For the first time in a long time, the Seahawks are going through a rebuilding process and while it might be pain now, the building blocks are there.
Click here to see the rest of Jake’s NFL previews.
The roster turnover has been significant, but last season the Seahawks were awesome running the ball and defending it!
They were third in the NFL for rushing yards per attempt with 5 and 2nd in the NFL for rushing yards conceded per attempt with 3.8. With rookie running back Kenneth Walker coming in, the running game should be even more dynamic and with big time questions at quarterback, it will have to be.
The Seahawks strength fuelled their weakness. They were so good stopping the run, that teams constantly passed on them and did it with ease. Seattle ranked 31st in passing yards allowed and 24th in passing yards per attempt.
As of writing, their second starting cornerback is Tre Brown, a fourth round pick last year who recorder a total of 10 tackles last season in the very limited playing time. Good luck stopping Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel and Hollywood Brown!!
One of the many pieces that came across to Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade, Noah Fant has been dynamic in his first three seasons. With either Drew Lock or Geno Smith starting, Fant could be used heavily in the short passing game and has the ability to turn plays into home runs.
We have spoken about the departure of Russell Wilson, but the Seahawks had a significant departure on defence as well. Bobby Wagner is regarded as one of the best off-ball line-backers ever and left for division rival L.A Rams. This heaps the pressure onto third year pro Jordyn Brooks, who will step into the Middle Line-backer position that has been owned by Wagner for 10 years. They’re the biggest shoes to fill, how will Brooks fare?
It is clear after the Wilson and Wagner departures that the Seahawks are well and truly rebuilding. I think they kick started the rebuild really well during the draft, getting both starting offensive tackles, a dynamic running back and a pass rusher.
Quarterback play is going to be rough no matter who wins the job, but with a loaded draft class coming, Seattle may speed run this rebuild!
Win/Loss: 3-14
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
I don't think anyone has faith in Geno Smith; not good enough to hold down the starting spot on a bad Jets team he's been bouncing around the league for nearly 10 years now. Must interview well!
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
I just couldn't find them wins when doing my projections, i have no faith in either Lock or Geno Smith and think they go all in on the rebuild to get a good draft pick and one of the best QB's in the draft
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
The Seahawks had some odd statistics last year: They might have been effective at running the ball with a 5.0 yd/carry average, but they also ran the ball one of the fewest times (27th in the league in rushing attempts). This gave them the 11th best rushing yds/game. But then it wasn't as if they were a pass-heavy attack only rushing occasionally, they attempted the second fewest passes last season (the Eagles attempted 1 fewer passes) so you might think that their problem was keeping their offence on the field! But they were mid-table in points scored, so were efficient at converting plays into points. They also allowed amongst the most yards per game, but then were the 12th ranked defence for points allowed! A very difficult team to analyse, possibly because Russell Wilson made plays from nothing and covered up huge holes in the roster. Trading Wilson for Lock, Fant, Harris and 5 draft picks will either be a masterstroke or calamity for the Seahawks, and it seems you believe that latter if they slip from 7-10 to 3-14. Harris should improve a defence which were poor in both sacks and interceptions last year, and it's a sorry looking secondary who were once the Legion of Boom (BTW, Tre Brown is now on PUP, so they're even more stretched!) I think 3-14 is a bit harsh on the Seahawks, but maybe a terrible season and a new franchise QB in the 2023 draft is what they need.
Jake Smith
Roar Rookie
They are on the right track though, get a good QB in the draft and they could be okay again
Rellum
Roar Guru
3 and 14 sounds about right