Seattle Seahawks QB: 10 Players Who Will Be His Best Friends

The most difficult part of predicting which players will be most helpful to the Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback in 2012 is simply not knowing which quarterback will be the starter. While there are a few obvious choices to help out the quarterback, there are certain players who will be a better fit for a different passer.

For example, Matt Flynn will likely work very well with Zach Miller and Mike Williams. They are big targets with sure hands; Flynn knows if he gets the ball to where they are supposed to be, they will make the play.

Tarvaris Jackson, on the other hand, will click better with the likes of Ricardo Lockette. He's a speedy receiver who will be able to get deep on defenses. Jackson knows if he throws deep that it will almost certainly be caught by Lockette or hit the turf.

The next step is determining just how many best friends one can have? Well, if you are my six-year-old daughter, it seems almost limitless. But if you are a quarterback in the NFL even a few on the field can help you get through a rough day.

Lastly, the hassle of referring to an unknown quarterback is cumbersome. For the balance of this article (and likely several to come), the Seahawks quarterback will be known as Jack Flylson.

Following are 10 Seahawks who will make life on Jack Flylson much easier in 2012.

Jon Ryan

We simply can't forget about the role field position plays in the bag of tricks available to an NFL quarterback. Special teams is a huge part of that, and Jon Ryan has shown the ability to pin opposing defenses deep in their end of the field. 

Ryan had an almost unbelievable mark of just one touchback in 2010. He's brilliant in this area and underrated for his talent as an NFL punter.

His touchbacks went up to eight last season, but he's one of the more accurate punters inside the 20. He dropped 34 inside that mark and seemed to have at least one kick downed inside the five every week.

When opposing offenses start deep in their own territory, it's more difficult to advance the ball. This gives the defense a better opportunity to make sure the punter takes the field without considering the ball nearing Seattle's goal line. 

Better field position for Jack Flylson means the full playbook will be available.

Leon Washington

Perhaps, I tipped my hand a bit with that last slide, but just as Jon Ryan can limit what opposing offenses do, solid returns by Leon Washington will open up options for the quarterback.

Jack Flylson doesn't want to be facing 3rd-and-8 from his own 6-yard line, and Washington can help make sure he doesn't do so very often.

The Entire Defensive Unit

If you didn't see Washington coming, this unit should have been a clear BFF (best friend forever for the guys reading this who don't have daughters) candidate.

Granted, this will push us well over the promised 10 players, but I'm taking creative liberties with the count. Defense will equal a collective one best friend.

Seattle had a top-10 defense in 2011 and could reach elite status in 2012. Keeping opposing offenses off the field and giving the offense the ball back in good field position will pay huge dividends. It will allow Jack Flylson to utilize the entire field and let Seattle's offensive line and pounding running backs wear opposing defenses out.

Seattle's offense should be in a position to feed off the defense's energy in 2012 instead of robbing their strength.

Russell Okung

Sticking with the "Captain Obvious" role, what NFL quarterback doesn't rely on his left tackle as much as any position on the field? Well, aside from the left-handed variety of throwers.

Russell Okung has been heavily criticized by some fans and media members for his poor showing over his first two seasons. He's had issues sustaining blocks at times and has missed several games in both seasons with injuries.

Some people forget that similar things were said of Walter Jones early in his career when he suffered high ankle sprains in both of his legs.

One thing is certain with Okung. When he takes the field and is healthy, he's a commanding blocker. He has taken on some of the best defensive ends in the NFL and left them empty and frustrated.

One example was the work he did on Trent Cole who eventually body-slammed Okung out of frustration. Speaking of injuries, that action led to Okung missing the last quarter of the 2011 season.

Max Unger

While not quite the same as the left tackle, the team's center is responsible for directing blocking assignments and quite often picking up surprises in blitz packages.

Max Unger showed exactly why the Seahawks drafted him during the one round of brilliance in the former management's tenure. After trading away their second-round selection in 2009 (and drafting Earl Thomas with their 2010 pick), Seattle gave up their third- and fourth-round picks to get back into Round 2 to select Unger.

