| Jeff Risdon. 16th August, 2007 - 3:36 pm
 Last season: 9-7, won NFC West, lost in NFC Divisional Round
Coming: DE Patrick Kerney, S Brian Russell, S Deon Grant, TE Marcus Pollard
Going: S Ken Hamlin, C Robbie Tobeck, TE Jerramy Stevens, DE Grant Wistrom, WR Darrell Jackson, CB Kelly Herndon
Key Rookies: CB Josh Wilson, DT Brandon Mebane
What I like: RB Shaun Alexander is back at 100% and is a great fit in the offense. He put up one of the greatest seasons in NFL history in 2005 and is fully capable of netting 1800+ combined yards and 15+ TDs this season. QB Matt Hasselbeck is also healthy once again and looking to bounce back from an up-and-down campaign. He’s strong in the pocket, elusive enough to buy time downfield, and brings a strong field general mentality to the team. The WR position is deep, experienced, and talented. Losing Darrell Jackson might actually be addition by subtraction, as his untimely drops stymied many a drive. D.J. Hackett has the skills, speed and size compensate, and both Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are more than capable in their roles in the West Coast offense. The OL still features future Hall of Famer Walter Jones and emerging talent Chris Spencer at C. Jones is the best blindside pass protector in the game, while the rest of the line excels at run blocking and sustaining holes for Alexander to exploit. The Seahawks proved they have decent depth at the skill positions last season. The coaching staff and schemes have been in place for several successful seasons, and nothing breeds success like continuity, particularly in the NFC West, still one of the weakest divisions in the NFL.
I like how the Seahawks addressed their biggest weakness in 2006, the secondary. Newcomers Brian Russell and Deon Grant are much steadier, more reliable safeties than Michael Boulware and the departed Ken Hamlin. They probably won’t make as many big plays, but they’ll significantly reduce the number of big plays given up, and that’s a good tradeoff. You might recall the Seahawks bringing healthy bodies off the street to play DB in the playoffs; the injury bug can’t possibly hit that hard again, plus the depth is better, if a little untested. The ability to rush the passer form multiple angles is a huge asset. New DE Patrick Kerney mitigates the retirement of Grant Wistrom, and DE Darryl Tapp and OLBs Julian Peterson and Leroy Hill are among the fastest players at their positions and know how to get to the QB. Their DL rotation is a huge, versatile strength with great depth and a coaching staff that understands how to best utilize them. Not many teams use the “Franchise Player” tag on their kicker, but the Seahawks justifiably did so with Josh Brown, who hit 4 last-minute game-winners in 2006. The Seahawks enjoy perhaps the greatest home-field advantage in the NFL.
What I dislike: There’s really only one big concern I have with the Seahawks, but unfortunately for them it’s a very important one: the offensive line. Walter Jones is still a great LT, but he’s past his prime and didn’t show the nastiness last season that made him special. The situation at G is a bigger issue. Rob Sims played reasonably well at LG as a rookie, but his ceiling is pretty low. The other G position will be manned by perennially out-of-shape Pork Chop Womack and stiff-as-a-board Chris Gray. C Chris Spencer is athletic, but he’s quite vulnerable to bull rushes and also missed more line calls than the coaches (or Hasselbeck) can handle.
The CBs, particularly Marcus Trufant, need to step up the tenacity and consistency in order to cut down on long drives. Rookie Josh Wilson should help, but overall the Seahawks have a below-average corps of corners. The potential is there for improvement, however. Adding three new starters to the secondary (the new safeties, plus ’06 rookie Kelly Jennings) was a necessary evil, but it also means the cohesion and communication level are subject to dangerous lapses.
Best case: It’s real simple with the Seahawks--if everyone plays to their potential and the injuries are manageable, this team is still one of the best in the league and a legit Super Bowl threat. A good barometer for their end-of-season outcome will be after their bye week; after a trap game @CLE, they get SF, CHI, @STL, and @PHI. If they win 4 of those 5, that will almost certainly wrap up the NFC West and put Seattle squarely in the driver’s seat as the favorite in the NFC.
Worst case: The OL struggles to find an identity and Walter Jones starts showing his age; Alexander can’t come close to replicating his magical 2005; the secondary continues to have issues in coverage; PK Josh Brown slumps; a slow start to their Sept, schedule (TB, @ARI, CIN, @SF) forces the Seahawks to play catch-up all season, needing help to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Barring some key injuries, this is still far and away the most complete team in the NFC West. Seattle has a very legit chance to win multiple playoff games and get back to the Super Bowl. I’m not buying the rise of their rivals or the downfall of a team with as much top-shelf talent as this one. 10-6 and another NFC West title, led by an attacking defense the return to greatness of the Alexander/Hasselbeck combo. |
