Best Case Scenarios for the Seahawks Offense in 2017
By Lee Vowell
Let’s hope a lot of this happens and more
The Seattle Seahawks are a pretty good team. They are not that far removed from back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. They have a lot of the core group of players from those Super Bowl years still on the team. The Seahawks could win the Super Bowl in 2017. Like any team, though, several things have to go right. Here’s a look at the best case scenarios for the Seahawks on offense this coming season.
Quarterback
Russell Wilson was oft-injured in 2016 but kept playing behind an offensive line that was not good. Wilson’s normal lack of mobility caused the offense to sputter. In 2017, things will be different. Wilson will get back to his healthy self and will be motivated by his doubters. Wilson will be playing behind a better line and with healthy receivers and running backs. Will Wilson break the 5,000-yard mark passing? No. He will not need to. Seattle will re-focus his exceptional talents on zone-reads and play-action passing. Wilson will throw fewer passes than in 2016, but for more touchdowns and a higher percentage of completions.
Running Backs
BeastMode-quality is back. Marshawn Lynch has moved on to the Oakland Raiders. Eddie Lacy comes to Seattle expected to do what Lynch did in his good years with the Seahawks. Lacy is great at yards-after-first-contact (YAC), having averaged 3.4 YAC last season in limited time. In his first three seasons, Lacy averaged 2.6 YAC. That is elite. Like Lynch-esque. Lacy will make up for a still-not-great-but-better offensive line and run for 1,200 yards.
The great thing is he will be spelled by a more healthy Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise. Prosise will be a beast on third down and, on other downs, flanked out. Rawls will be mixed in and still get 600 yards rushing. Prosise will catch 50 passes.
The Seahawks run the ball a lot more than in 2016, so the defense is on the field less. This is the gift the Seahawks offense gives. The playoff game last year against the Detroit Lions is a prelude to the entire season of 2017.
Wide Receivers and Tight End
Jimmy Graham, this is your year. With opposing defenses keying on the successful running attack, Graham gets a whole lot more Red Zone targets one-on-one. Graham will have fewer yards receiving this season, but catches 13 touchdown passes.
Doug Baldwin is Doug Baldwin. The epitome of consistency and hard work, Baldwin gets over 1,000 yards receiving again and 10 touchdown receptions.
Tyler Lockett and Paul Richardson stay healthy and feast on single-coverage. They will not break any receiving records due to their amount of targets, but what they do catch is significant.
Lockett also reclaims his return role and scores three touchdowns doing so.
Jermaine Kearse comes in fifth in targets, far behind the top three wide receivers and Graham.
Offensive Line
All the promises the Seahawks have made that the line will be better in 2017 will come true. George Fant will be much better after learning his position for a year. Fant will be near-Pro Bowl quality. Germain Ifedi moves back to his natural position of right tackle and is a stud for the next eight years. Luke Joeckel finds his niche with a new and more talented team. Justin Britt signs a long-term deal and is the Mike Webster of the Seahawks for the next nine seasons.
The line opens holes for the running backs and gives Wilson time to throw. The Seahawks average 28 points a game. With the offensive improvement, Seattle reaches the Super Bowl.
Related Story: Want the opposite? Here's the worst case scenario for the Seahawks offense.