By Will Button
Coming fresh off of a 13-3 record and a dominating Superbowl win over Peyton Manning and the Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks are looking to place their names in the history books once again in the 2014-2015 season. Their defensive efforts over the past few seasons are apparent, as they have not lost a game by more than a touchdown in the previous two years. Many are looking to the 12th man in CenturyLink Field to do their part this year, though many fans may look toward new acquisitions and changes made in the off season to pull their weight. bet365 has them favored to repear as Superbowl Champs, listing them at 12/2 odds.
The 2012-2013 season was regarded as a bust for new player acquisitions in Seattle, which is why the past two years have been extremely vital to Seattle’s success when it comes to drafting new players and moving or replacing current ones. Injuries plagued Seattle’s offensive line in 2013, which is why the Seahawks’s focus has partly been on the offensive side. One of the bigger losses in the off-season was the departure of wide receiver Golden Tate, who had 898 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns last season. To fill the void, Seattle acquired rookie wide receiver Paul Richardson, who’s college career in Colorado was spectacular. They’re hoping Richardson can put up numbers like he did in Colorado, where in 2013 he had 1343 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Another big loss to the Seattle’s wide receiver game was Sidney Rice. While Rice only played eight games in the 2013-2014 season, he is still seen as a valuable loss to Seattle’s passing game.
Seattle’s defensive game has been fantastic in the last few seasons, and while they’re confident their abilities to control the football will carry over into the 2014-2015 season, some key losses may affect their defensive capabilities. Linebacker Chris Clemons was moved over to the Jacksonville Jaguars after three seasons with the Seahawks, and though Clemons has had great numbers in the past, the 2013-2014 season showed Seattle that he was ready to move on. Another key loss in Seattle’s defense was defensive lineman Red Bryant, who played a key role in his defensive position. With 17 tackles and 1.5 sacks, Bryant’s presence on the field will greatly be missed by Seattle. Fortunately, with such a strong defense, the Seahawks can afford to sacrifice a few players and still remain strong.
The NFC West has had some strong competition recently, as the Arizona Cardinals are improving their team constantly and the San Francisco 49ers are looking very promising. Seattle also has some defensive competition when it comes to the St. Louis Rams. Fortunately for the Seahawks, Pete Carroll has a way of inspiring both coaches and players alike to do well in both the regular season and the playoffs. Many fans worried about the defensive changes for the Seattle Seahawks, but luckily for Seattle, their defensive line is already very strong with the many players they still have left. Hopes are high for their offensive line, and while a few players’ performances this season are still up in the air, their offense should only get better as their players get healthy and back on their feet. With new acquisitions, losses and changes, the Seattle Seahawks fans have good reason to be excited for the 2014-2015 season.