I can't be the only Seahawks fan feeling like they don't know the players they are rooting for this season. There have been so many roster changes in the last week, some of our favorites are out, and have been replaced with....well...strangers. Players from all over the league that I've honestly never heard of. If Pete Carroll's goal is to erase any memory of Jim Mora Jr. then I'd say he has succeeded. If his goal is to win games then he has the next 17 weeks to get the Seahawks to the playoffs. "Playoffs!? Playoffs?!" (Jim Mora Sr. voice) Yes I said it! Playoffs, seems a distant memory now, but it wasn't long ago that Seattle was atop the NFC West, going deep into the playoffs. Is there method to the madness, that is the current state of our Seattle Seahawks? Lets break it down and preview the 2010 season.
OFFENSE: The good: A healthy Matt Hasselbeck, and a young talented and excited receiving core. Mike Williams used training camp to not only win a place in the starting line up, but to take an entire roster spot away from T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Williams provides a big target for Matt, something he has never had. I can't wait to see if they can develop rapport, if training camp is any indication, I'd say they are well on their way.Along with other young talented receivers like Deon Butler and Golden Tate. The running game also seems to be improved. Word is Forsett will get the start, and rightfully so I feel, but he will be splitting carries with Leon Washington who has impressed me this preseason. He seems to have fully recovered from his leg injury suffered last year with the NY JETS.
OFFENSE: The bad: The offensive line, is once again makeshift. With Russel Okung suffering from a dreaded high ankle sprain, the Seahawks are having to piece together a line, with Polumbus and Pitts sharing the burden. The blindside. We've all seen the movie, we all know how important it is to protect the QB, especially and again, injury prone Matt Hasselbeck. I wonder if the Seahawks suffered some version of the Madden Curse when the directors of The Blindside decided to feature Matt and *Sigh* Walter Jones in the opening of the movie? We need Okung back as soon as possible, if we want any hope of having a winning season. We need Matt healthy.
OFFENSE: The ugly truth: Hasselbeck is a rhythm player, when that rhythm is disrupted by dropped passes, wrong routes and interceptions, he loses his head. If he has no protection, no time to find a man down field, and no one coming back to the ball, the offense can sputter.We have never had the threat of the deep ball, and if the running game doesn't produce, it will be really easy for teams to defend against the mid to short length passes that can define our offense.
DEFENSE: The good: Improved play from the D- line. Mebane, Bryant, Clemmons all seem faster, stronger, and more effective in the 4-3 defense. Our linebackers have all the potential in the world to be elite, hopefully with the return on the defensive leader in Lofa Tutupu, Aaron Curry and Will Herring can perform up to expectations. Also, rookie Safety Earl Thomas is a play maker, look for him to improve the play of the entire secondary.
DEFENSE: The bad: The secondary. Seattle finished 30th last year in opponent passing yards. Kelly Jennings has no business being a starter in the NFL, and it makes me sick that rather than giving the position to Josh Wilson, they cut the only hope we had at that position. Jennings may be listed at 5'11" but he plays like hes 5'6". I know they kept him because they feel he has more speed than Wilson, but what good is speed when you are constantly being beat over the top? My biggest concern in whether or not we can stop anyone from eating up yardage through the passing game. It seems as though the middle of the field between 12-20 yards is always wide open. Hopefully a healthy Tutupu and the emergence of Thomas will change that.
DEFENSE: The ugly truth: We never know what defense is going to show up. Each game, each series..hell even each play. We have no consistency in our defensive play. The defense have proven to be unreliable, but glimpses of genius, keep us wishing, hoping, praying that they can turn it around. I don't know what to think about Wilson and Babineaux being cut,as far as playmakers go, they were all we had in the secondary,in years past.I like the trade of Lawrence Jackson however, so I'm going to trust that the coaching staff has a plan.
SPECIAL TEAMS: We have one hell of a punter in Jon Ryan. ESPN did a story called " The Indispensables" Where they profiled the most indispensable player besides the QB on each team, and while they chose Okung, I would be pressed to find another player who has more impact on the game then Jon Ryan. Olindo Mare is a solid 48 for 53 in his 2 seasons with the Seahawks, and the return game should improve with Golden Tate and Justin Forsett as the main kickoff and punt returners. I hope to see Leon Washington return to that role as well once they feel comfortable his leg injury is no longer holding him back. Washington was a Pro Bowl punt returner with the JETS before suffering the injury.
DEFENSE: The bad: The secondary. Seattle finished 30th last year in opponent passing yards. Kelly Jennings has no business being a starter in the NFL, and it makes me sick that rather than giving the position to Josh Wilson, they cut the only hope we had at that position. Jennings may be listed at 5'11" but he plays like hes 5'6". I know they kept him because they feel he has more speed than Wilson, but what good is speed when you are constantly being beat over the top? My biggest concern in whether or not we can stop anyone from eating up yardage through the passing game. It seems as though the middle of the field between 12-20 yards is always wide open. Hopefully a healthy Tutupu and the emergence of Thomas will change that.
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