The Seahawks are in Dallas this week for a Thursday night showdown with the Cowboys, but before that game kicks off, it's time once again to open up the mailbag and answer some questions from you, the fans. As always, thanks to everyone who asked questions this week, and apologies if I couldn't get to yours this time around. And remember, the mailbag is always open for submissions at Seahawks.com/mailbag.
Von from Saint Anthony, Idaho asks, "Geno Smith seems to be holding the ball a little long."
A: OK, that's more of a statement than a question, but it's a relevant point this week, nonetheless. After getting sacked six times last week, Geno Smith and the Seahawks are facing another very dangerous pass rush against the Cowboys, and while the hope is always that the offensive line can hold up well, Smith knows it's also on him to make sure the ball is coming out quickly to help make things easier for the O-line.
"I probably have been holding the ball a little bit too long to try to see guys open, instead of what I normally do, is to throw them open," Smith said. "Just trusting the guys, trusting myself, believing in what we're doing and just getting the ball and making sure that I'm throwing it pretty accurately so the guys can make catches and make great plays because they're great players."
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll noted that the passing game needs to be more in sync, and like his quarterback, believes more quick passes could help get that accomplished.
"His accuracy is pretty much on,' Carroll said. "He throws the ball where he wants the ball to go for the most part. We have to get open, we have to use the concepts right. There are always things he can do better. It's just reading more quickly and get the ball out more readily so we can avoid the rush. Of all of the things in particular like this week, we need to get the ball out. The ball has got to get out of his hands so that we don't give the rusher a chance. If there's anything in particular, that's what I'm hoping Geno can find his keys, his reads, and get the ball out ahead of the rush. That's easier said than done."
@DanCohen17 asks, "Inclusive of the now-retired wolf grey jerseys, rank your favourite Seahawks uniform combos!"
A: Yes, favourite with a U, because Dan is a Brit. Anyway, Dan also included his ranking, led by action green first and throwback second. Then after many other combinations, he has white jerseys with grey pants last.
I like this question, A. because uniform debates are always fun, and B. because it's a good reminder of how wildly different the opinions are on action green, which I find enjoyable. While Dan loves them, calling them the best uniforms in the NFL, plenty of other fans can't stand them, including Toni from Espanola, New Mexico, who wrote in to express her distain for the "Green alien frog suits" that she believes must "destroy team morale."
Anyway, if I had to rank them, including the now-retired wolf grey (and I'm only ranking combinations they've actually worn, so this list won't include, say, blue jerseys with action green pants), I'm going to go with the following, with the caveat that I might change my mind before this is published:
90s-era throwbacks
White jersey, blue pants (aka, the Super Bowl XLVIII look)
Blue jersey, grey pants
Grey jersey, blue pants
White jersey, white pants
Blue jersey, blue pants
Action green jersey, blue pants
All action green
All wolf grey
White jersey, grey pants
@NorCalMickey asks, "What happened to the run-first offense?"
A: First, let's clear up a misconception about Carroll that has pretty much never gone away—he has never said he wants his team's to have a run-first offense, and with a few exceptions over the years, the Seahawks have not been run-first when it comes to their play-calling. What Carroll wants is balance, not in a sense of calling a set number of running plays vs. passing plays, but rather meaning that he has an offense capable of running the ball when a game or situation calls for it, and throwing the ball when that is called for.
All of that being said, Carroll and everyone else involved agrees the Seahawks can and should be running the ball more than they have been of late, something that would also help the passing game.
"I don't feel that as much as I would like to," Carroll said when asked about the offense's current identity. "I would like to feel that the mix was good we're and back to the play-passes that have been so effective for us and that is a factor to that it accents the running game. It gives us a nice feel to it. We've got to get back."
Part of the issue with the running game has been the lack of success overall on offense, particularly on third down, resulting in fewer drives and offensive plays to get the running game on track.
"I think you read into it in the games that we haven't had the 1st and 2nd down success has really led to our rushing game being low totals, whether you talk about the different games that we've struggled offensively, we haven't gotten enough plays off," said offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. "We haven't been efficient enough like the first half in that San Francisco game especially where we're getting into three-and-out mode right there, so you just don't have enough carries and then you end up in a two-minute mode, so we're not where we want to be right there with the run totals due to some of the other circumstances that we need to keep working on and keep improving."
