(Sports Network) - Pete Carroll isn't afraid to go against the grain, and that
out-of-the-box thinking was never more evident during the Seattle Seahawks'
preparations for the 2012 season.
The always-effervescent head coach shocked -- and borderline appalled in some
instances -- draft experts both professional and of the armchair variety with
his selection of West Virginia pass rusher Bruce Irvin with the 15th overall
pick in this past April's draft. Carroll's perceived third-round reach of
height-challenged Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson the next day raised
some more eyebrows, and possibly even drew a few chuckles, as the pundits
wondered aloud whether a guy who's nearing social security eligibility had
began to lose his wits.
Carroll may be the one getting the last laugh, however, after Wilson put on an
absolutely clinical display in the preseason to wrest the starting job away
from expected heir Matt Flynn, hailed as one of the prized possessions on this
spring's free-agent market off a pair of impressive stand-in performances for
Aaron Rodgers the last two years while biding his time as a backup in Green
Bay.
Wilson's sterling four-game exhibition audition, in which the articulate young
signal-caller showcased his tremendous athletic gifts while exhibiting a quick
mastery of coordinator Darrell Bevell's offense, hasn't only made the rookie
an instant celebrity on a Seattle squad that created a few more summer
headlines with its three-week relationship with accomplished wide receiver and
former reality television star Terrell Owens in August. The Seahawks believe
their new field general can be the final missing piece to puzzle in Carroll
and general manager John Schneider's comprehensive rebuilding plan that's
yielded only a pair of 7-9 seasons to date, albeit with a gift playoff
appearance by winning a cookie-dough soft NFC West in 2010.
"It's just exciting to watch this kid play," Carroll said of Wilson. "His
ability to make first downs, sometimes throwing the football and sometimes
with his legs, has been obvious."
Even before Wilson's unexpected rise to the starting lineup and Carroll's
latest examples of unconventional wisdom, the Seahawks were being touted as a
team potentially on the rise. Seattle went 5-3 over the second half of last
year's campaign, with the surge fueled by a string of productive games from
running back Marshawn Lynch and a defense filled with relative unknowns
gelling into one of the NFL's better crews.
And if preseason results can be used as an accurate measuring stick, the
Seahawks may indeed be ready to take off in 2012. With Wilson leading the way,
Seattle prevailed in all four of its warm-up contests and outscored the
opposition by a convincing 122-44 margin.
That body of work has in turn generated a tidal wave of excitement along the
Puget Sound.
"This offseason, guys that I've hung out with, guys that I can just hear in
the locker room, everybody is talking about winning every game," fullback
Michael Robinson exclaimed.
Below we take a capsule look at the 2012 edition of the Seattle Seahawks, with
a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:
2010 RECORD: 7-9 (3rd, NFC West)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2010, lost to Chicago in NFC Divisional Playoff
COACH (RECORD): Pete Carroll (14-18 in two seasons with Seahawks, 47-49 in six
seasons overall)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Darrell Bevell (second season with Seahawks)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Gus Bradley (fourth season)
OFFENSIVE STAR: Marshawn Lynch, RB (1204 rushing yards, 28 receptions, 13
total TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Kam Chancellor, SS (97 tackles, 1 sack, 4 INT)
2011 OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 28th overall (21st rushing, 22nd passing), 23rd
scoring (20.1 ppg)
2011 DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 9th overall (15th rushing, 11th passing), 7th
scoring (19.7 ppg)
KEY ADDITIONS: QB Russell Wilson (3rd Round, Wisconsin), TE Evan Moore (from
Browns), RG J.R. Sweezy (7th Round, North Carolina State), MLB Bobby Wagner
(2nd Round, Utah State), QB Matt Flynn (from Packers), RB Robert Turbin (4th
Round, Utah State), RB Kregg Lumpkin (from Buccaneers), WR Braylon Edwards
(free agent), OT Frank Omiyale (from Bears), DT Jason Jones (from Titans), DE
Bruce Irvin (1st Round, West Virginia)
KEY DEPARTURES: QB Tarvaris Jackson (to Bills), WR Mike Williams (released),
TE John Carlson (to Vikings), LG Robert Gallery (to Patriots), MLB David
Hawthorne (to Saints), QB Charlie Whitehurst (to Chargers), RB Justin Forsett
(to Texans), TE Cameron Morrah (released), DE Raheem Brock (free agent), DE
