Seattle Seahawks Beat the Preseason

by John Morgan on Aug 30, 2009 11:01 AM PDT

The first three games of the preseason are practice. The fourth is an exhibition. This Thursday will be fun. I might just stock the beer cooler and take the game in with long, languid sips of MacTarnahan's Lip Stinger - a surprisingly-good local saison. Watching the kids play is always relaxing. Seattle has negotiated the preseason and succeeded. Its starters survived, its scheme looks functional and executable, some fringe talent stepped up and the draft picks that matter are all healthy and producing; whatever drama the season brings, this team is in a good place right now.

This time last year, Seahawks fans were taking exaggerated, desperate breaths after learning Lofa Tatupu had suffered only a bad bone bruise to his right knee. Matt Hasselbeck had not participated in preseason games against San Diego or Chicago and would not participate against Oakland. Chris Spencer had a bad back and Seattle's depth at center had retired. Mike Holmgren was comparing his back to his long snapper's. Deion Branch was on the PUP list and no where near ready. Bobby Engram was out with a broken shoulder. Seahawks fans were picking sides between Logan Payne, Ben Obomanu, Jordan Kent and Courtney Taylor. Seattle had terminated the contract of Marcus Tubbs. Sean Locklear was out and likely to miss the start of the regular season. Jordan Babineaux and Rocky Bernard were staring down suspensions. The Seahawks were nearing a season lost to a historically bad run of injuries.

If you need the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl to be happy, find your Yankees cap and your "fast" Willie Parker jersey. Seattle has long odds of winning the Super Bowl. Something like: 1 in 32. The part of the preseason that matters is over, and I'm not furiously reloading Seahawks Insider for injury updates. I'm not bombarded with emails about every hack writer's two cents on Holmgren's impending retirement and its implications to Seattle's season. Instead, I am wondering how Seattle will keep all of its promising depth, Nick Reed's ceiling, if Justin Griffith may have wrestled starting fullback from Owen Schmitt, who will kick and return kicks for Seattle and how good this team can be when things start clicking. It's August 30, 2009. The Seahawks season starts in two weeks. It's a good time to be optimistic. It's a good time to be a fan.

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This 3rd preseason game

Had a little bit of everything I wanted: BRuss proving his awfulness, Curry bringin the pain on a receiver, the run-game improving markedly, Hasselbeck fine-tuning his killer precision and intuition, Housh’s sure hands, more defensive pressure, solid run D (considering its L. Johnson) and Nick Reed making a play. I think you capture the situation perfectly John. EYE empathize at any rate.

Glenn Beck likes argument, but has a deap-seated hatred for logic.

by Cheddar28 on Aug 30, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions

John, where do you see our CB depth?

Trufant, Wilson, Jennings, Lucas, then what? Do we keep a 5th, and if so, who?

by diehard82 on Aug 30, 2009 11:22 AM PDT reply actions

Seattle will keep a fifth

I assume, and then cut him when Trufant is back and a 100%. I would guess Fisher is in the lead, if only because he has yet to embarrass himself. The team might look outside the organization.

by John Morgan on Aug 30, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I expected Fisher to make Jennings the 5th

but nobody has.

by jacobstevens on Aug 30, 2009 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions

This is what gets me excited:

how good this team can be when things start clicking.

I think, if the team can reliably start clicking and get rolling, it could be a dominant team. The offense has a balance to it not seen in (what seems like) ages. The defense has the potential for great run D. If Trufant gets back and plays to his level, and if BRuss is properly minimized, we could have a great pass D. I see the potential for every part of the team to click, and nothing is a super long shot to succeed.

Now, that’s a ton of “ifs”. And I’m not saying we’re the team to beat. We’re not. It might take several games for the team to get clicking. It might take all season. Regardless, I love where the team is at at the moment.

by Fear on Aug 30, 2009 11:31 AM PDT reply actions

I would love to leave this preseason optimistic...

…but Kansas City is one of the worst teams in the league, and while Seattle was clearly the better team, they didn’t dominate like I would expect a far superior team to dominate, on either side of the ball.

Sure, we can say things will continue to get better: Trufant’s return, Walter Jones back in the line up, etc. etc. but even so, KC had some success running the ball (especially Charles), and with a few exceptions, were able to keep Seattle’s offense mostly in check.

The most difficult judgement to make at this time of the year is how strong the opponent. We don’t know yet who will dominate this year, and there are always surprises, but I don’t think KC will be one of them. Detroit looks better, even Tampa perhaps better than forecast, and while I would love to see Seattle have a dominating 12-4 season, it looks more like nine or ten wins, if that.

The Niners look a lot better this year, and the Cards not so much, while it will likely be a long year for the Rams.

Somebody tell me I’m wrong.

by Hawksince77 on Aug 30, 2009 12:17 PM PDT reply actions

You are wrong.

