Seattle football fans finally have all the hope in the world for the upcoming NFL season. The Seahawks have been center discussion among the best teams in the National Football League and the "trendy pick" in Vegas and around the country to bring home a Lombardi trophy this February. Rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson, had a sensational season and improved exponentially in each consecutive game he played throughout his debut tour of the NFL. Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch again lived up to his ominous name as he rumbled and pounded and dragged defenders down the field for 1,590 yards, 11 touchdowns and yet another postseason trip to the pro-bowl in Hawaii. Seattle's swarming, smothering and stingy defense led the NFL in points allowed (15) with a collective effort including the best defensive secondary in football and breakout players including; OLB KJ Wright, and rookies MLB Bobby Wagner, and LEO End Bruce Irvin, whom is being groomed to perhaps play strong side linebacker in the upcoming season.
The Seahawks offense finished the 2012 season with a glut of scoring and some excellent defensive play, which always provides the opportunity for the defense to play free and loose and take chances. However, GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll weren't satisfied with with last year's effort, nor were the players content. So, despite Schneider announcing that they would not be aggressive in the off-season free-agent market, they made some extremely (value-heavy) acquisitions including; DE Cliff Avril, DE Michael Bennett, DT Tony McDaniel and SC Antoine Winfield. In addition to those exciting players, the Seahawks made the first big move of the off-season acquiring the electrifying WR/KR/PR/RB Percy Harvin in a blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Seahawks certainly have some shiny new toys to play with and the needed pieces to a puzzle that will hopefully rocket them up over the top after a disappointing playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC title game. In that game, and with some tremendous play from quarterback Wilson, the Seahawks erased a 20 point deficit in the second half to take the lead with just 31 seconds remaining in the game. Unfortunately, what was thought by many to be the strongest aspect of the Seahawks team, the defense faltered and it was the defensive line's inability to pressure the quarterback that was likely the reason Seattle couldn't hold the lead in the end. However, the Seahawks return nine of their 11 starters on defense and all 11 starters on offense. In addition, the 'Hawks have great depth at many positions and despite not having a first-round selection in this year's college football draft, (because of the Harvin trade) Seattle still made a big impact toward their future with all 11 selections they did have, and there will be several new rookies who will contribute right away. Consider just the potential of last year's 2012 Seahawks roster at the close of the season: This was an incredibly; hungry, talented, big and athletic group, with a swagger from its nucleus of veterans that sets an ultra competitive tone for every player on the team. Survey the additions to the teams personnel during the off-season and it's clear to see that, Schneider and Carroll, have continued to fortify this team's quality and integrity at every position, not only to compete in the present, but to legitimately contend for a title in all the years to come. The immediate future for the Seattle Seahawks professional football team looks particularly auspicious, and it's no accident that the powers that be, are doing it the right way. Owner Paul Allen has brilliantly illustrated how to implement the best people in positions in which they are uniquely and specially talented, and understanding his own limitations and inabilities to efficiently take his investment into the next realm of success. This is something Cowboys Owner, President, CEO and General Manager, Jerry Jones, hasn't figured out, yet. Mr. Jones would do well to take notes this season as he watches the most wealthy NFL owner continue to frame a solid franchise within the constraints of a hard capped salary structure for players. It's harder than it looks Mr. Jones, perhaps it's time to fire your general manager, maybe?
Now, that was some of the good news, but everything is not all sparkling green in the Emerald City for the Seahawks. Percy Harvin, the Seahawks' new dynamic offensive weapon, was recently diagnosed with a slight tear in his hip labrum and the condition is thought to be perhaps "serious" enough to need some variation of surgical repair. Pete Carroll reported to the press on Thursday, July 25, saying, "there just isn't enough information gathered yet to make any kind of decision on what should be done." He also confirmed that Percy was going to get a second opinion from noted hip specialist Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He closed by saying that they would likely know more (Tuesday) as to whether or not surgery would be necessary, how severe the tear is and how invasive any procedure might be. Coach Carroll did his best to dissuade the media's instant overreaction or Seahawks fan's (panic and worry) by staying positive and focusing on best case scenarios. Although, with his experience in the NFL and NCAA, he knows that the media circus is inevitable and fan panic is an almost organic. Panic is usually the natural reaction for fans who's favorite team loses an exceptional player… even if it's just for a short time. However, in this particular city (Seattle) which hasn't had a professional championship team for any of its sports franchises since the Supersonics in 1979-- Panic is likely an adjective of understatement. Watching the Seahawks' new Ferrari (Harvin) already up on blocks before the rubber has even touched the road…? Well, that's got to be a big disappointment, to say the least… Unless you are a 49ers fan. I'm sure there were few, if any, Seahawks fans willing to shed a tear when Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon, essentially eliminating any chances of him playing in 2013-14.
