Strengths and Weaknesses of the 2009 Seattle Seahawks

With training camp approaching and the NFL season right around the corner, I’ll be analyzing where the Seahawks will prevail, where they might stumble, and where there are a couple question marks.

 

Strengths

QB: Matt Hasselbeck, when healthy, is a top 10 quarterback. Now all the reports say that he is looking good, but even if he goes down, Seneca Wallace can get the job done.

He is without a doubt one of the top backups in the NFL.

WR: This time last year, I think it’s safe to say that this was probably a weakness. Bobby Engram and Deion Branch were recovering from injuries, and Nate Burleson was our only threat.

As the season ended it was arguably our biggest weakness.

But with the addition of one of the most underrated players in the NFL, TJ Houshmandzadeh, he can make the quarterback look good. The guy just doesn’t stop producing.

Nate Burleson and Deion Branch should also thrive due to his presence, and the fact that they don’t have to worry about being the main guy. Deon Butler should also be something special.

Don’t let his height mislead you. Plenty of small wide receivers have thrived in the NFL recently, (Steve Smith, DeSean Jackson, and Eddie Royal).

TE: With another year under his belt, John Carlson will look to prove he is one of the elite tight ends in the NFL. Although he might not be turned to as often because of the improved receiving core, he will definitely improve his game.

DL: Some may not agree, but I think our line will be one of the top in the league. But it hinders on two things:

One, Patrick Kerney has to stay healthy for the majority of the season. Two, Brandon Mebane has to become a dominating force in the middle.

Both are realistic projections in my eyes. Besides those two factors, Darryl Tapp and Lawrence Jackson must further elevate their game, while I believe Cory Redding is due for a big year.

It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do for a player.

The only question mark is Colin Cole. I’m not as optimistic as others are about a rotational player who has only been praised for his size, not necessarily his play.

LB: Not only do we have the best young linebacking core in the league, it is easily one of the top five. Lofa Tatupu is pissed about last season and is ready to prove himself to the doubters that have kept him off the top middle linebacker lists.

Leroy Hill should be able to recapture the magic from his rookie year when he had 7.5 sacks.

Aaron Curry, meanwhile, is a good candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

 

Weaknesses

RB: Greg Knapp is known for having great rushing offenses. Seattle brought him in, thinking he could bring his knowledge to the team, but the truth is, it’s going to be hard for him to repeat his previous endeavours.

He had Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick in Atlanta, while he had McFadden, Fargas, and Bush in Oakland.

Julius Jones isn’t as good as any of those guys. Duckett will get it done in tough yardage situations, but I’m not too high on Forsett.

The one guy I will have my eye on is undrafted free agent, Devin Moore. It will be interesting to see what he does in KR/PR.

DB: Seattle brought in Ken Lucas during the offense to bring some size into our Secondary.

And that’s it.

That’s all we have done to upgrade the worst pass defense in the NFL.

It will get better due to improved defense upfront, but how is Brian Russell still starting?

I wish we would have upgraded that spot. A lot of it has to depend on how they all work together. I’m optimistic, but I still see this as a weakness.

At least until we draft Eric Berry, wink wink.

 

Question Marks

OL: For this unit to be successful, not only does Walter Jones have to succeed in his rehabilitation, but Mike Wahle, Chris Spencer, and Rob Sims all have to step their game up and stay healthy.

Max Unger has the talent, but it is hard to expect too much out of him as a rookie.

2010 Seahawks Roster??

Now the 2009 NFL season hasn’t even started yet, but this off-season can’t go by any slower. So why not take a jab at what the Seattle Seahawks could look like in 2010.

 

Quarterbacks

Yes, Matt Hasselbeck is in his mid 30s, but in today’s NFL it is not unlikely that a QB plays into his late 30’s, such as Brett Favre or Kurt Warner has.

Now I’m not saying Matt will be a starting QB in this league until he his 38, but with all the receiving talent around him, it is plausible to say he will make the Pro Bowl in 2009, and continue through 2010 and beyond to be a great player.

Starter: Matt Hasselbeck

 

Running Backs

With Greg Knapp as our OC, we must have a top 10 rushing offense, right? Wrong. In Atlanta he had Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick, and in Oakland he had McFadden, Fargas, and Michael Bush.

We have Julius Jones, TJ Duckett, and Justin Forsett. Ugh, I think I just barfed. Greg had WAY more talent at his last few stops.