Not dominating the Chiefs is not reason for pessimism.

by John Morgan on Aug 30, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

2005: Seahawks 23 Chiefs 17

by John Morgan on Aug 30, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions

The Chiefs went 10-6 that year

Brett Favre is the Kenny Powers of football.

by ninjasocks on Aug 30, 2009 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Larry Johnson was in his crazy good prime.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 30, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't understand why a prediction of 9-10 wins doesn't count as optimistic

That means borderline playoffs, with a chance to have a pretty successful season

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Aug 30, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see how 10 wins won't lead the division

Brett Favre is the Kenny Powers of football.

by ninjasocks on Aug 30, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

The 49'ers look virtually the same as last year.

It's Great to be a Florida Gator!

by Wayward Llama on Aug 30, 2009 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions

But they've got Crabtr...oh.

Nevermind.

by thebyron on Aug 31, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Its just the preseason

But yeah, the Broncos and Chiefs should both finish in the bottom 10 of the NFL, and the Chargers were 8-8 last year and we played them in the first game which is kind of a glorified scrimmage.

The depth has looked good in all 3 games, Hasselbeck has looked better than I expected and Carlson seems to be even more amazing than last year so far. Not that it shocks anyone, but Housh has been a very nice addition so far. I’ve been underwhelmed big time by the defense, but I know that’s pretty unfair considering its a vanilla defense. It has the talent to be good.

by kearly on Aug 30, 2009 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Well written, John. Has the perfect feel here, on the precipice of the season.

If I may; MacTarnahan makes fine beers across the board but I’ll be enjoying the Scape Goat from Big Sky. Give it a run some time.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 30, 2009 12:34 PM PDT reply actions

bad metaphor

“Precipice” suggests that one false step will plunge us into an abyss as deep or deeper than last year. I don’t think the team is in that precarious a position. Neither does John, apparently.

I prefer to think that we’re standing at the foot of Tiger Mountain, getting ready to run to the top with Coach Mora. ;-)

by Mr Fish on Aug 30, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Poor choise of words, agreed

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 30, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

With all due respect, which is considerable

I have no idea what “If you need the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl to be happy, grab your Yankees cap and ‘fast’ Willie Parker jersey” means. What the hell do I want with a Stealers jersey?

by lemonverbena on Aug 30, 2009 1:14 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

The condition that a team must win a Super Bowl for a season to be successful is guaranteed to disappoint and better left to front-runner fans.

by John Morgan on Aug 30, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Like Steelers fans! I get the connection!

I would also have taken Red Sox, Bulls (don’t see many Chicago jerseys anymore, do you?), or Cowboys.

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Aug 30, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Everyone loves the Bears!

Wait…where did all of those jerseys go? I think they all magically became Steelers jerseys.

It's Great to be a Florida Gator!

by Wayward Llama on Aug 30, 2009 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions

I absolutely agree

Although a part of me is concerned that some of the vets like Hasselbeck and Jones will retire/leave the team without winning a ring here, and that is a crying shame. Not to get emotional here, but I also think that the Seahawk fans deserve it too, considering how the community has fostered strong and passionate support through thick and thin.

It doesn’t have to be this season, however; I just hope we play to the best of our potential, and see where the chips lie.

by J.L. White on Aug 31, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions

gimme some of that Patriot love

Brady’s back and the national press swoons

by Mr Fish on Aug 30, 2009 3:51 PM PDT reply actions

It does feel better this year

We’re certainly not favorites to win the Super Bowl. But it sure does feel nice to look like you have a chance if you get hot at the right time and avoid any serious injuries during the regular season. And to me the NFC doesn’t look overpowering. I’m good with our chance as this point.

by ASeahawkfan on Aug 30, 2009 6:10 PM PDT reply actions

Were we favorites to win (or even reach) the SB in 2005? Or the Cards last year? Or the Giants the year before?

Did anyone expect Detroit to suck so bad last year (or Miami the year before)? Did anyone expect Baltimore and Miami to bounce back the way they did?

Brett Favre is the Kenny Powers of football.

by ninjasocks on Aug 30, 2009 6:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Keep in mind

The most favored team still faces very long odds. For example the most favored team for Superbowl XLIV is New England, with 1 in 8 odds. So even for the most favored team, there is a ~88% chance they won’t win the Superbowl.

The Seahawks are currently listed as 1 in 50.

by kearly on Aug 30, 2009 7:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Fuck the odds.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevan Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Aug 30, 2009 9:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree

Fuck’em. Let’s roll to the Super Bowl.

by ASeahawkfan on Aug 31, 2009 2:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Championship!

Lock it up!

by thebyron on Aug 31, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Maybe a little off-topic, but on the subject of preseason/frontrunner hype...

Green Bay seems to be getting a lot of press about how awesome their first team has looked, but their depth looks terrible. If I’m not mistaken, they gave up 360 SECOND-HALF passing yards to Leinart yesterday, and allowed the Cards approximately 8 billion total yards of offense for the game. (Based on seeing box-score #s.)

by dagraham on Aug 30, 2009 9:58 PM PDT reply actions