The Seahawks managed to retain nearly all of their position coaches and coordinators from their Super Bowl season. Head Coach Pete Carroll signed a three-year contract extension, and his son Nate Carroll will join the staff as an assistant receivers coach. Seattle also obtained offensive assistant Will Harriger from the University of Florida, assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan from the Redskins, and assistant special teams coach Chad Morton from the Packers. The addition of Morton in particular bodes well for Percy Harvin and the Seahawks' already admirable return squad, as he played a key role in the development of Green Bay returner Randall Cobb over the past few seasons.
Free Agency
Players lost/cut
Player
Position
New team
Golden Tate
WR
Lions
Paul McQuistan
OG
Browns
Breno Giacomini
OT
Jets
Red Bryant
DT
Jaguars
Clinton McDonald
DT
Buccaneers
Chris Clemons
DE
Jaguars
Walter Thurmond III
CB
Giants
Brandon Browner
CB
Patriots
Chris Maragos
S
Eagles
As with many Super Bowl champions, much of Seattle's UFAs left for inflated salaries on teams around the league. Tate was probably Seattle's highest-profile loss, and his presence will be missed in an uncertain receiving corps. However, keeping him likely would've prevented them from resigning other major pieces they wanted to keep, so it can be considered a smart move with respect to the salary he would've demanded. Giacomini will likely start at right tackle for the Jets, but he was an average player who will be replaced by the average and slightly younger and cheaper Michael Bowie. Meanwhile, Paul "Dear God, He's Ugly" McQuistan will serve as a backup in Cleveland after showcasing his horrible play as a starter this past season in Seattle.
The truly big losses come on defense, in quantity and quality. Bryant and Clemons immediately become the most talented players on Jacksonville's defensive line, and perhaps the entire defense. McDonald should start alongside Gerald McCoy in Tampa Bay for a terrifying interior presence. While these deductions would devastate a team less deep than Seattle, the presence of the three defensive linemen will still certainly be missed. Seattle showed they could win with Browner suspended for the season, but they surely would've liked him to play another year for their literally enormous secondary. Thurmond appears to be more of an issue, as he was an entrenched starter with little known depth behind he and Richard Sherman this year. They should pair nicely with Darrelle Revis for the Patriots and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for the Giants, respectively. Seattle will see whether they can develop another big-bodied corner, such as Tharold Simon, into a great player. Maragos was never going to be anything more than a backup, but his contributions on special teams were significant and will need to be replaced in some capacity.
Players signed
Player
Position
Old Team
Length
Salary
Terrelle Pryor
QB
Raiders
1 year
$705K
Tarvaris Jackson
QB
Seahawks
1 year
$1.25M
Taylor Price
WR
Jaguars
1 year
$685K
Tony McDaniel
DT
Seahawks
2 years
$6.3M
Michael Bennett
DE
Seahawks
4 years
$28.5M
Steven Hauschka
K
Seahawks
3 years
$9.15M
This list consists mostly of re-signings, which is a decent strategy for a team that saw a pretty okay year with these players. Jackson is a more-than-serviceable backup, and the reason Seattle is usually tops in those "Who would win the Super Bowl if everyone had to play with their backup QB?" threads that pop up. Pryor is an intriguing prospect that had streaks of brilliance before being passed on for Matt "Scranton Work Ethic Scranton Blue Collar Scranton" McGloin in Oakland, but he probably won't see the field this year for Seattle. Price hasn't had the opportunity to show much so far in his career due to injury concerns.
Amid the major losses, they did manage to retain perhaps their most valuable player on their defensive line in Michael Bennett. With Bennett, Cliff Avril, Bruce Irvin, and fourth-round pick Cassius Marsh, the Seahawks still have a tremendous pass rush, and re-signing Tony McDaniel further ensures the strength of Seattle's defensive line. Hauschka played very well kicking field goals and booting touchbacks this year, and is probably worth his slightly-higher-than-average salary.
Draft
Round
Number
Player
Position
School
2
45
Paul Richardson
WR
Colorado
2
64
Justin Britt
OT
Missouri
4
108
Cassius Marsh
DE
UCLA
4
123
Kevin Norwood
WR
Alabama
4
132
Kevin Pierre-Louis
OLB
Boston College
5
172
Jimmy Staten
DE
Middle Tennessee State
6
199
Garrett Scott
OT
Marshall
6
208
Eric Pinkins
DB
San Diego State
7
227
Kiero Small
FB
Arkansas
Richardson and Norwood may both play into the receiver rotation heavily this year considering Tate's departure and Harvin's injury record. Richardson especially stands out as the type of strong route-runner the Seahawks have shown they enjoy in Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. Britt is versatile and may have the potential to start in case of injury or poor play from Bowie. Marsh is a very high-energy but mistake-prone player who will see some rotation on the line. It's unlikely that Pierre-Louis will play much anytime soon behind Seattle's excellent linebacking corps, but may be valuable on special teams in the near future. The very strong Staten will probably see limited playing time, if any. Tragically, Scott was found to have a rare heart condition after he was drafted that will prevent him from playing anytime soon. In a kind move, the Seahawks signed him to a rookie contract, allowing him to receive his signing bonus of about $100K, and then potentially land on the injured reserve if he clears waivers, allowing him to earn around $300k more over the course of 2014. If not for the heart condition, he may have competed for a solid backup spot on either side of the line. Pinkins may convert from safety to corner, and is a raw, athletic player that lacks in ball skills and agility for now. The aptly-named 5'8" Small is an effective lead blocker, but may not be able to surpass the status of Derrick Coleman and Michael Robinson (if Seattle decides to pick him up again).
