly a high level of success winning three Super Bowls, a pioneer in terms of the NFL's growth and at West Coast passing offense and what he did definitely deserving of a Hall of Fame nomination for sure, Like you mentioned, gave both of us our chances. My my fondest memory of honger Is is a bit a bit more fond than yours.
I guess always share mine was.
I scored my first and only touchdown in the NFL, and I'm an undrafted free agent guy, Homer going, they got to talk to me. You know, he just says hello and he and he keeps it pushing. But I scored my touchdown. I left the football on the field, Juice Jones grabbed it for me, and Juice gives it to me. Homegrin walks over, and you know, it takes a lot for Homegren to sit down.
And I'm sitting on the bench. He sits down, He sits down.
He looks at me, He goes, you're welcome, stands right back up and goes like, hey, he called to play for your boy. I'll never forget he called that play. I knew on might score. So that was Home Grin. And he explained the office during install in a way that just made sense, at least to me. And the guys of my ro just make complete sins. So Mike Holmgren one of the greatest to do it. It's about dang time he's getting some recognition. I know Pete Carroll is going to get up most of the love here in Seattle, but Homegren kind of built this thing up and then Pete Carroll took it to another level.
Yeah for sure.
Indeed, all right, let's talk about the show what we used to call it, the Big Show.
The Big Show.
Yeah, all right, So now let's talk about your boy, Doug Peterson.
There. Every year, there's a cycle that goes on in the NFL.
Guys get cut, players get cut, coaches get fired. So there are some guys, some coaches on the hot seat right now. Got day Ball with the Giants, Peterson with the Jaguars, Antonio Pierce with the Raiders, Zach Taylor with the Bengals.
I think that's some warranty.
Who's who has the hottest seat out of those four guys, day Ball, Peter Peterson, Pierce Taylor.
I think the biggest thing with with Zach Taylor is the man They've been close in so many games, in those big games, those big moments, you got a quarterback like Joe Burrow, he can win the big game. Joe Burrow is the quarterback, like he could win a super Bowl, and they've.
Just come up short.
And I don't think it's a matter of you know, specifically like failure in terms of not getting the wins with Zach Taylor.
It's just that the outcomes have.
Not been you know, productive or or you know, at a place where they've made an AFC Championship game, they've had a Super Bowl appearance, they haven't. And you know, while he's turned that franchise around, he's got great talent. Window is is is really closing in terms of you know, weather management. It should be looking at the coaching staff in the change of you know, uh, philosophy and messaging. So I wouldn't say that he's he's not my number one, but he's certainly top three, probably not probably number one, you know.
Has to be what's happening in New York.
I think Brian, uh, the ball is is I mean, looking looking at what they did with Daniel Jones, a high draft pick, an extension, they cut the guy I don't even want you on the team no more like and it's and it's gotten to a place where.
Saying how I'm playing safety on practice. Squad man come on.
That that that that messaging is pretty clear, and they ended up releasing him, cut him had you know, waved and and it ended up getting picked up.
I think by the vikings, right, we get he get picked up. He landed on another another teams.
But but looking at looking at what's happened in New York, they they're they're not they're not in a good place.
The franchises in disarray.
And again another I think, you know, measurement in terms of what the Hawks have done, even in their transition from Pete Carroll to Mike McDonald and having John Snyder, you know, still as a staple in terms of building that bridge for success, that the franchise is in a good position.
Yep.
And I think a lot of Seahawks fans ought to feel good about where the organization is, where it's been, and certainly there's been a lot of questioning after the loss of Paul Allen and what's next and you know, what's gonna happen with the team. They've done a great job of managing the organization's business to keep this organization relevant in the league.
And here they are sitting.
In first place as seven to five with a chance to position themselves to playoffs. I think that says a lot about the leadership of the organization.
I agree one hundred percent. Schneider doing the same, Mike McDonald doing the same. And when we come back, we'll let you know about this week's opponent, the Arizona Cardinals. That's cut up next right here on Hawk's Live.
