The 2009 Seattle Seahawks: Holes Still Remain Despite Active Offseason

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The Seattle Seahawks were surprisingly active in the 2009 offseason. While the Seahawks lost a number of players who saw significant playing time in 2008, most of the losses were addressed through free agency or the draft.

DT Rocky Bernard signed with the New York Giants, leaving a hole at defensive tackle. The Seahawks signed free agent DT Collin Cole from the Green Bay Packers and traded for DT Cory Redding from the Lions in order to fill the hole left by Bernard.

LB Julian Peterson had several contract disputes and was eventually traded to Detroit in the previously mentioned Cory Redding deal. To replace Peterson, the Seahawks drafted LB Aaron Curry with the No.4 overall pick in this year's draft.

WR Bobby Engram signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason, leaving a thin and injury-prone receiving corps. The Seahawks responded by signing high-profile free agent WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and drafting Penn State WR Deon Butler.

These are just a few examples of the Seahawks' offseason maneuvers, but despite these moves there a number of holes that were left unaddressed.

Here are a few of the current holes in the Seattle Seahawks depth chart that could be exposed in the upcoming season.

Safety

The Seattle Seahawks pass defense was one of the worst in the NFL in 2009. The Seahawks ranked 32nd in passing yards allowed, tied for 30th in passing touchdowns allowed, 29th in interceptions, and 27th in passing completion percentage.

Pro Bowl CB Marcus Trufant is the only superstar in the Seahawks secondary, and Seahawks General Manager Tim Ruskell was expected to address this issue in the 2009 offseason.

Ruskell signed (former Seahawk) CB Ken Lucas to a multi-year deal to address a lack of depth at cornerback, but has yet to add any significant help at safety. While Lucas helps the secondary as a whole his presence at corner will only minimally address a depth problem at safety.

SS Deon Grant is a hard-hitting safety who can play in the Seahawks new 4-3 scheme, but FS Brian Russell might struggle with everything required in first year Defensive Coordinator Casey Bradley’s implementation of the “Tampa 2”variation of the 4-3 defense.

Safety depth was needed not only to shore up a weak pass defense but to aid in Bradley’s introduction of the “Tampa 2,” but Ruskell added only one safety in 7th round draft choice Courtney Greene.

The Seahawks current plan at safety is to start Grant and Russell and pray for better results. Grant has the talent to run in the Tampa 2, but Russell might nit.

This lack of depth at safety could easily be exposed in the 2009 season. Grant can hit and Russell is a hustler, but Grant and Russell were inefficient in pass defense last year, and with no added star power this offseason the Seahawks secondary might be equally bad in 2009.

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