Badgering: To harass or pester persistently. n : the act of harassing someone. The term badgering comes from an old method of hunting the animals called badgers, who are notoriously dangerous. Back in the day, people used to breed dogs (such as my wife's two Bassett Hounds), specifically for the purpose of "badgering".
The "sport" of badgering was popular because of the intrinsic risk involved. Firstly, as anyone who has ever seen a badger up close can tell you, Badgers are extremely nasty, violent creatures, whose fighting prowess and sheer violence are perhaps only rivaled by their cousin the Wolverine. Though Badgers typically only wiegh at most about 30-40 lbs. what they lack in size, they more than make up for in sheer ferocity and hate. At home, inside it's den, the badger has every advantage, it can use every ounce of its weight and every natural weapon at its disposal to defend itself, giving it a decided advantage in most fights.
It is often said that an animal, especially one which is wounded, is most dangerous when backed into a corner.
I say all of that because this is exactly how I envision this upcoming game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
To win this game, the Seahawks will have to enter the badgers den, and destroy that dangerous team on its own home turf where it is most dangerous; this could be painful.
Yes it's true that right now the Eagles are a beat up team, having lost their starting QB and several other key starters including T.O. Yes it's true that right now the Eagles are constantly being "badgered" by the media, and have no end of off the field distractions to contend with. Yes it's true that the Eagles defense, which last year was among the NFL's elite is now ranked 25th only one place higher than Seattle's, and has given up points and rushing yards that in the past three seasons it would not have. Yes it's true that right now, man for man, the Seahawks are simply the more talented of the two teams.
But the Eagles are at home, injured, with their backs up against the wall and playing for nothing but pride, with nothing to lose.
Frankly, I am more than just a little bit worried; pulling this badger out of its den will not be easy.
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Monkey - hope you don't mind, but I added some paragraph breaks to your lead in post, which makes it a little easier to read on line.
ReplyDeleteI agree whole heartedly that while the Seahawks SHOULD win this game, it's by no means a cakewalk.
I also agree that if they are patient with the run and don't have any more foolish turnovers (like the panic pass against the Giants) Shaun will have a big day in a spotlight game.
And another reason why I think Shaun will excel is that now WALTER JONES has to prove to the world that he is indeed invincible.
Most of Philly's lost resources are on offense (McNabb, #81, Pinkston) so they'll be bringing a A-list defense. The last thing WJ wants is to be embarrassed again on National TV. I think he'll kill someone before he let's them sack the QB again!
This is also a similar setup to the SF game, where they're having a very sentimental ceremony at halftime that directly involved Holms.
He was VERY upset not to be able to go to Reggie's funeral, due to our playoff game schedule, and it's probably no small part of why we lost.
Hopefully he doesn't get all mushy and teary eyed at half time and forget to coach again in the second half, like what happened in SF.
That all being said, I think Holms is FIRED UP. Did you see him on the GOW? He was coaching and hollering and working the officials and spitting nails.
I loved him yelling "TOO MUCH TIME, TOO MUCH TIME" at his D-line coach as Eli was getting time for a manicure in the pocket.
So what I'm saying is this. Last year, in these circumstance, this would be a horrible gut wrenching loss.
This year, it will be a win, and I think it's the break out game we've been waiting for in all 3 aspects of the game.
Posted by alba
I never mind you touching up my posts alba, you know this man!
ReplyDeleteCitK I believe I believe!
I can't say I'm confident as you folks about this game. The badger analogy is perfect. PHI is a wounded, vicious animal that, unlike the lambs, won't turn on itself. I think it's a coin toss, but I hadn't thought about the SA on MNF angle...hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteI agree SA running big is the offensive key, but I see it differently. They're gonna stack the box and muscule the receivers. I think the Hawks should have a quick hit pass on every play and keep running it until someone backs out of the box. Then just bounce between quick hits and SA. Have SA get 150 on 40 caries.
Defensively I think the Hawks should play all game in man and drop MB into the box. Totaly sell out to the run and make McMahon beat us in the air. I don't think he and the receiver can.
SA on MNF...hmmmmm...Ok you've convinced me. The Hawks are gonna win going away. SA will have 178 on 30 carries and 3 TDs.