Hawkss Live centered by the Dining District at the Bellevue Collection at Bellevue Square Center Court, live on air on Seattle Sports.
Welcome back to Hawks Live, presented I the Dining District at the Bellvy Collection on Michael Bumpis with my guy Joran Babeno. Hey, come join us here at Hawks Live at Belvy Square Center Court. You have a chance to win gift cars from the Dining District at the Bellby Collection. Tonight they're giving away gift cars to Moto Pizza and Legion Sports Bar.
Wow.
All right, have you been there? Making me hungry? Have you been there? I've been to both.
Have you One has great pizza.
One has good steak steak bites, the shrimp.
Steak bites, the shrimp. There's a really bombed salad. I think it's the lesion salad hat you greens and the French fries are awesome.
French fries are on point. Look at that.
He does a little bit of everything, all right, a little bit of pizza a stuff. All right, man, it's time to go inside the film room. This is where we break down plays that went down. This first one, Geno Smith finds AJ Barner for a twelve yard touchdown.
In the second Quarner play fade.
Now, Gino's gonna roll to the left, gonna dump it off.
Underneath Paula's coup, turning up field touchdown Seahawks A J.
Barner.
The rookie slams the ball out of the back of the end zone and from twelve yards out, the Seahawks are on the scoreboard.
I saw Aj at the hotel.
He said, I'm gonna give you something to yell about.
You just did that, young man.
Congratulations AJ Barner scoring his second touchdown as a Seahawk coming off a Michigan big win over Ohio State. So it's only fitting that he does this thing. I'll tell you what I saw, Babs, and then you let me know what you see. This is just this is why I love under center when it comes to play action, when the quarterback gets under the center, turns his back to the defense, gives a nice little play action and AJ does a good job of taking care of the DM, showing that he is blocking one one thousand, two to one thousand. Then he releases to the flat. The DM thinks he has a straight shot to Geno. Gino drops it over the top. AJ gets in the end zone. I love under center play action.
Yeah, I think you know, the play action pass game certainly, Uh, you know, it's been successful for the Stocks, having that big play down the field, uh, you know, throwing throwing window for Geno, and that's when they're their best.
You know.
Certainly, the run game hasn't just been like dominant, because I think they're like the lesser or bottom part of the NFL in terms of yards per game. But it's effective and they ran the ball when they needed to. This play action pass game and this touchdown was set up by the previous play And we had AJ on our post game show after the game. He said he had he shot out to Farroh Brown because he agitated the d N so much that he was ready to bull rush and he was engaged with Aj for you know, a couple of seconds before having that delay release to the flat that ended up being the that he needed to get open for the touchdown.
I love that when a plan all comes together. AJ Brown scores a touchdown.
I mean, was beautiful.
This next play, Lender Williams picks off Aaron Rodgers and runs it back ninety two yards for a touchdown.
All stays in the backfield again. Three receivers near sign. Adams has slotted on the right. Blitz is coming throw inside.
It's picked off.
Leo Williams coming near sign. He's running like a race horse. He's at midfield, turns up field at blockers. Holy smokes, are you kidding Leo Williams. It's gonna take it in for a touchdown?
Seahawks.
The Seahawks mess up a kick return, They dump it on the defense, and Leo Williams says, I got you covered, picks it off as he drops back into coverage, comes up the near sidelines in front of the bench, picks up blockers, and takes it all the way in for a touchdown.
Are you kidding me?
All right?
Defense? What'd you see there?
I mean, so far we've had two great highlights.
I didn't get a holy catfishing either one of them from Ravo. He might have been sleeping up there. If that was a phenomenal play. We talked about it in the early part of the show. You watched the Seahawks defensively they did it. I mean, it was a great disguise of showing zero blitz. They ended up dropping the defensive lineman Leo in the middle of that throwing window, and had Aaron Rodgers been a little more patient, Tarik Wooland fell down covering his guy. I mean it was wide open on the left side of the field. But you also talk about a change of how two plays really dictated the outcome of game, and I think Leo was responsible for let me see six blocked the pat seven and then the play before would have been a touchdown had Aaron Rodgers hit the wide open receiver another six. So essentially Leo scored twelve points for the Hawks, and they say, including the points that he saved on Sunday, just phenomenal play. And you know, like with the spoon said, big man running, Big man running.