That is why I predict Seattle will spend one of it’s 2010 NFL draft pics on a runner. We need more explosiveness in our running game, which is why we will draft 4.3 burner CJ Spiller out of Clemson.

With him in our offense, we will finally have that explosive player Knapp will need, though I still believe Knapp will use his multi-back philosophy and keep Jones and Duckett, but discard the slow Forsett.

Starters: CJ Spiller, Julius Jones, TJ Duckett

 

Wide Receivers

I think it’s safe to say that our group of receivers will not suffer the same fate as last year. But I’m very curious to see how they perform after their terrible injuries. TJ Houshmandzadeh is quite durable and should be great for the next couple of years.

But I see either Deion Branch or Nate Burleson under performing, as we let one of them go. I’ll vouch for Deion Branch as getting let go, because the man just can’t stay healthy. Nate will then play alongside TJ, as good ol’ Deon Butler moves to the slot. 

Starters:TJ Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deon Butler in the slot.

 

Tight End

Uh, John Carlson? Nuff said.

Starter: John Carlson

 

Offensive Line

Walter Jones is one of the best tackles to ever play the game, but even legends die out. With all the wear and tear he has endured over the years, I’m assuming he retires after this season.

That leaves Sean Locklear to play the Left OT spot. I believe he knows how to play there, but I’m just not sure if he has the physical tools.

Ray Willis gave up 1.5 sacks last year in 10 starts on the right side, so he should do fine. Now I’m praying Chris Spencer plays well in the center, and he should considering he is in his contract year.

By 2010, Max Unger should have cracked the starting line-up at what I’m guessing will be the Left Guard spot, while Mike Wahle is moved to the Right side, but they could easily play the opposite positions.

Rob Sims is the worst player on our current line, and most likely won’t be resigned after this season.

Starters From left to right: Sean Locklear, Max Unger, Chris Spencer, Mike Wahle, Ray Willis

 

Defensive Ends

Now Patrick Kerney is still one of the best in the game when he is healthy, and hopefully will have a good season this year that will carry on into the next season.

The spot opposite Kerney, however, is of a greater mystery. Darryl Tapp or Lawrence Jackson, that is the question.

The pressure is on Darryl Tapp because he is in his contract year, and might get the starting job out of training camp.

But Lawrence Jackson will likely show a lot of production this year, because DE’s often to well in their second year.

Mario Williams had 4.5 sacks in his first year, but next year he had 14. I think Lawrence Jackson will supplant Darryl Tapp as the starting end by next year, but this is a really close battle.

Starters: Patrick Kerney & Lawrence Jackson (but just barely)

 

Defensive Tackles

Brandon Mebane will further his development this season, and hopefully will make the Pro Bowl. Colin Cole should thrive in his role, as he stuffs the line, while Brandon is in the position to create some sacks/fumbles.

Starters: Brandon Mebane & Colin Cole

 

Linebackers

Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, and Leroy Hill make up the best young linebacker corps in the NFL. They should thrive together for years.

Starters: Aaron Curry, Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill

 

Cornerbacks

Marcus Trufant is a fantastic player, and while he had only one interception, the ball was just not thrown his way, as Quarterbacks often took advantage of the weaker side.

The Seahawks brought in Ken Lucas to play with the taller receivers of the NFC West (cough, cough, Larry Fitzgerald), but Josh Wilson will get his chance.

Ken is only signed for one year, and Josh will benefit from another year to develop as he starts in 2010. He really improved down the stretch last year, and should only continue to improve.

Starters: Marcus Trufant & Josh Wilson

 

Safeties

Deon Grant is not one of the elite safeties of the NFL, but he is a good one, as well as a leader. Brian Russell on the other hand, ugh. He sucks.

Which is why I predict Seattle will use its pick from Denver to select either Eric Berry out of Tennessee or Taylor Mays out of USC.

Eric Berry is a ballhawk in the mold of Ed Reed, while Taylor Mays is a hard-hitter in the mold of the late Sean Taylor, but faster.

I’d personally like to see Eric Berry, not because he clearly has better ball skills than Taylor Mays (Berry had 7, while Mays had 0) but Berry hits quite hard as well despite being only 210.

Starters: Deon Grant & Eric Berry

Please feel free to comment my predictions and send me feedback, thanks!

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