The TSB NFL Training Camp Previews moves on the NFC West as we take a look at the NFL’s best. The best team in football showed the entire world why they are the best in early February at Metlife Stadium. With a roster that is full of talent 1 through 53, a fan base that might be the best in all of a football and a Coach/GM tandem that is the envy of everyone in the NFL, things are looking great in Pacific Northwest. At this point the 12th man has plenty to proud about and on paper no team is better then this team
So lets take a look at the defending Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks
2013 Record: 13-3; Super Bowl Champions (Beat Denver 43-8 in Super Bowl 48)
Passing Leader: Russell Wilson 3357 YDS 26 TD 9 INT
Rushing Leader: Marshawn Lynch 1257 YDS 12 TD
Receiving Leader: Golden Tate 898 YDS 5 TD
Leading Tackler: Bobby Wagner 120 Tackles/Earl Thomas 78 Solo
Sacks Leader: Michael Bennett 8.5 Sacks/Cliff Avril 8.0 Sacks
Int Leader: Richard Sherman 8 INT
FA losses: Brandon Browner CB, Golden Tate WR, Walter Thurmond CB, Paul McQuistan OL, Breno Giacomini OL, Red Bryant DE, Chris Clemons DE
FA signings: Eric Winston OT, Terrell Thomas CB, Kevin Williams DT,
Draft Picks
2nd Round: Paul Richardson, Wide Receiver, Colorado
3rd Round: Justin Britt, Offensive Tackle, Missouri
4th Round: Cassius Marsh, Defensive End, UCLA
Kevin Norwood, Wide Receiver, Alabama
Kevin Pierre-Louis, Linebacker, Boston College
5th Round: Jimmy Staten, Defensive Tackle, Middle Tennessee State
6th Round: Garrett Scott, Offensive Tackle, Marshall
Eric Pinkins, Free Safety, San Diego State
7th Round: Kiero Small, Fullback, Arkansas
The Seahawks had been re-building their franchise, top to bottom, from the second that Pete Carroll took over as Head Coach. The idea was to one day build a team strong enough and good enough to be in the upper echelon of the NFL.
Last year that plan come together and did so in a way that let the whole world know this team will be staying at the top for years to come.
The 2013 Seahawks dominated the NFL in a way that hasn’t been seen in years. A team led by its power running game and swarming defense flew in the face of what has become a pass happy league and dominated all the way to a Super Bowl Title. It was certainly not lost on anyone the way the dominated the Broncos, the most pass happy of any team in the NFL, on the biggest stage of them all.
The defense saw some changes in the off-season as Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond left the secondary while Red Bryant and Chris Clemons left the defensive line for Jacksonville. Although those players were good pieces, the Linebackers stayed the same and are improving, Cliff Avril leads the D-Line and is joined by Pro Bowler Kevin Williams and the secondary saw Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas get contract extensions.
The offense saw Golden Tate leave as a free agent and Sidney Rice be forced into retirement but also remained basically the same. Paul Richardson, their first pick joins Doug Baldwin and Percy Harvin on the outside to help try to make up for the losses at the WR position.
The key to the season will always begin and end with the running game and the improvement of Russell Wilson. Marshawn Lynch did hold out for a while looking for a new contract but eventually reported to camp and is the man who is going to be counted on to lead the offense.
Russell Wilson is the quarterback and is still working on improving his skills at that particular position. What I mean is that while his athletic ability has done a great job of making up for his shortcomings as a QB, his improvement at the position will be important even though he has already won a Super Bowl and can easily win another this year.
The Seahawks are a well oiled machine that is clearly the class of the NFL. They have a duel threat QB that is getting better each year, a running game that is one of the best in the league and a defense that returns enough starters and talent overall that keeps it as the best in the league as well.
The 49ers, Saints and Packers are the three teams that can make a run at the Seahawks this season to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. But lets face it, the Seahawks are still on another level then every other team in the NFL and should be the NFC representative in Super Bowl 49.
