| Andrew Perna & The RGM Seahawks' Forum. 17th April, 2008 - 7:20 pm
 Here at RealGM our hearts beat thanks to the thousands upon thousands of posters that frequent our forums on a daily basis. With the NFL season still months from kicking off, but the ever-important NFL Draft just a little more than a week away, what better time than now to check in with the people who care about football even more than some of the players on the field?
2007 Record: 10-6
Additions: Julius Jones, RB, T.J. Duckett, RB, Olindo Mare, K, Jeb Putzier, TE
Subtractions: Josh Brown, K (STL), D.J. Hackett, WR (CAR), Chuck Darby, DT (DET)
Draft Picks: 25th
The Answers
1. What was the best thing(s) that happened in 2007?
HeavyP: The improvement in the secondary, as the big plays we always gave up in 2006 went away for the most part. Patrick Kerney was a nice addition too.
freightboy: To me it was Mike Holmgren recognizing that the run was not working and letting Hasselbeck loose. If the Seahawks’ receiver corps had been healthier and their tight ends were able to catch a pass, the 'Hawks would have had much greater success.
Ex-hippie: The first playoff game, against Washington. For about fifty-five minutes, the team looked the way it was supposed to look. Unfortunately, there were another five minutes in which they made it interesting, including some bone-headed mental errors. The game was a microcosm of what this team has been all about over the last few years, but they somehow came out on top.
MrNate: Our secondary and defense improved again, and we made the playoffs.
BullTalk: Winning the division and getting the home field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, then beating the Redskins in the first game. A close second was the gelling of our defense and its strong play with the addition of guys like Kerney, Deon Grant and Brian Russell at the defensive end and safety positions.
2. What was the worst thing that happened in 2007?
HeavyP: Our running game disappeared! Whether it was the offensive line, the scheme or Shaun Alexander – I'm not sure – but we never had a solid running attack.
freightboy: While the running game was horrible all season, I have to go with the plastering the Seahawks took at the hands of the Packers in the playoffs. They were pretty outclassed in that game. Mack Strong's injury/retirement ranks pretty high as well.
Ex-hippie: The running game completely disappearing. It's amazing how they could go from unstoppable to inept in just two years.
MrNate: Our offensive line fell apart, especially in regards to run blocking.
BullTalk: Losing to the Packers and failing to make the NFC championship game, which would have been played at home.
3. Who had a breakout season?
HeavyP: Leonard Weaver. He replaced Strong at fullback and by the end of the year was getting some Pro Bowl recognition
freightboy: Darryl Tapp. Having Kerney and Julian Peterson on the roster certainly helped him, but his 42 tackles and seven sacks was great production from a second-year guy.
Ex-hippie: Bobby Engram. Who'd have thought he would have a career year in his mid-30s??
MrNate: Either Engram or Weaver. Both did well stepping up when needed.
BullTalk: Hmm....Marcus Trufant comes closest to what the question is implying, though some might say his breakout season came earlier. Kelly Jennings and Tapp didn't really breakout as significant players, but they improved in their second year. Nate Burleson didn't have a career year, but he did begin to live up to the expectations that came when we acquired him two seasons ago.
4. Who was the biggest disappointment?
HeavyP: Shaun.
freightboy: Deion Branch. Alexander is the popular answer here, but I had pretty low expectations for him. Branch, on the other hand, had high expectations and while he did pretty well when he played, his injuries hurt.
Ex-hippie: Alexander. Some of the blame for the running troubles can be placed on the offensive line, but not all of it. Alexander looked timid and almost always went down on first contact.
MrNate: Chris Gray, Chris Spencer and Rob Sims (tie). The interior of our offensive line forgot how to run block this season, period.
BullTalk: Alexander gets top billing here. He ran horribly in the playoffs, and that forever wiped him off my personal roster as a Seahawk. Heck, he ran horribly all year long, but to do it in the playoffs was unforgivable. Other disappointments were Sims and Spencer on the offensive line (they didn't improve enough), Marcus Tubbs and D.J. Hackett for again being unable to remain healthy and Marcus Pollard, who gave us next to nothing at the tight end position and had some key drops in the playoffs.
5. How could the team have been more successful?
HeavyP: We could have switched to the pass-happy offense earlier – maybe that would have led to a better season?
freightboy: I am not sure that it could have been, given the injury situation they were faced with all season.
Ex-hippie: Probably by stretching the field offensively a little bit more. Hasselbeck was mostly up to the challenge when the team moved to the pass-first approach, but the West Coast offense remained heavily dependent on rhythm and timing and was still susceptible to disruption. Keeping defenses on their heels a little more would have helped.
MrNate:We could have gotten a left guard to make that side of our line dominant again, moved Sims back to the right where he had more success and gotten some better coaching for Spencer.
BullTalk: A few things come to mind: giving up on Alexander sooner than we did, getting a little too conservative on offense in key situations and not stretching the field enough on offense.
6. What do you make of the team’s offseason progress at this point?
HeavyP: I like most of the moves we've made. Losing Josh Brown hurts, but he wanted all of his money up front and to kick in a dome. I wish him good luck against everyone but the ‘Hawks. We locked up Lofa Tatupu long term, we re-signed Trufant to a cap-friendly deal and we've aggressively gone after all of our biggest needs (running back, tight end and kicker). We've set ourselves up in a way that we don't have to take any one player on Day One of the draft.
freightboy: Locking up Trufant and Tatupu long-term was great for the defense. The jury is still out on the Julius Jones/T.J. Duckett tag team, but they are not a long-term solution at running back by any means. I think that the loss of Hackett will hurt the team more than they think, especially considering how cheap his contract was.