I love seeing a three hundred pounder taken ninety two yards to the house. You might not see that again for another five to ten years.
I'm gonna tell you that I thought it was longer than that.
Isn't that the longest eighties That's the longest touchdown by a defensive lineman of that size in NFL history?
Right? Yeah, yep.
And not only that, I think.
He might have reached the speed of a cheetah the entire time that he was running.
You know what's messed up about that?
They clocked him at eighteen miles per hour. JNS was clocked in at nineteen miles per hour on one of his screens. Man, if i'm JSM man, we got to check the film, check the data, and make sure the measurements are on point. But hey, bass, what I like about this is that the big man did little man things. The way that he flipped his hips and dropped to the hook the hook to curl was impressive and then located the quarterback's eyes put his hands on the football.
I forgot that he was drafted number six overall.
Oh yeah, and that right there reminding me that he was drafted number six overall.
The big man got it done. Out of usc love to see.
Him, all right, This next play Gino Smith finds JSN for a twenty four yard gain on fourth and six.
Well, this is.
Dangerous right here. Fourth down and six for the Seahawks. Geno out of the shotgun, takes the snap play fake, looks gonna scramble.
Now he's gonna throw. Got a man.
Jns N makes the catch down to the twenty yard line.
Are you kidding me? Holy catfish?
Geno Smith scrambling, spinning, throwing, and finds JSN on a deeper crossing round at the twenty for a twenty four yard gain on fourth and six.
Man speaking glad, you gotta speak of a calffish lead and had some good calfish nuggets too, if y'all looking for something on calfish nuggets catfish nuggets. All right, we finally got a holy catfish. I mean, but you talk about a hey, what are you doing?
Wait?
Oh, that was a great play.
Rapels like this could be dangerous, you know what great faith?
Steve?
Uh listen, that was just, you know, a play of will. And I think at this point McDonald had already made a decision.
You know that we're we're done punting. You know, we can't punt. We're hurt in that position, Dixon is you know, facing back.
Spasms or whatever he was dealing with on the sideline tightening up, And to me, I think that was that won the game. They went down and scored that drive, But you look at the decision and what it took to, you.
Know, like regain momentum.
The Seahawks were battling with trying to get some momentum and get some things going offensively. Now the Jets weren't doing anything either, but they were winning the field position battle. They had time of possession at that point. I think that decision and and Dixon, you know, Dixon's injury or you know, inability to punt garnered to win, and they they found a way to get that done. And much of it was attributed to that mentality of going forward backed up on fourth and six.
Yeah, I love it.
And I think that Geno saw that they were in man felt some pressure and JSN just makes an adjustment. This was a quick game type of concept. JSM runs a little slant right there, sees that Geno's rolling to his left and says, all right, let's break this thing off.
I'm gonna go off top.
Because he realizes that on the outside Locke is running an end route. So that's awareness right there, knowing what's happening outside of you, seeing your quarterback be in trouble, and then going and making a play.
From a receiver perspective, you see a second year guy doing that. Watching Geno scramble to the left, there was nothing over there, and you saw.
What he did.
He just quickly threw his hand up escaped the defender. What does that say about JSN and how he's developing.
As a second year that clock in his head, he feels it, He understands this is the time that I have, this is the space that I have, and I'm gonna go get it. That's a good old scrambl drill right there. Your quarterback gets outside the pocket and you go ahead and make a play for him. So those are our three plays that we break down every single week here on Hawks Live. When we come back, it's time to talk that talk. Let's see, we know he can talk that talk. That's big play baths. All he do is talk that talk, all right, that's coming up next here on Hawk's lot.
It's time to talk that talk with Michael Bumpus and Palm Moyer on Hawks Live.
