There’s a fairly common opinion that the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX because of their defense. Six sacks and three forced turnovers against New England in the championship game do little to dispel that notion.
Giving so much credit to the Dark Side ignores the fact that during the regular season, Seattle finished third in total points, fourth in yards-per-play, and was balanced enough to rank in the top ten in both rushing and passing offense. Apparently, that offense, under the direction of Klint Kubiak and led by Sam Darnold, had something going on.
Kubiak is gone, and that has some experts wondering how well the Seahawks offense will operate this season. But Darnold is back, as are all of his major weapons with the exception of top running back Kenneth Walker III. Personally, I think Walker’s absence will hurt quite a bit, but the Seahawks have more than enough talent to compensate.
Grading the Seattle Seahawks' offensive positions, group by group
Let’s take a look at the projected roster and see how each position stacks up.
QUARTERBACK
Sam Darnold, Drew Lock. Jalen Milroe
As with much of this John Schneider-constructed roster, the quarterback position features a classic mix. Darnold is the unquestioned leader, coming off consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory.
He has clearly put past demons to rest and is now recognized as an upper-level starting quarterback. Does he throw too many interceptions? Yes. That may prevent him from being grouped in with the true elites. But he does so many good things that they are mitigated by those mistakes.
And if anything, at 29, he is getting better.
Behind him, Drew Lock is a steady veteran presence who can keep the ship pointed in the right direction when needed. And they have a young, dynamic developmental prospect in Jalen Milroe who may find his way onto the field more in his second year with specially designed packages.
GRADE: A-
RUNNING BACK
Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson, George Holani
We are going to assume Zach Charbonnet begins the season on the PUP list. Wilson and Holani are solid, unspectacular runners. They may move the chains, but they will not force a defense to change the way they play.
That is what Walker did last year, and it is what Price needs to do this year if the offense is to work to capacity. Can he do it? Well, he looked great running drills in camp. But the real test is yet to come. I am cautiously optimistic.
GRADE: B
FULLBACK
Brady Russell, Brock Lampe
Brady Russell is penciled in as the top fullback in the wake of Robbie Ouzts' injury. But here’s a news flash for you. Within the first month of the season, Brock Lampe will be handling the fullback duties, allowing Russell to focus his energy on special teams, where he has been a beast.
Neither Lampe nor Russell has Ouzts’s bulk and sheer power, but I think Lampe is a better actual fullback and will prove that this season. These are not the best players in the league, but they will more than hold their own.
GRADE: B
WIDE RECEIVER
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Tory Horton, Cody White
I think there is a fifty/fifty chance Montorie Foster Jr. snatches White’s spot in the end, and if he does, the grade ticks up a tiny bit. Foster could provide actual receiving depth, while White will make the team based largely on his special teams prowess.
Of course, reigning Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba ensures this unit won’t slip down too far. I think we know what to expect for JSN and Kupp. The real chance to rise comes from the speedsters Shaheed and Horton. If one of them shines, the grade goes up. If both make plays, the Seahawks basically become unstoppable.
Bobo injured his knee on Friday, and he is expected to miss quite a bit of time. Possibly the entire season.
I am not convinced that either will happen and besides, I have to leave room for growth.
GRADE: B+
TIGHT END
AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Eric Saubert, Nick Kallerup
Barner has developed as a very solid two-way tight end. Saubert and Kallerup are bruisers who will help the running game a lot. The key is Arroyo.
I did not like what I saw in the first preseason game, but that is an insanely small sample size. Still, it prevents me from confidently giving the grade they will eventually earn should Arroyo develop into a dangerous pass catcher this season.
GRADE: B
OFFENSIVE LINE
Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas, Josh Jones, Mason Richman, Amari Kight, Olu Oluwatimi
Seattle has what every team craves: excellent bookend tackles, both just entering their primes. Toss in Zabel and his very high ceiling, and you have a reliable line. They are not dominant … and the naysayers will be looking for ways to replace Bradford and perhaps even Sundell.
But this group won a Super Bowl last year. I think they get some benefit of the doubt. In Josh Jones, they have a very good swing tackle. The other backups are decent. I think Mason Richman takes the swing guard spot, but whether it is Christian Haynes or Bryce Cabeldue … or some TBD veteran free agent, the line has quality.
GRADE: B
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