Seattle Seahawks Preview

The Seattle Seahawks will attempt to make another defense of their NFC West title in a division that does not look especially strong.

Mike Holmgren begins his final season in the Northwest before handing the reins to Jim Mora Jr after the conclusion of the season with questions and issues that will have to be resolved if the Seahawks hope to move beyond the first round of the playoffs.

The same three quarterbacks return in starter Matt Hasselbeck,Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye.
The Seahawks had hoped that Frye would progress enough to be the main backup and then allow Wallace to be on the field more in various roles.
That has not happened.

The Shaun Alexander era has ended at running back and the running back committee has been formed with the returning Mo Morris combining with former Cowboy Julius Jones and short yardage back T.J. Duckett to comprise the board.
The questions here are these-Can Morris be more than a situational back?
Was Jones overrated from his sizzling start in the league or was he just handled wrong in Dallas?
Can Duckett be a road mover on third and one or is he just a poor mans version of Dancing Ron Dayne?
Those answers could answer the Seattle season.
Seventh rounder Justin Forsett was very impressive in pre-season and might see occasional action.
Leonard Weaver will start again at fullback with rookie Owen Schmitt backing up.

The wideouts are beat up and young for the opener as both Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are injured and likely to miss time.
Branch claims he will play this week,but I will believe that when I see it.
That leaves Nate Burleson as the main threat early and he is surrounded by inexperience.
Three second year players will all get opportunities to show their abilities with the playing time that will be available.
Courtney Taylor will be the starter and Logan Payne is in the third spot,but Jordan Kent has the best physical abilities of the entire corps and if he puts it together,he could be a star in the making.

Former Bronco Jeb Putzier becomes the temporary pass catching tight end to join the better blocking Will Heller,but the future is second rounder John Carlson of Notre Dame.
The hawks didn't trade up to select Carlson for nothing,look for his time to gradually increase as the season moves on.

Four of the five starters on the offensive line are back as only Mike Wahle is a new starter.
The former Pro Bowler becomes the latest player to attempt to fill the huge hole at guard that was left by Steve Hutchinson.
Walter Jones and Sean Locklear man the tackles and Rob Sims is back at the other guard,while Chris Spencer is the starting snapper.
This line will answer the question that was asked all last year.
Was the running game bad because Shaun Alexander was shot or was the fault theirs and they are a line in decline??

The defensive line looks stronger with top pick Lawrence Jackson starting on one end opposite top sacker Patrick Kerney and Rocky Bernard is one of the best in the league at defensive tackle.Bernard will miss the opener in Buffalo due to suspension for an undisclosed reason.
Brandon Mebane starts beside Bernard although Howard Green and rookie Red Bryant will all see action as part of the rotation.
Darryl Tapp will be used as a situational pass rusher after losing his starting job to Jackson.
It may suit Tapp better anyway as he wore down a bit last season as a full time end.

Lofa Tatupu,Leroy Hill and Julian Peterson lead one of the best linebacker corps in the league.
This group can rush the passer and play the pass as well,so all three are usually on the field.
D.D Lewis backs them up.

The secondary is in place as well with all starters returning.
All Pro Marcus Trufant is one of the leagues best and Kelly Jennings is showing improvement at the opposite corner.
2007 top pick Josh Wilson is the third corner.
Brian Russell and Deon Grant are back at safety and that can be a good or bad thing.
Neither had great years in my opinion and Russell is downright slow.
Jordan Babineaux is great in multiple DB situations as their backup,but he too will miss the Bills game with discipline problems.

Olindo Mare is the new kicker in place of Josh Brown.
Brown will be missed as the aging Mare does not have the leg strength or the experience of bad weather booting of Brown.
Brandon Cantu was kept as the kickoff specialist and as a subtle way of keeping Mare on track.
Ryan Plackemeier is back as an average punter.

Nate Burleson will be used on kickoffs and punts with Justin Forsett and Josh Wilson taking both as well.

I see the Seahawks keeping the NFC West title,but not sure how far that they will go through the playoffs.

Our prediction is 11-5 and a first round win before being eliminated.