Seattle Seahawks: 5 Reasons It's Time for Better "Luck" Next Year

The Seattle Seahawks have been a difficult club to figure out this season, leaving many assuming it is time for them to "Suck for Luck."

The Seahawks followed an impressive three quarters against the Atlanta Falcons with a solid offensive effort in a win over the New York Giants. The team was headed into the bye week with momentum and a workable 2-3 record.

Then the wheels fell off...or the arm, in this case. Tarvaris Jackson had actually played well in the two aforementioned games, but a pectoral injury forced him from the game in New York and kept him from playing against the Cleveland Browns the week after the bye.

The team now sits at 2-6 and is playing for things other than wins and a playoff push.

Some will argue it is time for the Seahawks to "Suck for Luck." One of the few football-related thoughts that bother me more than that over-used moniker is intentionally losing games to improve draft position.

One person that undoubtedly hates that term a lot more than I do is Pete Carroll. His mantra of "Always Compete" makes the idea of intentionally losing for any reason laughable. 

However, the Seahawks' progress over the second half of the season won't be measured in wins. It will be measured in player development. Stringing together a few more losses would help draft-position and won't be a sign that the end is near for Carroll or his Seahawks.

5. Progress Isn't Measured in Wins and Losses

At the midway point in 2010, the Seahawks were 4-4. But, it is hard to argue that last year's team was closer to advancing deep into the playoffs than the 2011 team.

Seattle has talent on the current roster, but mistakes have cost the Seahawks in winnable games. It is likely the result of being a young team more than being undisciplined, but the two do go hand in hand.

Seattle's final record will be fairly meaningless at the end of the season, at least as far as its outlook for 2012. Stringing together a few wins might demonstrate improvement, but factors other than wins and losses are more important than the final record.

The Seahawks are at the top of the league in penalties committed. The offensive line is responsible for more than its fair share, but the unit has shown improvement. Coaches and fans will look for this unit to continue to gel and improve on a few technique issues.

Seattle has the best young safety tandem in the NFL, but its secondary still misses assignments. It's also responsible for several penalties. Both of these issues need to show improvement over the second half of the season, even with a third-string rookie cornerback being thrust into a starting position.

The linebacker corps was one of Seattle's strongest units just a few seasons ago. However, it continues to struggle with covering tight ends and picking up running backs coming out of the backfield and catching the ball. Seattle will need to structure draft decisions around how this unit progresses over the next two months.

The defensive line has been solid against the run but has struggled a bit with pressuring the quarterback. Seattle has recently brought Pep Levingston back to the active roster to help determine its needs on this unit.

Whether Seattle manages a few more wins down the stretch or not is somewhat irrelevant. Its progress in the areas above is significantly more important.

4. The Offensive Line Is Young and Built to Run and Protect the Quarterback

The Seahawks offensive line struggled at the start of the season. It has four new starters, and all but one have been in the NFL for less than three seasons.

The veteran presence of Robert Gallery is there to help them learn Tom Cable's blocking scheme. It has been a slow progress, but there have been signs of improvement.

The lack of offseason workouts and limitations on full-contact practices in training camp and during the season have also limited their development. Russell Okung's ankle injury also slowed his growth.

James Carpenter was not only adjusting to the NFL, but moving to a new position, too. There is a difference in playing tackle on the left and right sides. Some liken it to learning to write or throw with a non-dominant hand.

Carpenter struggled early in the season, and a temporary move to fill in at left guard didn't help. Missed blocks in run blocking and pass protection were every bit as normal as penalties. However, he has made solid strides in recent weeks.

While many analysts opted to insult the Seahawks for their choice for right tackle, there isn't an offensive tackle taken after him in the draft that is playing better. He is building rapport with John Moffitt and Max Unger, helping bolster Seattle's ground game in recent weeks.

The quarterback that ends up playing behind this group in 2012 should have above-average pass protection. The Seahawks should also be able to mount a rushing attack, keeping opposing defenses honest.

3. The Seahawks Are Down in the Draft Order but Not out of Luck

It is difficult to imagine the Seahawks ending up with the top draft pick, as even their two current wins will likely have them behind at least the Indianapolis Colts.

However, ending up with the second or third pick may not prohibit the Seahawks from trading up to grab Andrew Luck.

The Colts expect to have a healthy Peyton Manning back next season, and the team will believe it's close to getting back into contention for the Super Bowl. Drafting a quarterback early in 2012 won't help Indianapolis meet that goal.

Getting a wide receiver and several high draft picks from Seattle would.

The Colts will likely be offered more picks from a team further down the draft food chain. However, keeping a Top-Five pick and compiling a few of Seattle's first-round picks in subsequent drafts may be more appealing to Indianapolis. 

One of those future No. 1 picks (perhaps from 2014) could be used to help the Colts land Manning's eventual replacement. A high first-round pick in 2012 would allow them to fill other needs to hopefully get back into contention.

2. Their Quarterback of the Future Doesn't Appear to Be on the Current Roster

Tarvaris Jackson was called the worst starting quarterback in the NFL during a rough preseason. The Seahawks offense as a whole has struggled early in the year.

Jackson has played surprisingly well at times. But, he still struggles with making quick decisions and following a defense.

In the game against the Cowboys, he demonstrated that issue with poor throws and not finding open receivers, forcing a ball into double coverage when Mike Williams was standing alone on the five-yard line.

Jackson will serve out his two-year contract with Seattle and may be the starting quarterback for part of next season as a potential rookie quarterback gets his feet wet. He may even get a new contract to continue as a backup quarterback.

One wild card in the quarterback mix is Josh Portis. Some fans want to see him starting this season to see what he can offer the team on a long-term basis.

However, just as the coaches knew what they actually had (or didn't have) in Charlie Whitehurst, they also know what they have in Portis.

They won't need to see Portis start in order to gauge his progress, and there likely isn't anything he can do on game day to make Pete Carroll or John Schneider believe he is in the same class as Andrew Luck...or Landry Jones or Matt Barkley for that matter.

Carroll said his job was to bring a championship to Seattle. He's also said he wants to be a run-heavy team with a game manager at quarterback.

The 2011 season may be showing that Super Bowl contenders need both; I'd expect Seattle to invest in a quarterback in the first round and a running back in Round 2.

1. This Team Has Been Built To Plug in a Quarterback and Win

Despite a 2-6 record, there is a lot of talent on this team. It is young, but the units seem to be prepped to compete for the foreseeable future. The primary contributors are all early in their careers. 

The primary need on this team is a quarterback. But Seattle also has running back issues to consider, as Marshawn Lynch will be a free agent. The Seahawks could also use another pass rusher and, at a minimum, they need depth at linebacker if they re-sign Leroy Hill.

Adding a star quarterback with attention to other areas of need in later rounds should set this team up to win for years to come.

A rookie quarterback would be stepping in behind an offensive line that can offer protection. He would have several receiving weapons to work with.

Sidney Rice, Zach Miller, Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu all signed multi-year contracts in 2011. Doug Baldwin and Kris Durham were acquired in the 2011 draft, and Deon Butler is prepared to rejoin the team and show he can still contribute.

Seattle used its high draft picks in 2011 on the offensive line. It was questioned by many analysts, but having an established offense and dropping in a new starting quarterback seems to be a more prudent approach.

Now Seattle just has to figure out how to get into position to get the quarterback they covet.