The Seattle Seahawks found themselves in a familiar place at the end of the 2007 regular season, atop the NFC West standings, but the way they got there differed greatly from years past. In recent history, the Seahawks had been driven by their running game.That's what happens when you have an MVP type back lining up behind your quarterback. But, as Shaun Alexander's skills deteriorated, a change in philosophy was needed. And, in 2007, the Seahawks did a 180, deciding to hand the reins to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and become a pass first team.
The change worked as the Seahawks jumped from the league's 19th ranked offense in 2006 to the 9th best in 2007. Hasselbeck, who put up the best numbers of his career, completing 62.6% of his passes for 3966 yards and 28 TDs to 12 INTs, had no trouble becoming the focal point of the offense. The change of philosophy also made Seattle's wide receivers viable fantasy football options throughout much of the season.Like Hasselbeck, Bobby Engram had the best year of his career, which is saying something at the tender age of 35. For the first time ever, Engram topped the 1,000 yard mark with 1,147 receiving yards to go along with 6 scores. Nate Burleson, may have come up a bit short on the yardage side of things with just 694 yards on the year, but his 9 TDs led to 7 double digit fantasy performances. Even Deion Branch and DJ Hackett, who both missed time due to injury, were solid fantasy options. Branch tallied 6 double digit games in 11 played, while Hackett had 3 in 6 games, though he left the first one rather early because of an ankle injury.
While the Seahawks' new offensive game plan aided the value of Hasselbeck and the team's wide receivers, it hindered that of the team's running backs as the team finished 20th in rushing offense on the year. Those low rushing totals led Maurice Morris (101 fantasy points) and Shaun Alexander (99 fantasy points) to combine for a total of just 200 fantasy points. Alexander had well above 300+ points on his own in his 2005 MVP Season.
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Key Departures
Shaun Alexander (RB) - Football is a fickle game, and one simply needs to look at Alexander for the case and point. Alexander had one of the best seasons by a running back ever in 2005 as he went for 1880 rushing yards and 28 total TDs. It was Alexanders' 5th straight season of 1100+ rushing yards and 14+ TDs. He was an elite back and considered a for sure top 3 pick in fantasy circles, but in the course of just two years, Alexander finds himself no longer wondering whether or not he'll be selected in fantasy drafts ahead of LaDainian Tomlinson, rather he's just worried as to whether or not he'll have a job in the NFL.
DJ Hackett (WR) - The Seahawks had 4 solid wideouts to turn to in 2007, and with two of those four missing substantial time, the depth proved necessary. Hackett's departure reduces that depth greatly, especially as Deion Branch recovers from knee surgery that will keep him out most of 2008. Despite Hackett missing the most time (10 games) among the Seahawks wide outs in 2007, he did haul in 3 scores and total 295 receiving yards in a 3-game stretch from week 9 to week 11, perhaps the only time of the season he was truly healthy.
Josh Brown (K) - In each of his 5 seasons with the Seahawks, Brown has racked up at least 109 points and has not missed one FG from 29 yards in. The Seahawks have gone out and gotten Olindo Mare to fill Brown's kicking shoe, but Mare's 58.8% accuracy means the Seahawks may see potential points left out on the field more often than they're use to.
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Key Additions
Julius Jones (RB) - From 2001 to 2005, the Seahawks could look in their backfield, see Shaun Alexander and know that they would get 1100+ yards and 14 TDs from the running back position. But, two down years from Alexander and now his release from the team, leaves the Seahawks wondering what they'll get in 2008 out of their backs. Jones is one of those backs the Seahawks hope can shoulder some of the load. A consistent underachiever, who's averaged less than four yards per carry in his career, Jones is looking to turn his career around in Seattle after all but losing his job to Marion Barber in Dallas. Jones has many of the assets a top back in the NFL needs, he's quick and can make defenders miss; however, those tools mean nothing if you aren't patient and able to read the holes. If Seattle's coaches can get Jones to do that, they may be ok at running back.
TJ Duckett (RB) - Another back looking to pick up some carries in the post-Shaun Alexander era, Duckett heads into camp as the team's third back; however, don't be surprised to see Mike Holmgren turn to Duckett over the likes of Jones and Maurice Morris when he needs to grind out some yards.
