Second Chances: Seattle Seahawks Season Preview

2011 Record 7-9

2011 Rankings

Total Offense: 28

Rush Offense: 21

Pass Offense: 22

Scoring Offense: 23

Total Defense: 9

Rush Defense: 15

Pass Defense: 11

Scoring Defense: 7

Offense

The Seahawks made a lot of big moves in free agency this offseason, the biggest of which may have been the signing of QB Matt Flynn. Word out of Seattle though, is that the camp battle between Flynn, incumbent Tavaris Jackson, and draft pick Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) has been tight and any of the three could win the starting job. Marshawn Lynch looks poised to have a big year behind a retooled offensive line and should be the focal point of the offense. The Seahawks also took a shot in the dark to bolster their wide receiving corps by signing Braylon Edwards and TO. This probably won't end well for Pete Carroll, but if anyone has mastered the art of giving people second chances, it's Pete. The Seahawks aren't going to blow anyone out, but they won't have the worst offense in the league either.

Defense

The Hawks made two big-time free agent signings in DT Jason Jones and LB Barrett Ruud. They had a middle-of-the-road defense last year and gave up 100+ rush yards each of the last 6 weeks. Jones is an athletic DT that should help the Seahawks up front. It will be interesting to see how the Seahawks employ first round pick Bruce Irvin (OLB/DE-West Virginia) after they were panned across the board for taking Irvin in the top half of the first round. He certainly has the speed to be an effective situational rusher, but he could be a huge bust that gets utterly dominated by NFL tackles as well. In the secondary, Seattle boasts one of the top young safeties in the league in Earl Thomas, and they finished 11th in the league in Pass defense and 4th in the league with 22 interceptions last season.

Intangibles

The Seahawks saw the biggest change to their uniforms with the NFL's changeover to Nike threads and might well turn into the Oregon of the NFL. This really has nothing to do with anything, but as long as they don't go back to the awful lime green uniforms, I think Seattle will be okay.

If the Seahawks were a TV Character

Tom Haverford (Parks and Rec)

Tom is probably the king of second chances. He is constantly digging himself into holes either through running his mouth or through risky business ventures. For the most part, Tom, like the Seahawks decision-makers, have good intentions at heart but you sometimes have to question the way they go about getting things done. DJ Rooooomba

What They're Saying

Check out our buddy Chris @30AcreFortress

Prediction

The Seahawks have put up 7-9 records the last two seasons, but improved their point differential from -97 to +6. With the strength in San Francisco, the Seahawks aren't going to win the division with a 7-9 record this year like they did in 2010, but they should be around .500 once again this season. I don't think they've improved enough to take a run at the division crown, but they didn't take any steps backwards either. 8-8.