Anthony Hargrove (to Packers), DE Jimmy Wilkerson (free agent), OLB David
Vobora (free agent), OLB Adrian Moten (to Eagles), CB Roy Lewis (released), CB
Kennard Cox (not tendered), S Atari Bigby (to Chargers)
QB: Measured at under five-feet, 11-inches and a shade over 200 pounds at the
Scouting Combine, Wilson (3rd Round, Wisconsin) won't be drawing any Cam
Newton comparisons in terms of size. The Seahawks feel he's fully capable of
making an initial impact similar to that of the league's reigning Offensive
Rookie of the Year, however, and the 23-year-old certainly has the speed and
elusiveness to be a dangerous dual-threat under center. Wilson's also got the
requisite arm strength and smarts to succeed at the pro level, though he'll
need to compensate for his physical limitations and overcome the stigma that
short quarterbacks are at a serious disadvantage in the NFL. If he can't,
Seattle does have a fine insurance policy in Flynn (518 passing yards, 6 TD, 2
INT), who proved his worth as a starting-caliber player by lighting up
playoff-bound Detroit for an astounding 480 yards and six touchdowns in his
final game as a Packer during the 2011 regular-season finale. The fifth-year
triggerman still drew only lukewarm interest on the open market due to an arm
that's average at best, but he's accurate and can be a capable game manager
who makes sound decisions. The two new additions signaled the inevitable end
of the short-lived Tarvaris Jackson era, with Seattle trading its 2011 starter
to backup-needy Buffalo for a future late-round draft choice late in the
preseason.
RB: A drastic change in offensive philosophy helped trigger Seattle's strong
second-half run in 2011, with the team hitching its wagons to the powerful
legs of Lynch (1204 rushing yards, 28 receptions, 13 total TD) after
essentially abandoning the ground game early on. The results were conclusively
positive, as the workhorse back ripped off six 100-yard efforts and scored 10
touchdowns over the final nine games to help the Seahawks rebound from a 2-6
start. He was rewarded with a new four-year contract in March after setting
career bests in rushing yards and TD's. Lynch did show some signs of wearing
down late, however, which explains the decision to take Utah State's Robert
Turbin in the fourth round of April's draft. The well-built rookie's downhill
style and cutback ability should make him a very good fit in Seattle's zone-
blocking system, and he'll be a significant part of the game plan after
performing well in the preseason. Veteran Leon Washington (248 rushing yards,
1 TD, 10 receptions) will be utilized mainly on third downs and as a quicker
change-of-pace option in addition to keeping his assignment as the primary
return man. Newcomer Kregg Lumpkin (105 rushing yards) can also help out in
the passing game after recording a career-high 41 catches for Tampa Bay last
year, but the Seahawks brought him in mostly to play special teams, a phase
where Robinson (9 receptions, 1 TD) also sees extensive action in addition to
helping pave holes for the tailbacks.
WR: This area wasn't a strong suit for the Seahawks last season, and the
question marks that still exist is a big reason why the club gave camp tryouts
to Owens as well as fellow veteran retreads Antonio Bryant and Braylon Edwards
(15 receptions with 49ers), who wound up making the roster. Most of the
uncertainty is surrounded around the health of top target Sidney Rice (32
receptions, 2 TD), who's appeared in only 15 games the past two years due to a
myriad of injuries and was held out most of camp while recovering from
shoulder surgery. If the 2009 Pro Bowl honoree is close to 100 percent, he can
be the dynamic deep threat and red-zone weapon the offense sorely lacked in
his absence last season, but that's a big if. Edwards is a wild card as well.
Just two years removed from a 904-yard campaign with the Jets in which he
averaged over 17 yards a catch, he was largely ineffective and subsequently
released after a nine-game 2011 stint with San Francisco marred by a nagging
knee problem, but showed some of his old explosiveness in the preseason. The
29-year-old will start the year behind 2010 second-round pick Golden Tate (35
receptions, 3 TD), who came on nicely when inserted into the starting lineup
late last season, with undrafted find Doug Baldwin (51 receptions, 4 TD) again
deployed in the slot after emerging as the team's leading receiver as a
rookie. Holdover Ben Obomanu was forced into a greater role last year due to
injuries and responded with a career-best 37 grabs, but is more valued for his
exploits as a gunner on the punt coverage units. Onetime Panther Charly Martin
will also aid on special teams after surviving final cuts.
