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Last year I did a fun discussion post about which player from the 2013 Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks team you’d want most on the 2018 roster.
Because I’m not remotely creative enough to come up with new ideas, I’m keeping the same framework but switching things up. We’re obviously focusing on the (pre-draft) 2019 roster, but the one player you get to choose is from the 2005 NFC Championship squad.
Just for full clarification, the player you’re selecting is based on their career up to 2005 and/or their performance in 2005. Ignore cap space and just choose whomever you want. You can factor in current depth and coaching style/scheme when you make your selection. For example, Russell Wilson is on the team... but do you really think 2005 Matt Hasselbeck would be a better option than the most recent version of Wilson we just witnessed? What about MVP Shaun Alexander over either Chris Carson or Rashaad Penny? Would Shaun be remotely effective in the read-option?
Now Matt and Shaun aside, here are a few other names to play around with.
Walter Jones
Arguably the greatest left tackle in NFL history. John Madden called him the best athlete he’s ever watched. Here is Big Walt blocking Mike Rucker literally almost out of the camera shot for an entire play in the NFC Championship Game.
No offense to Duane Brown, but he’s no Walter Jones. Then again, no one else was. The game has changed dramatically in terms of investing in pass rushers, but I’d bet a lot of money that 2005 Walt would hold up against 2019’s best edge defenders.
Steve Hutchinson
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Tim Ruskell basically was on the countdown clock the moment Hutchinson didn’t re-sign with the Seahawks. In fact, Seattle has had close to zero stability at left guard since he departed. But beyond that, 2005 Hutchinson and 2005 Walt were the best combo of offensive linemen in the NFL, bar none.
Seattle already has Duane Brown. Imagine swapping out Mike Iupati for Hutchinson, giving Russell Wilson even better pass protection and more running lanes for Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny to charge through.
Bobby Engram
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Before there was Doug Baldwin, there was Bobby Engram. He was a slot machine dynamo who’s a criminally underappreciated Seahawk. In 2005, he led the team with 67 catches for 778 yards, and while he had just three touchdowns, his catch percentage was almost 70%.
...But was he even the best WR on that year’s team?
Joe Jurevicius
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It’s a damn shame that Jurevicius only stayed here for one season. He had 55 catches for 694 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns, good for 9th in DVOA. Standing 6’5” and known for making ridiculous catches such as this one, 2005 Jurevicius hooked up with Russ would be a potentially lethal combination.
Lofa Tatupu
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Those Lofa Tatupu vs. Patrick Willis debates seemed so long ago. Tatupu, sadly, saw his career ravaged by injuries and he was a shell of himself by the time 2010 rolled around, but rookie Lofa was an absolute stud. He was tied for second on the team in passes defensed (10), and he was the runaway leader in solo and total tackles. Tatupu had tremendous instincts, great ball skills, and was a very formidable pass rusher.
Bobby Wagner obviously occupies middle linebacker for the Seahawks right now... but this is mostly fantasy and there’s nothing stopping you from wanting Wagz and 2005 Lofa on the same squad.
Rocky Bernard
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As a kid, whenever I played pick-up football during school recess, I’d celebrate touchdowns by doing the Rocky Bernard shuffle. Even did one after catching a Hail Mary pass in seventh grade!
Bernard was a huge force as a 3-tech DT in ‘05. He finished the regular season with 8.5 sacks, only behind Bryce Fisher for best on the team. Bernard also racked up 16 TFLs, which was #1 among all Seahawks defenders. You can never have enough interior pass-rushing depth, can you?
Jerramy Stevens
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Nah, just kidding.
Go vote in the poll below. If you need a reminder as to who was on the 2005 Seahawks, click here.
Poll
Which Seahawk from the 2005 NFC Championship season would you want on the 2019 team?
This poll is closed
-
2%
Matt Hasselbeck
-
4%
Shaun Alexander
-
57%
Walter Jones
-
24%
Steve Hutchinson
-
0%
Bobby Engram
-
2%
Joe Jurevicius
-
1%
Lofa Tatupu
-
2%
Rocky Bernard
-
3%
Other (e.g. Marcus Trufant, LeRoy Hill, Mack Strong)