What We've Learned

After three intense weeks of NFL action, we can come to one definitive conclusion about the new-look 2010 Seattle Seahawks: We know nothing.

Against the San Francisco 49ers, fans saw a team that exuded confidence and energy on defense, making key defensive stops at every significant junction of the game. The offense show big-play ability, something that's been sorely lacking for some time in this corner of the country. The 'Hawks knocked off a team who most had predicted would win the NFC West and made a statement, showing that they were not the Seahawks of '08 and '09.

Then they flew to Denver. (I had planned on writing a post about that fiasco, but I found that nothing the 'Hawks did in that game warranted any kind of discussion.) Yeah, I don't really want to revisit that either. In essence, they forgot they could win once the 12th man didn't have their back. Apparently losing games is like riding a bike, because the Seahawks remembered very quickly how to lose a football game. Poor secondary play and a lousy (yet familiar) performance by Hasselbeck ultimately doomed the 'Hawks.

Sunday, they returned home and played a fantastic half of defensive football against the San Diego Chargers. Their performance was reminiscent of the San Francisco game, forcing turnovers left and right, looking the part of a division champion. 'Hawks fans everywhere watched, convinced that their team wasn't the lackluster squad that showed up in Denver.

Then there was the second half.

Suddenly, the 'Hawks stout defense was reduced to swiss cheese. The secondary that had been so good was brought to its knees by the surgical precision of Philip Rivers. In all fairness, the Chargers feature the top ranked offense in the NFL thusfar. Despite the ongoing holdout of start receiver Vincent Jackson, San Diego's offense is still full of weapons and they found their rhythm in the second half.

Thanks to several electrifying kick returns by Leon Washington, the Seahawks were able to hang on and win. But don't make the mistake of giving the 'Hawks credit for the win. Anyone who watched the second half knows that they were basically trying to hand the game to San Diego. The Chargers lost a game that was theirs to win.

To recap, the true identity of this Seahawk team remains an enigma. Every flash of potential on offense, defense, and special teams was met with an uninspiring performance down the line that led fans and analysts alike to doubt the legitimacy of the team. It's too early to proclaim the Seahawks champions of the NFC West, that is for certain. It's a team with an inconsistent quarterback, cornerbacks that are apt to get torched on any given Sunday, and a patchwork offensive line.

At the same time, it's too early to say the 'Hawks won't win their division. They have shown an insatiable desire to win, massive improvements along the defensive line, and new found explosiveness from the likes of Mike Williams and Golden Tate. Pete Carrol and his staff have provided something that fans here haven't had in far too long: hope. If they can foster some consistency, the Seahawks will be a force to be reckoned with once again.

Now let's hope they can deliver, because the better they play, the better we can all ignore the crushing futility of our beloved Mariners.

Impressions from Week 1

"Wow."

That's what came to mind during the Seahawks victory over the San Francisco 49ers. However, during the early minutes of the game, the word was used in a decidedly different manner.

The first offensive play of the season was a completion to Nate Clements. Now, as every fan knows, the 'Hawks have gone through a lot of personnel changes in recent weeks. In fact, the team has the fewest returning players of any team this season. That said, Nate Clements was wearing a 49ers jersey. Not exactly the ideal play to begin the "Win Forever" campaign. The defense came onto the field, featuring a revamped defensive line and an odd couple at safety with 15-year veteran Lawyer Milloy and rookie Earl Thomas. 

If you opened your window and listened at that moment, you probably would've heard a collective groan drifting through the atmosphere as 'Hawks fans were reminded of the woeful defense fielded last year, finishing 24th overall in yards yielded. Already, the cloud of negativity that had haunted the 'Hawks for the last two years was returning, gliding through the air to reclaim it's long-time residence at Qwest Field. 

At that moment, the team could've easily crumbled. They could have listened to the media, who had already appointed the 49ers as the heirs to the NFC West throne. They could have remembered that the organization is in rebuilding mode. They could have set a negative trend for the entire season. But they didn't.