Throughout this off-season, everything seemed to be coming up roses for the Seahawks, but the grim reminder of the fragility of the "human football player" has started a familiar feeling among Seahawks fans of; "Here we go again". I can't tell you how many long-time, diehard Seahawks fans have said after learning of the acquisitions of; Percy Harvin, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Tony McDaniel and Antoine Winfield, "But, good things don't happen to Seattle sports franchises." That kind of gives you a sample of the sports fan climate in Seattle and, no… It's not raining.
I think it's important to remind football fans all over, that Seattle's acquisition of Percy Harvin, while expensive both financially and personnel-wise, was never made as an act of desperation by the club. The Seahawks didn't trade for him because they believed the team had to have him; they didn't. This move was made more out of an incredible opportunity to acquire a player that, Carroll and Schneider, thought was so special, it was worth taking a legitimate shot. It's not like Seattle was struggling to manufacture points last year, particularly in the second half of the season. The Seahawks offense was electrifying and sensational in the red zone, scoring 150 points in just three consecutive games (Buf 50, Arz 58, SF 42) Incidentally, this was done without (Percy Harvin) and they will have an explosive and dynamic offense this season [with or without] Harvin.
Seahawks slot receiver, Golden Tate, finally emerged in the second half of the 2012 season as the supreme playmaker he was drafted to be by Seattle, three years ago out of Notre Dame in the second round. In addition, split end Sidney Rice was healthy and productive all 18 games last season and looks to the completely healthy again for the 2013 campaign. The leading receiver for the Seahawks in 2011 was rookie, Doug Baldwin, out of Stanford. Baldwin had a down season in 2012, but unbeknownst to the fans and media, he had a grizzly shoulder injury and wasn't completely able to lift his arm above his head without searing pain. Baldwin is a technician in the slot; with his superb footwork, athleticism, soft hands and his precise route running, there is no reason he shouldn't return to his rookie form, or better, this season now that the shoulder is completely healed and he has been in the system now for two full years.
Russell Wilson has proven to be a great distributor of the football, using all of his weapons interchangeably and at will, sometimes connecting with; slot receiver, split-end, flanker, running back, fullback and tightend all in a single possession of the football. There are also some uniquely talented newcomers to this Seattle offense and the fact that Wilson is comfortable throwing to locations on the field, rather than just certain players, is another strength that will make newcomers and rookies; WR Chris Harper, TE Luke Willson, and perhaps some of the other new receivers on the roster able to contribute sooner than later. Wilson also has supreme trust in all of his receivers and they in him, never requiring the quarterback to find favorites and lock on to one particular player throughout a game or quarter or even possession. He believes that each eligible receiver has a job to do and he will be looking for them if he sees a mismatch or when checking down in his progression.
Developing timing and chemistry between quarterback and receiver are essential disciplines for most players, but I contend that the elite level quarterbacks can throw to anyone on the field regardless of who they are, how long they've been on the team and with or without a line of trust created by playing together for an extended amount of time in practice or in game scenarios. Quarterback Tom Brady has had a veritable "revolving door" of varying wide receivers in his career with the Patriots, and yet, he continues to be among the highest rated quarterbacks in the NFL, year after year.
So, is it the "Belichick System" that creates great results with every quarterback, every receiver? It's a fair question, but one that illustrates the fact that a constant collection of familiar wide receivers is not always compulsory when you have the right quarterback who delivers a catchable football and throws the ball with anticipation so that the receiver is in space when the ball arrives in his hands and without a defender to tackle, deflect or intercept it. If you watch Brady throw to his receivers, he gets rid of the ball in a hurry with no wasted motion in his delivery and rarely gives the defender time to close in on the ball or the receiver before it arrives. That's playing with exceptional anticipation and it requires the quarterback to know where his target receiver will be, and it requires that his receivers run "discipline routes" and arrive at their pattern's destination on time.
