NFL 2006: Seattle Seahawks

(This is the Corners look at the upcoming NFL season. For the next 32 days we'll be previewing each team and their prospects for the 2006 season. Today we look at the Seattle Seahawks.)

The Seattle Seahawks finally shook off the underachiever tag they've been stuck with since Mike Holmgren joined the team in 1999 and started to work his magic on them.

It was a slow process building the Seahawks into a winner and Holmgren, who won a Super Bowl in 1996 with the Green Bay Packers, was criticized at times for his teams lack of success. The worm turned in 2004 when Seattle won the NFC West title and last season the Seahawks did even better, going 13-3 and capturing the NFC championship. They would eventually lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

A veteran team returns to dismantle the myth of the Super Bowl slump, (the last five loser in the Super Bowl had a losing record the following season), and return Seattle back to the big dance once again.

Offense: It's nice to have a billionaire for an owner. Paul Allen was busy in the offseason, signing quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and MVP Shaun Alexander to multi-year contracts. With the two leaders back in the fold - the Seattle offense will once again be one of the best in the NFL.

Hasselbeck keeps getting better and better in Holmgren's offense. Last season he threw for 3,459 yards and 24 touchdowns with only nine interceptions. He needs to stay healthy if Seattle wants to continue its success because the backups, Seneca Wallace and David Greene, are untested.

Alexander had a monster season in 2005 (1,880 yards, NFL record 27 rushing touchdowns) and he'll be the main weapon of the Seahawks offensive attack for a few more years after signing a six-year deal. Maurice Morris (288 yards) and Josh Scobey are the reserves. Veteran Mack Strong (22 receptions) is a fierce blocker who return at fullback.

The Seahawks lost Joe Jurivicius to free agency, but Darrell Jackson (38-482-3) is back after missing 10 games last season. He'll team on the starting unit with either Bobby Engram (67-778-3) or free agent Nate Burleson (30-328). Peter Warrick and D.J. Hackett will see action as well.

Jerramy Stevens (45-554-5) had his best year at tight end in 2005 and expects to see even more action his way this year. Itula Mili, a former starter, is back after missing all of last season.

The offensive line lost all-everything guard Steve Hutchinson, but still returns four starters from one of the top units in 2005. Robbie Tobeck returns at center with All-Pro Walter Jones and Sean Locklear at tackle. Chris Gray is at one guard slot, while Floyd Womack or free agent Tom Ashworth will battle for Hutchinson's spot. Rob Sims and Chris Spencer are solid backups.

Defense: The Seattle defense came out of nowhere to emerge as one of the top units in the league. The Seahawks gave up only 17 points a game and could be even better this season with some free agent acquisitions and injured players returning healthy.

The defensive line was the biggest surprise of the Seattle defense. This unit accounted for 30.5 sacks last season and hopes to do even better in 2006. Bryce Fisher (47 tackles, nine sacks) and Grant Wistrom (52 tackles, four sacks), two guys the Rams let get away, are at the ends. Rocky Bernard (52 tackles, 8.5 sacks) and Chuck Darby (30 tackles, 2.5 sacks) are back at defensive tackle. Joe Tafoya, rookie Daryl Tapp and Marcus Tubbs (40 tackles, 5.5 sacks) figure in the rotation also.

Lofa Tatupu, son of former Patriots running back Mosi Tatupu, caught everyone by surprise with his outstanding rookie campaign. Tatupu took control of the defense from his middle linebacker spot and became the unquestioned leader of the group. Many felt his 104 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions should have earned him rookie of the year honors. Free agent Julian Peterson (82 tackles, three sacks) and Leroy Hill (72 tackles, 7.5 sacks) give the Seahawks a potent outside combination. D.D. Lewis (62 tackles), a starter last season, and Isaiah Kacyvenski are the reserves.

The secondary is strong with Kelly Herndon (54 tackles, two picks) and Marcus Trufant (64 tackles) at the corners. Jimmy Williams (two interceptions), Jordan Babineaux (74 tackles, three picks) and rookie Kelly Jennings provide depth. Ken Hamlin returns at safety after missing most of last year and he'll team with incumbent Michael Boulware (73 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks) on the starting unit. Free agent Mike Green and Etric Pruitt are in the mix as well.

Special Teams: Josh Brown (110 points, 18-25 field goals, 56-57 extra points) returns at kicker. Rookie Ryan Plackemeier will take over at punter for the departed Tom Rouen. Scobey (22.5) handles kickoff duties, while Williams (5.8) or Warrick (4.8) will return punts.

Outlook: Look for the Seahawks to break the myth known as the Super Bowl slump. The other teams who fell back after losing the big game didn't have the depth to handle free agent losses or the talent that Seattle has. This team is loaded - it is deep with talent at every position but quarterback. With the addition of Peterson at linebacker and Hamlin's return to health - the defense may even be better than last season. This is a squad that will win the West and challenge for the NFC championship.

Prediction: Seattle is one of the top three or four teams in the conference. If this team stays healthy, it will cruise to the West title and challenge New York and Carolina for the conference crown. The Seahawks will finish 12-4 or 13-3.

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