Evil and heartless NFL writer says the Seahawks will have losing season
The Seahawks have gone through a lot of changes, and according to one writer, those changes will add up to too many losses. I do believe he’s lost.
Adam Rank, who writes for nfl.com, is doubtless a kind, intelligent, and all-around lovely soul. However, I must take exception with one of his predictions in this article on ten active streaks in the NFL. It’s a great article, and I suggest you read it – after you finish this, of course. I agree with some of his predictions; for instance, Drew Brees will throw for over 4,000 yards for the 13th straight season. Brees will throw for 4,000 yards when he’s 87 and living in the Sunset Home for Unnaturally Spry, so of course he’ll do it this year. But to say the Seahawks will see their six year streak of winning seasons end? Nope nope nope.
Rank cites several reasons for what he sees as the end of good times at CenturyLink Field. He mentions the loss of several players. Specifically, he cites Marshawn Lynch, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett as big personalities whose departures will hurt the Seahawks. Well there’s a lot to break down just with that statement, isn’t there, 12s?
First, Marshawn Lynch last played in Seattle in 2015. His departure certainly hasn’t helped the running game, but he barely had half as many yards as Thomas Rawls in 2015. Russell Wilson had more yards on the ground than Beastmode that season. Don’t think for a moment I’m knocking Lynch. He went down with an injury and was on pace for another 1,000 yard season. And he’s Beastmode, for crying out loud. I’m just saying it makes no sense to bring up his departure when predicting the 2018 Seahawks season.
On to Mr. Bennett. He just wrapped up his third straight Pro Bowl season, and was a force on the defensive line. But was he quite as much a force as he’d been in seasons past? I think his game slipped just a little bit. He had 8.5 sacks, which is great, but he had 10 in 2015. Not a big difference, but it is a slight downward trend. His total tackles dropped from 52 in 2015 to 40 last season. Again, not a terrible drop, but downward nonetheless.
Pro Football Focus graded him at 80.6 last season. Pretty good, but that was his lowest grade since 2010. Do I wish we could have kept Bennett? Heck yes. But maybe losing a player who claims he tuned out Pete Carroll during team meetings and just read books isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a team.
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The Seahawks will definitely miss this guy, and more
Richard Sherman was the worst loss of any of the off-season departures. That’s assuming Kam Chancellor makes it back to the field, and that’s a big if right now. Sherman was still at, or nearly at, the top of his game. While I think that Shaquill Griffin will step up his game at the left corner, he still has some growing to do before he’s in Sherman’s class.
Rank charitably wrote that Rashaad Penny could well be the replacement the Seahawks have wanted since Beastmode left town, but that the team will still have a different feel. Well yes, the team will have a different feel. For one thing, Richard Sherman will be yelling at Kyle Shanahan on the sidelines this year. Michael Bennett won’t be reading books in team meetings – at least not in Seattle.
But Russell Wilson will still be here. So will Pete Carroll. The Seahawks should be able to ram the ball down their opponents’ throats. Note, I said “should” – but there’s certainly more reason to think they’ll be able to effectively run the ball than in the past two seasons. Bobby Wagner will make life miserable for every opposing ball carrier within twenty yards of him. Making a deep playoff run, that might take some magic. Having a winning season, though? Mr. Rank, have a little faith. Oh, and you’re right about the Bengals too. No playoff wins for you, Marvin Lewis!