Last Year:
?We want the ball, and we?re going to score,? famous last words of a Seahawk. As the Seattle returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, they tried to channel their seething resentment for an earlier loss to Green Bay into a win but Mike Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck stumbled once again at their old stomping ground. Nonetheless, with an 8-0 home record and a taste of playoff bitters, this is the year for Seattle to make a sweet run.
What we Learned from Last Year:
In the 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle a recently-widowed man's son calls a radio talk show in an attempt to find his father a partner but the Seahawks weren?t looking for that type of love because after years of blind faith Matt Hasselbeck finally reciprocated.
After a dormant year in 2002 when the Seahawks finished with a 7-9 record, fans in 2003 were left sleepless in anticipation of what their contending team would do the next week.
The first two weeks left the ?hawks opponents in a daze as they were outscored 65-10 but those two wins were not nearly as important as Seattle?s 24-23 win over the division champion St. Louis. That triumph was a defining moment for their 2003 season.
From there, Seattle was taken seriously ? at home anyways. They charged to an unblemished 8-0 record at the newly named Qwest field but stumbled to 2-6 on the road. Apart from a blowout in Green Bay (their first go around) and Minnesota this team was still very competitive on the road, losing by an average of only 4.5 points per game in the other four losses.
None stung more than the defeat in Baltimore where Seattle boasted a 41-24 lead with just more than 14 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Then, thanks to a refereeing mea culpa, the Ravens kicked a game-tying field goal and went on to win in overtime.
That loss proved critical because Seattle would have overtaken St. Louis for the division lead, and considering how onerous it was to win on the road, a home game in the playoffs would have been appreciated.
It was truly a growing year for everyone on offense as numerous players set career highs.
Matt Hasselbeck: Completions, yards, yards-per-attempt, touchdowns, and QB rating.
Shaun Alexander: Attempts, yards, and first downs.
Darrell Jackson: Receptions, yards, catch average, and touchdowns.
Itula Mili: Receptions and touchdowns.
The whole core on offense is returned this year, but more importantly they are still young. Hopefully this is not a pinnacle of what they can do, rather just a stepping stone in another rising year.
The defense was left behind a little, but they are still in the process of development. Upped from the 29th rank in 2002 all the way to the 19th rank, there are still deficiencies that hold this squad back. The team?s third down percentage was third worst in the NFL indicating the inconsistencies in the secondary. That is to be expected when two of the starters, Marcus Trufant and Ken Hamlin are rookies, but regardless of age, Ray Rhodes has this group headed in the right direction.
What Has Changed?:
This year version of the Seattle?s finest is reminiscent of a 3-loss college football team who returns most of its starters the next season.
With the re-signing of Darrell Jackson, the offense should look virtually the same with Shaun Alexander, Mack Strong, Koren Robinson, Bobby Engram and Itula Mili all returning from last season. The offensive line allowed an embarrassing amount of sacks last year (42) and tackle Walter Jones holding out once again does not help matters. Maybe new line coach Bill Laveroni has some answers.
The arguing point about the Seahawks is: Did they peak last year, or is the final product still in the manufacturing process?
Judging how young a number of the players are - particularly on the defensive side of the ball - it?s obvious that growth is still to be expected.
On offense if the Seahawks can muster up some protection for Hasselbeck the scoring may be even more consistent 7th best 25.2 points per game they are already getting. Mike Holmgren has re-emerged as one of the top offensive minds in the NFL after flying under the radar for a couple of seasons but he has mastered an impeccable offense. Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram are not overpowering receivers, but the scheme is devised to let them catch the ball, and work with their speed. Itula Mili and Jerramy Stephens generally soften up the center of the field while Shaun Alexander delivers the knock out punch. It?s a difficult attack to stop, especially since focusing on one specific weapon will free up somebody else.
On defense, Ray Rhodes will have his work cut out for himself once again. Gone are veterans John Randle, Randall Godfrey, Reggie Tongue, and Norman Hand, but a young rotation that is willing to be coached is ready to step.
