2006 NFL Season Preview: Can the Seahawks Repeat in the NFC?
The 2006 Seattle Seahawks are faced with new situations. They have concerns and expectations to live upto that are unlike any they have ever seen before in the NFL. Instead of having to deal with the questions raised about their lack of consistency during a season or their inability to rise above the murky mediocrity, they now have different shoes to fill. For the first time, they will have to deal with being front-runners in the NFC. They have to deal with watching a key component on their formidable offensive line leave in free agency and now have to replace him. Most important, the injury bug has found its way to Seattle. They also may have to deal with recent NFL history. The past five Super Bowl losers have finished with sub-.500 records the very next season. Can they return to the promised land and tkae down the challenge from other teams in the conference or are the Seahawks one and done?
Offense
When Head Coach Mike Holmgren gathered the team together early in training camp, he expressed the need for “everyone to get better.” It’s hard to see the offense needing that improvement after taking a look at the numbers. He and Offensive Coordinator Gil Haskell led the Seahawks’ offense to second overall in total offense. They also led the NFL in key offensive statistics, including points per game with 28.3, red zone offense (71.1%), fourth-down efficiency where they were 7 for 8, and touchdowns with 57. Their offense was explosive at many points during the 2005 campaign, able to eat up minutes with their ball control style and efficiency. In 2006, the Seahawks will look for the returning members of the offense to continue the charge and make this season as successful as the last.
QB: Matt Hasselbeck has come a long way since being a relatively unknown third-string quarterback behind NFL legend Brett Favre in Green Bay. You can now understand why Mike Holmgren wanted so badly to bring him over from Green Bay when he came over to Seattle. Hasselbeck is now one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and his stature is still rising amongst NFL pundants and experts. Hasselbecak had probably the best season of his career last year, throwing for over 3,400 yards and 24 touchdowns while finally being able to keep his interception total in single digits with only 9. Hasselbeck is a true West Coast quarterback, accurate and able to make quick reads on short routes while preferring the short ump offs to receivers, tight ends, and running backs over down the field football. He’s not Michael Vick, but he can tuck it under his arm and get you a few yards in that way, too. Hasselbeck will have to excel again this season because even more emphasis will be placed by defenses on stopping MVP Shaun Alexander. If he can remain accurate and not take too many chances, he should rise once again to near the top of the NFL pecking order for quarterbacks.
RB/FB: One of the players that Holmgren targeted when talking about was Shaun Alexander. Questionable because Alexander had one of the best seasons in NFL history for a running back. He rushed for over 1,800 yards and scored 28 touchdowns, an NFL record. Alexander was also voted the league MVP during th regular season. But Alexander is taking his coaches’ assessment to heart. He believes that he has to be even better this season if the Seahawks are to return to the Super Bowl. I can’t help but agree with him. Teams will continue to focus even more attention to the running back, packing the line of scrimmage with players to clog up the running lanes and to read his favorite running plays. Alexander will have to vary his running styles and hope that defenses don’t pick up his running plays too often. Meanwhile, Alexander does not have to do it alone, because he’s got one of the best fullbacks in the game opening holes for him. Mack Strong is able to aid Alexander by taking playmakers on the opposing defense and taking them out of play. Many times has Strong taced and gotten the better of the exchange.
WR/TE: The loss of Joe Jurevicius is big for this team. Jurevicius filled in for Bobby Engram and Darrell Jackson, the Seahawks top two receivers, when they missed time due to injury. He was second on the team with 55 receptions and scored 10 receiving touchdowns. Jackson and Engram will be joined in the receiving corp by free agent signee from Minnesota Nate Burleson. Burleson had a dismal 2005, but many factors contributed to that. The loss of the Vikings’ starting quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, to injury seemed to affect him the most. However, some would suggest that he wasn’t built to take over the tremendous task of replacing Randy Moss in the Viking offense. In Seattle, Burleson will not be counted on to do that and should see an improvement over the 2005 season with the Seahawks. And with Jackson still not practicing in training camp as of Saturday August 19th, it will be necessary for Burleson to step up and contribute. TE Jeremy Stevens waas just injured in training camp and could enter the season not able to play because of an injury to his surgically repaired left knee. He is thought to be out for 6 weeks, which could muddle the tight end position since
Itula Mili is just now returning from an injury-plagued 2005 season. Stevens should come back fine in time for the heart of the season, but it is a situation to watch.
OL: this unit has taken the most beating. The biggest change is that All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson left for Minnesota. His replacement, Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack has been recently struck with a hamstring injury and had difficulty this offseason with a forearm ailment. They have to play Chris Spencer, a 2005 pick who saw little action, at center because Pro-Bowl center Robbie Tobeck needed surgery on his elbow. However, they still have All-Pro Walter Jones, considered by many to be the best tackle in the NFL. On the right side the Seahawks have veteran Chris Gray at guard, who has been with the Seahawks since 1998, and Sean Locklear at rigth tackle.
Overall Grade: A/A-
Defense
John Marshall takes over as Defensive Coordinator for Ray Rhodes, who has had health issues and has become a special assistant to the defense. This is Marshall’s fourth time as a defensive coordinator, last with Carolina in 1999-2001. He has a lot of talent to build around as Rhodes had this defense performing well in his time as the coordinator. The Seahawks had a breakthrough season on defense last season, leading the NFL with 50 sacks and only allowing one rusher to gain over 100 yards against them. They were also second in the NFl in red zone defense (40.4%) and rushing touchdowns allowed with 5.
