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Five reasons the Seahawks will make it back to the playoffs in 2018

By Todd Vandenberg

SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 20: Safety Kam Chancellor #31 (L) of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with free safety Earl Thomas #29 after intercepting a pass in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field on November 20, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 20: Safety Kam Chancellor #31 (L) of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with free safety Earl Thomas #29 after intercepting a pass in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field on November 20, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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All the offseason moves the Seahawks made will pay off, and get them back to the playoffs. These are the five biggest game changers.

After they missed the playoffs for the first time in what felt like a decade, the Seahawks knew changes had to be made. The rash of injuries to star players had a lot to do with their 9-7 record, true. But there were deeper problems with the team, problems Pete Carroll and John Schneider addressed this offseason. These are the five moves that will have the biggest payoff, and put the Seahawks back in the playoffs for 2018.

Retool the running game. Yeah, I know the “re” words are a no-no around Seattle. It isn’t a rebuild or a reboot. Maybe retool is okay. Regardless, this is the second straight year Pete Carroll said that Seattle needs to get their running game back on track. Before 2017, he put his faith in a cast-off from another team who had seen better days.

If you’re thinking that Brandon Marshall is this year’s version of Eddie Lacy, there’s a huge difference. The Seahawks wanted Lacy to be the big dog in the running game. Marshall is expected to be a good third option at wide receiver. Huge difference there.

For 2018, Seattle looks to Rashaad Penny, the NCAA’s leading rusher last year to be a major contributor. Between the rookie and returning studs Chris Carson and Mike Davis, the Seahawks expect to generate a lot of yardage on the ground. They’ve dedicated their offseason to put together all the pieces they need to dominate on the ground. With D.J. Fluker, Ed Dickson and more on the line, the Seahawks look ready to rumble.

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Seahawks need some continuity, some change

Reunite the Legion of Boom. Well, most of them. We know Richard Sherman won’t be back, but if Earl Thomas stays and Kam Chancellor makes it back, the Seahawks secondary can be as nasty as ever. Byron Maxwell and Justin Coleman had excellent seasons last year, as did safety super sub Bradley McDougald. And let’s not forget Shaquill Griffin, who played so well last year the Seahawks are looking at him to play at left corner. Must be strange to be the second-most well known Griffin on you r own team.

Revamp the special teams to be special again. While Seattle would be happy to see their defensive secondary look a lot like the beginning of 2017, expect major changes on special teams. I was always taught to never speak ill of the dead, so I’ll just say I hope the former Seahawks kicker finds a great new career. Because his NFL gig sure looks dead to me. That’s okay, because Sebastian Janikowski brings his booming leg to CenturyLink. I wonder if the guys would make him an honorary member of the LOB?

One player that might get that honor is punter Michael Dickson. Yes, I’m saying a punter will have a huge impact on the season. I know Jon Ryan has had a great ten years with Seattle, but Dickson looks incredible. You never know how players will perform in NFL games, but Dickson looks like a true game changer.

Russell Wilson of the Seahawks
GLENDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 09: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during the first half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on November 9, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Seahawks saw the staus quo wasn’t good enough

Reeducate Mr. Unlimited in the art of quarterbacking. Okay, so why would Russell Wilson need to get any better at his job? I mean come on, he’s phenomenal. Or unlimited, I guess. He’s got the second highest passer rating of all quarterbacks. Not just among active quarterbacks, but of all time. That pesky guy up in Green Bay is pretty good, too. So how could anyone expect him to get even better? Well, his boss expects him to. Pete Carroll said, “There’s always more to learn and understand, and Schotty has really kind of opened the door to that for Russell.”  Which brings us to…

Revitalizing the coaching staff with upgrades. Of course, Schotty is new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenhemier, the coach whose name I truly hate to type. Need to add a macro…anyway, apparently the Seahawks are already reaping the benefits of Schotty’s approach. As Corbin Smith wrote in the Seahawks Wire in USA Today, Schotty is challenging Wilson more than he has been in years.

Now offensive line coach Mike Solari looks to get the line to play more aggressively. And you can expect new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. to clean up the tackling issues that cropped up a few times too often last season. You do remember the Titans game, right? I see these five changes as the key to getting the Seahawks back into the playoffs. And once you’re in, anything can happen. Maybe even…return to the Super Bowl.

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