Russell Wilson was a rookie last year, and because of that, most analysts don't recognize the fact that he is already shadowing many of the great qualities that the most elite quarterbacks in the NFL have, but require many seasons to perfect, players like; Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and of course the incomparable Tom Brady. I'm not suggesting that Wilson is in the same maturation process of his career that those great quarterbacks are right now, but I would be bold enough to say that he's already ahead of them at his level than they were going into their second year as a starting NFL quarterback, and he's more athletically gifted than most of the established elites are currently, and has superior straight-line speed and is perhaps a more advanced team leader in such a short time of his quarterback progression.
Now, and into the immediate future, it's just a matter of time before Russell Wilson becomes a consistent and efficient quarterback, nonspecific to any particular wide receiver or set of wide receivers the way that the great contemporary signal callers have of the 21st century and going forward. The only question for me as to whether Wilson will become an elite style quarterback is predicated on a few variables that he has little or no control over. Those variables include his supporting cast of players, his head coach and offensive coordinator that will inevitably combine to prepare game plans and of course will construct offensive play calling.
HC Carroll, DC Dan Quinn and OC, Darrell Bevell, are committed to developing a dominant running game to establish control and momentum of the game and a big, athletic, fast and swarming defense to create fear and apprehension to their opponent. Once the offense wins the battle in the trenches, then Wilson can start launching passes deep down the field to loosen up the linebackers, corners and safeties. Then, Seattle will be able to move the ball down the field at will. Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch, along with second year running back, Robert Turbin, will be an awesome beginning to a running game that is reliable and relentless. With newcomers, Christine Michael and Spencer Ware, the Seahawks fortify a ground attack that will be unforgiving and inexhaustible. Once Michael begins to become comfortable with coach Cable's zone blocking scheme, the one-two punch of Beast Mode and Michael could be a change of pace attack that no defense can overcome. In addition to Marshawn and Christine, is a backup reinforcing brigade of bulking muscle and bone crushing power. Longtime veteran, fullback Michael Robinson, and rookie fullback, Spencer Ware, can bulldoze the defensive line into exhaustion and a complete war of attrition. To make things even worse for their opponent, all of Seattle's offensive backfield are excellent pass receivers and route runners.
Nevertheless, the Seahawks are stacked at running back with some very special ballcarriers and you know Pete Carroll is going to establish a supreme physicality at the onset of each football team and fortify it with deliberate aerial attack, though I don't expect Russell Wilson to throw more than 30-35 times a game this upcoming season. It sounds like a shame when you start rattling off the receivers names; Percy Harvin, Golden Tate, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Chris Harper, Zach Miller and Luke Willson. All of these players are capable of making big gains and creating indefensible mismatches every week during the season.
So, what it we know about Percy Harvin right now. First, we know that he didn't come from Minnesota with a pristine reputation of being a complete team oriented guy. He's somewhat of a loner and keeps his relationships with his teammates, primarily to the field only, showing that he's unlikely to be a leader on this team. We know that he is a diva of sorts and how much you are paid is extremely important to him. He can have conflicts with his teammates as well as his coaches at times. He doesn't particularly enjoy taking part in the daily grind of training camp nor practice sessions, and we know that he will be very creative in his predesigned task of missing as many practices due to "fantasy injuries" if that's what it takes. The last thing we know about Percy Harvin is that, though he missed over 36 practices during his second and third seasons with the Vikings, he missed just three games, and probably more poignant and important, then any of the facts about Percy Harvin; his teammates say that he gives you every ounce of effort that he can squeeze out in every game he plays and that his special friends and teammates were absolutely heartbroken about his leaving Minnesota for Seattle and the Seahawks. All world Adrian Peterson, a former Minnesota Vikings and teammate of Harvin said this via twitter after hearing of Harvin going to Seattle in a trade;
Harvin was an extremely popular player with his Viking teammates and so far, he seems to be fitting in with the Seahawks just fine. It remains to be seen what kind of teammate and what kind of player Harvin will be in a Seahawks uniform. One thing is for certain, with a six-year contract with Seattle, he's going to be around for a while to prove exactly who he is to the Seahawks and to the fans all over.
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