By holding the 49ers to a field goal, the defense set the tone for the rest of the game. The offense took awhile longer to get into a groove, but they did not fail to impress once the wheels were in motion. Matt Hasselbeck, who had been kicked to the curb by some (ahem, me) played magnificently after the initial interception, completing 18 of 23 passes with two touchdowns. He even showed off some surprising athleticism running in another touchdown. The touchdown pass to Deon Branch was nothing short of perfection, bringing back memories of years past when Hasselbeck was among the top quarterbacks in the league and the 'Hawks were and offensive juggernaut. 

Keep in mind that the 49ers defense is no slouch. Any defense with Patrick Willis (AKA Ray Lewis West) is going to be difficult to crack. The 'Hawks offensive line, which was patched together in the last two weeks from players such as Stacy Andrews, Chester Pitts, and Tyler Polumbus, performed very well, allowing Hasselbeck to stay upright, a rare sight over the last couple seasons. The return of much heralded rookie Russel Okung should help in the coming weeks.

The receiving corps, which lost its top receiver from last season less than a week ago, stepped up, showing some explosiveness that certain players (Houshmanzadeh) lacked. Mike Williams, other than a few drops, looked like a dangerous weapon, showing the strength and speed that made him the 10th overall pick. Deon Branch, who had never really clicked with Hasselbeck, made several nice plays. Lastly, Deon Butler validated all the claims made about him being the most improved player in the offseason, making a nice touchdown catch.

Shifting to defense, the secondary looked revamped, despite the presence of many familiar faces. Kelly Jennings, who was pushed into a starting role after Josh Wilson was traded several weeks ago, looked much improved, making key tackles. Trufant, who never came close to resembling his All-Pro days last year, looked healthy and ready to regain his status as a shutdown corner. Earl Thomas also looked great, roaming all over the field and wreaking havoc.

The area of most improvement was in the front seven. The linebackers, led by a healthy Lofa Tatupu, looked much better than last year. Although Aaron Curry still made some boneheaded plays, he also used his amazing athleticism to cause pressure on Alex Smith. The defensive line, which was hardly recognizable because of all the new faces, made huge strides and was largely responsible for shutting down Frank Gore and getting key stops on 3rd and 4th down.

The 'Hawks were expected to lose with dignity and show signs of improvement, not knock off the trendy pick to win the division. It was an impressive win, but it will mean nothing if they don't keep improving. They're far from the most talented team in the league, but they showed Sunday that they have something no amount of talent can create: heart. This team, led by Pete Carroll, must never lose its resilient character if they have any hope of a winning season.

Incredibly Bold (Possibly Stupid) Predictions

Yes, I read a lot of Matthew Berry. There, I said it. Did I steal the idea for this column from him? It's possible. However, I'm only looking to emulate one-third of his formula. I'm going to take a pass on the redundant 1980's pop culture references and his bizarre, self-depreciating stories. What I will do, however, is make a list that will inevitably make me look like an ass in 4 months or so. Could I play it safe and keep my inclinations about the upcoming NFL season swirling around the dark abyss of my brain? Sure, but where's the fun in that? Plus, this way anyone that reads the blog will be able to easily make fun of me. (I'm still pretty sure I'm the only reader, so schizophrenia is likely in my future. Watching me taunt myself would provide endless hours of entertainment, so don't pretend you wouldn't watch.)

Developing mental diseases aside, the following is a list of bold (literally) predictions that I've come to after endless hours of reading training camp reports, trolling various NFL blogs, flipping through an ungodly amount of fantasy football player rankings, and playing a lot of Madden '11. 

1. The Seahawks Will Win the NFC West

That sound you hear is the minuscule amount of credibility I had flying out the window. If you read my last post about Matt Hasselbeck, you know how I feel about him. It might surprise you to know that I still think he's far and away the best quarterback in the NFC West. Granted, his competition is about as strong as the argument against the Ground-Zero Mosque (yeah, I went there). Derek Anderson, Alex Smith, and Sam Bradford are probably the worst starting QBs in the league, so I'm not about to break into song about Matt Hasselbeck. However, the presence of a veteran quarterback cannot be understated in a division as weak as the NFC West. 