Welcome back to Hawks Live.
It is December, snowfake lane is going down. Kids are out way past their bedtime. Go to sleep kids. What time is this a thirty? My kids better be in bed by now, all right? You know my daughter does to buy herself some time show it says, all dad.
I'm thirsty.
You've been drinking water all day, all dad, I want to snack. No fruit snacks, all right, I have a banana or an apple or something like that. All right, trying some sweets before you go to sleep. You gotta brush your teeth all over again. I'm getting old and grumpy.
Bass.
Can you tell?
Oh?
Yeah, easily to tell you're getting some grades up there too?
Brother, So hey, all natural, yeah, lean into it.
You look good though.
I appreciate you. I appreciate you, all right, and that it was time to talk to that talk man.
That's where we we pick out some some topics, some statements, and you tell me if it's true or false, and I'll agree or disagree and we'll justify it. I'm sure you uh babs got like fifteen degrees, so I'm sure you went to law school at some point.
And you know, we give you your best, your best lawyer right now, I'm not. I don't no law school.
All right, bas has like got a doctor and something like that. He's always in school. I was done after college. He kept going, all right. First one, Leonard Williams has a chance to be among the best interior linemen to ever play.
For the season.
It's some crowd participation, all right, thumbs up or thumbs down. Leonard Williams among the best defensive lineman to play the game, interior defensive.
They're like, who's Leonard Williams. Well, he's a man.
He's a man.
Just ball, And I definitely think Lendon Williams is dead this point. I think maybe we'll agree upon best interior defensive lineman for sure, having one of his best seasons as a pro and certainly been an impact for this defense.
The best since Frank Clark, Right, Frank Clark before he left and went to the Chiefs and won them.
At Super Bowl and did all that. Yeah, double Jesus Sacks.
I would say the best since Leonard Wims, or excuse me, Frank Clark or the best seasons is Jay Reed.
Jay Reed had a good season.
As an ulterior defensive linean. Then he had like ten sacks one year, something crazy like that. Yeah, you look at you look at that. But I mean he plays all the positions, So yeah, Lenna Williams definitely, that's a yes, unanimous.
All right, all right, Next one who has made the greater impacts on the turnaround of this defense Leonard Williams or Ernest Jones.
Yeah, I think it's still the same. I mean Leonard Williams definitely still there. He made it easier for Ernest Jones. Now, Ernest Jones certainly came in and had a good impact. He's been here, I think four or five weeks leading the team in tackles since he's gotten here, and it's been a you know, a vocal guy in terms of leadership and shurring up that run game in those run lanes. But it's it's Leonard Williams making it easy for him.
This is where you're wrong.
Leonard has been here the whole time, playing some good football. Ernest Jones is the one who started cleaning stuff up on the back. Yet how many times do we see Baker dip under a block? Dotson I dip under a block. Ernest Jones meets you with his hands and says, you know, what big cat, I'm gonna clean this up for you. So though Leonard Williams has had two crazy weeks, he's been here.
As soon as Ernest Jones.
Got here, the blinker was on, and you start to make the turn that defense is doing his thing.
I gotta go with Ernest Jones here.
Well, look again, like I said, at Ernest Jones, all he has to do is beat the guard from climbing to him. Because Lyndon Williams have both guys tied up. It's it's pretty easy just to outrun.
A guy and go later or getting positioned. Okay, all right, our first disagreement. You got first disagreement.
Next one, the Seahawks will score more than twenty points on Sunday, not including defensive scores. Defense put up fourteen points to last week one seven points, one week seven points the next week.
What do you say?
No, you know this, This, this Arizona defense is pretty good. Even going into two weeks ago when they played at at Lowman secondary.
Wise, I think this they had.
They were pretty stingy in terms of passing touchdowns from from that perspective and probably uh you know, less less prone or more.
Prone to give up yardage in the run game.
With with Grubb being a pass happy coordinator, I think he's gonna We're gonna continue to see Geno's attempts soar above thirty two attempts that could be dangerous for this defense, particular on the road.
