The 2009 Seattle Seahawks: Holes Still Remain Despite Active Offseason

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.

Offensive Line

The most unnerving statistic for the 2009 Seattle Seahawks is that all five of their projected starting offensive linemen finished the 2008 campaign on the injured reserve.

To add more depth in their offensive line, the Seahawks drafted C Max Unger out of Oregon and signed free agent OT Ray Willis, but despite these additions, depth and health issues still linger from a mediocre 2008 campaign.

OT Levi Jones is rumored to be meeting with the Seahawks this week. Adding an established tackle such as Jones, despite his health risks, could add the offensive line depth that the Seahawks desperately need.

The most interesting personnel decision to watch for is how the ’Hawks handle C Max Unger. One of Unger’s most attractive features is his versatility. While he is listed as a center, his position in 2009 could be determined by who gets injured first. Unger began his college career as an offensive tackle, then moved to guard, and finally to center.

If the Seahawks do not sign OT Levi Jones, it is very possible that injuries could decimate their offensive line again in 2009. Injuries ruined the Seahawks offensive line in 2008, which led to a collapse of the running game and the subsequent collapse of the entire offense.

Don’t be surprised if the Seahawks add one or more players to their offensive line unit to plug various holes before the start of the 2009 season, but for now their plan is to play their five starters and hope for good health.

Running Back

It is unclear whether the Seahawks rushing woes in 2008 can be attributed to a porous offensive line or an under producing running back stable.

While the previously mentioned injury-ridden offensive line didn’t do Seahawks runners any favors, the Seattle rushing attack still finished in the bottom half of the league in total rushes, total rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns.

Julius Jones isn’t getting any younger, T.J. Duckett isn’t getting any slimmer, and former 7th round pick Justin Forsett probably does not have the tools to be an every down back.

With this in mind, the Seahawks could have gone out and signed a feature or complementary back to add in the backfield.

Versatile backs Correll Buckhalter and Derrick Ward were available, as well as solid runners such as J.J. Arrington. These runners found homes with greener pastures, however, as the Seahawks opted to stick with the Juice and Duckett one-two punch.

If the Seahawks resurrect their offensive line in 2009, their lack of talent at running back could be massively exposed. Julius Jones has lost a step from his early days, and T.J. Duckett only has value in goal line situations.

Head coach Jim Mora will use Julius Jones as a feature back, T.J. Duckett on the goal line, and Justin Forsett to spell Jones in an effort to mask the lack of depth at this position.

The Seahawks could have added another runner via free agency or late in the draft. Failing to do so might cost the team any chance at success in 2009.