OK…cutting through all the hype, here’s my prediction for the Seattle Seahawks for the 2015-2016 season: NOTE – I am a rabid Seahawks fan – yet – a realist.
Record: 6-10
Why:
1. Offensive line – at best, the caliber of the offensive line is NCAA Division II. They cannot consistently open the holes for an offense geared to the run. Their pass protection skills are abysmal. Russell Wilson cannot be expected to run wild after each snap and attempt to choreograph miracles two seasons in a row – win – and stay healthy. It just won’t happen this season as it did last year. If Russell Wilson gets injured, the Seahawks have no credible back up. I fear Wilson will be injured during the 2015-2016 season.
2. Secondary – Rag tag at best. The replacements are just that. They are unable to perform at the level fans are accustomed to seeing.
3. Over the middle defense – As the New England Patriots displayed in the Super Bowl – Seattle has a glaring weakness in defending the short passing game of the opposing offense. Look for other teams to exploit this weakness, learning from the Patriots success.
4. Schedule – It’s grueling and filled with teams who are peaking when the Hawks are rebuilding an already poorly performing O-line, and a secondary that simply has too many inexperienced. weak performers attempting to fill key holes.
5. The Arizona Cardinals – Carson Palmer is back. Expect this team to win the NFC West and beat the Hawks twice.
I will not be surprised to see the Seahawks finish the season at 6-10. I will be heartbroken yet, I won’t be surprised. The 2015-2016 season will be one where the reality of the last minute/fourth quarter comebacks from last season – will be replaced with losses due to the inability to repair fundamental weaknesses in the offseason.
Seahawks in the Super Bowl in 2016??? About as likely the Seattle Mariners winning a spot in the World Series in October 2015. Expectations were sky high for the Mariners before this season. However, when you wipe the hype – mediocrity and fundamental weaknesses reveal themselves vividly over the course of an entire season. Expect the 2015-2016 Seahawks to perform below .500 – just like their counterparts at SAFECO field have this season.
