Building steam with a grain of salt: 3 things we learned from Seahawks Week 3 victory

The Seahawks' red zone offense is starting to become a problem

I'm thinking about 2005 again. I can't help it. I'm watching Monday Night Football and the Seahawks are on the road to face the Eagles, last year's Super Bowl runner-ups. The world is just starting to understand Andy Reid's genius, and Seattle is beating up on them anyway.

More relevantly, Shaun Alexander is not having his best game. The Seahawks' defense is the real story of the game — it's Lofa Tatupu's breakout, career-defining game that, were concussions not to catch up with him as he approached his 30s, would likely have kicked off a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Alexander the Great is a footnote in a season he would rarely be relegated to such a role.

And yet, he still picks up touchdowns from 1 and 2 yards out for the day. In those days, it seemed as though the Seahawks could not be kept out of the end zone if you let them that close. The Seahawks of the current year don't resemble that at all, and it could be argued that maybe they should.

This team boasts not one, but two young, powerful halfbacks. Tyler Lockett is one of the greatest technicians of all time when it comes to end zone catches. DK Metcalf is a receiver the size of a tight end, and there are three actual tight ends on the roster who are equally capable of finishing drives in the end zone.

Again, maybe this is a problem that gets solved with everyone healthy — the Seahawks are missing about half their starting offensive line at any given time right now, and as we all know, the 2005 team was built around their legendary combination of Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson, and Robbie Tobeck. Maybe they get more consistent if they can get more push off the snap for Walker and Charbonnet. One way or another, though, the Seahawks need to finish more drives in the end zone, or else they'll keep letting teams hang around that shouldn't be playing them so close.