Seattle Seahawks Predictions
June 25, 2008
Just three years ago, this franchise was 21 years removes from its last postseason win. Mike Holmgren has brought a winning mentality to Seattle during his nine-year tenure, but he’ll have his hands full as much as he ever has in 2008 to get the Seahawks back to the playoffs. Holmgren turned 60 in June and has announced this will be his final season as head coach. One of the team’s most productive players in franchise history, Shaun Alexander, was let go after back-to-back seasons plagued by injury. Kicker Josh Brown, who recorded four game-winning field goals in ‘06 and wide receiver D.J. Hackett opted to take their acts elsewhere. An aging offense may no longer be the team’s strength, but a young, talented defense looks primed to carry the load. Below are our 2008 Seattle Seahawks predictions along with a team preview of what you will see on the field.
Offense:
Holmgren has found his franchise quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck. Last year marked his third trip to the Pro Bowl in one of Hasselbeck’s finest seasons. Holmgren went as far to say that Hasselbeck was as important to his team last year as Favre was in Green Bay. But now Hasselbeck will likely start the season without both of his two starting wide receivers. Hackett is obviously gone and Deion Branch could be out until October after suffering a torn ACL in the playoffs. That leaves Bobby Engram to shoulder the load, which might be a good thing.
Engram caught a franchise-best 94 passes for 1,147 yards last season despite being 35-years-old. Veteran Nate Burleson proved to be a big-play receiver after leading the team with nine touchdown grabs last year. The Seahawks are excited about former Auburn teammates Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor, who should both see plenty of playing time while Branch recovers from injury.
With Alexander gone, the Seahawks had to turn to free agency to find their man at running back. Julius Jones comes over from Dallas and is expected to get the bulk of the carries, but T.J. Duckett will see plenty of carries in short yardage situations. Fullback Leaonard Weaver is a gifted runner so the team has plenty of options to hand the ball off to. But the offensive line in Seattle struggled in the run game last year. The strength of their 2005 Super Bowl team was the offensive line, but it was the weakest link in ‘07.
Left tackle Walter Jones has shown signs of mortality as age is catching up to this perennial Pro Bowler. Chris Gray, 38, will likely give way to a younger option at right guard. The Seahawks added veteran Mike Wahle at left guard, so now the biggest questions remain at center and right guard. Center Chris Spencer has the tools, but he’s slowly learning the position. Youngster Rob Sims will battle Floyd Womack for the starting right guard job. Right tackle Sean Locklear bounced back from a dismal 2006 campaign to re-assert himself as a key piece of the future. Locklear will be asked to hold down the right side before moving to left tackled whenever Jones decides to hang up the shoes.
Defense:
End Patrick Kerney was a force last season and will remain a force in 2008. He needs help from fellow end Darryl Tapp, who showed sings of brilliance after recording 4 sacks in a single game against St. Louis last year. First-round pick Lawrence Jackson will test him. Tackle Rocky Bernard had a scrape with the law in April. Bernard’s sack total dropped in each of the pas two seasons after piling 8.5 sacks in 2005. Fellow tackle Brandon Mebane was the prize of the 2007 draft class and should be a solid starter for years to come in Seattle.
The Seahawks have one of the best line backing corps in football. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu and strong-side backeer Julian Peterson have combined seven Pro Bowl appearances. The only missing piece is Leroy Hill on the weak side with the large shadows cast by his two teammates. Depth is the only concern at linebacker for the Seahawks. Veteran backups Kevin Bentley and Niko Koutouvides went elsewhere. But health hasn’t been an issue for this group so the starters should be intact all season.
The Seahawks showed the value of Marcus Trufant to this secondary by signing him to a six-year $50 million deal in the offseason. He earned his contract by intercepting a career-high 7 passes in 2007. Kelly Jennings is the starter on the other side and each made big strides under defensive backs coach Jim Mora last year. Veteran safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell are reliable starters. Under Mora, the secondary has become one of the strengths of this team.
Info Plays 2008 Seattle Seahawks Predictions:
With one of the best defenses in the league, the Seattle Seahawks will contend for their fifth straight
NFC West title. But several 30-something Pro Bowlers have this team’s gap closing for a Super Bowl run. An offense that lost several key players will struggle to find their stride this season. Their two starting receivers from a year ago will be gone to start the season. The loss of Shaun Alexander will be too tough to immediately overcome. Meanwhile, the
Cardinals and
49ers are stronger and the Rams can’t be worse than they were a year ago. We feel it’s Arizona’s year to overcome their playoff drought and win the NFC West crown. Seattle will have to settle for 2nd place in this division as they try and snatch up a Wild-Card slot for the 2008 playoffs.