Unger will continue to develop under Tom Cable and having an entire offseason with most of his offensive line will allow the unit to better learn tendencies and gel.

The 2012 season is also a contract year for Unger, so expect him to really pull out the lunch-pail attitude. Perhaps, now is a good time to work on his extension...but more on that on Wednesday.

Sidney Rice

When Sidney Rice is healthy, he's one of the best receivers in the NFL. While one can point to the one season in five when that was the case, I look to what I saw on the practice field during training camp.

Rice combines athleticism, hands and big-play potential. He has good speed and great height. He can go up to get a ball and drops very few passes. 

Seattle has never had a receiver with Rice's combination of physical skills. No disrespect to Steve Largent, but his skill set lies elsewhere, and his technique and work ethic are what made him a Hall of Fame receiver.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune offered similar thoughts after Seattle signed Rice last season. He commented "so far on the practice field for Seattle he’s been as good as advertised, making several highlight reel catches during training camp and drawing praise from both players and coaches for his play." 

Williams also shared a quote by head coach Pete Carroll. 

"

I think he’s just loaded with those kinds of plays. He’s really, really talented. And he loves to compete in practice, which just fits so beautifully with the way we approach it. He’s embracing this opportunity to show who he is, and how he fits in and how we can count on him.

"

Rice had offseason surgeries in both shoulders and is recovering well. If he can stay on the field in 2012, Jack Flylson will certainly take advantage of his skill set.

Doug Baldwin

In the NFL, a reliable possession receiver is important. Matt Hasselbeck had Bobby Engram for much of his tenure and could almost always rely on him catching important first-down balls on third down.

It was an occasional touchdown catch at the end of a playoff game that he struggled with.

For Jack Flylson, that player will be Doug Baldwin. He's a crafty receiver with good hands and concentration. He will find his spots and help the Seahawks move the chains.

Tom Cable

Surprise...but Jack Flylson's best friend on the sidelines will be offensive line coach Tom Cable.

Forgive the indulgence, as Cable isn't a player, but his role in this offense deserves mentioning.

2011 was the the third consecutive season the Seahawks have had to do major shuffling of starting linemen on offense. Every offensive lineman missed at least one start due to injury, and three opening-day starters ended the season on injured reserve.

Unlike the prior two seasons, though, the replacements stepped in and played well.

Part of that is an improvement in depth on the team, but Cable's tutelage is also very deserving of credit. 

If Seattle can keep their linemen healthy this season, Cable deserves a tip of the cap for teaching them how to be safe. If there are injuries, Jack Flylson will be happy Cable has his back...and is keeping it from hitting the turf too often.

Zach Miller and/or Kellen Winslow

Yes...this slide is a complete cop-out. Without knowing which one of Jack Flylson's three personalities will take the field, it's a bit hard to know which tight end will be his favorite target.

What is known is that Zach Miller and Kellen Winslow can terrorize opposing defenders, particularly when they are on the field together. Seattle's offensive line should be in much better stead in 2012, allowing the tight ends to work into pass patterns much quicker.

The tight ends will impact the ground game in two ways. Obviously, their blocking will help open running lanes...or at least push defenders back a few yards.

But their presence will mean defenses have to account for their ability to quickly get down the field. It's more difficult to put eight defenders in the box if one or both of the tight ends can burn a defense deep.

Seattle should field an exciting tandem in 2012—a unit I'll likely be referring to as "Z-Dub."

Marshawn Lynch

What more could a quarterback ask for than a pounding running back that's all too happy to carry Jack Flylson's books home from school?

Marshawn Lynch will do the dirty work for the offense, albeit with some help from Robert Turbin. Opposing defenses will need to plug the box to stop the run on early downs, opening up play-action opportunities and giving their big, speedy wide receivers mismatches down the field.

While most every NFL quarterback wants the opportunity to put the game in their hands and secure a win, they certainly don't mind having a partner to take off some of the burden.

Lynch will put the Seahawks in favorable positions on second and third down more often than not in 2012. 

Jack Flylson will certainly find more success throwing the ball when he isn't continually facing 3rd-and-long situations.

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