TE: The Seahawks paid big money for Zach Miller (25 receptions) prior to last
season after he strung together three straight 55-plus catch years in Oakland,
but the free-agent pickup spent much of his Seattle debut as a pass blocker to
assist a front line that was often shaky in protection and became a relative
non-factor on offense. He also missed time with a concussion, which prompted
Schneider to bring in some help in the form of Kellen Winslow, acquiring the
ex-Buccaneer in May for a conditional low draft choice. The brash ninth-year
vet ended up being released, however, after failing to overcome the persistent
knee woes that sapped him of the field-stretching skills he once had. Taking
his place will be Evan Moore (34 receptions, 4 TD), a younger and faster
alternative who averaged over 20 yards per catch as a part-time player in
Cleveland two years back but was deemed expendable by the Browns in the
preseason. Third tight end Anthony McCoy (13 receptions) is a quality athlete
and the best run blocker of the trio, but has generally worn an
underachiever's label during his first two years in the league.
OL: Seattle turned to the 2011 draft to address a problematic offensive line,
nabbing right tackle James Carpenter in the first round and right guard John
Moffitt in the third, but the two then-rookies missed a combined 14 games with
knee injuries and struggled at times to pick up the nuances of the zone-block
schemes. Carpenter's absence may have been a blessing in disguise, as former
Packers reject Breno Giacomini stepped in and became one of the group's most
consistent members, and he may hold onto the job even when Carpenter comes
back from last year's ACL tear that will sideline him for at least part of
2012. When the Alabama product does return, he may wind up at left guard,
though journeyman Paul McQuistan fared pretty well in a few spot starts there
last year and is the leading candidate to replace free-agent departure Robert
Gallery. Medical issues have also plagued left tackle Russell Okung, with the
No. 6 overall pick of the 2010 draft sitting out 10 games over his first two
seasons with ankle and chest ailments. If he can stay on the field, the gifted
24-year-old has a chance to finally reach his very high ceiling. Moffitt has
also dealt with a elbow problem in camp and may lose his post to rookie J.R.
Sweezy, a seventh-round surprise who's made a speedy adjustment to offense
after operating as a defensive tackle at North Carolina State. The line's one
constant last season was center Max Unger, a strong pass blocker who inked a
four-year extension in July, though he missed nearly all of 2010 with a toe
injury. All those durability concerns triggered the depth signing of former
Bear Frank Omiyale, who owns 32 career starts and can play both guard and
tackle, while Lemuel Jeanpierre is a decent backup who started five times
between right guard and center last year.
DL: In dire need of a high-end pass-rushing complement to team sack leader
Chris Clemons (51 tackles, 11 sacks), the Seahawks got a potentially great one
in Irvin, who's undersized but extraordinarily fast and racked up 22 sacks in
two seasons at West Virginia. Though the pick was almost universally panned by
analysts, it's still a move that could help Seattle boost its modest 2011
total of 33 quarterback takedowns. More aid could come from the versatile
Jason Jones (27 tackles, 3 sacks), a free-agent addition from Tennessee who
can line up either as a big end or a penetrating tackle. He netted 15 1/2
sacks over four years with the Titans and will likely kick inside on nickel
downs opposite Alan Branch (34 tackles, 3 sacks), an Arizona castoff who
proved to be an astute pickup by Carroll by playing stout run defense in his
first season with the organization. Active nose tackle Brandon Mebane (56
tackles) and oversized end Red Bryant (32 tackles, 1 sack) were two other
reasons why the Seahawks held opponents to 3.8 yards per carry last year,
fourth-best in the league. Clemons is one of the game's most overlooked speed
rushers, having amassed 11 sacks in back-to-back seasons since coming over in
a trade from Philadelphia, and should be in good spirits after getting a
three-year, $21 million extension after staging a holdout in minicamp. A pair
of rookie draft selections, tackle Jaye Howard (4th Round, Florida) and end
Greg Scruggs (7th Round, Louisville), will vie for time in the rotation along
with interior returnee Clinton McDonald (35 tackles).
