Get your money down on this one now as while we must wait the full season to cash the ticket it is one where the value is demanding a play. That play is on the…

UNDER 9 wins for Seattle – The Seahawks are certainly well-coached and we have a lot of respect for Mike Holmgren. He’s a proven winner. However, in what is expected to be Holmgren’s last season at the helm for Seattle, it looks like no coach could rescue this Seahawks club. There are simply too many issues for the ‘Hawks. Seattle did get some defensive line help in the draft but that is not enough to compensate for the loss of some key defensive personnel in free agency. Also, how will the offense of the Seahawks respond this season? There has been significant turnover at running back with Shaun Alexander now gone. Yes, talented players are moving in but how will the “flow” of this offense respond? Keep in mind that stability has helped this team in the past and that is now gone. It is that same desire for stability that has caused problems for the ‘Hawks receiving unit now. Nate Burleson has not been able to “put it all together” in Seattle and Bobby Engram is now 35. Deion Branch suffered an ACL injury in last season’s playoffs and the list of negatives goes on!

Seattle’s offense could truly be challenged this season even with Matt Hasselbeck under center. Keep in mind that Seattle lost several assistant coaches in the off-season and this included QB coach Jim Zorn. Of course FB Mack Strong is now retired and this offense just simply does not look, nor will it function, like it use to! The Seahawks early season schedule is quite favorable but, the question is, will they even be able to take advantage of it? Probably not, the Seahawks have so many changes they could take some lumps early and that means that no game is automatic. By the time Seattle ‘settles in’ with their adjustment the trouble will be that their schedule will have toughened up. The Giants, Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Dallas, and New England all appear on the ‘Hawks schedule during a tough ten week stretch. That will be the stretch that “breaks the camel’s back” and so by the last few weeks of the season this team may not even be playing at 100% any longer.

Add it all up and a 7-9 type season is highly probable when you look at what Seattle is faced with this season. Keep in mind too that changes have rejuvenated the other teams in the NFC West. Both St Louis and Arizona look improved while San Francisco could certainly get a true jolt with the hiring of Mike Martz to be their offensive coordinator. Don’t count out the Niners’ with Mike Nolan at the helm (Martz hiring could pay big dividends) just yet and that means a tough season for Mike Holmgren and his Seahawks as challenges abound after a soft, early-season schedule!

Brian `The Brain` Hansen KNOWS football! Hansen has simply HAMMERED the books this decade. More of the same this season from the man the books have learned to fear!

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