I don't see him scoring over twenty points.
In fact, if they yeah, i'd have to look up to see where they been in the last few games sixteen, twenty six.
And seven from the defense. Seven of it came from the defense.
Look, you have to go back, I think since September to see the success of this offense early in the first quarter, but they've had some struggles starting fast. I don't see him scoring over twenty as to be another defensive battle.
I would love for it to be a defensive battle, I really would. But I think that the offense finds a way to get the run game going. If the run game can get going, you got Satala Loo Maya at that right guard spot, maybe you tap into something that you haven't had all year, and K nine is able to find some lanes and have himself his first one hundred yard rushing game this season. He's had two of them things in twenty seven games. It's been a long time since we've seen K nine do it. So because I feel like they can get the run game going, they're gonna score twenty four.
They did offense, didn't score against the Cardinals, and I'm looking at it. They didn't score against the Cardinal defense. Score they only touchdown and they had three field goals.
So you see the same thing as what you're saying. Nope, they won't score twenty. Now, gonna score twenty. They'll win the game, but they won't score. So it's gonna be like what seven seventeen. Yeah, it's a seventeen thirteen kind of ball game.
Game.
Yeah, another another defensive matchup again, now we'll see them start to see this team stack wins.
That's the philosophy inside the locker room.
They're approaching it as a playoff game, already talking about that moving forward. That's the language inside the room, and and that'll be that's the approach.
Another Dave Wyman type of game. Seventeen to thirteen. Let's get crazy. Let's go twelve, twelve to four or something like that. You know what I mean, Let's mix it up.
That's pretty crazy. That sounds like a baseball score two safeties and a few field goals.
All right, last one, the Seahawks will win the NFC West.
I agree with that. All right, what do we think twelve?
What do you think Twelve's Seahawks gonna take it down? Here we go Arizona, Green Bay, Minnesota, Chicago and the Rams. I mean it's a sprint. When you start to look at where they're at.
Uh.
You know, from a standing standpoint right now, if the playoff started today, I think they'd be playing green Bay.
Yep, you look at in green Bay. I think lost on a last.
Second field goal tonight by Detroit. I mean, gutsy called by Campbell going forward on fourth and less than one of.
The that's what he does.
But but again it's that attitude like it just it just permeates throughout the organization, throughout the players.
It instills confidence.
In the team.
Uh.
And again that was very very similar to what McDonald did last week and going forward backed up on fourth down those those several times. But I think that I think they can take care of the NFC West. Uh, given given the rest of the schedule, two tough games Green Bay and Minnesota.
But again starts with this week against the Cardinals.
Getting that position and spreading out a little bit and making that run playing the best football in December.
I think they win the NFC West as well. I think the Niners are banged up. I think the Cardinals will take this l on Sunday mess their whole thing up. I believe the Bills still have to play one more team in the NFC West is at the Rams.
The Rams this weekend.
So the Bill's gonna help a brother out this weekend and take care of the Rams, and I think we're looking good.
Here's my question for you.
You mentioned Dan Campbell's aggressiveness.
Does it bite them in the butt again?
Or do you think that the Lions make it to the conference championship game well, even though they were a player or two away from going to the super Bowl.
I know, I know, and you gotta think if you're in the if you're Detroit, I mean, it's Super Bowl or of us, you know, I mean, like they're they're they're pretty high in terms of you know, being a super Bowl contender in ar but uh, you know, you got teams like Philly who's playing as good as they are, and you know there's always that one little wildcard team that ends up.
Being a Cinderella story.
I'm just looking at the rest of the NFC West and looking at the Rams schedule.
DRAMs play the Bills this weekend.
You mentioned that, but they also have they play three division games in the last five.
Same thing with the Cardinals.
They have three division opponents in the last five, but the other two games against the Panthers, which you know, not a very good team.
Uh.
And then they finish up with the New England Patriots. So again, Seahawks in good position. Just got to take care of business.
