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Playoff Preview: Seattle Seahawks

Offensive MVP: WR Mike Williams

No running back on the Seahawks rushed for more than 600 yards, and Matt Hasselbeck had one of his worst years of his career, so by default Mike Williams is this team’s offensive MVP. If it weren’t for Michael Vick, Williams would likely be the comeback player of the year. Williams had more receiving yards this year than his first 3 years in the league combined. Considering he hasn’t played in a game since 2007 prior to this season, that is quite an accomplishment. Pete Carrol saw something in his former player during his days at USC, and if he didn’t take a chance on Williams, his NFL career would likely be finished. It is nice to see someone who almost threw their career away comeback to really help their team out. If it weren’t for Williams, this team doesn’t make it to the playoffs.

Defensive MVP: DE Chris Clemons

With a career high 11 sacks, Clemons put in a great performance this year. While the rest of the defense was busy giving up chunks of yards, Clemons was constantly putting pressure on opposing QB’s and came to play every game. He is proving to the Eagles that it was a mistake to let him go, and with the Seahawks rebuilding defense, there is one position that the Seahawks don’t have to worry about.

Best Win: Week 17 - Against the St. Louis Rams

You can say all you want about the Seahawks 7-9 record, but at least they didn’t back into the playoffs. Facing a do or die situation in the last week of the season, the Seahawks defeated a decent Rams team. It was the much maligned defense that stepped up in the game, holding the Rams to only 2 field goals. It was uncertain whether a team that had given up 15 of more points in each of its losses could handle the pressure of what was essentially a playoff game, but they took care of business and now have a home playoff game as a reward.

Rookie Grade: B+

With 2 early first round picks, the Seahawks had a great opportunity to infuse young talent into this team. It looks like they have succeeded with S Earl Thomas and LT Russell Okung. Okung has been limited to 10 games with injuries, but is healthy now and looks like their LT of the future. Earl Thomas, who many people thought to be the most NFL ready player, put in a solid rookie campaign with 5 interceptions. There is always a lot of pressure on a team that has early first round picks to avoid busts, and it looks like the Seahawks have done just that with Okung and Thomas.

How Can They Make It To The Super Bowl: Perfect Play and Luck

The Seahawks aren’t embarrassed to be in the playoffs nor should they be. No playoff system is perfect and if 7-9 teams were making the postseason every year then a change would obviously be needed, but there is no need to overact to what seems to be a fluke occurrence. The NFC West has a lot of young talent, and there’s no reason they can’t dramatically improve in the upcoming years. With that being said, reaching the Super Bowl is going to be a Cinderella task for the Seahawks. Neither their offense nor defense is very good, and they play terrible football on the road. They might be able to pull off a tremendous upset against the Saints this weekend, but it’s hard to think this team can beat either the Falcons or Bears on the road. If they were to make it to the Super Bowl it might be the most improbable story in recent memory, but I just can’t envision that happening.

NFC West Quarter Review

This is starting to become a perennial occurrence, but it seems this year is worse than usual.

Arizona (2-2)

The Cardinals, who could easily be the front-runner for this division, has what possibly may be the worst QB situation in the NFL. Cutting Matt Leinart might have been a smart move if they had anyone of significant talent at QB on the roster. Instead they have Derek Anderson, who even the Cleveland Browns didn’t want, and the undrafted rookie QB Max Hall who, despite the confidence of coach Ken Whisenhunt, is still years away from even possibly being considered to be a decent option to start at QB for any NFL team.

Standout Players: Adrian Wilson, Paris Lenon, Greg Toler

Seattle (2-2)

The Seahawks under Pete Carroll’s first year have been an enigma. In two games at home they have won very decisively, but on the road they were blown out by the Rams and the Broncos. No NFL team can hope to make the playoffs with a complete inability to play on the road, so Pete Carroll will have to figure out a solution to their road woes if they hope for any shot at the playoffs.

Standout Players: Chris Clemons, Earl Thomas

St. Louis (2-2)

The Rams have been a pleasant surprise as many analysts had the team pegged as the cellar-dweller of this division. Sam Bradford has shown the ability and poise that earned him the first-overall pick the season, and continues to improve with every game. Unfortunately for the Rams the rest of the roster does not have as much promise as Sam Bradford, and even in a division this bad they are not likely to stay competitive as the season progresses.

Standout Players: Sam Bradford, Mark Clayton

San Francisco (0-4)

The 49ers are in desperation mode only 4 games into the season. In any other division, a 0-4 record would have the team already looking towards the draft, but there is a glimmer of hope for the 49ers. The defense, while inconsistent, is loaded with talent and has kept the 49ers in two close games against the Falcons and Saints. If new offensive coordinator Mike Johnson can turn around the offense and Singletary can get consistent play from his defense, San Francisco has the talent to get back into the division race.

Standout Players: Patrick Willis, Frank Gore, Nate Clements

Prediction: The Seahawks are able to win the division because of the ineptitude of the rest of the teams, but whichever team represents the NFC West in the playoffs will be making a swift 1^st round exit.

Seattle Seahawks 2010 Preview and Prediction

Last Years Record            5-11

Wins: Rams (x2), Jaguars, Lions, 49ers

Losses: 49ers, Bears, Colts, Cardinals (x2), Cowboys, Vikings, Texans, Bucs, Packers, Titans

Biggest Playmaker            Lofa Tatupu

MLB, USC, Drafted #45, 6^th Year

Lofa Tatupu is coming back from a torn pectoral that ended his 2009 season after just five games.  After recording over 90 tackles in his first four years, Tatupu looks to get back to the playing form that earned him a six-year $48 million contract in March of 2008.  The Seahawks hope he can return to his rookie-year form when he racked up 104 tackles,  4 sacks, 9 passes deflected, three interceptions and one touchdown.

