32 in 32: Seattle Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks

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Arizona Cardinals tomorrow

2011 Record: 7-9

Key Acquisitions: Braylon Edwards, Matt Flynn, Bruce Irvin, Deuce Lutui, Terrell Owens, Barrett Ruud, Russell Wilson, Kellen Winslow Jr.
Key Departures: Atari Bigby, Raheem Brock, John Carlson, Lofa Tatupu, Mike Williams

Well let's give it up for Seattle and their great ability to acquire backup quarterbacks! I don't expect the winner of the competition to be anything better than average, and there are many questions outside of the QB situation. Offensively this team doesn't look good, so the 12th Man needs to hope for a lot of 7-3 wins because this defense will be what carries this team. They did rank 9th in the NFL defensively last year.

Offense
Let's just say this: Tavaris Jackson should never be a starting quarterback in the National Football League. Unless your top 2 guys on the depth chart got injured. Reports are breaking that the Seahawks are trying the trade him, so let's see what team is stupid enough to give something up for him. Matt Flynn is the best option here. Yes I know that he's only played two good games, but not just anyone can throw for 480 yards in a game, no matter how bad the Lions defense is. He set the Packers franchise record for passing yards in a game. Said Bart Starr, Don Majkowski, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers: "Really?" His upside is very high, even if he's not throwing for 480 yards a game. Russell Wilson is good too, but Flynn looks to be much better.

I've always been on the "Marshawn Lynch Is Not As Good As You Think" bandwagon, and I still am. His run against the Saints was great, but that's it. I don't like him being the feature back on a team. No, rushing for 1,000 yards does not automatically make you amazing. Leon Washington is a speedster who provides a change of pace for defenses. He fits well with the powerful running of Lynch.

Sidney Rice isn't as good as Brett Favre made him look. He also happens to be hurt all the time. That's why they went and signed two low risk, high reward receivers in Braylon Edwards and Terrell Owens. Their contracts didn't cost the team much, and if either of them are anything close to what they used to be, it's an upgrade over the other options that they have. I like both of those signings, and I expect at least one if not both of them to work out very nicely. Doug Baldwin looked very nice last year and he looks to be a good second option (because I know, you know, the Seahawks know, and Sidney knows that Sidney Rice is getting hurt). Golden Tate and Ben Obomanu are fine.

Kellen Winlsow is fine, but he's never produced at the level that was expected of him. He is another guy who struggles with his health.

I don't know about the offensive line here. Russell Okung is pretty good, but not nearly as good as expected. Staying healthy has been a constant issue for him so far. Deuce Lutui is a rock at the guard position, but after him, the only decent guy I see is Alex Barron. He isn't great. The line could be an issue this year, which doesn't help this already lacking offensive unit.

Defense
Bruce Irvin is going to provide a much needed jolt to this line. He is a very good edge rusher. So is Chris Clemons, who had 11 sacks each of the past two years. The only thing is that there isn't much else on the inside of the line nor on the bench. Red Bryant is alright. He happens to have a knack for blocking kicks, if that's something that you search for in your defensive linemen. Barrett Ruud is a very good linebacker. That's all I'll say about the linebackers.

Earl Thomas is a very good young safety. He's going to be the future of this defense. When he's roaming deep down the field, he tends to help erase very long pass plays. Marcus Trufant has been with the Seahawks for seemingly the past 25 years, and theres a reason why. He's been probably the best player on the defense for the past few years.

Special Teams
Steven Hauschka was the kicker last year and he did a fine job. No complaints here. Jon Ryan was also good last season, and has been throughout his career. Leon Washington has always been a very dangerous return man and has the ability to break the big one.

8-8, 2nd in NFC West