Seattle Seahawks
HISTORY
Joined the NFL as an AFC expansion franchise in 1976. Moved to the NFC in 2001 and has never relocated.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY
League Championships: None
Conference Championships: 1 – 2005 (NFC)
Division Championships: 4 – 1988 (AFC West), 1999 (AFC West), 2004 (NFC West), 2005 (NFC West)
Playoff Appearances: 8 – 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005
2005 Finish: 13-3, 1 st Place NFC West, NFC Champion, Super Bowl Runner-up
Recent Records:
2004: 9-7 2005: 13-3 2006: 9-7
2008 NFL DRAFT GRADES
Seattle Seahawks: B+
I really like what Lawrence Jackson brings to the table. I think solid all around defensive ends don’t get as much love as they used to, and Jackson is one of those guys. He’s not super flashy like the pass rushing ends in today’s NFL, but this kid can really do it all. He had 30+ sacks at USC and helps stuff the run. He’ll be a nice player for this team – maybe not a full time guy this year, but he’ll start soon.
John Carlson wasn’t my favorite TE, and I didn’t like how he fumbled around with the ball so much – but he does get the job done, and he does it blocking and receiving. I think that’s a nice option to have, he’s a good blocker and can get down the field and make a play, that way defenses can’t load up on him one way or the other.
Red Bryant is a beast of a man that is meant to eat up blockers. It seems like the Hawks always have trouble keeping their defensive lineman healthy and they need force up the middle to keep their linebackers free. I like Bryant’s strength and his speed is underrated.
Owen Schmitt is a kid that has more passion than most. He’s willing to step in front of a train for his team, and could become a nice full back option for a team that really lost a great one when Mack Strong retired. He’s an absolute beast that slightly resembles the Hulk.
Tyler Schmitt (no relation to Owen) is a special teams guy. That’s it. In the 6th round, the Hawks went ahead and locked up a guaranteed stud at long snapper, making sure they get the ball back accurately and on time. He’s not a bad special teams tackler and the Hawks will get use out of him from Day 1.
Justin Forsett could give the Hawks a little quickness in the backfield that they just don’t have. Forsett didn’t run as fast as many expected, but his lateral quickness and playmaking ability is obvious. He could help Seattle’s grouping of big backs.
Brandon Coutu was seen by many as the best kicker in the draft. He’ll be competing with Olindo Mare, so he’ll probably win the job – lets be honest.
2007 Seattle Seahawks
Seattle, though very reluctantly as it seemed, made it back to the playoffs in 2006, sneaking by the Cowboys in the Wild Card Round, and losing in overtime to the Bears in Round 2. The regular season, and playoffs, seemed almost painful for the Hawks. Nothing moved smoothly during the season, as everything seemed pressed, and injuries put their mark on the team. But throughout everything, Seattle remained an NFC power, taking the weak NFC West and coming up 15 yards short from attempting a game winning field goal against the Bears. Hasselbeck was injured and out for much of the season, and seemed only a fraction of himself after coming back from his injury late in the season. ’05 MVP, Shaun Alexander, struggled through the Madden Curse, coming up short of 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns for the first time since 2000. Shaun finished with 896 yards and 7 scores, playing in 10 games. The receiving corps headed by Darrell Jackson and Deion Branch didn’t make the Hawks as potent through the air as Seattle Brass had intended, but unless one of the two is moved, it looks like Seattle will give the duo another shot in ’07. With a healthy Matt, I think Seattle’s passing game will come together nicely.
2007 Off-Season Plans:
The Hawks have looked like a team shopping many players this off-season, but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything huge yet. They tried to pull Chris Dielman away from San Deigo, but the Charger took less money to remain LT’s main blocker. And Darrell Jackson has been talked about moving teams as well. The loss of Steve Hutchinson is starting to look like the Curse of the Babe in Boston, but there’s still 90 more years or so before that’s even a possibility. I know the Hawk brass wishes they just made Hutch rich last season. On the defensive side of the ball, the Hawks stepped up and signed Jaguar safety, Deon Grant to a big deal, they replaced Grant Wistrom with Patrick Kerney, and Marcus Pollard took team idiot, Jeremy Stevens spot at tight end. Stevens definitely has more talent than Pollard, but dropped passes aren’t something Marcus has, neither is drunk driving, marijuana use, or girlfriend abuse. Sounds like a good deal to me. Cleveland’s safety, Brian Russell also signed with Seattle, giving the Hawks a new look in the secondary. Bobby Engram is also back with the team. As for the Hawk draft, expect them to pick someone everyone doesn’t think much of with their picks, then expect them to play above expectations, and help the team in many areas. They don’t have a 1st pick, so they don’t register on my Mock, but a player like Ben Grubbs would help the Hawks O-Line, and his great feet make him an ideal fit for the Hawks pulling system. That athleticism has been missed since Steve left for Minnesota.
