Offense ‘Better … Deeper’ And Eager To Prove It
Theories vary.
Some fall back on the trite contention that pro football is a game of inches; others say it’s a game of controlled violence.
Dennis Erickson likes to call it a game of situations.
And in practices, he simulates different game-type situations each day so that his team learns to cope with all sundry circumstances come that first Sunday in September.
But what of the general situation of the Seattle Seahawks?
The fact that Erickson’s team is the near-unanimous pick to finish last in the AFC West for the fourth consecutive season?
The fact that injuries have already left the offensive line and secondary perilously short of depth?
The withering fan base? The embarrassing off-the-field legal woes? Headlines that label this Team Albatross?
How does one prepare for those dubious situations?
Apparently, simply, by being prepared on the field.
“I’ve been in the league 13 years and this is the smartest staff I’ve ever seen,” said Seahawks long-snapper Trey Junkin. “Because of the way they approached mini-camps and the off-season, we were mentally and physically ready to play at the start of training camp. I’ve never seen a team so far ahead of the game this early.”
And despite negative national attention, the players don’t seem too sidetracked.
“I’m always excited about new seasons, but this year it is more so, with a new staff and a new philosophy,” Pro Bowl rusher Chris Warren said early in training camp. “It seems like better, tougher football.”
But are the football players better and tougher than those who compiled the second-worst record in the NFL (14-34) the last three years?
“We’re deeper and we’re better,” quarterback Rick Mirer said. “That should mean improvement.”
So, we’re going to offer a few theories on what will happen with Seahawks offensive personnel this season - and then try to support them.
Quarterback position looks solid from top to bottom:
The combined factors of Mirer having another year of experience, having a spread offense that suits his talents, and the addition of backup John Friesz make the quarterback position the biggest upgrade on the team.
“Rick is in his third year, and that’s when you can start seeing a quarterback really catching on to what you’re doing,” Hawks offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. “He’s really starting to master what we’re trying to do.”
He had better. Although he threw only seven interceptions last year, Mirer was at the controls of a passing attack that finished a woeful 26th in the league.
Friesz, meanwhile, appears as talented as some NFL starters, and in the first three preseason games put together an impressive quarterback rating of 110. And although he is not a fearsome threat to scramble, he had not been sacked.
Support of theory: In the first three preseason games, Mirer, Friesz and Stan Gelbaugh had a combined quarterback rating of 97.4 with no interceptions.
The Hawks were never this talented at running back:
Warren is aiming for his fourth consecutive excursion past the 1,000-yard barrier and will surely benefit from Erickson’s wideopen offensive scheme.
Bratkowski said that exploiting Warren’s receiving skills might mean that he still goes over 1,000 yards, plus has 60 or more catches.
Second-year back Lamar Smith was one of the main surprises of the preseason, averaging more than eight yards per carry, while former Washington State star Steve Broussard shows he still has an impressive burst of speed.
The fullback position could be in for a shakeup as Steve Smith, Tracy Johnson and young Mack Strong can’t all make the roster.
Smith is the best blocker, Johnson is good on special teams and Strong is the most versatile - leaving Erickson with a tough decision.
Support of theory: Only Barry Sanders gained more yards than Warren last year, and Smith has actually looked more impressive than Warren in the preseason.
Someone other than Brian Blades will catch a pass this year:
Blades set a team record with 81 catches last year, but Mirer has quite a few more targets this time around.
Consider the constant double-teaming of Blades a thing of the past with the addition of top draft pick Joey Galloway and veteran Ricky Proehl.
Galloway is a game-breaker and Proehl is reliable.
Defending this group, dangerous at all levels - short, medium and deep - will keep defenders from bunching at the line to thwart Warren’s rushes.
Heading into the preseason, tight end appeared to be one area in which the team did not adequately improve.
Veteran Paul Green was often injured and not particularly reliable, while Carlester Crumpler was unproven and Christian Fauria was simply a rookie.
Green has been sidelined with back spasms, but Crumpler and Fauria have each shown surprising development during the preseason.
Support of theory: Look no further than Galloway’s leaping, one-handed scoring grab of a deflected ball against New Orleans as proof. Never saw Kelvin Martin do that, did you?
Problems in the offensive line could derail the entire offense:
Not only is there a lack of quality depth, there even may be a lack of quality across the group of starters.
Tackles Ray Roberts (sidelined for the next several weeks after ankle surgery) and Howard Ballard (slowed by an accumulation of leg problems) have about one good leg between them.
Guard Jeff Blackshear has been so unimpressive after a training-camp holdout that Erickson is shifting backups and threatening Blackshear with a spot on the bench.
Second-year guard Kevin Mawae and center Jim Sweeney are solid, but after that, the Hawks are seriously distressed.
Support of theory: Mirer attempted 20 passes against Indianapolis. He was sacked, flushed from the pocket or otherwise hurried on half of them. In the regular season, that kind of pressure adds up to defeat.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo