Here is my look at the season that just ended for the Seattle Seahawks. For the team I give a grade of C minus. If they had won ten games instead of nine I would have given a grade of C plus though they wouldn’t have made the playoffs anyway. Now I will look at the positions and the players for their grade.
I start out at the quarterback position with Russell Wilson. He is hard to grade because the success of the Seahawks goes to him. Without Wilson the Seahawks likely would have lost three additional games and ended with a losing record. The local media primarily thought that Wilson should be a leading candidate going into the final three games which they ended losing two out of three both at home against the Rams and the Cardinals. Those two games took him out of the running for MVP along with not making the playoffs. Personally I didn’t think of Wilson being a MVP candidate because the Seahawks had poor starts in the first half of most games. I know the Seahawks have been that way most seasons since Wilson has been the quarterback even the two years they played in the Super Bowl however it took place usually in the first half of the season. What made Wilson impressive was the Seahawks had no running game most of the season. In fact most of the yards he produced himself. The two losses against the Rams and the Cardinals Wilson’s passing game was off. At least this season Wilson didn’t get hurt like he did last year. Next season Wilson will need to get going earlier in the games because the defense may not be as good like in past years. Another reason the Seahawks had a 9-7 record because of injuries to key players and with the offense being led by Wilson has to score more points. In past years the Seahawks could afford slow starts but until the defense is back where they are accustomed being at or near the top they will have to a better offense. So I give Wilson a grade of B minus.
Now the running back position. This was the saddest position on the team except possibly the offensive line. It is hard to know which caused the biggest problem with the offensive starting of slow in most games and only because of Russell Wilson actions the Seahawks won nine games. I give the running backs a grade of D minus. The only reason not an F was because of the early production by Chris Carson before he was hurt and Mike Davis who the Seahawks activated in the second half of the season off the practice squad. They also got good production out of J. D. McKissic mainly on 3rd downs. I see those three coming back in 2018 along with bringing in fresh blood through free agency or the draft.
Wide Receivers generally had a good season when Wilson was able to get them the ball. Doug Baldwin had another good season and was named to the Pro Bowl. Also Paul Richardson had a good one as well. He will be up for a new contract and whether the Seahawks will be able to sign him or he will go with some other team through free agency it is hard to tell right now. We hope they will be able to resign him however it will depend on how much he is asking for and other teams are willing to pay him. Tyler Lockett had an OK season as the third receiver. I give a grade of B
The tight ends had an OK season as well. Jimmy Graham had a real good time within the red zone though he did drop some passes though they didn’t make a significant difference in winning or losing. Jimmy Graham will be a free agent; whether the Seahawks are willing to pay him $10 million once again or higher it is questionable. Also if the Seahawks are in the process of retooling will Graham want to return. Only time will tell. Like the receivers give them a B.
The offensive line once again had another terrible season. Like the running back position I give them a D minus as well. What keeps them from having an F is the Seahawks acquiring Duane Brown at left tackle from the Houston Texas just after they had played them in Seattle. We hope that the Seahawks will have an improved offensive line next season with a full season of Brown at left tackle along with some other changes. I see a change at left guard along with right guard and tackle. It is hard to know if the Seahawks will look at acquiring an offensive lineman or draft someone high in the draft like they have in some previous seasons. At this time Tom Cable seems to return as well unless a head coaching job comes his way. I know many a questioning his coaching of the offensive line or is it all to do with the scheme. It seems to me if he does return there does seem to make changes. The offensive line actually seem to do well in passing downs unlike past years. Although Wilson did run some out of the pocket this last season it was as bad as last season however the running game was terrible and the line has to take some credit along with the running backs. How much the terrible running was on the backs or the line it is hard to tell. Next season should give us a better idea.
I am going to wait until next time to write on the defense and special teams. Right now it seems that more changes may happen on the defensive side of the ball instead of the offensive although they had a better season. Until next time. Go Hawks!
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