Mapping Out a Blueprint for a Seahawks Super Bowl Run in 2013-14

The Seattle Seahawks can win the Super Bowl in 2013-14. Not every team in the NFL can confidently make that proclamation, at least not with a straight face. Certainly teams have to be optimistic about their respective futures, but some franchises are clearly closer than others.

It is not difficult to argue that the Seahawks are close to winning the big game, or at least have many of the pieces needed to make a run at Super Bowl XLVIII.

Still, there is work to do from now until next January. This team has some deficiencies, and the NFL is a very tough league. Success one year does not in any way guarantee future accomplishments. Injuries, poor performances and tougher competition can very quickly cause an 11-5 team to fall back and finish 9-7 or even 8-8.

So, how do the Seahawks put together a plan for winning the Super Bowl? Here is a blueprint for getting to the big game next year in New Jersey.

Coaches and Front Office

When it comes to the management structure, the Seahawks are basically set for next season. There has been some turnover with the departure of Gus Bradley, but Seattle has quickly addressed its needs and appears ready to move forward.

Dan Quinn is the new defensive coordinator, but he is not really a new face in Seattle. Quinn worked for the Seahawks from 2009 to 2010. Obviously some of the players have changed, but there is a built-in relationship between Quinn and Pete Carroll.

Going forward, the blueprint for success will be for Carroll, Quinn and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to stay on the same page.

Perhaps the biggest part of success next season will be the ongoing relationship between Pete Carroll and John Schneider. In the last few seasons, Carroll and Schneider have appeared to have the same vision for this team.

If they have disagreed on selections, they have kept their differences behind closed doors.

Wise Choices in the Draft

When you look at the makeup of the Seahawks' roster, it is not hard to find evidence that the draft has been a key part of the blueprint. The last three drafts have yielded key players such as Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Russell Okung, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Golden Tate.

It is important to note that not all of the stars on this team have been first-round picks. In fact, of the eight players listed above, only two (Okung and Thomas) were selected in the first round.

What is the blueprint for success in 2013-14? Keep building the team slowly and patiently through the draft. There are certainly headline players that will be selected at the beginning of the first round. However, long-term success is arguably about finding hidden gems and depth in the later rounds.

There is some debate about the biggest needs on this team, but it is reasonable to assume that Carroll and Schneider may seek to add talent on the defensive and offensive line. In addition, Seattle may look to draft a wide receiver and an outside linebacker.

Then again, management may have a particular strategy that is less than conventional. Carroll and Schneider have been critiqued in the past for their selections, but they have consistently found success with their choices.

Free Agency

There are some intriguing athletes that will be on the open market, and certain free agents could play a key role in putting the Seahawks “over the top.”

The difficulty with free-agent spending is that upgrading a position can be expensive, and bringing in a player from the outside can introduce a particular personality to the locker room that is disruptive.

If you look at the strategy that has been employed over the last couple of seasons, aggressive free agency has not been a major part of the equation. Seattle has reportedly inquired about stars and brought in free agents for visit. However, the bulk of the money in the last few years has been spent on in-house free agents.

A blueprint for success in 2013-14 may be to continue the strategy of talking but not necessarily breaking the bank for the top free agents.

The Seahawks should do some shopping, but the money should be spread around. Depth is the key, rather than spending big money on one or two marquee free agents. Someone like Mike Wallace is intriguing but he will also be quite pricey.

Training Camp

In terms of a blueprint for success in 2013-14, training camp next summer will arguably start out looking a bit different. Specifically, the Seahawks will have the advantage of an established quarterback when they start camp.

This will obviously be a major relief given the daily drama that was present last season when no one one knew whether Russell Wilson, Matt Flynn or Tarvaris Jackson was going to be the signal-caller.

As mentioned, there are a few areas that may need some development during the summer. More consistent play on the right side of the offensive line will need to be addressed, as will pass-rush schemes that put additional pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Solid play across the offensive line will be crucial if the Seahawks want to develop a more balanced offensive attack.

The Seahawks will also need to work on defending mid-range passes. Despite the talent in the secondary, Seattle was vulnerable in several games to short-yardage passes in the middle of the field.

Besides those areas, a blueprint for success will include further development of the rapport between Wilson and his receiving corps.

The Game Plan

Once the season starts, many of the personnel decisions will be put to the test as the games begin. At the risk of oversimplifying the strategy in 2013-14, it is reasonable to assume that the plan will be similar to this year.

Seattle will look to run the ball with Marshawn Lynch while allowing Russell Wilson more freedom to utilize the read option.

The Seahawks will rely on the defense to keep opponents in check and out of the end zone.

Obviously it will help if Wilson has more weapons and more time to throw. Seattle may look to be a little more balanced on offense next season. Beast Mode was in full effect all year, but he is also a bruising runner with a potentially bad back.

Despite playing very well down the stretch, the Seahawks still finished the season 27th in passing yards. It may behoove the team to trade some rushing yards for a more productive passing attack in order to give Russell Wilson more options against different defenses.

The defense could stand to put more consistent pressure on the quarterback so that the dynamic secondary can do what they do best. Much will depend on Seattle's ability to draft or sign the right defensive linemen. In addition, a successful blueprint would be aided by a healthy Chris Clemons and a more experienced and productive Bruce Irvin.

Home Cooking and Road Tests

The 2013 schedule is an interesting collection of opponents, but that is always the case.

Divisional games could all be competitive next season. San Francisco will still be a powerhouse, St. Louis could be much improved and even Arizona may be a challenge if they can solidify their quarterback situation.

In addition to the divisional foes, Seattle will have interesting home opponents next season including the New Orleans Saints, the Minnesota Vikings (again) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Vikings and Adrian Peterson should be tough, and both the Saints and Bucs finished 7-9, which means that they might be even better in 2013.

When the Seahawks go out on the road they will face a grueling schedule which includes the Atlanta Falcons (13-3 in 2012), New York Giants (9-7), Houston Texans (12-4) and Indianapolis Colts (11-5).

Not exactly an easy draw.

The blueprint for success? Let’s just say that 3-5 on the road may not get it done in 2013-14.

Winning the Division and Beyond

Do the Seahawks need to go 8-0 at home again in order to win the Super Bowl? Not necessarily, but it would certainly be nice to host playoff games and take advantage of the enthusiastic CenturyLink Field crowd.

Winning the division will not be easy, particularly since the San Francisco 49ers are unlikely to experience a major decline in 2013-14. In addition, history has shown that winning the division does not necessarily guarantee a trip to the Super Bowl.

It is reasonable to argue that winning the NFC West next year may require at least a 12-4 record, if not 13-3. Seattle's impressive 11-5 record this year was obviously not enough for a division crown.

How do the Seahawks get to 12-4? Going 8-0 at home would be a good start, and then it is just a matter of going 4-4 on the road. Obviously this is easier said than done. Fans cannot assume an 8-0 home record every year just because it happened in 2012.

A 7-1 finish at home and a 5-3 record on the road would also result in a 12-4 result, and that may be a more reasonable expectation for a team that the fans optimistically believe to be on the rise. Given the tough road schedule, 4-4 may even be a challenge.

The blueprint for success is only part of the process. Ultimately, the winner has to be built. There are many reasons to be excited about this team because the Seattle Seahawks could very well win Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014.

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