Countdown - 4th seed in the NFC

Seattle Seahawks – (9-7 in 2006) – Projected record of 10-6


The most consistent team over the past four years in the very inconsistent NFC East, the Seattle Seahawks enter the 2007 season with many question marks. The secondary’s ability to support the very strong front seven is one thing that has hurt Seattle in the past, and the Seahawks hope they brought in enough help with the signings of Bryan Russell and Deon Grant from Cleveland and Jacksonville respectively. But – as is always the case with the extremely aggressive defense in Seattle – the success on the defensive side of the ball will depend on the effectiveness of the pass rush.

Another question mark that the Seahawks hope to answer in a positive way is the inconsistent play of the offensive line. With one of the best running backs in league rushing for Seattle, Shaun Alexander was only able to rush for a miniscule 3.6 yards/carry in 2006. 3.6 yards per carry is well below the league’s average, and dramatically down from the year previous. The decrease in effectiveness of the Seattle rushing attack put much more pressure on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, which was seen in his sub-par 18-15 touchdown to interception ratio in 2006.

To try to solve this quandary I looked for answers. Reading different publications, I saw that many experts think that the departure of left guard Steve Hutchinson is the main reason for the decrease in the yards per carry of Alexander and the extreme ineffectiveness of above-average backup Maurice Morris. Time will tell, and we should know the answer to the effect that Hutchinson’s absence has on the offensive line very quickly after the start of the season with both Alexander and the offensive line at full strength (something neither was at last season). The offensive line, more than anyone except the secondary, will be the unit that determines the success of the Seahawks skill players.

Star to Watch: Without much argument from anyone in the NFL inner circle, the title of the NFL’s best left tackle goes to Seattle’s Walter Jones. An immovable force, Jones serves as the Seahawks’ “go to guy (more with this phrase later)” in the running game. What I mean by this is that when the Seahawks need a big first down they usually look to run behind Walter Jones and his left side of the line. With that being said, previous experience has shown us that if Jones goes down the Seattle offensive line will fall apart, and Seattle will fall out of the playoffs. So Seattle fans should be on their knees at night praying for good health for themselves, parents, children, and Walter Jones.

Be sure to also closely watch stars: Shaun Alexander. Who, the Seahawks hope, just suffered a down year and has not begun the decline familiar to so many elite running backs. Deion Branch. Who looks to better gel with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Juliun Peterson. Who is looking to improve on his stellar season last year.

Player to watch: After the loss of both Jerramy Stevens and Darrell Jackson, someone will have to step up and pick up the slack in the Seahawks’ passing game. That player, I believe, is four-year-veteran wide receiver DJ Hackett. Hackett showed a lot of promise last year, and was referred to by many people around the Seahawks’ organization as Hasselbeck’s “go to guy,” a honor that carries extra weight on a team with weapons in the passing game such as Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Jackson, and Stevens. The Seahawks should be able to exploit many weaknesses using four wide receiver sets, and Hackett will be the catalyst for the Seahawks’ complex attack.

Also watch: Defensive end Patrick Kerney, cornerback Marcus Trufant, and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu all of whom I expect to improve on their impressive seasons last year.

What I expect to see from the Seahawks:

- The Seattle Seahawks, who have one of the best home field advantages in the league, will continue to be dominant at home but will struggle on the road because of their defense will not benefit from the same communication problems opponents have at Qwest Field.

- The running game will improve from last year, but will not be as dominant as it was in the 2005-2006 Super Bowl season. One factor is that current starting left guard Rob Sims is not as good as former left guard Steve Hutchinson. Another factor is that Shaun Alexander is indeed, as many experts fear, on the downside of his career.

- The Seahawks passing game will be rather inconsistent at home because of the rain in Seattle, but will be dominant in some games. The biggest factor in the passing game is the way quarterback Matt Hasselbeck limits turnovers, which he will have to improve on if the Seahawks wish to return to the Super Bowl in 2007-08.

- I see the Seattle defense as one of the top five units in the league, and I believe they will back my thought up with excellent play throughout the year. Bringing in Patrick Kerney to rush off the edge was a very underrated move, and the Seahawks will benefit from his rush defense as well.

- Lofa Tatupu will play very well this year, but not nearly as well as his 2006 pro bowl season when he was an absolute force in the middle of the defense. But there will be times when the Seahawks, a very undersized defense when compared to other teams around the league, will severely struggle against the run.

- Julian Peterson will be one of the three best outside linebackers in the league in 2007, and start for the NFC in the pro bowl if he decides to show up for the event.

- The Seattle secondary will struggle at times, but will step up because of the pressure provided by the Seahawks extremely talented and aggressive front seven. I expect Deon Grant to be as good as he was in Jacksonville, but I see Brian Russell being benched for the likes of safety Jonathon Babineax at some point during the season.

How the Seattle Seahawks will fare in 2007-2008:

I see the Seahawks riding the strong performance of their defense into the fourth seed of an improved NFC, and continually improving NFC West. Their position could easily be flipped with St Louis’ depending on how each team fares against the other, which will decide the tie breaker. And with a lot of playoff experience, I believe that Seattle has a legitimate shot at representing the NFC in the 2008 Super Bowl in Arizona.