Seattle Holds Keys To NFC Driver's Seat

2008 was supposed to be the magical ride of a lifetime for Mike Holmgren.  In the final year of his contact, this was the year he would finally win it all with Seattle.  He had all the pieces back from a decent 2007 defense, a solid offense, and a quarterback who just finished his best season statistically as a pro (3,966 yds, 28 tds, 9 int.)  However, things quickly came apart as Seattle fell to 4-12 and failed to make the post season for the first time since 2002. 

Now begins the Jim Mora era in Seattle.  

The Seahawks have really addressed their needs this off season.  Tim Ruskell, who many in Seattle felt needed to have a huge off season to keep his job, filled every need his team had before the draft. He started by signing the best WR in T.J. Houshmandzadeh, then a wide load DT in Colin Cole, and finally trading an aging Julian Peterson to the Lions for DT Cory Redding. 

Despite being loved by the fan base in Seattle, the Peterson trade erased a deficit by creating another opportunity to bolster a defensive line. This also left the door open for Seattle to draft Aaron Curry, unanimously the best player in the 2009 Draft.  The Seahawks also managed to draft Max Unger who should help solidify an offensive line that has not been the same since the departure of Steve Hutchinson.  

The Seahawks will enter 2009 in the same division as the Super Bowl runner-up Arizona Cardinals.  While it is hard to imagine a complete falling out by the Cardinals, remember that since 1999, only one team has earned a birth in the post-season the following year (2006 Seattle Seahawks). 

The division has historically belonged to the Seattle Seahawks before being passed onto the Arizona Cardinals last year.  This year’s schedule is not as brutal as last year’s, when the Seahawks had to face arguably the two best divisions in football (AFC East and NFC East).  The Seahawks should have a much better season with the improvements on defense and offense. 

The Seahawks have the pieces necessary for a deep run in the playoffs.  With new head coach Jim Mora’s run first mentality and his defensive minded philosophy, the Seahawks could go far barring any catastrophic injuries on offense or defense.  If Aaron Curry is the player we all believe he will be and Leroy Hill forgets his off season, then these Seattle Seahawks could be the best team in the NFC.  

Seattle's success will rely heavily on Matt Hasselbeck as well.  If he returns to his pro bowl caliber self, he will be the reason the Seattle Seahawks could hold the Lombardi Trophy in February.

However, if this team get plagued by the injury bug as last year, then it could be déjà vu for the 2009 Seattle Seahawks. 

The Seahawks could also face a daunting task of playing three straight road game in November, which could be the playoff death sentence if the Seahawks go 0-3. 

The Seahawks are also one of the only teams in the NFL with no 1 p.m. start time for their games played on the East side of the country.  Historically, the Seahawks have been terrible at 10 a.m. games going 1-3 last year with their only win coming against a team with a worse record, St. Louis. 

Seattle also rolled the dice by not drafting a decent QB in case of Matt Hasselbeck’s injury being far worse than amticipated.  Seneca Wallace, who proved he was a decent starter last year, is not the answer in Seattle.  If the Seahawks are forced to play that hand, you are looking at another sub .500 season.