The defensive line added blue collar veteran Grant Wistrom as the starting right end this off-season, but the company as a whole lacks one dominant presence. Cedric Woodard, Rashad Moore, and Chike Okeafor are constructed on hustle, but none threaten to rack up more than 12 sacks. Once this team makes the playoffs, blitzes will be needed to pressure quarterbacks.
The linebacking corps, though a superior alliance, can not seem to stay healthy together for a full season. Whether it?s Anthony Simmons, to Isaiah Kacyvenski, to Orlando Huff, now to Chad Brown who will likely miss a few weeks off the top of the coming season, they can?t seem to stay together.
The 27th pass defense is really what will make or break this team at the end of the season and even though the defensive backs are very young, the sky?s the limit for these guys. Ken Lucas and Bobby Taylor will battle back and forth throughout the season for a starting spot, and if Lucas can overtake Taylor, that will show a positive sign in his development. Marcus Trufant and Ken Hamlin, both rookies last year, did flash Pro Bowl potential at times, and hopefully there?s no sophomore slump in year two. The Seahawks gambled with the 53rd pick in this year?s NFL draft selecting Florida State linebacker Michael Boulware who will be converted to strong safety. His speed will improve the position but the team will have to live with his mistakes.
With a little home-field advantage, this is not a team I?m interested to meet in the playoffs.
O/U 9.5:
There is no doubt about it anymore, Seattle is now the class of the NFC West. Arizona and San Francisco are not a threat to win the division this year, while Mike Martz will continue to ignore his running game regardless of his deteriorating offensive line. Seattle could sweep this division. Apart from those pretenders, the ?Hawks play: @NO, @TB, @NE, CAR, MIA, BUF, DAL, @MIN, @NYJ, and ATL.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Contract years are always an incentive for athletes to give that extra effort, but after signing the big deal and the money is guaranteed the same players give it the ?ol college try. Shaun Alexander is in the last year of his paperwork, and although he is not a sleeper, expect him to go over 1500 yards, and come close to 20 touchdowns. Meanwhile Darrell Jackson just inked a big agreement, so don?t be surprised for Koren Robinson to tally the tantalizing numbers.
?We want the ball, and we?re going to score,? famous last words of a Seahawk. As the Seattle returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, they tried to channel their seething resentment for an earlier loss to Green Bay into a win but Mike Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck stumbled once again at their old stomping ground. Nonetheless, with an 8-0 home record and a taste of playoff bitters, this is the year for Seattle to make a sweet run.
What we Learned from Last Year:
In the 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle a recently-widowed man's son calls a radio talk show in an attempt to find his father a partner but the Seahawks weren?t looking for that type of love because after years of blind faith Matt Hasselbeck finally reciprocated.
After a dormant year in 2002 when the Seahawks finished with a 7-9 record, fans in 2003 were left sleepless in anticipation of what their contending team would do the next week.
The first two weeks left the ?hawks opponents in a daze as they were outscored 65-10 but those two wins were not nearly as important as Seattle?s 24-23 win over the division champion St. Louis. That triumph was a defining moment for their 2003 season.
From there, Seattle was taken seriously ? at home anyways. They charged to an unblemished 8-0 record at the newly named Qwest field but stumbled to 2-6 on the road. Apart from a blowout in Green Bay (their first go around) and Minnesota this team was still very competitive on the road, losing by an average of only 4.5 points per game in the other four losses.
None stung more than the defeat in Baltimore where Seattle boasted a 41-24 lead with just more than 14 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Then, thanks to a refereeing mea culpa, the Ravens kicked a game-tying field goal and went on to win in overtime.
That loss proved critical because Seattle would have overtaken St. Louis for the division lead, and considering how onerous it was to win on the road, a home game in the playoffs would have been appreciated.
It was truly a growing year for everyone on offense as numerous players set career highs.
Matt Hasselbeck: Completions, yards, yards-per-attempt, touchdowns, and QB rating.
Shaun Alexander: Attempts, yards, and first downs.
Darrell Jackson: Receptions, yards, catch average, and touchdowns.
Itula Mili: Receptions and touchdowns.
The whole core on offense is returned this year, but more importantly they are still young. Hopefully this is not a pinnacle of what they can do, rather just a stepping stone in another rising year.
