Seahawks Offseason Review

You all don’t know this yet, but I’m working on a big project in my free time previewing the upcoming season team by team across the entire NFL. As I’m compiling all this information, it occurred to me that I hadn’t compiled in one place, all that same info on the Seahawks. Clearly I needed to rectify that, and this morning article is my attempt to do just that.

Biggest Team Needs Heading Into Offseason: While most fans would have said QB, the Seahawks believed their biggest need was improving their pass rush. Tarvaris Jackson will never be considered a franchise QB, but he was at least serviceable in 2011. The pass rush was not. The Seahawks had just 33 sacks last year, and often times failed to generate any pressure whatsoever.

That fact shouldn’t overshadow the team’s need for upgrade at the QB position. Jackson’s supporters point to the fact that he had a pretty serious injury for most of the season, and that would be true. The problem with that argument for Jackson is that his mistakes had everything to do with his decision making, and nothing to do with his injured shoulder.

The defense also needed a serious upgrade at linebacker. LeRoy Hill was one of the worst starting linebackers in the entire NFL Middle Linebacker David Hawthorne struggled at times, and while he was good against the run, he was a liability against the pass for long stretches of the season.

Key Free Agents Retained: Marshawn Lynch, Michael Robinson, Red Bryant

Key Player Additions: Bruce Irvin, Matt Flynn, Kellen Winslow, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson

Key Players Leaving: David Hawthorne, Robert Gallery

Thoughts on Free Agency: The main goal of the Free Agency period for Seattle was for them to retain their best people. In the end, the Seahawks re-signed almost all of their free agents. The best thing is that many of them are not guaranteed jobs. The Seahawks brought most of them back to compete for roster spots.

The Seahawks also picked up Matt Flynn, this year’s best FA QB, as well as inside pass rusher Jason Jones, two player who should provide a big boost in places where the Seahawks definitely need them.

Thoughts on Draft: Despite the national media hating on the Seahawks for “reaching,” the Seahawks got exactly what they needed. Bruce Irvin was the best pass rusher in the draft, and appears to have turned their biggest weakness into a genuine strength.

The Seahawks also fixed at least part of the linebacker problem by drafting Bobby Wagner in round 2. Wagner has some serious speed for a linebacker, and should be an instant upgrade for a unit that really needed one.

The true success of this draft might lie with Russell Wilson. If the 3rd round pick can prove that it is possible to be an NFL QB while only being 5-10, then this might be one of the best drafts in Seahawk history.