Seahawks 2009-2010: A Year In Prediction, Part 1 Of 2

Part one, of a two part article series, in which the keys to the Seattle Seahawks season are listed.

The Seahawks 2008-2009 season is over, and what a terrible experience it was. The great offseason moves made by General Manager Tim Ruskell within the past few months is essentially over as well. So, now it is time to think about next year in great detail. So, I have decided to give my unbiased (is that possible?) opinion and analysis on what is in store for the Seahawks this year, I believe there are four key points to how the season will play out.

The Four Key Points:

1) Seattle and St. Louis have dominated this division over the past decade, that time appears to be over. St. Louis is rebuilding at this stage, while Seattle appears to be reloading. Arizona is on top for now, and the 49ers are a QB away from contention.

Arizona has an aging QB who has started 16 games just once since 2003 and a terrible defense that has few good players. The 49ers are a serious contender if they can find something close to balance, their run game and defense look formidable.

2) Additions and losses could play a big role in whether or not success is reached by Seattle next season.

Seattle has lost several key players this offseason, including: Maurice Morris (Lions), Rocky Bernard (Giants), Bobby Engram (Chiefs), and Julian Peterson (trade via Lions). If Seahawks fans knew before the offseason began that Seattle would lose four starters that have been significant pieces of the puzzle then they would expect a repeat of the preceding year.

However, that is not the case and that is due to, what John Clayton calls, "the best offseason of any NFL team."

Key additions made through free agency and the draft include, in order of significance:

1) WR TJ Houshmendzadeh, who is a slightly younger upgrade over Engram.
2) LB Aaron Curry (1st round), whose addition allows Leroy Hill to return to his blitzing rookie role (“Sam” LB) while giving Seattle an upgrade in coverage skills to play the “Will” LB (Curry).
3) CB Ken Lucas, who should start opposite Trufant, he replaces Kelly “the bad” Jennings and undersized Josh Wilson, who will most likely shift to nickel back.
4) C/G Max Unger (2nd round), a great interior linemen from the University of Oregon who will provide immediate quality depth, and some see him starting in the NFL for multiple years.
5a) WR Deon Butler (3rd round), a blazing fast receiver from Penn State that should provide quality depth for the WR corps.
5b) DT/DE Cory Redding, a decent player who should provide quality depth to the defensive line.
5c) DT Colin Cole, a big body that should find time in the rotation.


3) Health remains a bigger concern for Seattle than it does for most of the league.

In the 08-09 season Seattle was decimated by injuries. The brute of this devastation was seen on the offense. Seattle started, yes "started," 10 different receivers over the season because of injuries to the top four receivers and several back-ups (Branch, Burleson, Engram, Obamanu, Payne, etc.). Also, the ENTIRE offensive line ended an injury-riddled season on the IR. Not to mention Hasselbeck missed 7 games and performed terribly when he did play, due to a bulging disk in his back.

The defense was also somewhat littered with injuries to further destroy the season.
Kerney missed over half the season; Tatupu and Trufant each played with casts for multiple games, which decreased their productivity.

What a year for injuries…was it a fluke? Seahawks fans hope the answer to that question is yes.


4) The coaching change could prove substantial.

I am a believer that Seahawks coaching change could be positive. Seattle has a coach, Jim L. Mora, who has experienced success with his former head-coaching gig in Atlanta.

They also have hired Casey “Gus” Bradley, who was the former Tampa Bay Linebackers Coach. He got a chance to interview when record-holding and former Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin called Jim Mora and said:

“J.L., listen to me. I have got a guy here in Tampa that is one of, if not, the finest football coaches I have ever worked with. He's an A-plus. He's a once-in-a-lifetime coach. You need to talk to him.”

Seattle also hired a new offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp. He has been a strong run orientated play caller with many of the teams he has coached for placing very high in rushing yards and attempts. But he does bring a QB coach skill set, as he was QB coach for the 49ers from 1998 to 2000, when Steve Young was in his prime.

In part two of this two part Seahawks series, I will get to the fun stuff—a close analysis of the coming season’s schedule and predictions of how the year will go.