The Seattle Seahawks taste, for the first time, what every previous Super Bowl champion has had to go through: the distractions, the bulls-eye on the back, the egos of players who now think more of themselves than they once did, and the pressure of having to live up to a changed reputation. Some teams handle this really well, while others fade away. What direction will the Seahawks take? They play in what is seen as the toughest division in the NFC, if not in the whole NFL. Their offense still faces questions. A lot of outcomes seem possible for this team.
Strengths
The Seahawks, under head coach Pete Carroll, have developed the best defense in the NFL. It’s not about any one position, either. This defense is balanced at all three layers. The defensive line is fast and agile, but there’s enough strength up the middle to contain the run. The pass rush is devastating, and if Seattle’s defense gets in third-and-long, it usually dominates, as shown in the Super Bowl against the Denver Broncos.
The linebackers are also fast. They were great last year in dropping back in pass coverage against running backs and receivers. They held their own in a lot of difficult situations against offenses that challenged them. The secondary was the best in football, with Richard Sherman leading the way but Earl Thomas also being an airtight safety who would always make that tackle 10 to 12 yards down the field as the last line of defense when the opposing offense gashed Seattle’s defensive line between the tackles. There’s no one superstar on this defense. It simply has 11 really good players who work well together.
Weaknesses
The team’s passing game lagged behind most of everything else the Seahawks did or tried to do last season. The running game with Marshawn Lynch was a strength, but Seattle often failed to pass the ball effectively even when the ground game clicked. Quarterback Russell Wilson is growing into a star, but he was inconsistent last year as a passer, and he also had some problems holding onto the ball when hit from the backside. Wilson has to be able to develop in terms of protecting the ball and hitting downfield passes. He also needs to be better at taking the clear eight-yard gain instead of trying to force the 25-yard pass into a tight spot. If he grows up, Seattle will be in very good shape.
Schedule
The Seahawks’ AFC games come against the AFC West, with the Denver Broncos going to the Pacific Northwest in a rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII. Seattle should like its chances at home. However, the Seahawks will have to visit the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. They would be happy with a split of those games right now. Seattle’s non-division NFC games come mostly against the NFC East, plus games against Carolina and Green Bay.
Outlook
The Seahawks just seem to be ripe for the taking. Marshawn Lynch has gotten himself into some off-field controversies. He also seems to be less than thrilled with his contract situation, even though he’s not holding out of training camp. The passing game merits questioning, and the San Francisco 49ers loom as a hungrier team this season. Take the under.
Pick: Under 11
