What's going on in Seattle?

Dan Quinn - GONE. He transformed a below-average pass rush into the best unit in 2013.

Byron Maxwell - GONE.

Max Unger - GONE. Made consecutive Pro Bowls before his injury, one of the best centers in the league.

James Carpenter - GONE. Solid pass protection, cannot be replaced equally at this point.

Jeremy Lane - knee surgery, doubtful for week one. He was the guy who was responsible for the Super Bowl not ending 31-24 in favor of New England.

Earl Thomas - won't start training camp, will probably miss at least the first regular season game. Takes a physical today.

Richard Sherman - didn't have surgery and didn't have any in-play contact since February. His movement is something to follow.

Kam Chancellor - wants more money, considering a holdout.

Michael Bennett  - wants more money, considering a holdout.

Bruce Irvin - unhappy with his contract situation.

Russell Wilson - wants to be a billionaire.


I am not a Seattle hater. I just want you to transform these notes into perspective. There will be Seahawks homers who only think about the back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and expect the same in 2015, because the Seahawks got Jimmy Graham, but this team is simply going to regress.

The Seahawks have a tight cap situation in 2017 because all those bigger contracts take a massive cap hit. It's a fact that they won't be able to satisfy each player who wants more money. There won't be the same attitude in the locker room that it was in recent years. All those young and hungry players they once were finally have a business mind and want to get paid.

Their pass protection was already shaky in 2014, Russell Wilson had his worst passing season since he joined the Seahawks. His play action ability overshadowed a lot, but it's getting worse in 2015. Teams will be able to create enough pressure with a four-men-front so they can double-team Jimmy Graham. It was the exact same situation in 2014 at New Orleans when he had his worst season since being a rookie and also saw less targets than in the years before.

Their defense is going to struggle during the first weeks of the season. Maxwell is gone, Cary Williams will need time to fit in the system, Thomas is hurt and I can't expect him to be ready in week one with that kind of an injury. There is also a chance Sherman hasn't the same mobility than last season. Their defensive line was already lacking depth last season. Let's see how Frank Clark develops, should be getting some closer looks come preseason. Also, Dan Quinn isn't anymore the DC. That's also a huge step back IMO.

This division is going to be tough. The Rams will surprise us all and will be a nightmare matchup for the Seahawks. The Cardinals - although overachieving a bit - were strong with Carson Palmer and had both games against the Seahawks without him. Palmer is the only QB aside from Tony Romo who was able to beat the Seahawks at home in the L3 years. He also has an improved o-line. If he stays healthy, the Seahawks will have four tough games against the Cardinals and Rams.

There might be some injuries to come until the season starts, but at this point I truly believe the Seahawks are going to start the season 0-2.

There is not one team in the NFL that hasn't lost players to free agency same goes for injuries, and unhappy players wanting more money is nothing new . Seattle should be just fine .        

They will be fine this season BARRING INJURY

 OK, let's look at those mentioned:

 Dan Quinn.....hired as HC in Atlanta......natural progression for a good coach. By all accts, Kris Richard, who was the DB coach for the last 3 seasons & is given a great deal of credit for developing the best 2ndary in the NFL, is going to be a great replacement. They survived, quite well actually, when DC Gus Bradley was hired away to Jax, & they'll likely survive this departure. Remember, this is PC's defense.

 Byron Maxwell.......signed $63m deal with Philly as a FA........can't keep everyone.

 Max Unger.......traded for Pro Bowl TE Jimmy Graham.

 James Carpenter.......the oft-injured G was a borderline bust as a 1st rounder.......a poor pass blocker but OK in the run game.

 Jeremy Lane, Sherman, Thomas........recovering from injuries......happens in the NFL.

 Chancellor & Bennett.......both are under contract & appear to be using the same technique made famous by Walter Jones to avoid training camp.

 Bruce Irvin........final season of initial NFL contract & we know what that means. He hasn't developed into the pass rush terror that Seattle has hoped he would when drafted........will likely be gone after this season.

 Wilson.........he'll get paid & that will be a big cap hit.


