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Last Year
"We want the ball and we're going to score" were the famous last words of a Seattle Seahawks team who looked to be on the rise after a playoff appearance in 2003. Even though they carried over the momentum into 2004 by winning the first three games, their caliber noticeably declined as the season progressed. Division rival St. Louis had their number and triumphed over the Seahawks three times, including the final meeting in the playoffs. The seat is getting awfully warm for head coach Mike Holmgren, who needs to start producing results.
What We Learned From Last Year
After week three of the NFL season, few teams looked as good as the Seahawks. They were 3-0 with two wins coming on the road and had outscored their first three opponents 65-13. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams were only 1-2.
With a bye week to prepare for the all-important matchup with the Rams, all signs pointed to a changing of the guards in the NFC West. With a 17-point lead with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks collapsed. The Rams sparked an improbable comeback, ending the Seahawks' 10-game home winning streak.
The loss seemingly changed the path of the Seahawks' season. Prior to it, they were a dangerous young team on the rise. After it, their self-esteem took a serious hit and they regressed into the form of another mediocre NFC team.
A young defense that had allowed only 13 points in the first three games was suddenly very permissive. They allowed 387 points the rest of the way (30 points per game).
Ray Rhodes was hired in 2003 to improve the 28th-ranked defense, but his impact has been minimal to this point as the squad ranked 26th last year (351.3 yards per game).
The addition of Bobby Taylor was supposed to provide an impact cornerback opposite of Marcus Trufant, but his 10 tackles and zero interceptions were of little assistance. In his defense, a chronic knee injury did slow him down.
An injury also took another veteran player from the defense as Pro Bowl talent Chad Brown took part in only seven games. The team's second-best linebacker, Anthony Simmons, also only played in only seven games.
Defensive tackle had been a weakness for years and the team addressed that with first-round pick Marcus Tubbs. He struggled in his first season. Starting defensive tackles Cedric Woodard and Rashad Moore were only average, leaving the Seahawks fairly frail up the middle. They allowed opponents to rush for 126.7 yards per game.
Rookie Michael Boulware was a splendid surprise second-round pick for the Seahawks as he split time at linebacker and safety. He was second on the team with five interceptions and proved to be a vital playmaker.
The offense was led by Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander and was rarely the weak link for Seattle.
The main dilemma for the offense was production from the wide receivers as their well-publicized inconsistencies continued. Jerry Rice's work ethic didn't rub off and Koren Robinson turned into a distraction with his incessant off-field problems. Darrell Jackson did lead the way in yards and receptions, but he still dropped too many balls for a top receiver.
The Seahawks had the lowest third-down conversion percentage amongst teams who went to the playoffs and most of that had to do with a lack of sure hands.
Holmgren hasn't exactly failed as a coach in Seattle, but it is clear that the team has fallen short of expectations throughout most of his tenure. He will need a legitimate excuse for not making the second round of the playoffs if he plans to keep his job.
This Year
The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2005 season as the favorites to win the NFC West, but since the games are not played on paper, Seattle has a lot of proving to do.
First off, they will have to prove they can beat the St. Louis Rams.
St. Louis matches up very well against Seattle because their offense can score at will. Seattle does not get enough pressure on Marc Bulger and they don't have the cornerbacks to cover the three or four wide receiver sets.
To create pressure, the Seahawks will inert two new starters at defensive tackle to help curtail the time opposing quarterbacks have to throw.
Second-year player Marcus Tubbs has looked excellent in the preseason and will likely start with Chartric Darby at tackle. Although Darby is undersized, Tubbs is a wide load to deal with. The key here is that both have uncanny quickness — particularly Tubbs. When you have a tackle with that kind of speed, not only is he a force to reckon with in the running game, he will be a problem collapsing the pocket, as well.
There are wholesale changes on the defense with as many as seven new starters coming in.
Aside from Tubbs and Darby on the defensive line, Bryce Fisher will be a new face opposite of Grant Wistrom at the end position. Fisher will have to fill the shoes of Chike Okeafor, who left to Arizona. Wistrom and Fisher are reliable and should Tubbs continue to emerge, they won't have to face many double-teams.
Former stalwarts Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons are no longer on the Seahawks roster, but in fairness, both have been injury prone. Both were playmakers, but Simmons only played 27 games in the last three seasons while Brown only played in 29 contests.
Jamie Sharper, who was brought over from Houston, will man one of the outside positions and is far more durable. He has yet to miss a game in his career.
The other two starters will be D.D. Lewis and Niko Koutouvides with rookie Lofa Tatupu pushing for time. Lewis is raw player who is also injury-prone while Koutouvides, last year's fourth-round pick, is a sure-tackler. Tatupu is the future if he can bulk up. He has impeccable instincts.
The secondary as whole has more depth at cornerback, but neither Andre Dyson nor Kelly Herndon, two free agent pickups, are individually as good as the departed Ken Lucas. Dyson is an above-average second cornerback and Herndon is a solid nickel back — although he is too slow for the Rams receivers.
Free safety is a concern with Ken Hamlin is a little overaggressive at times, but strong safety Michael Boulware will carry the tandem. He looks like a future Pro Bowler.
One thing that doesn't make sense about the Seahawks offseason was the fact that they spent two of their first three draft selections on offense when the defense clearly needs the help.
With defensive tackle Mike Patterson and cornerback Marlin Jackson on the board in the first round, those players would have made more sense than an offensive lineman. Even if the Seahawks wanted to draft for the offense, wide receiver Roddy White would have made a lot of sense.
The offensive line is a very strong unit and is likely deeper than any in the league. Right tackle Floyd "Porkchop" Womack could be out for a prolonged period of time with a triceps injury and Seattle is one of the few teams that can handle a wound like that without much of a drop-off.
The Seahawks have cut ties with Koren Robinson and his nonstop troubles, but don't really have many options to step in his place. Bobby Engram, Jerome Pathon, and Joe Jurevicious are all better suited for third or fourth receiver roles. Peter Warrick is a playmaker, but he does his best work from the slot — the same position Engram plays.
They should give a phone call to the San Diego Chargers, who had a similar offense last season with a stud running back and no wide receivers. Maybe then they could figure out how to milk Jerramy Stevens' talents. He has had a good offseason, he is in a perfect environment to succeed and could really help this offense thrive, particularly on third downs.
Seattle has made a lot of defensive changes but the linebacking corps remains a glaring weakness while on offense, they still need uncover another target to who will team with Darrell Jackson. The combination of those two weaknesses and an improved division could be enough to keep this team inconsistent.
Over/Under: 8.5
We know the Seahawks can't beat the Rams and we know that the Cardinals and the 49ers will be improved. Seattle also has Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, and Atlanta on the agenda. Not the easiest of schedules. They play: @JAX, ATL, @WAS, DAL, NYG, @PHI, @TEN, IND, and @GB.
Fantasy Sleeper
Darrell Jackson is the only Seahawks receiver to ever post a 1,000-yard season, so its evident this team will be looking for options. Jerramy Stevens is a smooth athlete with great hands and might be the next Antonio Gates-type sleeper if gets his act together. Someone has to catch the ball.
Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.
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