Seattle Seahawks Five Bold Predictions for 2010

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Coming off another disappointing season in 2009, the Seattle Seahawks had to make some drastic changes in order to try to take back the division they ruled over for nearly half the decade, the NFC West.

And make changes they did. Jim Mora, who was never able to get the players to buy into his system, was gone after just one season, and he was replaced by a man who took a struggling USC program and rebuilt it into a college juggernaut.

Pete Carroll has been in this situation before. This is neither his first shot at the NFL, nor is it the first time he has been tasked with rebuilding a once great franchise.

He was never given a proper chance in his previous stints with the Jets or Patriots. Never given a chance to really run his team the way he envisioned it, he was out after just a couple mediocre seasons, and he went to the college game. The rest is history.

Can he do the same thing he did for the Seahawks that did for the Trojans? Only time will tell, but this time, he's running the show.

I see good things on the horizon, and here are my five "bold" predictions for the upcoming 2010 season.

Deion Branch Will Be Cut During Training Camp

After four underachieving, injury-riddled seasons in Seattle, it's time for Seattle to cut its losses, and make room for the younger group of receivers on the roster.

The drafting of Golden Tate and the signing of Mike Williams signal a youth movement for the much-maligned Seahawks receiving corps.

With those two along with speedster Deon Butler, and the sure-handed T.J. Houshmandzadeh holding down roster spots, I don't see room for the aging, injury prone Branch on the roster.

Mike WIlliams Will Catch at Least 50 Passes

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This is where we get into the first "bold" prediction of the list.

After being royally screwed over by the NFL prior to the 2004 draft, making him both ineligible for the draft and to return to USC, he was forced to sit out the entire 2005 season. Still, he was taken 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2005 draft.

Sadly, draft day has probably been the best moment of his NFL career.

After underachieving his way through two seasons in Detroit and having brief stints in Oakland and Tennessee, he was out of football after the 2007 season.

Fast forward to the 2010 season, and Williams is getting one last shot at the NFL. Re-united with his college coach Pete Carroll, this could be a match made in heaven.

One of the biggest things missing from the Seahawks offense over the years has been a big target. Someone to throw to in goal line situations, somebody who can get up over cornerbacks and grab the ball out of the air.

A true playmaker.

I believe a rejuvenated Williams will be just that for Seattle in 2010.

Justin Forsett Will Rush For at Least 1,000 Yards

Maybe if Mora wouldn't have been so dead set on using Julius "Not Half the Back My Brother Thomas Is" Jones, he'd still have a job.

Justin Forsett was by far the best back on the Seahawks roster last year, picking up 619 yards, on 114 carries, and scoring four touchdowns.

He was just as dangerous coming out of the backfield, as he racked up 41 receptions for 350 yards.

He is the prototype Pete Carroll running back: small, fast, athletic, with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and create plays with his speed and elusiveness.

Some people have been skeptical about if he could handle a 20 to 22 carries a game. People had the same doubts about backs such as Warrick Dunn and Tiki Barber, both of whom Forsett reminds me of, and they both went on to long, fantastic careers.

Look for big things out of Forsett in 2010.

Matt Hasselbeck Will Start All 16 Games

Hasselbeck is coming off two straight injury-riddled, disappointing seasons and this is his last chance to prove he still has what it takes to lead an NFL team.

He will not disappoint.

With a revamped offensive line, an improved receiving corps, and the added competition with the acquisition of Charlie Whitehurst, expect a return to Pro Bowl form for Matt Hasselbeck.

The last time Hasselbeck was healthy was in 2007, when he put up MVP-caliber numbers, and led the Hawks to their fourth straight division title.

Speaking of that...