NFL Football Preview – Here Come the Seahawks: Stumbling and all that in his last Holmgren
Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley
Just as Seattle Mike Holmgren enters his final year as head coach, the Seahawks stumble now, and everything their way in what appears to be Larry, Curly Mo and comedy.
After dusting off the Minnesota Vikings 34-17 in their first preseason game in 2008 on the road in Minneapolis, the Seahawks narrowly escaped defeat in their first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, winning 29-26 in an error display of ineptitude subjects. For the faithful, the Seahawks, it was no laughing matter.
There are high hopes in Seattle this year, especially since Holmgren begins his last year after winning a title in the AFC West division, an NFC wildcard berth, 4 consecutive division championships NFC West (2004 to 2007), an NFC championship and took the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance in 2005, they quickly lost against the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10.
Against Minnesota, the Seahawks became ballhawks, forcing 5 fumbles, recovering 4 and snatched an interception. Quart Backup Seneca Wallace completed 15 of 20 passes with 3 touchdowns after starter Matt Hasselbeck looked solid in the first two rounds of the game.
Against Chicago, the Seahawks were on both sides of another planet.
On the bright side, their 7th round pick from the Georgia place-kicker Brandon Coutu a 5-for-5, including the game winner from 36 yards in overtime to win. Seattle Other 7th-round draft California, 5 feet 8 Justin Forseti, picked up 261 all purpose yards? excluding a 50-yard-plus returns called back for holding? and all 136 of his yards rushing ahead when he played in the second half.
Coutu is a backup to Olindo Mare, a former Pro-Bowl veteran of 12 seasons with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Forsetta is 4th on the list running back depth behind Maurice Morris, Julius Jones and TJ Duckett. Jones (from Dallas Cowboys) and Duckett (from Detroit Lions) microphones are new this year to replace the release of former All Pro and 2005 NFL Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander.
In 2005 he became the first player in NFL history to score 19 rushing and receiving TDs in only 10 games. This mark eventually helped break the single brand of the NFL season with 27 touchdown passes. Alexander, bothered by injuries the past two seasons, was the best running back in the forefront of Seattle of all time with 7817 yards and 89 touchdowns in rushing in 5 seasons.
On the wrong side, the Seahawks have faced 2 punts blocked and an interception return for a touchdown to finally win at home. Third quarterback Charlie Fry String completed 20 of 35 passes, but was intercepted 3 times. Seattle won only because the Bears' Pro Bowl place-kicker missed a potential game winner from 47 yards as time regulatory lapse.
Seattle is excited about the new 2nd-round choice John Carlson of Notre Dame. Holmgren's West Coast Offense has greatly need a tight end who can really play.
The addition of the Guard veteran and former Pro Bowler Mike Wahle from Carolina Panthers should strengthen the offensive line was excellent in 2005 and became a lot less with the departure of guard Steve Hutchinson to the Minnesota Vikings. Hutchinson was unstoppable next to Walter Jones, Seahawks Premier side which is a time of 8 Pro Brownlie and 6-time All Pro.
Unfortunately, the Seahawks underestimated the positive locker room presence of Hutchinson, who has created a role that has been left unfulfilled.
While Seattle seems stable in its transition coaching (Jim Mora, a current assistant head coach and defensive backs coach, will replace Holmgren next year), there are a lot of turnover among coaches.
The Seahawks have added Mike Solari of Kansas City (the new coach of the offensive line), Bill Lazor Redskins Washington (the new quarterbacks coach), Kasey Dunn of the University of Maryland (new running backs) coach Mike DeBord and the University of Michigan (new offensive assistant coach).
Like most NFL teams, the hawks have a lot of coaches go with Holmgren 19 of them in fact. In some cases, they work harder than the players they are coaching.
Seattle and the NFL in general a lot of players who are overpaid and under-performed. Two of them are defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, a huge man who could block it if the environment was not injured every 10 minutes in his career, and offensive tackle Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who loves the Seahawks because he can play more than one position on the line.
Womack, as Tubbs, was injured healthier. Tubbs Seattle happily cut loose earlier in the preseason camp. However, they resigned Womack, a dubious move at best. It is as if the Seahawks could not find another decent backup healthy face the face of the Earth.
To its credit, Seattle has developed substitutes; discredit the players drafted, none of them have proved capable of doing the job, so Womack comes back for another season until he was wounded again.
So who else is injured? I thought you would never ask. Pro-Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has enough problems back to an orthopedic surgeon rich, go for the new receiver Bobby Engram has a cracked shoulder and will be absent for some time, and high-priced receiver Deion Branch is recovering from knee surgery.
A host of other players are whining about the normal bumps and bruises. Big deal, that's football, not Tiddlywinks.
About the Author
Read my other detailed, knowledgeable, interesting articles on football, including:
“About Super Bowl 42 – Here’s a Different Slant on the Giants’ Upset Win to Become World Champs”
and my 14 consecutive weekly wrap-up articles on the 2007 College Football Season as well as wrap-up articles on all 32 College Bowl Games.
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http://www.edbagleyblog.com
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Deion Branch Q&A