Hawks believe it’s time
The Seattle Seahawks could probably tell you they’re going to be pretty good, but why bother. Others are more than willing to do it for them.
As the Seahawks prepare to open training camp Monday at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, there is a growing buzz about this franchise that has never reached the Super Bowl.
Seattle is coming off a 10-6 season and a wrenching overtime loss to Green Bay in its first playoff appearance since 1999. Seattle’s offense returns intact, including 2003 Pro Bowlers Walter Jones, Shaun Alexander, Steve Hutchinson and Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks improved 10 spots in total defense from 2002 to 2003, and the team dedicated most of its off-season acquisitions and draft attention toward improving the unit.
“I’m not a predictor, but I was talking to somebody this week and I turned the question back on them,” said Phil Simms, NFL analyst for CBS. “I asked who he was picking and he said, ‘New England and Seattle in the Super Bowl,’ and I went, ‘Wow, is that the first prediction ever for the Seahawks?’ A lot of people are looking at the Seahawks.”
For good reason. Expectations are climbing for Seattle, which is expected to battle St. Louis for NFC West supremacy.
“It looks like a dogfight between the Rams and Seahawks and right now I kind of like the Seahawks better because of the stuff they did and the Rams didn’t,” said Dan Arkush, who chronicles the NFC West for Pro Football Weekly. “(Former Rams defensive end) Grant Wistrom is a quality addition.
“Everybody recognizes what Seattle has done and the way they came on last year. They were in a really exciting playoff game and those two games against St. Louis this year should be two of the better games of the season. San Francisco still has a pretty good defense, but the difference between Seattle and St. Louis and the Cardinals and 49ers is pretty significant.”
Seattle has several significant goals entering camp, which opens with practices at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Most center on the defense where Seattle is still searching for stability at middle linebacker after short tenures by George Koonce (2000), Levon Kirkland (2001), Isaiah Kacyvenski and Orlando Huff (2002) and Randall Godfrey (2003). Huff, Solomon Bates and rookie Niko Koutouvides should contend for the starting job.
Several jobs are up for grabs in the secondary. Former Washington State Cougar Marcus Trufant is coming off a fine rookie season at cornerback. Ex-Philadelphia Eagle Bobby Taylor and fourth-year pro Ken Lucas, a starter off and on the last three seasons, will push for the other starting position.
Second-year safety Ken Hamlin had a promising rookie year. Veteran Damien Robinson and second-round draft pick Michael Boulware, who played linebacker at Florida State, are in the mix at strong safety.
“The players know we had a good team last year and we’ve made additions that should help us get better,” Trufant said Saturday.
Wistrom improves the defensive line, but reliable tackle play must emerge from Cedric Woodard, Rashad Moore, Rocky Bernard, and rookies Marcus Tubbs and Craig Terrill.
“The big thing is they may be a slightly better team on paper than the Rams,” said John Clayton, who covered the Seahawks for 11 years for the News Tribune of Tacoma before going to ESPN in 1998. “If Seattle wins the division it has a chance for a home game, and if it wins that game, it gets you in the hunt.
“On paper, they’re probably the second- or third-best team in the NFC. Philadelphia would be No. 1, but the four teams in the South are all going to destroy each other. I just visited the Rams (training) camp and they’re a playoff team, but they don’t appear to have the pass rush that Seattle has with (Chike) Okeafor and Wistrom.”
Seattle’s success figures to hinge on its defense and its ability to win on the road. Seattle was 2-6 in away games last season and 8-0 at home.
“You can see in the last two years they’ve been in the top six or seven on offense and now they just continue to grow because the third year together you’re usually more productive,” Clayton said. “The defense just needs to be top 15 or so to be a playoff team and they’ve firmed up a couple things. With the hustle of the two defensive ends, they should be able to get 16, 17 sacks. The cornerback play should be better; they’re deeper with (Bobby) Taylor and (Ken) Lucas.”
Still, the schedule is full of potential potholes on the road. Seattle visits New Orleans and Tampa Bay to open the season. There’s an October trip to New England and December voyages to Minnesota and the New York Jets. Carolina, Miami, Buffalo, Dallas and Atlanta are Seattle’s non-NFC West home games.
“They need to win on the road and they’ve been very weak on the road,” Arkush said. “You can’t overlook Carolina. Tampa Bay could bounce back. Atlanta could be a factor. The Saints, on paper, are dangerous. In the North, the Vikings and Packers are going to be in the thick of things. Philadelphia got the two highest-profile free agents (Jevon Kearse and Terrell Owens). Dallas is in its second year with (Bill) Parcells and (Eddie) George was a great pickup.
“I don’t think it’s out of the realm for Seattle to make a significant impact if it gets into the playoffs. You look at the Ravens, the Panthers and the way the league is now and you can get on a roll and do some damage. Seattle is a bona fide contender. That said, the Eagles look like the pick in the NFC, but I’m tempted to go out on a limb and go with the Seahawks.”
He wouldn’t be alone.
“The way we ended up last season we were getting better so we’re looking forward to this year,” Seattle offensive lineman Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack said.