DL: The defensive line, much like their offensive counterparts, have been dealing with injuries all preseason. New acquisition Russell Davis is expected to miss extensive time at defensive tackle with foot injury. Meanwhile they just recently got DEs Grant Wistrom and Joe Tafoya have just resumed practicing, as did DT Rocky Bernard. Bernard and Wistrom will be starters for the Seahawks, while Bryce Fisher will probably split time with Tafoya at the opposite end position. With Davis out, the pressure falls even more on the shoulders of Chuck Darby, who will pair with Bernard on the interior of the line because Marcus Tubbs still hasn’t returned from foot problems. This could be the most important aspect of the Seahawks season, because they were a big part of the unit’s 50 sacks last season.
LB: The Seahawks made a big splash when they acquired free-agent LB and former Pro-Bowler Julian Peterson from division rival San Francisco. He is a versatile player who can rush the passer and cover many of the running backs and athletic tight ends in the league. That, however, had been in question since recovering from multiple lower body injuries during his time with the 49ers. Some people would say that he’s lost a little bit of the explosiveness that made him a two-time Pro-Bowler and a first round draft pick for the 49ers. Meanwhile, he’ll team with Lofa Tatupu, who was a Pro-Bowler himself in his rookie season last season. He’s a playmaker who’s got a nose for the ball and a never-ending motor. On the other side will be Leroy Hill, who is atop the depth chart but being challenged closely by Kevin Bentley.
DB: The Seahawks return both of their starting cornerbacks from a year ago. Marcus Trufant, who is further improving in his man-to-man skills, and Kelly Herndon, who is proficient in man-to-man but excels in zone coverages. Trufant and Herndon are solid on the ends and will be joined by veteran Jimmy Williams or 2006 draft pick Kelly Jennings as the nickel corner. At safety, Ken Hamlin returns to the lineup after the incident outside a nightclub during last season that saw him miss the end of 2005. Hamlin is a great athlete who knows the positioning of the position well. Michael Boulware will be the strong safety opposite Hamlin. Boulware is a solid tackler and is very proficient at coming up to play the run.
Overall Grade: A-/B+
Special Teams
K: Josh Brown has been solid in three seasons with the Seahawks. Took his lumps a bit early in his career being a seventh round draft pick of the Seahawks, but he has made himself into a servicable performer for them. He still misses his share of field goals, something that the Seahawks would like him to continue to improve upon, especially after a 2005 that saw him digress from his 92% performance in 2004. Has only missed 1 PAT in his three-year career.
P: With Tom Rouen leaving to sign with the 49ers, the Seahawks have a rookie in place as their top punter. Ryan Plackemeier, from Wake Forest, was a seventh round pick for the Seahawks and looks to have the inside track at punting duties. Won the Ray Guy award last season in college as the nation’s top punter and was a consensus All-American. Averaged 47.2 yards per punt in his senior season at Wake Forest.
Overall Grade: B-
Coaching Staff
Head Coach Mike Holmgren, who was seemingly running out of chances to turn the Seahawks into a contender, seems to have new life and bought himself some more time with their 13-3 mark in 2005. It was highlighted by the franchise’s first appearance in a Suepr Bowl. Holmgren’s leash, actually, may be shorter now than it ever was. With the success, the expectations have been raised and many have the Seahawks as the favorites to return for the NFC. He still has Offensive Coordinator Gil Haskell, who has been at the helm since 2001. On defense, John Marshall takes over for Ray Rhodes. Marshall has had experience and success in the NFL as a Defensive Coordinator and will also have the support of Rhodes, who’s health ailments forced Marshall to take over for him last season in an interim basis before becoming his permanent replacement in the offseason.
Overall Grade: A
Position Battles to Watch
WR: With Darrell Jackson still injured, the Seahawks need to have good receivers as their backups in case of recurring injury. The battle for number three could between Engram, Burleson, and D.J. Hackett. They also have Peter Warrick, a former first round pick who has settled in as a return specialist, to get more time in the rotation. Jackson and Engram are still penciled in as the starters on the depth chart, but Burleson did sign a big contract and they don’t expect him to sit.
DL: Who knows? With all the injuries, the second and third string guys are all battling it out for time while veterans like Rocky Bernard and Marcus Tubbs are struggling getting back from injuries. Bryce Fisher and Joe Tafoya will be an interesting battle to see who will bookend with Grant Wistrom.
Player to Watch
Kelly Jennings, CB: The rookie from Miami will be battling with veteran Jimmy Williams for the nickel back position. Jennings comes from the line of University of Miami cornerbacks which has included guys like Phillip Buchanon, Mike Rumph, and Antrel Rolle over the past few seasons. However, will he be like Rumph and Buchanon and not reach his potential or can he show people that he’s worth the high draft pick and a quality corner. I believe it will be the latter.
Bold Predictions
Record: 11-5, NFC West Champs
Offensive MVP: Shaun Alexander
Defensive MVP: Rocky Bernard