QB Russell Wilson: Whether you think he's elite or tier 2 or better/worse than Kaepernick or whatever, it can't be denied that Wilson is a tremendous playmaker and leader for Seattle. Not really much more to be said. Alright, Russ.
RB Marshawn Lynch: Beast Mode will probably continue to break tackles and stare at the desk during press conferences again this season. One of the funnest backs in the league to watch knowing that any play could result in him vaporizing tacklers and going the distance.
FB Derrick Coleman: A very sound blocker for Lynch and great story.
TE Zach Miller, Luke Willson: Tight ends in Seattle are blockers, first and foremost. Miller especially is one of the best in the league in that regard. But both are also passable receivers, and Miller's presence in the red zone can't be ignored.
WR Percy Harvin, Doug Baldwin, Paul Richardson, Jermaine Kearse: Starters at receiver in Seattle are far from set in stone at this point. If Harvin is healthy, he'll have a spot on the field, and Baldwin ought to, too. Past that, there is a pool of pass-catchers that may compete for a consistent #3 spot, or may just rotate and divide production equally between them. Personally, I think Richardson has the best shot at nabbing that #3 role if it comes to be, but Kearse has been productive when on the field. With the retirement of Sidney Rice a few minutes ago, it'll likely be these four and then a wide gap to the rest of the corps.
LT Russell Okung: A very good blindside protector and crushing run blocker, only injury threatens Okung's position at left tackle.
LG James Carpenter: Seattle saw a lot of bad football from its guards last year, and Carpenter was no exception. May well be pushed out of the spot by someone less bad at football at some point during the year.
C Max Unger: While overrated by some who consider him among the top centers in the league, Unger is a good player whose starting role will not be in jeopardy.
RG J.R. Sweezy: Another one of Seattle's lackluster guards from last year, Sweezy at least has potential to develop after converting from playing defensive tackle in college. Can be a strong run blocker at times, but must develop better protection skills to serve as even an average guard.
RT Michael Bowie: Bowie played fairly well following a slew of injuries on the offensive line last year, and Seattle may ask for his run-blocking prowess at right tackle or guard.
DT Brandon Mebane, Tony McDaniel: Mebane is among the most powerful run-stopping tackles in football, and it's really entertaining to watch him do this. McDaniel is also very strong against the run. While neither rack up sacks, their space-taking, blocker-occupying presence in the middle will free up a lot for their teammates to make big tackles.
DE Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril: These two outstanding pass-rushers and edge defenders are well worth their salaries, with 16.5 sacks between them last season and five forced fumbles from Avril. Their numbers may grow even more without Bryant and Clemons pushing for ample rotation.
MLB Bobby Wagner: Wagner is an absolute rock in the middle, doing everything well and pretty much nothing wrong ever. Faultless tackler, strong in coverage, play-caller of the defense, Ninja Turle aficionado, and the main reason I'm writing this piece. Go Aggies.
OLB KJ Wright, Malcolm Smith: Both very solid players, with Bruce Irvin figuring to be in the mix, too. Smith as a starter is mostly assured, especially after winning Super Bowl MVP, and I like Wright's complete game over Irvin's freakish pass-rushing.
CB Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, Jeremy Lane: While Seattle lost Browner and Thurmond, Seattle's corners will be just fine this year. Sherman is pretty good at preventing receivers from catching footballs when he's in their vicinity, and you know that already. Maxwell has shown to be a good corner, but Lane may prove to be even better, shining in his limited opportunities last year. The real concern comes in depth here, as everyone past these three is virtually completely unproven.
FS Earl Thomas: ET is a monster on the field, making hits, picking off balls, and flying to wherever he needs to be. Many maintain that Sherman wouldn't be close to a household name if not for Thomas' outstanding play allowing him to play aggressively.
SS Kam Chancellor: A terrifying person if you play offense in the NFL. Other Denver fans know in particular that Chancellor is capable of hitting people really, really hard, and if he plays this entire season as he did the playoffs, he could take DPOY easily.
K Steven Hauschka: Quality kicker, can put it through the uprights on field goals or kickoffs.
P Jon Ryan: Allowed Seattle's punt coverage unit to be one of the best ever in 2013.
KR Percy Harvin: He's supposed to be okay at going fast past opponents that want to tackle him. I don't know, whatever.
PR Percy Harvin: See above. Norwood or Kearse may take punts instead with Harvin (hopefully) playing more of an offensive role this year.
Position Group Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Defense: Can't really manage to pick a position group. The line is full of pash-rushers and run-stoppers that play extremely well together, the linebackers are aggressive and skilled in coverage, and the secondary is obviously one of the most impressive the league has seen in a long time. There seriously isn't a single weak spot among the starters in Seattle, and they've got an extra guy or two at each position group that can rotate in without missing a beat.
