The Seattle Seahawks are a football juggernaut. They’re a
well ran, well coached organization. Like most great teams, they seem to get
better every year without spending a ton of money in the offseason. They draft
well, getting players that fit their system. The 2017 season should be no
different for the Seahawks.
The Seahawks are always a threat to win a super bowl. Pete
Carroll is an excellent coach and he believes in his players. He is one of
those coaches that will give his players opportunities to earn the job instead
of replacing that player with someone on the outside. Carroll also has a laid
backed “do your job” approach to coaching. He wants his team to have fun and
play hard. This team will have to do better on the offensive side of the ball
if they plan to make a super bowl run in 2017.
Let’s just get to it, the Seahawks rushing attack was god
awful in 2016. There were many factors that contributed to a terrible run game,
none bigger than the offensive line. The Seahawks have been struggling to put
together a cohesive group of linemen for the past 2 seasons. This is a power
run team that uses its run game to set up the passing attack and to take the
pressure off the defense. This offensive line didn’t have to create huge holes
for Marshawn Lynch because he would move the pile all by himself. He would also
bang a defense for 3 quarters and wear them down, and they would be too gassed
to tackle him late in games. They don’t have Lynch anymore and its hurting this
teams production. The Seahawks ranked 18th in points per game and 12th
in yards per game. The biggest stat to
pay attention to is the 25th ranking in rushing yards per game. That
just won’t get the job done for the Seahawks. From 2013-2015 the Seahawks
ranked top 5 every season in rushing yards per game. Losing Lynch has really
hurt this team offensively and they need to find them a starting running back
to take the pressure off Wilson.
The Seahawks bought in Eddie Lacey via free agency. The
idea is to get a big bruising back to bring the illusion of what Lynch was able
to do with this team. Lacey is a big back but he doesn’t bring to the table
what Lynch did. He has also struggled with weight and injury issue. The first
step to solving the rushing woes is to find the starting running back.
Thomas Rawls is the Seahawks projected starting running
back. Rawls is a stocky running back with good size and speed. Rawls has injury
concerns, he hasn’t played a full 16 games season yet. When healthy he is the
Seahawks best running back. Having him for 16 games should improve their
rushing attack.
C.J Prossie is their change of pace back. Prossie give
them speed in the backfield and is a homerun threat. But like Rawls has also
had some injury concerns. The Seahawks will have a running back by committee.
With the bulk of the runs going to whichever back is hottest that game. Chris
Carson is a rookie that many people inside the organization are high on. He has
had a good training camp, and pre-season. He will most likely make the team,
and will contribute this season. The Seahawks must figure out who their lead
back is before the season starts.
Another factor that limited the rushing attack was
injuries to quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson has the ability to scramble in
the pocket to extend plays, and run outside the pocket to extend drives. Last, season
he dealt with some ankle and knee injuries that limited his mobility. They
really need his production in the run game because they don’t have the lead
back create from himself. Wilson’s threat to run will help whichever running
back is in the game.
The last factor that has hindered the rushing attack is a
weak offensive line. They didn’t get any help with George Fant getting hurt for
the season in their last preseason game. They bought in Luke Jokel and drafted guard/center
Ethan Pocic. Joekel is a failed first round pick from Jacksonville. The combination
of bad performance and injuries were the reasons that he was let go by the Jaguars.
He will be going to a much better organization in Seattle so his play may improve.
He was going to play right tackle, but after the injury to Fant he may be moved
back to left tackle. Pocic is expected to play guard but he will probably play
whichever interior position they need him at. The offensive line is still a cause
for concerns and Wilson healthy will be in jeopardy again this season.
On the bright side the Seahawks have Russell Wilson. He
just keeps developing every season. Like a true franchise quarterback, he is
able to win games with a bad offensive line and a weak rushing attack. Wilson’s
ability to scramble and make smart plays with the ball is what keeps this team
on track. He rarely makes a bad decision and he is able to avoid sacks with his
quickness. I fully expect another big year from Wilson and this may be the year
he and Jimmy Graham get things going. Offensively the Seahawks have a bunch of
question marks, but defensively they’re still one of the best.
The Seahawks have the perfect balance of pass rush to
pass protection. The front is as dominate as any in the league and the
secondary holds up as well as any in the league. They do an excellent job of
creating mismatches for the best players. Michael Bennett is moved all around the
front seven and is effective where ever they put him. Frank Clark and Cliff
Avril are excellent rushers off the edge. The front four allows the linebackers
to flow with little resistance and they have two of the better linebackers in
Bobby Wagener and KJ Wright. The secondary features three all pro players in
Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, and Richard Sherman. Thomas is the ball hawk. Kam
is the enforcer. Sherman is the shutdown cover corner. They have the perfect
group of players and they all form a very talented unit. The Seahawks defense
is championship caliber. Their Championship hopes rest on the offensive side of
the ball.
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