Seahawks reporter has concerning things to say about Shane Waldron on Hoge & Jahns

[Toast88]

I'll reserve my judgment until we get a good sample size here, but I'll be honest---This doesn't make me feel good.

The Athletic's Seahawks reporter Mike Dugar was on Hoge & Jahns this week to give some insight into Shane Waldron, and...uh...it wasn't good. Hoge likened it to when the Bears traded for Chase Claypool and everyone was excited and then the Steelers beat reporter told them, "Uh, hold on a sec."

It wasn't all bad, but here were the main points. (Again, these are the reporter's points, not mine):

-Waldron is really good on the first 15 scripted plays and is pretty good on early downs.
-Absolutely atrocious in situational football---3rd downs, red zone, etc. This was a constant major criticism during Waldron's time in Seattle.
-The reporter says he believes Waldron actually held back Geno Smith; he didn't elevate him.
-Pete Carroll recently called out Waldron for not maximizing talented players and utilizing them correctly. (Case in point, being too cute and putting the ball in journeymen's hands in crucial situations as a way to outwit the defense, which didn't work.)
-Just terrible in press conferences. (I personally don't care about this, but I know reporters care because they think they have god-given rights to every piece of access.)
-The reporter predicted it won't take long for Bears fans to get extremely frustrated with him, his playcalling, and his inability to adjust as the game goes on.
-The reporter believes this hire doesn't really tip the Bears' hand either way on the QB decision, but if it leans one way or the other, it might not be a Fields hire, because Shane Waldron's entire system is built on quick decisions and getting the ball out quickly.

Hoge & Jahns seemed absolutely stunned. I don't think they were expecting this. They ended the podcast immediately afterward and didn't talk much about it, lol.

A lot of things could be true. This could all be true, but Waldron learns and grows. This could all be overblown by a reporter with a grudge. This could all be true and Waldron sucks. We really don't truly know. So I'm not going to indict the guy, but this does give me pause.

 

[bamainatlanta]

Concerning stuff for sure but Geno is Geno. There is no “elevating” him. He’s trash and Seattle fans are delusional if they believe any coordinator is going to make him legit.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Great OC candidates aren't available ever. They are generally interviewing for HC positions. Waldron is kind of middle of the pack snd has apparently struggled on 3rd down and red zone. I'd guess if you look across the league that the top 3rd down and red zone teams probably have great qbs. I think OCs success is wildly dependent on their qb being good.

 

[ijustposthere]

So if all this is true, look to the Bears drafting Williams and then cleaning house next year like they always do

 

[Les Grossman]

He was kind of a consensus top candidate at OC only made available bc Carroll stepped down/got fired.

Everything else will be judged on the field.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Concerning stuff for sure but Geno is Geno. There is no “elevating” him. He’s trash and Seattle fans are delusional if they believe any coordinator is going to make him legit.

Yeah the Seattle reporter seemed to think geno has always had "it" but was just immature early in his career. I think Waldron has issues, but I think that reporter is a little delusional

 

[Rise]

I’ll just say this, what’ makes the new Titans HC better than Waldron? Because of a few games of Brown? Did he make national champion Joe Burrow good? This shits all a joke I really can’t stand sports media anymore as I learn more about the game.

 

[Bear_Assed]

Do we know how many other teams Waldron interviewed with besides bears?

Also, did those other teams also name a parking garage after him?

 

[thenewguy]

Listened to the interview. Raises some concern, but the Seattle writer was all over the place. He gave no credit to Waldron or offensive staff for Geno Smith's revival. He said it was about 70% Geno and his self confidence and the rest to Pete Carroll. That was a really weird assessment. He also said the oline was trash this year and they almost never had a regular starting 5. They all said there was a big disconnect in fans and writers about Waldron, compared to how highly viewed he is by football people.

 

[ijustposthere]

I’ll just say this, what’ makes the new Titans HC better than Waldron? Because of a few games of Brown? Did he make national champion Joe Burrow good? This shits all a joke I really can’t stand sports media anymore as I learn more about the game.

Probably because Jake Browning stepped in for Burrow and looked pretty good

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

Do we know how many other teams Waldron interviewed with besides bears?

Also, did those other teams also name a parking garage after him?

Reportedly New Orleans offered him a job.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Reportedly New Orleans offered him a job.

And reportedly LV was interested in him

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

I hope he's wrong.

It does happen.


Anyone remember when Lovie backed up the brinks truck for Julius Peppers?

We had Carolina fans calling him lazy, and had their beat guys on our radio station saying he was just going to mail it in, not a team player, and just bascially badmouthing the dude.

Then when he finally suited up, Peppers was all-freaking-world for us.

So who knows? This guy could be the second coming of Getsy, or it could be Seattle is just filled with a bunch of fucking weirdos (which is also true).

 

[thenewguy]

And reportedly LV was interested in him

Vegas did want him. Saw an article yesterday Vegas is interested in Getsy now. The Raiders writer suggested they get Getsy so they can trade for Fields. This is a reminder of how lazy and bad many sports writers are today, as it's likely they would only talk to Getsy to get his take on Fields.

 

[Bears Backer 54]

I'm reserving judgment until we see the product on the field and player development. If Waldron is as poor as this reporter claims, it will be the final strike against Poles and Flus and they are ran out of town with him next offseason. You have to let Poles make his plays right now like he did with retaining Flus and hiring Waldron. He has tied his career future to how these coaches perform and how he plays this offseason with personnel moves. Come 2025, Poles will have all the evidence needed to either know he is the right person to keep building the organization or Warren will get his first chance to clean house completely.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

I hope he's wrong.

It does happen.


Anyone remember when Lovie backed up the brinks truck for Julius Peppers?

We had Carolina fans calling him lazy, and had their beat guys on our radio station saying he was just going to mail it in, not a team player, and just bascially badmouthing the dude.

Then when he finally suited up, Peppers was all-freaking-world for us.

So who knows? This guy could be the second coming of Getsy, or it could be Seattle is just filled with a bunch of fucking weirdos (which is also true).

what?

 

[Neckbeard]

Yeah the Seattle reporter seemed to think geno has always had "it" but was just immature early in his career. I think Waldron has issues, but I think that reporter is a little delusional

Is that guy an actual reporter? Thought it was a show host from one of their sports radio stations. Picture someone as astute and intelligent as Mike North. =)

 

[clenbuterol_clint]

this sounded like if another team's podcasters had @DanielCCSBears on to explain luke getsy to them

 

[dennehy]

Generally the choice is to go with someone who has no play calling experience or someone who was an OC and was then fired. Because great OCs don't leave unless for HC positions. Occasionaly uou can get a guy who was fired from a HC position like Reich.

You're rarely going to get an elite candidate - Fangio is really the only previously elite coordinator the Bears landed, and it happens much more on the DC side because those guys tend to be career DCs more often (Jim Johnson and the old PIT DC come to mind).

This guy is certainly not perfect, but he was also working with a QB who never did anything good before him and a questionable OL. We'll see. Always tough to predict how OC will mesh.

 

[inchibearfan]

-Pete Carroll recently called out Waldron for not maximizing talented players and utilizing them correctly. (Case in point, being too cute and putting the ball in journeymen's hands in crucial situations as a way to outwit the defense, which didn't work.)

This tells me that did not have as much talent at QB as he needed to run his offense. Putting the ball in your QB's hands and expecting him to throw it for a first down is what should be expected--except he was limited by Geno Smith as his QB.