LB: Youth will be served at linebacker as well for Seattle this season, with
2012 second-round choice Bobby Wagner projected to hold down the middle after
winning a camp competition with injury-prone veteran Barrett Ruud, who was
dealt to New Orleans in mid-August. A teammate of Turbin's at Utah State, the
22-year-old is a high-effort player who can fly around the field and displayed
better-than-anticipated read-and-react skills when pressed into action in the
preseason. The Seahawks hope Wagner can have the same kind of impact that
strong-side regular K.J. Wright (65 tackles, 2 sacks) did as a rookie last
year, with the 2011 fourth-rounder emerging into a physical run-stopper and
demonstrating some pass-rush ability after displacing failed former first-
round selection Aaron Curry a few weeks into the season. The old man of the
group is 29-year-old Leroy Hill (89 tackles, 4 sacks), brought back on a one-
year deal to again roam the weak side after putting together a solid last
season and staying clear of trouble, a problem for him in the past. Special
teams ace Heath Farwell was also re-signed after posting a team-best 21 stops
in only 11 games on kickoff and punt coverage, with Malcolm Smith (16 tackles,
1 sack) and Mike Morgan -- two former University of Southern California
members who played for Carroll in college -- filling the reserve ranks on the
outside.
DB: An extremely young secondary grew up in a hurry in 2011, with the kiddie
corps' sound overall play enabling Seattle to finish sixth in the league in
pass efficiency defense while permitting just 18 touchdowns through the air.
As a result, three of its constituents -- safeties Kam Chancellor (97 tackles,
1 sack, 4 INT) and Earl Thomas (98 tackles, 2 INT) and cornerback Brandon
Browner (54 tackles, 6 INT, 23 PD) -- went to the Pro Bowl. Browner turned out
to be a hidden gem in his first NFL season after toiling five years in Canada,
with the 6-foot-4 cover man leading the NFL in total passes defensed (29) and
returning two of his six picks for touchdowns. Opposite-side starter Richard
Sherman (55 tackles, 4 INT, 17 PD) is nearly as big and a revelation in his
own right, with the 6-foot-3 fifth-round selection holding opposing
quarterbacks to a mere 46 percent completion rate on passes thrown his way
during a splendid rookie campaign. The 232-pound Chancellor brings an imposing
presence to the backfield as well, but the third-year pro showed to be more
than just an in-the-box run-supporter by intercepting four passes and often
blanketing tight ends. Free safety Thomas, meanwhile, lived up to his billing
as a premium draft pick when the 2010 first-rounder gave up just one touchdown
as the last line of defense. With projected nickel back Walter Thurmond (12
tackles) to begin the year on the physically unable to perform list while on
the mend from a nasty broken leg suffered back in October, Seattle re-signed
the declining Marcus Trufant (23 tackles, 1 INT) for a 10th season with the
team, with the 31-year-old asked to cover the slot for the first time in his
career. Rookie Winston Guy, an instinctive sixth-round choice out of Kentucky,
was pegged to be the third safety and joins special-teams stalwart Chris
Maragos (12 tackles) as back-end depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Seahawks boast a premier returner in Washington, who's
taken back seven kickoffs for touchdowns in his six seasons and had three such
scores in 2010. For an encore, the shifty running back placed fifth in the NFC
with an 11.3-yard average on punt returns along with a good 25.2 mark on kicks
last year. Punter Jon Ryan is also coming off an excellent year in which the
native Canadian pinned a league-best 18 attempts inside the 10-yard line and
averaged a personal-high 46.6 yards per boot. Kicker Steven Hauschka can be
spotty, having connected on under 79 percent of his lifetime field goal tries,
but knocked home a respectable 25-of-30 three-pointers and was 9-of-12 from 40
yards or beyond in 2011. Long snapper Clint Gresham has held down that role
for the last two years and gone unnoticed, a positive development for one at
his position.
PROGNOSIS: Last season's strong finish and this summer's impressive results
have tabbed the Seahawks as a team to watch in 2012, and a defense that has a
chance to be terrific should keep them in every game they'll play. There are
still a few challenging obstacles that lie ahead in Seattle's quest for a
playoff berth, however. The schedule looks to be a daunting one to start, with
the first three home opponents no pushovers in Dallas, Green Bay and New
England and road trips to defending division champ San Francisco and 2011
playoff entry Detroit also awaiting in the first half. With a rookie
quarterback and an offensive line that still may take some time to jell, it
will be a difficult course to navigate. The remainder of the slate does appear
considerably easier, and if the Seahawks can make it through the tough initial
stretch in reasonably good shape, they're certainly capable of giving the
49ers a real run for their money in the NFC West. A stumble out of the blocks,
however, may keep Seattle back in the middle of the conference pack.
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