The Seahawks don't need to get to being a run-first team on offense, because that is never the goal, but what they would like to see happen is the offense getting back to being more balanced, using the running game to help set up an explosive passing game.
Check out the custom-designed cleats for this years My Cause My Cleat. Some players will wear their cleats during the Week 13 Thursday Night game at Dallas.
Drew Lock is supporting Mission Outdoors for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Michael Dickson is supporting FSHD Global for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Geno Smith is supporting 7 Sunday Heroes Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Coby Bryant is supporting Footprints of Fight for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Coby Bryant is supporting Footprints of Fight for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Kenneth Walker III is supporting NAMI & Honoring Friend Devin for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Kenneth Walker III is supporting NAMI & Honoring Friend Devin for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Uchenna Nwosu is supporting Uchenna Nwosu Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is supporting Little Warrior Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
DK Metcalf is supporting Prison Fellowship for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
DK Metcalf is supporting Prison Fellowship for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jake Bobo is supporting Team Georgie Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Tre Brown is supporting Nick of Time Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Kenny McIntosh is supporting Seattle Children's Autsim Center for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Zach Charbonnet is supporting Williams Syndrome Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Zach Charbonnet is supporting Williams Syndrome Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Michael Jackson is supporting The Race Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Deejay Dallas is supporting The Deejay Dallas Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jerrick Reed II is supporting Tomorrow Needs You Scholarship Fund for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jerrick Reed II is supporting Tomorrow Needs You Scholarship Fund for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Christopher Stoll is supporting Uplifting Athletes for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Nick Bellore is supporting David Warsen Legacy for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Nick Bellore is supporting David Warsen Legacy for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Darrell Taylor is supporting Pink Lemonade Project for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner is supporting FAST54 for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner is supporting FAST54 for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Dre'mont Jones is supporting American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Ohio for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Derick Hall is supporting Derick Hall 1% Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Derick Hall is supporting Derick Hall 1% Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jon Rhattigan is supporting Mission 22 for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Phil Haynes is supporting Haven Hills Foster Care Community for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Phil Haynes is supporting Haven Hills Foster Care Community for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
McClendon Curtis is supporting YMCA Y-Cap for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
McClendon Curtis is supporting YMCA Y-Cap for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Charles Cross is supporting NAMI - Mississippi for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Charles Cross is supporting NAMI - Mississippi for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Abraham Lucas is supporting Society of St Vincent DePaul for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jake Curhan is supporting Camp Young Judaea for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Jake Curhan is supporting Camp Young Judaea for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Raiqwon O'Neal is supporting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center & Stephanie's Lifeline H.O.P.E for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Raiqwon O'Neal is supporting Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center & Stephanie's Lifeline H.O.P.E for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Dareke Young is supporting The Lupus Foundation of America for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Dareke Young is supporting The Lupus Foundation of America for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Colby Parkinson is supporting Children's Hunger Fund & Northwest Parkinson's Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Colby Parkinson is supporting Children's Hunger Fund & Northwest Parkinson's Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Will Dissly is supporting Seattle Humane Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Tyreke Smith is supporting Jed Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Myles Adams is supporting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Myles Adams is supporting Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Blitz is supporting Kicks4Kids for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Blitz is supporting Kicks4Kids for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
The Seahawks Dancers are supporting Broadview Domestic Violence Shelter for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Pete Carroll is supporting Midnight Basketball Program for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Pete Carroll is supporting Midnight Basketball Program for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
John Schneider is supporting Ben's Fund for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Cliff Avril, Doug Baldwin & Michael Bennett are supporting Champions of Change for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Shane Waldron is supporting Angelman Syndrome Foundation for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Walter Jones is supporting American Cancer Society for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Neiko Thorpe is supporting Alhzeimer's Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Neiko Thorpe is supporting Alhzeimer's Association for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Sanjay Lal is supporting OHIO SPCA for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Mario Bailey is supporting Parents of Murdered Children for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
Mario Bailey is supporting Parents of Murdered Children for 2023 My Cause My Cleats during Week 13 vs. the Cowboys.
