Comparing This Year’s Squad to the 2016 Seahawks

Seahawks training camp is 5 days away.

About this time last season, what were we talking about, Seahawks fans? Super Bowl odds? Jimmy Graham’s health? Marshawn retiring?

I liked the Seahawks odds to make it back to the Super Bowl last season, and so did a lot of the mainstream media.

However, I remember last season I was optimistic about Bradley Sowell and Garry Gilliam at the tackle positions. Yikes. I’m not super confident with the offensive line, but I have the same optimism I had this time last season.

Is that a bad sign?

What about the running backs?

The Seahawks’ running back position was a huge question mark in light of the Marshawn Lynch short-lived retirement. There were questions about Rawls’ health and if Christine Michael would be a good enough starter.

We didn’t have the Beast, but we did have ‘Baby Beast’ in Thomas Rawls, and the rejuvenated Christine Michael. The run game seemed to be just fine entering last year.

It was certainly not fine.

However this season, running back seems to be a strength. Eddie Lacy is expected to start, maybe sharing carries with Thomas Rawls. Depth is in a much better position as C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins should round out the final two running back spots.

Pass catchers?

To be honest, I was not very confident with the receivers heading into 2016. Doug Baldwin was a good number one, Kearse was a decent two, but I didn’t think Tyler Lockett provided a good enough WR3.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The receiver group was one of the most productive units of the year last season, including Tyler Lockett taking over as the #2 wide receiver before going down with a broken leg. Even Paul Richardson showed flashes.

This season, I am very excited with the same wide receiver group, with the addition of rookie Amara Darboh.

The tight end position hasn’t changed at all, except for the fact Jimmy Graham is healthier at this point than he was last year, which is a fantastic sign.

Defense?

Last season at this time, Jeremy Lane just signed his big contract, and I thought he’d be an absolute stud at the nickel cornerback position.

Wrong.

Lane was nothing above average at all last year, constantly being burnt by faster slot receivers. Deshawn Shead was the guy last year who looked like he should have received a big contact, holding down the outside corner position.

This season, I’m a bit more worried about the secondary than I was last season. We saw what happens when one of the members of the secondary goes down, and it’s not pretty.

However, there is a little reason for optimism as the Seahawks improved secondary depth via free agency and the draft.

Overall feeling

Last season, I thought the Seahawks had a team worthy of making it back to the Super Bowl, and we all saw how that season went down.

This season, I have a different feeling.

I feel this Seahawks team has the talent to get back to the Super Bowl. No doubt.

However, do they have the leadership and locker room attitude to be able to get through a late postseason run? Is the media blowing the locker room strife out of proportion, or is it something to be legitimately concerned about?

I guess we’ll see in 47 days.

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