Hi again. It’s me – Beerguyrob. Judging by everyone’s reaction to my return,

I figured I’d help out with another preview. This time, it’s one I’m a little more familiar with, the Seahawks. As a season ticket holder since 2010, back when the dollar was at par,

I have a vested interest in covering this team.

Last season was like finding a wounded unicorn in an interstate ditch – you don’t know where it came from or what exactly has happened, but you still marvel at its presence while you watch it writhe in agony at its inevitable demise. In 2022 they benefitted from particular factors that had great impact on how the season unfolded. Firstly, their last-place finish in 2021 meant they would benefit from a loser’s schedule of other last-place teams. Next, and most importantly, was their keen desire to shift dead weight.

Oh, how quickly the fans turn.

Now, normally, the Seahawks would use first-round draft capital to trade down in the draft. But, in a shocking turn the fanbase could never have expected, they kept almost all of their high-round picks and turned them into valuable assets for building a team around.

Most of those guys saw game action during the season, and over half were full-time starters by the end of the year. Again, the benefit of their 2021 futility was that they were able to get multiple reps in for their rookies against flailing teams playing for this year’s draft.

Finally, there was Geno Smith. Without the yoke of expectation (or repayment) that the Jets had put around his neck after the 2013 Draft, he seemed like a new man. Pete Carroll was content to draw up game plans that allowed Geno to play to his strengths & avoid exposing his weaknesses. The end result was more than either man could imagine,

All of this resulted in a 9-8 record, a Wild Card playoff berth, and the scorn of an NFL front office that chose to put their Week 18 and playoff games at the worst possible times for both the team and their fans.

This year, they go into the season with a second-place schedule, meaning tougher opponents (on paper), Geno Smith on a team friendly deal so beneficial it’s almost criminal, and the final draft bounty from the Russell Wilson trade, which will allow them to build up around whomever they draft in 2024 or ’25.

That’s a haul so large it’s a white collar crime, something usually above a couple of good ol’ boys.

With that in mind, let’s break down how the Seahawks look heading into the 2023 season.

Quarterback:

He looks good, and his contract looks even better. His on-paper $105 million / three-year deal is actually a 2023 $25 million guaranteed, plus $12 million in incentives, and out clauses for each side after each season. So, if Geno keeps producing at his 2022 rate, he’s a bargain – especially compared to the $50 million Denver is putting out for Russell Wilson. It also allows the Seahawks to mine the next couple of drafts for his replacement. The only downside is his cap hit, which is just $10 million this year, but balloons to over $30 million in 2024 & 2025. Still, it’s an enviable position for both side.

His backup is Drew Lock.

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Running Back:

Kenneth Walker THE THIRD is the 22 year-old 60-year-old man the Seahawks will be counting on to carry the load for them this season. He had a helluva breakout rookie year, getting onto the gameday roster due to injuries and then rushing for just over 1000 yards in 11 starts. He will carry the early season load, and then be the Nick Chubb to rookie Zach Charbonnet’s Kareem Hunt.

If something goes wrong, they have DeeJay Dallas waiting in the wings.

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Wide Receivers:

This is where they are the deepest. Aside from DK Metcalf & Tyler Lockett, they have their highly-touted rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and given his speed & talent coming out of college really gives Geno Smith a lot of downfield options. Which is good, due to the rash of injuries (and one personal conduct suspension) that has plagued the team since the start of camp.

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Defence:

It’s not a surprise that the Seahawks media has chosen to focus on the return of Bobby Wagner, because there’s very little else going on. I’m surprised there isn’t already talk about retiring his number.  They’ve added some measure of run defence, but given they were so bad last year – 30th out of 32 teams – anything will look like an improvement. The big hope is that players like Boye Mafe and Tyreke Smith make advances in their pro game, so there isn’t a reliance on the last remaining Legion of Boom member to try & do everything.

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And, of course, I can’t forget the cheerleaders:

For advice here, I’m going to turn it over to my good friend, Morris ‘Mo’ Wanchuk. Mo?

Hey man – save that kind of talk for Fridays!

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The schedule:

In 2022, the Seahawks started 6-3, but ground their way to 9-8 by virtue of the back half of their schedule being made up of teams with something to play for. I don’t think they’ll be giving up over 250 rushing yards to teams like the Panthers & Raiders again. So, really, it comes down to how improved other teams are.

The big questions in the NFC West are:

• Do the Niners have a consistent, 17-game starter at QB?
• Will the Rams suck again this year?
• How many times will the Cardinals get booed in their own stadium?

I don’t think they’ll get skunked by the Niners again. However, I also don’t think they’ll go 4-0 again against the Rams & Cardinals.

As you can see, their schedule is really two halves, with Thanksgiving being the dividing line. The first half is Rams, Lions, Panthers, Giants, Bengals, Cardinals, Browns, Baltimore, Washington, and then the Rams again. They could easily go 7-3 or even 8-2 here. Starting Thanksgiving night, they get the Niners, Cowboys, Niners again, Eagles, Titans, and Steelers, before wrapping up against the Cardinals on the road. At best they go 3-4, but logic says they likely go 2-5.

Prediction:

Looks like another 9-8 season to me, which will mean second place behind San Francisco and their eventual 8th-string QB, with a possible Wild Card game on the road if the North is still bad and the East regresses to the norm. So, I’ll look forward to not paying for playoff tickets and them hopefully drafting a quarterback in April.

Fan-fucking-tastic. At least the jerseys look sweet.