Josh Allen bullied the Seahawks, who can’t bully back these days

Josh Allen displayed he did not care, something the Seahawks haven’t been able to do much themselves.

There are some problems with the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, the Week 8 loss to the Buffalo Bills revealed (re-revealed really) a host of systemic problems.

But there was also a revelation I wasn’t expecting.

Josh Allen walked in to Lumen Field and bullied the Seahawks. And it made me curious: besides DK Metcalf, already highlighted here, does Seattle have another bully on its roster? I think there are one and a half, but by and large the team can’t exercise this mentality all that much right now.

Before we get to that, look at the audacity of this man.

1st-and-goal from the Seattle 5, Josh Allen threw a simple out to the left side to Keon Coleman. Riq Woolen ran with him, got his arm in position to attack the ball and Coleman’s arm and fully broke up the play.

‘Twas beautiful. Brought the first audible whoop of the game.

Not two plays later, this reckless lunatic throws a nearly identical ball to the right side, which Coleman completes by going up and over Woolen for the TD.

There are almost a dozen more clips we could add, but that’s unnecessary and potentially health-hazardous at this point.

But it is uncomfortable. Seattle’s got no teeth.

Before we continue, this is not a comparison between what Allen can do and Geno Smith can do. For the record, I believe and appreciate that Geno Smith makes some of the gutsiest throws in the NFL. This has nothing to do with self-confidence, a necessary quarterback trait.

This game really revealed that for the third, probably fourth time this season, the ‘Hawks just can’t punch back.

I have a theory here, one which unfortunately is wholly unprovable. We’re looking at a young team, with a new head coach, new offensive coordinator, 90% new coaches in general, and some risks taken that simply didn’t pan out. Thinking largely linebacker and offensive guard here.

Mike Macdonald is smart. This much the players have raved since he arrived, and all throughout summer. He’s a genius who’s decidedly not like Dan Campbell. This team is hyper-focused on the details, on the “process”, on X’s and O’s, and other fundamental conversations.

What they haven’t really been able to do yet with all this learning, is get mean. Cocky. Confident even sounds nice right now.

Question one for Macdonald’s Seahawks then becomes: Can they get there? I think you have to answer a resounding yes. The Baltimore Ravens did it, as did Michigan, as did seemingly every team he worked with. That’s why he’s here.

But question two becomes: Can they get there this season? If you had to ask me today, I’d say no.

Oh right, I said one and a half at the top. I think Zach Charbonnet plays like a bully, I just wish he was a little faster to go with it. He’s the half. There’s not a single offensive player on the roster - as they’ve exhibited this year - that actually intimidates opponents, outside Metcalf. Kenneth Walker’s amazing but he’s not gonna chew anyone out. The only other player I’d put forth at this moment is Jarran Reed, and unfortunately he’s 31 years old. He’s played incredibly well this season and doesn’t get pushed around ever, and we saw the leadership he displayed when he went after Derick Hall for the late hit on Allen.

I assumed it would have been Devon Witherspoon by now, but he’s too busy getting flagged to be as brazen as the team needs him to be.

Agai, all of these don’t serve to make the point I fear some fans believe it makes. This team is not hopeless, and this team is not without bullies. They just simply cannot bully right now.

I have high hopes for a fun team and an especially fun defense. I am losing hope we’ll see it this season.