Ex-hippie: Neutral overall. I wish they had been able to keep Hackett, and I certainly don't trust Olindo Mare to replace Brown. I also note that Jones and Duckett have both had success in thunder/lightning combinations, but only when they've been paired with better backs like Marion Barber and Warrick Dunn, respectively. With each other? I'm not sure. On the plus side, Mike Wahle was a nice pickup, and I'm glad this team is going to have Tatupu and Trufant for the long term. Not inconsequentially, the word is Tubbs is making good progress in his rehab and that will help tremendously if he can make it most of the way back.
MrNate: Amazing. We addressed the line right away by signing Wahle. We addressed tight end by signing Putzier and running back with our Jones/Duckett signings. Now we head into the draft with the ability to select the best player available.
BullTalk: I’d give the ‘Hawks a B+ so far. They re-signed/extended Tatupu, Sean Locklear and Trufant, which were all positives for the team. They struck quick and decisively in the free agent market by signing Wahle to shore up our offensive line. Though they didn't sign Crumpler, they made a strong effort to nab the tight end and when that didn't work, they signed Jones and Duckett to fortify the running game. The somewhat curious move of signing two backs at least gave us a lot more flexibility to draft on talent in the first round of the upcoming draft, rather than drafting out of need in the first round.
7. Where are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
HeavyP: My Order: defensive tackle, tight end, guard, offensive tackle and running back.
freightboy: The line (both offensive and defensive), tight end, running back and wide receiver.
Ex-hippie: Tight end, offensive line (maybe even a left tackle to be the heir apparent), possibly a scat-back (Steve Slaton in the 4th round?), maybe a wideout (Eddie Royal in the 3rd?) and depth at linebacker in the late rounds.
MrNate: I would say wide receiver, because with Branch out for most of the season, I don't want Nate Burleson lining up on the outside. It would be terrific if Limas Sweed or Malcolm Kelly could fall to us at 25. Adding a defensive tackle would also be nice, as well as a defensive end (due to the talent level at that position).
BullTalk: Somewhat in order: a tight end, the best offensive/defensive lineman available, a wide receiver, and a long-term solution at running back.
8. Who do you hope the team drafts with their first pick?
HeavyP: Jonathan Stewart. I think he'll be the best talent available at our spot. I want us to avoid all the tight ends for the first two rounds, because I think it would be silly to take one that high. I'd like to get Branden Albert or Jeff Otah if either of them slips down the board. I don’t think Kentwan Balmer will get picked by us because of his character flaws, which our GM tends stays away from.
freightboy: The Seahawks can afford to take the best player available in the first round. If Stewart or Rashard Mendenhall are around, snatch them up, otherwise I like Albert to help shore up the offensive line.
Ex-hippie: Dustin Keller or Fred Davis, probably in that order. I'd be happy if they traded down and still landed one of those two.
MrNate: Malcolm Kelly.
BullTalk: If Jonathan Stewart is available at our pick; I think we have to take him. I don't see how we could pass up a potential impact player at the running back position. If Stewart is gone, I am hoping one of the true blue-chip offensive or defensive linemen fall to us. Otah (OT) and Merling (DE) are two such prospects that come to mind.
Although tight end may be our biggest need in the draft, I don't see any of the top four-five guys being worthy of the #25 pick. I think we can nab a very good tight end prospect in the 2nd round.
9. Which player will be on the hot seat in 2008?
HeavyP: This may surprise some people, but I'm going to say Walter Jones. We just re-signed Locklear to a long-term deal and Walter had a sub-standard year as a left tackle. He's no longer the gold standard in the league.
freightboy: With Jim Mora Jr. taking over the team after next season, every player on the roster should be looking at this as an audition.
Ex-hippie: Tough one, but if Branch doesn't make it back from injury and do something to justify the first-round pick and millions of dollars the team gave up for him, people are going to lose patience.
MrNate: Branch, if he comes back from injury soon enough to make an impact. If not Branch, then Trufant. He has quite the deal to play up to, and I really hope last year wasn't simply a contract-year push.
BullTalk: For various reasons, I think this collection of players playing well (or not) could have a noticeable impact on our team's performance: Spencer (must improve), Sims (must improve), Branch (must get healthy and perform to expectations), Jones and Duckett (must pan-out), Tubbs (though I've all but written him off, he could be a difference maker) and Jennings (want to see him live up to his potential)
10. What are the realistic expectations for 2008 at this point?
HeavyP: I see no reason why we can't contend for the NFC Championship and thus a Super Bowl. I’m not saying that's necessarily what I expect, but those goals are not farfetched at all.
freightboy: They should win the NFC West. With Favre's retirement, I don't think that a first round bye is out of the question. The NFC championship game is well within reach, and if they can stay healthy I don't think that the Super Bowl is too much of a stretch.
Ex-hippie: At this point they still look like they are clearly the class of the NFC West, but of course that's not saying much. I'll pencil them in for another 10-6 season (though perhaps a more solid 10-6, with more convincing wins against good teams), another win in the Wild Card round and subsequent loss in the Divisional Round. But if things go right, the sky's the limit.
MrNate: A 10-6 record, winning the division and losing in the NFC Championship. Although I think being a Super Bowl contender is not out of the question, especially depending on our draft.
BullTalk: I think the Seahawks are viable contenders to get to the Super Bowl. If we draft well, certain young players continue to improve and we remain reasonably healthy, my hope is that we can win our division again and earn one of the top two seeds going into the playoffs.
11. Unasked question: What are you most paranoid about?
BullTalk: Losing a key regular season game or two, and getting knocked out of the playoffs because Josh Brown’s replacement at kicker botches a few 40-50 yard field goals.
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