MVN - Most Valuable Network

Is The Seahawks Superbowl Window Closing?

Most of those who follow the NFL subscribe to what can only be called the “Superbowl Window Theory”. The premise of this theory is that because of turnover, competitive balance, and parity, a team usually has a very small window in which to win the big one. There has been a lot of talk amongst Seahawk fans about their Superbowl window. Ever since 2005, the talking heads of the national media have been trying to slam it shut. Is this the year that one of upstart teams of the NFC West who are picked to win year after year, finally ends up on top? We will find out, but in my opinion the Seahawks seem to be getting stronger and even harder to beat. John Clayton labeled them the most improved team in the division on Friday. So I ask the question…When will the window shut?

If you take a look at the Seahawks since 2005, there has been an extraordinary amount of turnover. The team looks dramatically different these days. But maybe, this is for the best. If you looked at the Seahawks after that season, it was clear that they were going to go through a transition. The last two years may have been the rest of the NFC West’s best shot to take the top spot. It would appear the Seahawks have reloaded their core with a mix of draft picks and free agents and are now a younger, more balanced team.

Lets start with the offensive line. This unit was arguably one of the best offensive lines ever. No matter what, the line was going to change. Last year allowed two important cogs of the future to get valuable starting experience. Sims and Spencer struggled at times, but they will be better for it. With those two and Sean Locklear, this team has created some young core players that will make the transition to the next left tackle much easier. Walter Jones is one of two key pieces yet to be replaced. The best part is that they have at least a couple of years to find their next left tackle and get him ready. By then, the other members of this line will be savvy vets

While Matt Hasselbeck remains the quarterback, he is breaking in a whole new stable of receivers this year. Ben Obomanu is heading into his third year. Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne, and Jordan Kent their second. While there may be a learning curve, this will be tempered by vets like Bobby Engram, Nate Bureleson, and the eventual return of Deion Branch. While two of these receivers sit out, the young guys get an invaluable chance to build a rapport with Hass. This will be one of the most interesting story lines of the pre-season this year. Seahawks fans will soon find out if the team is ready to move on from stalwarts like Darrell Jackson, DJ Hackett, and Bobby Engram. A young receiving core will be important, because as they hit their prime, the other key piece yet to be replaced, Matt Hasselbeck, will likely be nearing his end. By all accounts these receivers are well on their way.

The running back change was made this year. Rather than drafting a rookie, the front office chose some mid-priced free agents. This buys the team a couple of years to find the eventual feature back replacement for Shaun Alexander. Or maybe this represents a change in philosophy. Running back by committee is en vogue. Maybe a feature back isn’t needed? This year will test that theory for many teams. One running back that many overlook the loss of is Mack Strong. He was another core player on the 2005 team. With Leonard Weaver making 10+ starts last year, the Seahawks have a replacement. They also drafted another in Owen Schmitt. Fullback is another position where veteran experience has been replaced by a young player who has been given time to learn his position. With Owen Schmitt behind Weaver, fullback will be a strength for years to come. This is especially important considering fullbacks are getting harder and harder to find.

Much like fullbacks, true tight ends are hard to find these days too. The Seahawks selected John Carlson in the 2nd. If he works out, this offense will be a solid group for years to come. And this will be important because of the two changes yet to be made. It is a topic that was discussed at Seahawk Addicts this week. Reader BillT said this…

Right now, as I see it, Ruskell has two main components to replace to move this team into a purpetual division winner for years to come. He needs to come up with another outstanding LT and of course a perennial pro bowl QB. Everyone else from that great “core” of 2005 has been replaced already (or is still in their prime and on the team). Tobeck, Hutch, Gray, Strong, Alexander, Jackson, Stevens, Wistrom, Fisher, Hamlin, Boulware, Jurevicius, Brown, Herndon, Darche, Bentley, Hannam, Mili, Darby, and Kacyvenski were the absolute prime of the Seahawks two years ago and with the exception of Jones and Hasslebeck have all been replaced or like Trufant, D.D. Lewis, Babineaux, Weaver and others are still on the team and in their prime.

Quarterback and left tackle are very important positions, but the team has a major advantage in their quest. The defense seems set for the foreseeable future. I haven’t even talked about the defense. Maybe I will save that for a later post. But when you consider the team locked up young core players like Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant, and added a promising end and tackle in the most recent draft, safety is the only position showing age. But the team has already made efforts to find some youth at that position. Bringing in some talented undrafted free agents who may make an impact. At worst, the team has some time to evaluate these players. They also have young Jordan Babineaux who can play that position. The rest of the defense is young, talented, and poised to be a top unit this year. The average age of the starters is 26.3 years old, and will only get younger if Lawrence Jackson starts. These players average contract runs through 2011. The defense has already made its transition.

So how did this happen with out anybody noticing? The team has a young promising offense and a young but experienced defense. Through this transitional period, the team won two more division titles. They also won a playoff game both years. These young players have learned pretty quickly what it takes to win. Some say it is the high character philosophy. To cite reader BillT again…

Have you ever seen a team with more unity and better chemistry? All the players talk about it. Most of the new free agents and draft choices mentioned it after meeting the rest of the team in interviews. Maybe we have something here that is more than the sum of its parts. The players seem excited by it and are participating in offseason conditioning and workout programs as never before.

If that is the case, and this team is greater than the sum of its parts, well the rest of the NFL better watch out. The parts have gained valuable experience and a taste for success the last two years. Now they want more. As for future years, well they really have only two key positions left to replace. Granted they are important positions, but the Hawks have a few years to get it right with few other needs to address. If they handle that challenge with the efficiency already demonstrated, they could be looking at an Atlanta Braves like run. They may even cash in their division titles more than once.

The core has been replaced. And these new young players seem set to make this team a contender for years to come. Jim Mora Jr is going to be handed a young and talented team. If he follows the pattern of recent coaches in their second job (Shanahan, Belichick, Dungy, Coughlin for example), life for Seahawk fans will be good. Maybe one of these days people outside the Northwest will take notice.

Michael Steffes writes primarily for Seahawks fan site, Seahawkaddicts.com. If you are interested in up to the minute news and analysis please visit the site and read more of Michael’s work.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at 11:15 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.