Posted by bokonon
Grab the Kool-Aid and enjoy the game.
ReplyDeleteThe PhEagles are a better team than the AnorTexans, but I think the Seahawks are going to have another COMPLETE game on MNF.
Matt will use JJ and Stevens to loosen up the PhEagles run D and then that team from Seattle (that I'm not part of) will pound Shaun down their throats.
This is also the game where the team from the PacNW's D-Backs stiffen up and actually catch some interceptions, as McMahon is fantically trying to get his team back into the game.
And I'm calling for either Josh Scobey or Jimmy Williams to have a score on a run back.
Posted by alba
The Badger analogy is perfect, like Bok said...
ReplyDeleteFor the record, Sheldon Brown is overrated and so was his counterpart, the even more overrated Lito Sheppard...and I strongly feel neither deserved the pro bowl last year, especially at Ken Lucas' expense...
MonKEY #2 and #3 are the big ones...these are two things Seattle did not do properly last week, or the week before...as a result, we barely escaped
Also, I want to see more blitzing...in the Giants game, there was rarely any blitzers, and only one if there was any...I want to see some ROOKIE AMBUSHES
Eagles are dangerous, but I feel SF was more of a trap game...SF had nothing to lose, got their shot at their unrivaled division leader, play spoiler, young guys who don't want to lose no matter the circumstances, on the road, underrated team...Philly however is wounded, but they still have playoff hopes...which means pressure
If Seattle loses this game, I will start to believe in that 'Seattle can't win on the east coast' theory...and honestly, I don't believe it, and im confident the Seahawks will win...BUT it will not be a cakewalk...granted, we should kill them, im not selling them lightly...I have said this about every opponent each week since I was cocky about Washington's game
Posted by adp
I'll say it again the analogy is really good but i'm not worried about Philly that much. I think if our offense can play decent we will win. I think the defense will be able to hold their own.
ReplyDeleteI think that the thing the hawks miss the most is D-Jak. It seems to me that Matt is holding the ball too long cause recievers can't get open. With Jackson in their it was a three step drop pass, a completion for 6+ yard then line up again it was a thing of beauty. I love JJ and the gang but they aren't as quick as Jackson and don't have the same chemistry with Hasselbeck.
I hope Holmy isn't trying to delay Jacksons return, cause once he was talkin about how in 99 they were rollin and Galloway came back and messed up the offensive rythm and chemistry. Jackson isn't like that cause he knows the rythm and chemistry unlike Galloway who was never coached by Holmgren up to that point and wasn't good with the offense.
Posted by o-meezy
With Shaun's history in national games he should be hyped to run all over the Eagles. The main focus on D should be to not let Westbrook get into a groove. Make McMahon beat us. He is a decent QB, but if pressured I think he has a tendency to try to force plays. I haven’t seen him too much, I know he had a few starts with Detroit, but never seemed to do well enough to keep the starting job.
ReplyDeleteIf the offense can get up by a couple scores early and force the Eagles to throw they should be able to contain this offense. Another focus should be to watch the screen passes and 5 yard crossing patters that always seem to kill us on 3rd and long.
If we let this team stick around and keep the crowd in it, that’s when mediocre teams seem to make plays, especially against this defense.
Bury them early and make John Madden talk about stupid stuff to make things interesting in garbage time.
Although this game has me worried (since the Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives) I'm heartened by two things.
ReplyDelete1. The Eagle offensive line is bad to horrendous. Our defense should be able to stifle Philly's running attack while containing its receivers (watch out for McMahon as a runner; he's McNabb-lite) -- if Bryce Fisher is healthy. Though I am worried a bit by L.J. Smith I think the Eagles will stuggle to score more than 20 offensive points.
2. The Eagle defense has struggled against the better offensive lines. KC ran all over them (before blowing it in the second half), Denver demolished them, Washington moved the ball, as did Atlanta. Consequently, the Eagles are committed to gambling on defense leaving them open to the big play. If we stay patient the plays will be there.
Posted by dave
I honestly think we will win big. Get back to scoring 30+ points
ReplyDelete