All right, taking care of business every day. You know that's Song taking care of business.
Something like that.
Every day he's warming up for carryoke.
We gotta carryok, you gotta carry.
Ok burthdays Next Friday, Friday to thirteen. Give it up A Michael Bump is turning the year next Friday.
I will be twenty seven next week.
Again, when we come back, we'll give you our final thoughts.
That's next here on.
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Now Bump does every all. They always stay this late. I mean we've been on air for two hours. We started with about fifteen hundred. The crowd moved a little bit. I mean it's still at least twelve hundred people still here.
Well, they stayed like this.
For Paul, it's because you're here. Honestly, that's why. Wow, Because big plays I.
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So when you guys get upgraded to first class because of your mileage, you just say thanks bad. It's the babdel treatment. Here we go, right here, let's go all right, Well, last segment of the day. You guys have done a great job being involved to participating. We got the lucky young ladies to our right over here who won both of the raffles. I'm gonna have to check you guys for a performance enhancing drugs.
Here soon sounds like we're going to pizza.
We got a check.
We go we're going to Moto and we're going to what was the other one out le Legion. Okay, you guys got dates right here. Okay, all right, man, let's put a ball on this thing. It's time to talk about what to expect from this Arizona Cardinals team. You think they can duplicate the performance that they had a couple of weeks ago. And if they were to duplicate that performance, that means they would hold the Cardinals to forty nine yards rushing. Kyler Murray had nine yards rushing himself, and I believe I just did a podcast with Nasa Troby, our producer, earlier today James Connor had like what eight yards or something like that on the day. It was something crazy. So if they are to do that, is that a guaranteed victory?
Best? Yeah?
I think Connor finished with seven attempts for eight yards, and you know, overall performance in terms of the Seahawks defense, stopping the run was the recipe.
To win that game.
Look, it was a dog fight, only putting up sixteen points, but it was that eight minute drive in the final fourth quarter that put the game away. Eight minutes it ended up leading into a scoring drive a fifty yard field goal from Jason Myers, who's been extraordinary from long distance.
There.
He's a great weapon for the Seahawks in terms of their ability to finish drives with points.
Look if they can hold the Cardinals.
So this kind of performance on the run game, again, that's the recipe to win. Do you do this on the road. It puts you in a position to win. The other thing that stood out to me, I believe was third down. I think the Seahawks win fifty on third down that game. So the ability to extend those drives well in reach and gino, you know, protecting the football is deal.
The offense gotta score some points, man, they gotta score some points. It's been a while since we've seen this offense look like the team we saw for the first what three quarters of the season, to the point where at right now coming into this season, we felt like the offense had to lead the charge. That's exactly what they did during their three game winning streak.
Then you lose a few, you.
Start to figure some things out, and now the defense is caught up. And typically when you start the season, the defense is usually ahead, but in this scenario, the offense was ahead. But then you look back to what Mike McDonald did with the Ravens. It took him seven eight weeks to get that defense going. So it makes sense that this time of year the defense is starting to figure some things out. But JSN has been on a tear. He's had the third most yards in the last three weeks. When it comes to receivers in the NFL, I'm looking for DK. DK still is averaging about fifteen point three yards per reception at his top six or seven in the NFL. I think it's due for him or he's due to have a.
Big game JSN or DK.
Well, look, if you get DK going, we know what he does to the offense in terms of big plays, big plays in the passing game, twenty yards or more. This this they they in most cases lead to points. And this team has really thrived in those moments. Now again, you heard you listen to the press conferences and DK talking about it. It's like, to me, specifically on the road, they gotta they gotta produce some early points, and you gotta produce some early wins in the drive. I mean, it's gonna build confidence in your quarterback, not feeling like you have to go out and force throws, make airing decisions in terms of you know, quantity of brawl protection and and you know what they did. The other thing that they did obviously five sacks that got to the quarterback and held them to six points.
That's that's a winning recipe.
