Redskins vs. Seahawks: 5 Things I Learned About Seattle

Just some musings after watching my favorite team of more than 30 years somehow once again prove disappointing—this time turning a 17-7 lead into a six-point loss after allowing 16 points in the fourth quarter to the three-win Washington Redskins (well, they've got four wins now).

And to think just six short years ago the Seahawks were the cream of the NFC crop and on their way to the Super Bowl—amazing how fast things fall apart when the parts get old and you don't replace them properly...

The Seahawks Need a New QB

JOHN FROSCHAUER/Associated Press

Tarvaris Jackson (9 TD 12 INT) is not the answer—he holds the ball too long, as he did at the end of the game Sunday when he was sacked on fourth down, and makes a lot of poor decisions when he does throw it.

Why Pete Carroll sticks with Jackson is beyond me—is it just because the offensive coordinator was with Jackson in Minnesota? Charlie Whitehurst is not the answer behind center, either, despite leading the Seahawks to a win over the New York Giants this year—still can't quite figure out how Seattle won that one, although the Giants helped. 

The Seahawks have to draft a quarterback next spring, and then probably suffer through his development—something they should have done a while ago, while Matt Hasselbeck was still suiting up in Seattle.

RB Marshawn Lynch Can't Carry the Entire Offense on His Back

JOHN FROSCHAUER/Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks Marshawn Lynchcarries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

No knock on Lynch, who takes some time to get up to speed once he gets the ball, but is hard to stop when he really gets moving (706 YDS 6 TD). Despite going over 100 yards against Washington, he just can't do it all himself, not when the 'Hawks passing game is so unreliable.

Not having TE John Carlson this year (injured reserve) hasn't helped, although rookie WR Doug Baldwin has been a free-agent find.

The Seattle Secondary Continues To Be a Problem

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Washington Redskins Roy Helu breaks a tackle from Seattle Seahawks David Hawthorne (57) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

And it has been for years. Rex Grossman's 50-yard bomb for a TD on Sunday was indicative of that, and the Seahawks continue to give up lethal big plays on defense.

(Among other things, three big plays were what killed the 'Hawks in Super Bowl XL. Two of them were long passes allowed, one for the clinching TD on an option throw.)

Seattle Seems To Be Set in the Kicking Game

Kevin Casey/Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks' Steven Hauschka in action against the San Francisco 49ers in the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Kevin Casey)

PK Steven Hauschka is 18-for-20 on field goals in his first season in the Pacific Northwest, including a perfect 5-for-5 in the Week 10 win over visiting Baltimore. And P Jon Ryan was averaging nearly 49 yards per punt entering the Redskins game.

Thursday Night's Game vs. Philadelphia Is Literally Up for Grabs

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner jumps over Philadelphia Eagles' Chad Hall after Browner caught an interception in the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

I don't know who's worse—the 4-7 Seahawks or the 4-7 Eagles, both of whom are coming off losses. Thank goodness this one is just going to be available on the NFL Network—although who knows, it could be both ugly and entertaining. But both of these teams are going nowhere this season.