The trendy pick to win the division this year is San Francisco. While it's true that they have compiled some impressive players in the Bay, I'm not sold on them. First, as previously mentioned, Alex Smith is just not very good. Given the aerial nature of the league today, a successful NFL team in 2010 begins with a good, accurate QB. Seeing as none of the four teams in the West have that, Hasselbeck appears to be the closest to being decent. With the infusion of energy and moxie brought in by Pete Carrol, I expect the Seahawks to surprise people and finish with a 7-9 record. If my previous statements hadn't been clear enough, that last sentence should make it perfectly obvious that the NFC West is a joke. Yes, a 7-9 record will be more than enough to win the division.

2. Frank Gore Will Get Injured

Wait, that's not bold at all.

3. Brett Favre Will Suck

I like Brett Favre. He's a gutsy, old-school quarterback that can't let go of his passion for the game, even as a grandpa. That said, I just can't see him regaining last year's form, when he threw 33 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. All athletes reach a point where the wheels fall off and this will be it for Favre. Expect 23 touchdowns and 18 interceptions (not a terrible season, but a definite decline for him). Sidney Rice, his top receiver, is out for at least six games. The much-touted offensive line is a shell of what it once was and their inability to protect Favre in the passing game was made abundantly clear in the NFC Championship last year.

4. Nicholas Cage Will Make at Least 3 More Terrible Movies This Year

Nicholas Cage's Agent-  "Hey Nick, would you like to be the star of an hour-and-a-half adaptation of a 30 second scene from Fantasia?"

Nicholas Cage-  "Of course! I'm working really hard to dispel the myth that I can make great movies and this fits the bill perfectly!"

5. Mike Williams Won't Do Anything

We've all heard this story before: former high-round draft pick is in the best shape of his life and is looking to shed the "bust" label. Mike Williams, the former USC star, has consistently impressed throughout the preseason for the Hawks. He's big, strong, and fast. Pete Carrol may be able to sell ice to an Eskimo, but I'm not buying this. Haven't we all seen this play out a hundred times? The guy just doesn't have "it". I don't know what "it" is or I'd be playing in the NFL instead of writing an amateur blog, but I know that this guy had his chances.

6. The New York Jets Will Lose 9 Games

Is there a more annoying team in the league? They completely dominate the headlines and watching their offense is like watching paint dry. 

1st Down- Run up the middle, gain of 2

2nd Down-Run up the middle, gain of 3

3rd Down- Pass!!! No, nevermind, just a draw run

Also, Rex Ryan really bothers me. This offseason he had a bet going with some of his players to see who could lose the most weight. The players went to the weight room, Ryan went to the surgeon. There's a man of integrity. (Plus he took a shot at Tony Dungy, AKA the nicest person in the world. That's like punching your grandpa.)

7. Justin Bieber Will Become a Vampire

This is less of a prediction and more of a fact. There's no doubt in my mind that this is the end result of our society's current fixations fusing together to create some awful pop-vamp-trash

8. Ray Rice Will Lead the League in Rushing

I'm a little biased on this one because Ray Rice happens to be on my fantasy football team. However, I firmly believe that he will be the best running back in the league this year. Joe Flacco will ascend to the elite level he has shown flashes of during his first two years in the league and the increasingly balanced offense will benefit Rice.

9. I Will Write Another 20 Lists Before the End of the Year

Because it's a major crutch and challenging myself would just be ludicrous.

10. The Baltimore Ravens Will Defeat the Green Bay Packers in the Superbowl

The Ravens, despite injuries on the defensive side, will be a dominant team all year, showing a newfound balance on offense while retaining the fearsome defensive front seven that has been their trademark for so long. The Packers, behind rising star Aaron Rodgers, will go 13-3 and coast through the weak NFC.

11. Everything on This List Will Have Be Proven Wrong by Week 6

Every year my dad asks me who will win the Superbowl so he can pick the opposite. In addition, I have failed to have a winning record in my fantasy football league over the last four years. That effectively sums up the overall success of my sport predictions.