 So is there anything really shocking here? As gilligan said, every NFL team has losses & gains in the off season. You mention the Rams & Cardinals.........how about posting their losses? How about the Pats? They lost their 2ndary.

 Sure Seattle could start 0-2........or 2-0.........likely 1-1. But they started 3-3 last year, were written off by most pundits at that point  but pissed off said pundits by going 9-1 down the stretch & nearly winning another SB.

 You're points are well taken, suuma, as I know you're looking at the betting angles for early season games.........& I'm sure you'll have more good angles in the coming weeks.



 

 

I really like Green Bay -4 +100 at home week 3 vs Seattle on the GOY LINES ..

Bobby Wagner is the key to the Seattle D, and he's still there. But, they will feel the loss of those other pieces for sure. Without Unger, last year this team was not the same. I expect a big regression, and also see an 0-2 start. Definitely a loss in week 2 at GB; maybe they can eek it out against STL in Week 1, but they do not match up well with them at all. 

I always liked Unger and thought they should have kept him and I think it will be hard down the road for them to sign Bobby Wagner after this season because he's going to get a huge raise from someone..

I had them noted on my schedule as play against in Wk1 & Wk2 before these new revelations you have pointed out, suuma.  It's going to be a rough start, and I can't say it gets better post-bye.  The Hawks play three teams coming off bye consecutively at home (two of which are divisional) followed by b2b away games against two tough defense.  That's going to be a tough stretch.

Good points Suuma. Couple those with the public not being to help themselves from betting Seattle and I think we have some good fade material early on

I'd love to get Seattle +4 vs anyone.

[Quote: Originally Posted by Andrew1976] Wilson wants $25 million a year which I don't like it. I live in Seattle and wear Wilson jersey. He is a third round draft pick and no team wants an under 6 foot QB and seahawks take their chance. Seahawks give him $21 and you're lucky Wilson [/Quote

don't think Seattle will be as lucky on the road as the past few seasons but they will still win at the C-Link

Thanks for your detailed comment, MUGG. Every team has losses, for sure. But the losses of the Seahawks, combined with the worse team chemistry that could follow after this offseason, has a warning effect IMO and I think you are underestimating that at least a bit.

Sure they went 9-1 and I guess you have watched all those games, that’s why I don’t understand you are so high on these nine wins. Take a look at those nine wins after an overall view of 2014:

                                                                                        
@Panthers: quite okay
Raiders: must-win
Giants: must-win
Cardinals: must-win without Carson Palmer
@49ers: must-win
@Eagles: come on, the Eagles can’t beat a good defense (ZERO points against the Niners)
49ers: must-win
@Cardinals: must-win without Carson Palmer
Rams: the Seahawks haven’t won this game, the Rams lost it. It was pure domination by the Rams defense.

The Seahawks had their tough schedule from weeks 1-7 and in week 17. After watching the tape from week 17, it's obvious they needed help to come out of these games with a record of 4-3.

Russell Wilson gets 4-year, $87.6M extension, $60M guaranteed.

Why not? They're still one of the best teams in the NFL.

must be a bunch of homers that have them as the superbowl favorite, right?  hah, every time this guys posts is dumber than the last. 

if not for a bad timeout RW would have been in the superbowl his first 3 years

Love the Rams....week 1....thats all i got to say....

and they are going to lose to the Packers......don't know if they cover the 3.5.....but 0-2 is a likely start for them......so jump on the Seahawks futures bet after they start 0-2........might be some value there....if it all goes that way.......

Their defense will be good, even if their coordinator is bad, which we don't know yet.  It takes a year or so for a team that talented to lose it's edge if the coordinator is bad......have doubts about their offensive line and their quarterback play.

Nobody was saying their defense is going to be bad or their DC is bad. I am just saying losing Dan Quinn hurts and their defense obviously won't be the same early in the season. Dan Quinn (d-line coach for 20 years) transformed an average or below-average pass rush into one of the best in the league.

 

no sure why I typed -4  Its -3+100       I Put  a Large play down on The Pack .....

Think the Hawks will be good S/UP but will Be Over valued ATS,,,, Tempted to take the Rams  Week 1 as well