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Seattle Seahawks 2009 NFL Predictions

Written August 30, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Seattle Seahawks NFL Predictions New head coach Jim Mora has proven he can turn a team around. He took over for the Atlanta Falcons in his first head coaching stint, and all he did was take a 5-11 team from the previous year all the way to the NFC Championship game. He has a lot of work ahead if the Seattle Seahawks are to get back to winning the NFC West and back to the playoffs. But this team suffered several key injuries last year, most notably to QB Matt Hasselbeck. 15 starters missed time with injuries last season. The defensive was pushed around too much, so the Seahawks brought in a pair of defensive tackles in the offseason that combine to weigh 625 pounds. The receiving corps lacked a standout playmaker, so they brought in T.J. Houshmandzadeh to fill the void. Let’s see how these moves pay off. The Seahawks are listed at +160 to win the NFC West at Sporstbook.com. According to these NFL betting odds, Seattle is almost neck-and-neck with the Cardinals to win this division.

Offense: Few teams suffered a worse loss due to injury than the Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had a bulging disk in his back last season that forced him out of action. It is supposedly a thing of the past, and this could be a big year for him if he can stay healthy. He has made it to three consecutive Pro Bowls in odd-numbered years in 2003, 2005 and 2007. He has more weapons at receiver than he’s ever had. Seneca Wallace filled in nicely as the No. 2 quarterback last season and he knows this system very well. He started eight games last year with 11 touchdowns passes to only 3 interceptions, so if something were to happen to Hasselbeck again the offense is still in good hands. Julius Jones will get the opportunity to start at running back in 2009 despite a sub-par ‘08 campaign. The team did sign Edgerrin James from Arizona to give Jones some competition. This move was crucial since they let Maurice Morris leave in free agency and cut T.J. Duckett.

The Seahawks addressed the receiver position after injuries killed them here last year. Deion Branch and Nate Burleson missed 23 games combined last season, but each was rewarded with big contracts. Houshmandzadeh was signed to a lucrative five-year, $40 million deal after he registered at least 90 catches in each of the last 3 seasons for the Bengals. He will patrol the middle of the field, giving Hasselbeck a big target and a third-down specialist. Seattle has one of the best young tight ends in the league with Jon Carlson, who led the team with 55 grabs last year. Injuries decimated the offensive line last year. Nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones is coming off knee surgery, and the team is banking on a healthy return from him. Center Chris Spencer and guard Rob Sims missed a combined 20 games a year ago, and each are expected to start as long as they return healthy. Right tackle Sean Locklear is a steady force who could take over for Jones is he is unable to go. Mike Wahle decided to retire at guard after being continually plagued by shoulder problems. Second-round draft pick Max Unger out of Oregon will push the starters in the interior as he can play both center and guard.

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Defense: Mora wanted to bulk up the defensive line, so the team signed free agents Colin Cole and Cory Redding to add depth to the tackle spots. The two combine to weight a staggering 625 pounds. Cole is slated to start at noseguard and third-year man Brandon Mebane will start beside him. Patrick Kerney’s return from injury at defensive end is huge. He is the one steady pass-rusher on the line, and the team mustered almost no QB pressure once he went down in November. Lawrence Jackson and Darryl Tapp need to improve on the other side. The team traded away Julian Peterson to the Lions, which appeared to leave them thin here. But they used their No. 4 overall pick to draft Aaron Curry, who should be as good or better than Peterson was for this team. Leroy Hill re-signed with the Seahawks, and he’ll start on the outside along with Curry. At middle linebacker, Lofa Tatupu rounds out a linebacking corps that is all under the age of 26 which means Seattle should be solid here for years to come.

Veteran safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell took a step back last season. Cornerback Marcus Trufant had just one interception last year after picking off a career-best seven in 2007. Josh Wilson has the ability to make the big play at the other cornerback spot, but he is undersized and taller receivers tend to win the battle against him. So the Seahawks added some size in Ken Lucas in the offseason, a former Seahawk. Mora is hoping this unit simply underachieved last year and is expecting a bounce-back in 2009. The lack of a consistent pass rush made their job tougher last season, so with Kerney back up front the defensive line and linebackers shouldn’t be giving opposing QB’s all day in the pocket to pick apart the secondary.

InfoPlays Predictions: 1st in the NFC West – Injuries were the sole reason the Seahawks took a huge step back last season. Provided this team stays reasonably healthy, the Seahawks are InfoPlays pick to win the NFC West division in 2009. Hasselbeck has the best receiving corps he has ever had, and the defense is solid in all areas, especially at linebacker. This is one of the weakest divisions in the league, so Seattle won’t have to improve much to win it. This team can beat anybody in the league when healthy, and they’ll be very motivated coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history. We’re predicting the Cardinals suffer the dreaded Super Bowl hangover that tends to happen to almost every team that lost the big one the previous year, allowing the Seahawks to sneak in and get back to the top of this division, a position they have become very familiar with this decade.

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