With most national publications working on NFL season previews, the Seattle Seahawks have consistently been picked as a sleeper team in the NFC West that could surprise if everything goes right in head coach Pete Carroll’s first season.
Hunter Ansley of FoxSportsSouthwest.com is one of those media folks sipping the Seahawks’ Kool-Aid. He picks Seattle as a sleeper to regain the top spot in the NFC West.
Ansley:
The 49ers can’t really be called sleepers anymore with nearly every pundit around calling for them to win the division, and the Cardinals will likely to take a giant step backwards after losing Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby. That leaves Seattle (sorry St. Louis, but no) as the go-to pick here. Russell Okung is an upgrade at left tackle, and he might actually keep Matt Hasselbeck healthy for an entire season. Justin Forsett emerged as a scintillating runner near the end of the ’09 season, and anyone other than Julius Jones is a step in the right direction. Earl Thomas is a rookie but should fill the role of free safety better than anyone the Seahawks have had recently.
Seattle is relying on a lot of first year talent, but if guys like Lofa Tatupu can return from injury with no ill effects, they could begin to see some success after a hiatus from owning the division. If nothing else, Pete Carroll will energize the franchise, and he might be able to coach current bust defensive end Lawrence Jackson into the player he was at USC.
Don’t forget that registration for training camp practices begins today at 10 a.m. over at Seahawks.com.
Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times says that running back Justin Forsett has become an instant Pete Carroll favorite, and lists the hard-working runner as one of his top 10 breakout players for the upcoming season.
Seahawks defensive end Ricky Foley talks about his at one time strained relationship with his father, Don, growing up on a farm in Ontario, Canada, and what it would mean for him to make the team in this NFL On the Fringe video link.
Ben Malcomson of Seahawks.com profiles new Seahawks quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch.
In his first column for NFL.com, Michael Lombardi has the Seahawks ranked 18th overall in the league in total rushing attempts and pass completions for last season. Eight of top 12 teams on the list made the playoffs. Lombardi believes the statistic is symbolic of a team’s ability to execute in each aspect of its offense, but also notes that quick-strike teams like Philadelphia are the exception to the rule regarding this list.
Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan fills in for Sports Illustrated’s Peter King in this week’s Monday Morning Quarterback column. Ryan said this offseason he studied the Colts, Cowboys, Patriots, Chargers, Packers, and Saints – high-scoring teams with similar personnel to the Falcons – to see what those teams were doing and whether there were things Atlanta should use.
If Fisch wants to eventually become a head coach, he made the right decision coming to the Seahawks because too many years like last year at the University of Minnesota and there’s no way he’d get any consideration (offensive coordinator of the last place scoring offense in the Big 10 and 100th ranked in the nation [110th in total yards]; last place in rushing offense and total offense in Big 10; but, hey, look on the bright side, they were 8th in the Big 10 in passing). The article paints him as kind of an up-and-comer, but the facts show something else, at least with respect to 2009 (nevermind him throwing sideline tantrums at his players which obviously didn’t work last year either). I’ll root for him to coach up Matt, the offense in general, the team, etc. but I’m not going to drink the Kool Aid unless it looks like it should be drank.
On the bright side, I do think it’s realistic for the Hawks to take back the West this season!
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Thanks for the Minnesota perspective on Jedd Fisch, Bobby. Fortunately, if Matt can stay healthy, he really doesn’t need a QB coach. I hope Fisch can help turn Losman or Whitehurst into a quality starter.
I think the Hawks are the dark horse in the NFC West this year, but I’ll be happy if they can simply give AZ a good battle for second place. That will be an accomplishment.
I’m afraid SF may take things to the next level this year with their improving O line and offense, and I would think this is now their division to lose. If the Hawks can at least get some payback against the Cards, I’ll be happy.
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When Seattle was in the AFC West the team I hated most was the Raiders. After they moved back to the NFC it looked for a while like their biggest rival would be the Rams. Now, especially after the cheap shot Willis took on Matts back, it is looking like it might be the Niners.
Nah, the team I hate the most now is the Steelers.
Can’t wait to see Forsett run behind the new and improved line.
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The Cards are still the defending division champs, so it is there’s to lose. So until the end of next season rolls around, they should be the pick. I have no faith in Matt Leinart, but they still have ‘Fitz, Breaston, Beanie, and Hightower.
San Fran does not have a QB. Just because your average QB looked like an All-Pro against Seattle, doesn’t mean he’s an All-Pro. Alex Smith will not magically turn into an elite QB all of a sudden. Their next best bet is David Carr. Thanks to the Texans, wasn’t that guy sacked 500 times in a season at one point? Mike Singletary is the man, and he is trying to employ a smash-mouth type of team ala the Bears teams he anchored for so many years, but they aren’t quite there yet. We did split with them last year regardless of how bad we were. If we can stop Gore from getting his typical 200 yards, we should be able to take them.