Impact Player            Olindo Mare

K, Syracuse, Undrafted, 15^th Year

Yes, you read this right.  The Seahawks kicker is listed as their impact player.  Mare connected on 24 out of 26 field goals a year ago, at one point hitting 21 in a row.  Sure, that is nothing out of this world, but with an offense and defense ranked 25^th in scoring a year ago there are simply not a lot of consistent players like Mare.

Biggest Offseason Addition            JP Losman/Charlie Whitehurt

Matt Hasselbeck will be 35 in a month and missed 11 games in the past two seasons.  If there was ever a need for a reliable backup it is now.  Hasselbeck has also seen his production drop in those two years, throwing just 22 touchdowns to 27 interceptions and fumbling 12 times.  These two quarterbacks were brought in to compete with Hasselbeck but it appears the job is his.

Biggest Offseason Loss            Nate Burleson

WR, Nevada, Drafted #71, 8^th Year

Losing Burleson was a big loss really until they drafted Golden Tate.  Nate did have 63 catches for 812 yards last year, but I believe this production will be easily matched and likely outdone by Tate in the near future.  The Seahawks did not lose much else besides QB Seneca Wallace and G Ben Hamilton who they replaced and potentially upgraded. 

Biggest Draft Steal            Earl Thomas

Safety, Texas, Drafted #14, Rookie

Before the draft Earl Thomas was considered by many analysts to be the top prospect at safety.  The Seahawks drafted an immediate starter and impact player in the middle of the first round.  He not only addressed a need and is very good in pass coverage which will help a team ranked third from last in total passing yards a year ago.

Biggest Draft Mistake            Lendale White

RB, USC, Drafted # 45, 5^th Year

Lendale White has yet to live up to his potential, proving to be nothing but a short yardage and goalline back.  The Seahawks were planning on Lendale having a breakout year as he was being reunited with college coach Pete Carroll, but White was cut less than two weeks into camp.             

Offseason Grade            A-

The Seahawks drafted somehow with both the approach of best player available and team needs.  Their three first picks were all considered higher value than where they were selected (Russell Okung, Earl Thomas and Golden Tate).  In the fourth and fifth rounds they drafted again for their needs, and got guys that will likely be second stringers in their rookie years.  The Seahawks also bostered their depth at QB and RB with the additions of Charlie Whitehurst, JP Losman and Leon Washington.  The only place I think a move should have been made was to sign or trade for an impact player on the defensive line. 

X-Factor            Matt Hasselbeck

QB, Boston College, Drafted # 184, 13^th Year

Hasselbeck has been inconsistent throughout his career and had injury concerns, but has the potential to be great.  In 2007 he threw for nearly 4,000 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, but just a year later played in only seven games with 5 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.  Hasselbeck has the potential to make or break the Hawks 2010 season. 

Name You Should Know            David Hawthorne

LB, Texas Christian, Undrafted, 3^rd Year

David Hawthorne filled in for the injured Lofa Tatupu a year ago and posted 117 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions from his middle linebacker spot.  Hawthorne will likely start the first game of the season at outside linebacker in place of the suspended Leroy Hill.  Keep an eye out for Hawthorne in the next couple of years.   

Rising Star            Aaron Curry

OLB,  Wake Forest, Drafted #4, 2^nd Year

Aaron Curry came in obviously with high expectations after being drafted fourth overall but failed to live up to them in his rookie season.  New Head Coach Pete Carroll plans to utilize Curry’s strengths as a pass rusher more often, and the return of Lofa Tatupu should definitely help Curry’s productivity this year. 

Offensive Outlook            B-

The Seahawks will likely be counting on two rookies to be starters very early in Russell Okung and Golden Tate.  Hopefully the Seahawks can improve their run game with the addition of Okung and guard Ben Hamilton who has 104 starts in his career.  Matt Hasselbeck’s production will dictate the success of the offense.

Defensive Outlook            B-

The Seahawks are going to need their youth to step up on the defensive side of the ball as well, with rookie safety Earl Thomas an immediate starter and Aaron Curry hoping to produce more than his rookie year.  The Hawkws have a fairly weak defensive line and their corners are not spectacular, but their linebackers have the potential to be a top unit in the league.    

Special Teams Outlook            B+

Olindo Mare was great for the Seahawks in ’09 connecting on over 90% of his kicks and punter averaged over 46 yards per kick with a career high 28 punts landing inside the 20.  Justin Forsett has been nothing but average as a return man in his two years.   In 2009 they ranked 11^th in special teams.

Projected 2010 Record            7-9

Expect Matt Hasselbeck to come back and produce for the Seahawks, if he can stay healthy.  If not, they have viable options at their backup QB spot.  The Seahawks made a splash in the draft this year and will be counting heavily on at least three rookies to make an impact.  The Seahawkws desperately need both of their lines to step up.  That said, the NFC West looks to be pretty weak this year, and the Hawks have the 3^rd easiest schedule in the league.

Golden Tate Signs with Seahawks

Former Notre Dame standout WR Golden Tate has signed a four year deal with the Seattle Seahawks worth $3.26 million.  Golden Tate saw his draft stock skyrocket after a great performance at the combine and was considered by many to be a first round talent.  Picked #60 overall, the Seahawks have high expectations for him and could have him starting alongside T.J. Houshmandzadeh early this season.

Prediction:  Golden Tate will be starting over Deion Branch by week 3.  Branch has had injury problems throughout his career.  However, he will be pushed and competing with newly signed Mike Williams.  Tate could also be a factor in the return games.
55 Catches
800 Yards
5 Touchdowns