THE WAY WE WERE: Comparing the 2009 Seahawks to the 2005 NFC Champions

We all loved the 2005 Seahawks.  Even those who had just jumped on the bandwagon that year knew that team was special.  Coach Holmgren's west coast offense was firing on all cylinders, and the defense was playing with a tenacity rarely seen in the Emerald City back in those days. 

But that was four years ago.  Since then, the Seahawks have been through injuries, retirements, and losses of many of their key players from that Super Bowl year. The personnel department has been hard at work each off-season finding new talent for the roster.

So, is our Seahawks roster as good now as it was then?  Let's do a quick comparison and see where the team has stepped ahead, and where they've fallen back. 

Offense Roster Analysis: 2009 vs. 2005

Quarterback '09 vs. '05: Steady as he goes.
    2005: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace.
    2009: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace. 

Hasselbeck had a career season in 2005.  In 2009, he is more experienced, with four more playoff games under his belt.  Last year, a bulging disc in his back ruined his season.  Now apparently healed, Hasselbeck should enjoy another big year in his prime as long as his back behaves.

Offensive Line '09 vs. '05: Three steps back.
    2005: LT Walter Jones, LG Steve Hutchinson, C Robbie Tobeck, RG Chris Gray, Floyd Womack, RT Sean Locklear.
    2009: LT Walter Jones?, Sean Locklear, LG Max Unger? Mike Wahle?, C Chris Spencer?, Unger, RG Rob Sims?, Ray Willis, RT Locklear, Willis

Note the question marks in the 2009 lineup.  These are the signs that keep coaches Mora, Knapp, and Solari up at night wondering.  The 2005 line had history together, they had chemistry, and they had Steve Hutchinson playing like a man who had something to prove.  He succeeded in proving he was the most intimidating LG in football, and then proved he could earn more money than the Seahawks had ever imagined paying for a guard when he left for the Minnesota Vikings.

2009 is a rebuilding year, and much depends on Walter Jones' surgically-repaired knee.  Even if Walter plays, the three interior line positions are truly up for grabs.  The good news is improved roster depth.  This could take awhile for Coach Solari to sort out; he may not be sleeping well this season.

Receivers '09 vs. '05: A step forward.
    2005: Bobby Engram, Darrell Jackson, and Joe Jurevicious; TE Jerramy Stevens.
    2009: Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh; TE John Carlson.

Looks like a step forward in 2009.  Neither Jackson nor Stevens had dependable hands.  Newcomer Houshmandzadeh and the promising young Carlson brings fresh play-making ability to the '09 squad.

Running Backs '09 vs. '05: A step back.
    2005: RB Shaun Alexander, Mo Morris; FB Mack Strong
    2009: RB Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett ; FB Schmitt, Justin Griffith

Alexander was on a tear in 2005, scoring a record 28 touchdowns.  Much of the credit, however, should be given to the All-Pro blocking front of Jones, Hutchinson, and Strong.  2009 will feature a multiple-RB zone-blocking approach implemented successfully by Greg Knapp in Atlanta and Oakland.  But does Knapp have the horses to succeed with this attack in Seattle?

Defense Roster Analysis: 2009 vs. 2005

Defensive Line '09 vs. '05: A step forward.
    2005: RE Grant Wistrom, LE Bryce Fisher, Rodney Bailey; DT Marcus Tubbs, Rocky Bernard, Craig Terrill, NT Chuck Darby
    2009: RE Daryl Tapp, Lawrence Jackson; LE Pat Kerney, Cory Redding, DT Brandon Mebane, Craig Terrill, Cory Redding, NT Colin Cole, Red Bryant

The 2005 defensive linemen proved themselves to be over-acheivers.  Wistrom and Tubbs fought through injuries to terrorize quarterbacks, while Darby held ground in the interior line.  The 2009 crew is deeper and more talented, but whether these linemen will tough it out in the trenches as successfully as their 2005 counterparts remains to be seen.  The 2009 team is stocked with plenty of big athletes ready to compete.

Linbackers '09 vs. '05: A step forward.
    2005: MLB Lofa Tatupu, LOLB Leroy Hill, ROLB D.D. Lewis
    2009: MLB Lofa Tatupu, LOLB Aaron Curry, ROLB Leroy Hill

2009 brings back nearly the same crew as in '05, with two notable exceptions.  First, Tatupu and Hill were mere rookies in 2005.  Second, '09 super-rookie Aaron Curry should make everyone forget about journeyman D.D. Lewis.

Defensive Backs '09 vs. '05: A step forward.
    2005: RCB Marcus Trufant, LCB Andre Dyson, Nickel CB Kelly Herndon, FS Ken Hamlin (inj.), Marquand Manuel, SS Michael Boulware, Jordan Babinaux
    2009: RCB Marcus Trufant, LCB Ken Lucas, Nickel CB Josh Wilson, FS Brian Russell, SS Deon Grant, Jordan Babineaux

When remembering the successful '05 season, we might forget the challenges that defensive backfield faced.  SS Hamlin was on injured reserve, CB Dyson was nearing the end of his career, Herndon had not proven himself a dependable starter, and Boulware suffered lapses in coverage.  The 2009 crew features more dependable players, including solid SS Grant, CB Lucas, and young ball-hawk Josh Wilson.

Special Teams '09 vs. '05: Still special enough.
    2005: K Josh Brown, P Tom Rouen, KR Peter Warrick, PR Bobby Engram
    2006: K Olindo Mare/Brandon Coutu, P Jon Ryan, KR Josh Wilson, PR Nate Burleson, Deon Butler

Brown had a big year in '05.  Olindo Mare revived his career in Seattle in '08 and has strong competition from young Brandon Coutu for '09.  The return game could be improved in '09 with speedsters Wilson and Butler contributing.

On balance: four steps back and four steps ahead. 

Call it even.  On paper, that is.  But on the field?

On paper this roster is as talented as the team that played in Super Bowl XL.  That said, the offense will need to execute a major turn-around from 2008, when injuries reduced this squad to XFL look-alikes.  This offense will not be the machine that Holmgren built, but there is plenty of talent and experience to execute Knapp's scheme.  

Even so, the offensive line could be the undoing of this team.  If key players including Jones and Spencer cannot stay healthy, the team's fortunes could fade in a hurry. 

On defense, the 2009 roster is a bit deeper than the 2005 crew, particularly on the bolstered defensive line.  This unit, along with the linebackers, should be the strength of this team.  An improved pass rush from the front-seven should help the pass defense enough to once again make the Seahawks a tough team to score on.
 
As always, three elusive keys are essential for any team to rocket to the Super Bowl the way the Seahawks did in 2005.  Without these, the 2009 Seahawks will be also-rans.

1) Tenacious, Never-Say-Die Attitude on Defense.  Championship teams have this; but the current Seahawks crew hasn't proven they do.

2) Offensive Line Chemistry. Also known as "five men reading each others' minds as they steam-roll opponents."  Champion offensive lines have this, but it is doubtful the Seahawks linemen can solidify their roles and build chemistry quickly in 2009 after the disaster they suffered through in 2008.

3) Avoid key injuries.  Even great teams become average when their starting QB, LOT, DE or other key players aren't on the field.  After 2008, all Seahawks fans can do is keep their fingers crossed.