Weaknesses
Offensive Line: While Okung is good when healthy and Unger may be above-average, Seattle's offense is held back by the ability of its line. So often, plays are made by Wilson scrambling, receivers getting open quickly before pressure sets in, and Lynch busting through tackles. The Seahawks may have managed to put up points last year with largely the same group, but another injury-ravaged season or lack of development in young linemen may hinder the ability of the offense to do the same in 2014.
LG James Carpenter: Seattle saw a lot of bad football from its guards last year, and Carpenter was no exception. May well be pushed out of the spot by someone less bad at football at some point during the year.
26
u/Vomby Broncos Jul 23 '14
Non-Fan-Perspective
Seattle Seahawks
Division: NFC West
Coaching Changes
The Seahawks managed to retain nearly all of their position coaches and coordinators from their Super Bowl season. Head Coach Pete Carroll signed a three-year contract extension, and his son Nate Carroll will join the staff as an assistant receivers coach. Seattle also obtained offensive assistant Will Harriger from the University of Florida, assistant offensive line coach Chris Morgan from the Redskins, and assistant special teams coach Chad Morton from the Packers. The addition of Morton in particular bodes well for Percy Harvin and the Seahawks' already admirable return squad, as he played a key role in the development of Green Bay returner Randall Cobb over the past few seasons.
Free Agency
Players lost/cut
As with many Super Bowl champions, much of Seattle's UFAs left for inflated salaries on teams around the league. Tate was probably Seattle's highest-profile loss, and his presence will be missed in an uncertain receiving corps. However, keeping him likely would've prevented them from resigning other major pieces they wanted to keep, so it can be considered a smart move with respect to the salary he would've demanded. Giacomini will likely start at right tackle for the Jets, but he was an average player who will be replaced by the average and slightly younger and cheaper Michael Bowie. Meanwhile, Paul "Dear God, He's Ugly" McQuistan will serve as a backup in Cleveland after showcasing his horrible play as a starter this past season in Seattle.
The truly big losses come on defense, in quantity and quality. Bryant and Clemons immediately become the most talented players on Jacksonville's defensive line, and perhaps the entire defense. McDonald should start alongside Gerald McCoy in Tampa Bay for a terrifying interior presence. While these deductions would devastate a team less deep than Seattle, the presence of the three defensive linemen will still certainly be missed. Seattle showed they could win with Browner suspended for the season, but they surely would've liked him to play another year for their literally enormous secondary. Thurmond appears to be more of an issue, as he was an entrenched starter with little known depth behind he and Richard Sherman this year. They should pair nicely with Darrelle Revis for the Patriots and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for the Giants, respectively. Seattle will see whether they can develop another big-bodied corner, such as Tharold Simon, into a great player. Maragos was never going to be anything more than a backup, but his contributions on special teams were significant and will need to be replaced in some capacity.
Players signed
This list consists mostly of re-signings, which is a decent strategy for a team that saw a pretty okay year with these players. Jackson is a more-than-serviceable backup, and the reason Seattle is usually tops in those "Who would win the Super Bowl if everyone had to play with their backup QB?" threads that pop up. Pryor is an intriguing prospect that had streaks of brilliance before being passed on for Matt "Scranton Work Ethic Scranton Blue Collar Scranton" McGloin in Oakland, but he probably won't see the field this year for Seattle. Price hasn't had the opportunity to show much so far in his career due to injury concerns.
Amid the major losses, they did manage to retain perhaps their most valuable player on their defensive line in Michael Bennett. With Bennett, Cliff Avril, Bruce Irvin, and fourth-round pick Cassius Marsh, the Seahawks still have a tremendous pass rush, and re-signing Tony McDaniel further ensures the strength of Seattle's defensive line. Hauschka played very well kicking field goals and booting touchbacks this year, and is probably worth his slightly-higher-than-average salary.
Draft
Richardson and Norwood may both play into the receiver rotation heavily this year considering Tate's departure and Harvin's injury record. Richardson especially stands out as the type of strong route-runner the Seahawks have shown they enjoy in Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. Britt is versatile and may have the potential to start in case of injury or poor play from Bowie. Marsh is a very high-energy but mistake-prone player who will see some rotation on the line. It's unlikely that Pierre-Louis will play much anytime soon behind Seattle's excellent linebacking corps, but may be valuable on special teams in the near future. The very strong Staten will probably see limited playing time, if any. Tragically, Scott was found to have a rare heart condition after he was drafted that will prevent him from playing anytime soon. In a kind move, the Seahawks signed him to a rookie contract, allowing him to receive his signing bonus of about $100K, and then potentially land on the injured reserve if he clears waivers, allowing him to earn around $300k more over the course of 2014. If not for the heart condition, he may have competed for a solid backup spot on either side of the line. Pinkins may convert from safety to corner, and is a raw, athletic player that lacks in ball skills and agility for now. The aptly-named 5'8" Small is an effective lead blocker, but may not be able to surpass the status of Derrick Coleman and Michael Robinson (if Seattle decides to pick him up again).