The defense was left behind a little, but they are still in the process of development. Upped from the 29th rank in 2002 all the way to the 19th rank, there are still deficiencies that hold this squad back. The team?s third down percentage was third worst in the NFL indicating the inconsistencies in the secondary. That is to be expected when two of the starters, Marcus Trufant and Ken Hamlin are rookies, but regardless of age, Ray Rhodes has this group headed in the right direction.
What Has Changed?:
This year version of the Seattle?s finest is reminiscent of a 3-loss college football team who returns most of its starters the next season.
With the re-signing of Darrell Jackson, the offense should look virtually the same with Shaun Alexander, Mack Strong, Koren Robinson, Bobby Engram and Itula Mili all returning from last season. The offensive line allowed an embarrassing amount of sacks last year (42) and tackle Walter Jones holding out once again does not help matters. Maybe new line coach Bill Laveroni has some answers.
The arguing point about the Seahawks is: Did they peak last year, or is the final product still in the manufacturing process?
Judging how young a number of the players are - particularly on the defensive side of the ball - it?s obvious that growth is still to be expected.
On offense if the Seahawks can muster up some protection for Hasselbeck the scoring may be even more consistent 7th best 25.2 points per game they are already getting. Mike Holmgren has re-emerged as one of the top offensive minds in the NFL after flying under the radar for a couple of seasons but he has mastered an impeccable offense. Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram are not overpowering receivers, but the scheme is devised to let them catch the ball, and work with their speed. Itula Mili and Jerramy Stephens generally soften up the center of the field while Shaun Alexander delivers the knock out punch. It?s a difficult attack to stop, especially since focusing on one specific weapon will free up somebody else.
On defense, Ray Rhodes will have his work cut out for himself once again. Gone are veterans John Randle, Randall Godfrey, Reggie Tongue, and Norman Hand, but a young rotation that is willing to be coached is ready to step.
The defensive line added blue collar veteran Grant Wistrom as the starting right end this off-season, but the company as a whole lacks one dominant presence. Cedric Woodard, Rashad Moore, and Chike Okeafor are constructed on hustle, but none threaten to rack up more than 12 sacks. Once this team makes the playoffs, blitzes will be needed to pressure quarterbacks.
The linebacking corps, though a superior alliance, can not seem to stay healthy together for a full season. Whether it?s Anthony Simmons, to Isaiah Kacyvenski, to Orlando Huff, now to Chad Brown who will likely miss a few weeks off the top of the coming season, they can?t seem to stay together.
The 27th pass defense is really what will make or break this team at the end of the season and even though the defensive backs are very young, the sky?s the limit for these guys. Ken Lucas and Bobby Taylor will battle back and forth throughout the season for a starting spot, and if Lucas can overtake Taylor, that will show a positive sign in his development. Marcus Trufant and Ken Hamlin, both rookies last year, did flash Pro Bowl potential at times, and hopefully there?s no sophomore slump in year two. The Seahawks gambled with the 53rd pick in this year?s NFL draft selecting Florida State linebacker Michael Boulware who will be converted to strong safety. His speed will improve the position but the team will have to live with his mistakes.
With a little home-field advantage, this is not a team I?m interested to meet in the playoffs.
O/U 9.5:
There is no doubt about it anymore, Seattle is now the class of the NFC West. Arizona and San Francisco are not a threat to win the division this year, while Mike Martz will continue to ignore his running game regardless of his deteriorating offensive line. Seattle could sweep this division. Apart from those pretenders, the ?Hawks play: @NO, @TB, @NE, CAR, MIA, BUF, DAL, @MIN, @NYJ, and ATL.
Fantasy Sleeper:
Contract years are always an incentive for athletes to give that extra effort, but after signing the big deal and the money is guaranteed the same players give it the ?ol college try. Shaun Alexander is in the last year of his paperwork, and although he is not a sleeper, expect him to go over 1500 yards, and come close to 20 touchdowns. Meanwhile Darrell Jackson just inked a big agreement, so don?t be surprised for Koren Robinson to tally the tantalizing numbers.