I think the early success, the early wins in Q one, like I mentioned, you gotta go back to I believe Sepetember game against Detroit where they scored a first quarter touchdown on offense. They had a first quarter touch down against the Giants. Well that was a Ray Sewan fumble recovery for.
One hundred and two yards. Dang, that was a long time ago.
Yeah, I know, I know, different team now, right, I mean completely different. So in terms of offense production, particularly on the road, they won time in possession two weeks ago. Again, that's another recipe, part of the ingredients to win.
Man.
So that's three defensive touchdowns for this team this year and two over ninety yards.
You got a ninety two a one o one one o one one o.
Two, and then you got a sixty nine yard by Kobe exposive plays on defense. Man, that's awesome. All right, Can we finally get the run game going. I mean, that's that's the one piece we haven't seen. We've seen the offense look great and horrible. We've seen the defense look great and horrible. We've seen special teams look good and horrible. Now we've seen the run game. That's like all right and and bad. So let's get these guys going a little bit. A lot of people focus on that offensive line, and I think you should, but I think it comes down to K nine giving the run a chance, being a bit more patient, and being okay with with three to four yards. When you play against a RB that's always looking for the cutback, what does that do for a defense?
Yeah, well, I mean sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. I mean generally, and you know this better, A lot of times in the run game, keep it front side, unless it's a design cutback or or it's a specific front by the defense that they're playing, and that could mean that it's over shifted to one side, which you know, could leave advantage to the Seahawks in terms of number of blockers. But you look at, uh, you know K nine's rushing statistics for the season.
He's had one one hundred yard game and that's.
That was game one against against Denver.
You know, since then, at least you know the last you know, two games sixteen carries each, didn't clip fifty yards in any one of those contests, and you know his most successful game, you go back and look at the twenty five that he had against the Rams for over eighty yards.
Again, time of possession is essential.
Running the football obviously creates the open opportunities for play action pass game, but then one when you're doing that too, you also can create the one on one matchups on the outside. And I think if you're unable to establish a run game, you'll see the double teams on DK, You'll see them mixing up coverages on JSN, sometimes confusing the looks for the quarterback.
So again, run game is important.
Does it always have to be one hundred and fifty yard run performance to be successful. I don't think so. But they have to be able to run the football at the right times. And when you're sitting on the goal line inside the five yard line and you have eight attempts to score and none of them lead to a touch of fact that turnover on downs, those kinds of you know, uh, misadvantages or this you know, you know, opportunities, missed opportunities, you know, versus really good football teams playoff. Contending football teams like the Vikings, like Detroit, like Green Bay will come back to bite you.
You gotta be able to punch it in. You gotta be able to get physical when the defense.
Knows you are going to run the football.
You gotta be able to say, so what, let's get after it. So I think that's, uh, that's the next step.
I mean, we asked Charles Cross you know early on the show. You know, Collins played from the one yard line. What did he say, bump?
What did he say?
He say, QB.
I not ready for that. Though, I'm not ready for that.
I don't.
Hey, when they line up in those a gaps, it makes me a big concern.
So, hey, there's one team that doesn't care on short yard is what you think or how many guys you put in the box were gonna toush push this thing across that line? And they've been successful at it. So, I mean, again, a lot of it is will in shortyard situation, but offensive linemen have to feel like the onus is on them in short yard situations to get moving up front.
To get that first down.
All right, let's get physical. Then let's get physical. All right, man, Hey, that's it for us. Man, give it up a babanon. He just made this show first class.
Okay.
I was sitting in business class. I was comfortable, you know, I could cross my legs. But then you get in that first class. Once you go first class, you don't want to go back. Trust me, if you ain't been there, don't do it unless you're ready.
For it to change your life.
All right. Ay.
Special things to Roy Robinson, Harris Man, Big Play Baby a Charles Cross as well for joining the show. Our board operator is Noah rittter rod on site engineers the lovely Brendan Rodgers production assistant it's actually Oaks, and our executive producer is Nasa Troby. The Seahawks pregame show was live this Sunday starting at ten am.
Until next time, this has been Hawk's live