St. Louis. What can you say. They have Jackson, and they have…..Jackson. New QB. No Offense. If you can get 13 points on the board you will beat them.
I posted last week that Seattle has managed to corner the market on undersized receivers and corners. I attribute this to Ruskell being afraid of anyone over 5’9″. We drafted a big, physical safety. We did not address the problem that everyone in the division has receivers that do not even need to jump to catch the ball over our heads. We are lucky that Warner called it quits or he’d probably have a couple more 400 yard games on his resume. If Golden Tate can stay out of the donut shop and the police blotter, he mite turn out to be the next Steve Smith. We just don’t need to draft every undersized receiver until we find him. Too many questions and some that are still unanswered regarding this team. I predicted 6-10 with tons of frustration and I’m gonna stick with it.
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If Seattle can start the same five guys on the O line all season, they will be able to score. I still have total confidence in Matt and they have the best group of receivers they have had in a long time. Forsett is such an exciting runner.
Now if the new D works out……..
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BobbyK – Interesting insights into what he did last season, but it was one season of a longer career. His success last season, or lack of success, is not consistent with the rest of his resume. And on top of that, he is highly regarded by his current and former players. I hope Jedd recognizes the mistakes he made last year and corrects those this season.
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Tompage – Agreed.
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oceanic – “they have the best group of receivers they have had in a long time”
I hope you’re right about that. I’m not so sure.
2005:
Engram – 67 rec, superior ability to separate
Jurevicius – 55 rec, great hands and height.
Stevens 45 rec, (and boy could he drink!)
Jackson – 38 rec, superior ability to separate
Hackett – 28 rec,
2007
Engram – 94 rec
Burleson – 50 rec
Branch – 49 rec
Weaver – 39 rec
Hackett – 32 rec
2009
Housh – great hands
Carlson – great hands and size
Williams – tall and unproven?
Tate – fast, small, and unproven?
Butler – ditto?
Branch – washed up?
This hope this bunch surprises me this season. I see mostly question marks at WR.
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BobbyK not drinking the Kool-Aid?
Wow, that gives me some serious reservations then!
Of all people, I would have pegged BobbyK as the least likely to escape Jonestown..
Speaking of Jonestown, I’m starting to feel bad for Julius. He takes a lot of heat. Can you imagine reading that excerpt about yourself? Ouch.. I almost wish he weren’t an ideal teammate / community guy / professional so some of this criticism would seem warranted and not make me feel dirty..
Speaking of feeling dirty, I used to read Jeremy Green’s fantasy football blog. Yuck.
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’bout time SOMEBODY agreed with me on that!
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Yeah Moo, you’re really on an island with that thinking..
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Did anyone hear the news on Ex coach Jimmy Morons interview today?.
He’s still whining and is now calling Pete Carrol a cheater.
When will the dude just GO AWAY!!!
as the song should go
Jimmy Don’t go away Mad
Jimmy JUST GO AWAY!!!!
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Here’s the video link to the Mora interview:
http://12thmanrising.com/2010/07/12/jim-mora-pete-carroll-is-a-cheater/
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Every year Holmgren was the coach except 2005 the Hawks were in the top 10 in dropped passes. D-Jack had the nickname D-Drop.
Stevos, you’re right about Tate and Butler being unproven so it is just my opinion that they will be good. Stevens vs Carlson. Give me Carlson. TJ vs JJ. I’ll have to look up their stats.
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I don’t remember D-Drop as a nickname, but I do remember K-Drop, or my favorite, Karen Dropinson.
I think that Mike Williams will catch 50+ (I want to say more but can’t bring myself) and near double digit scores. I think he’ll have his head on straight for the first time since 2003/04. He’s obviously as good a physical specimen as you’re going to find, he’s in shape, as long as his mind is right he can be an elite WR. And I mean a REAL elite WR. The guy caught 176 balls in 2 college seasons!
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AP: George Steinbrenner Dies at age 80
Massive heart attack.
Same day as the All Star Game.
R.I.P.
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JoSCh, I hope and pray you are right that Mike Williams catches 50+. But who knows what that guy will do once September begins? I’d be happy to simply see him in the red zone package and catch a few jump balls in the end zone.
oceanic, I definitely share your hopes that Tate and Butler will be good, especially Tate. They are just unproven, so I will question some people’s assumptions that those little guys will produce, until I see them do it.
On my list of WRs above, I just realized I forgot to write in Ben Obamanu! An often-overlooked player who just might become the second-best WR, and best ST player, on our team this year.
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