Jeb Putzier (TE) - Marcus Pollard wasn't anything special in Seattle, but he did catch 28 passes in 2007. His departure will lead to an interesting camp for the Seahawks tight ends as the job is wide open for anyone's taking, and on a pass first team, it's not a bad job to have. Putzier could be the sleeper that steals the job. He does, after all, have two seasons of 30+ receptions.
Olindo Mare (K) - When the Seahawks send their kicking unit out on the field this season, fans are rightfully going to be nervous. Mare, a member of the New Orleans Saints last season, a team that played in a Dome, connected on just 10 of 17 FGs for the year. Imagine the difficulties he'll have in that Pacific Northwest weather.
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2008 Bruno Boys Crystal Ball
Matt Hasselbeck (QB) - Remove his injury plagued 2006 season, in which he played in just 12 games, and Hasselbeck has gone for at least 3300 passing yards and 22 passing TDs in every season since 2003. That kind of consistency is nice to have from your fantasy QB. What makes Hasselbeck, the 8th best fantasy QB in 2007, even more appealing as we get set for the 2008 season is that for the first time in his career, he's entering a season as the focal point of the offense - a task he showed he can handle last season as the Seahawks moved away from being a run first team. Hasselbeck may not have a superstar wideout to rely on like other top QBs do, but he does have a solid corps to throw to in the likes of Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, and Nate Burleson. Still, there are some concerns. For one, the Seahawks run game will be less potent than in years' past. That will allow defenses to focus on stopping the pass. How Hasselbeck adjusts will determine how well his fantasy season goes. One last bit of advice, expect a few more INTs from the man with the best hair in the league, throwing more passes usually yields that outcome.
Maurice Morris (RB) - Since 2002, Morris has toiled in the shadow of Shaun Alexander (though he did have more fantasy points than Alexander last season). This year, though, there is daylight as Alexander no longer dawns the Seahawks colors. Morris has shown flashes in the past, including 5 double digit weeks in 2007, and could very well help some fantasy teams again in 2008, but we advise taking a wait and see approach as the daylight may fade with Morris once again finding himself in someone else's shadow (read Julius Jones).
Deion Branch (WR) - Since coming to the Seahawks in 2006, Branch has yet to play in a full slate of games, suiting up for just 14 in 2006 and 11 in 2007.It appears that Branch's streak will remain intact as he'll most likely start the season on the sidelines thanks to off-season knee surgery. Keep your eye on the progress of his recovery because Branch may be the mid to late season pick-up that can get your team over the hump. He did score 11+ fantasy points in 6 of the 11 games he was on the field for.
Bobby Engram (WR) - With Hackett heading to the Carolina Panthers and Branch healing up, Engram once more will find himself filling the role of the Seahawks number 1 wide receiver. Judging by his numbers last season (94 receptions, 1147 receiving yards, and 6 TDs), it's a role he relishes. Engram has developed a nice rapport with QB Matt Hasselbeck, perhaps it's the sure hands that Engram possesses that Hasselbeck likes so much after dealing with previous wide outs like Darrell "Drops" Jackson. However, it would be nice if Hasselbeck looked his way a bit more often within the opponent's 20 yard line. Hasselbeck connected with Engram just 7 times in that area in 2007, leading to 5 Engram scores. If Hasselbeck utilizes Engram even more in the redzone this season, the Seahawks wide out will make for a nice draft day steal.
Nate Burleson (WR) - After disappearing for two seasons after his 1000+ yard campaign in 2004, Burleson once again became relevant in fantasy circles in 2007, going for 694 yards and 11 total TDs (2 of which were of the return variety). The bad news however is that Burleson was really only a factor when his fellow wideouts were struck by injury, propelling him up the depth charts; otherwise, Burleson toiled in obscurity as the Seahawks 4th wide out option. The good news though as we look ahead towards 2008 is that the Seahawks wide receiving depth has already been struck two blows with DJ Hackett leaving via free agency and Deion Branch recovering for off-season surgery. That means opening the season, Burleson will be the Seahawks number 2 wideout, a spot in which he can put up fantasy numbers from.
Will Heller (TE) - At a position that has developed a lot of fantasy depth in recent years, it's wise to stay away from Heller, a career back-up tight end who has never had more than the 13 receptions he hauled in last season, despite his natural athletic ability. Even if Heller wins the starting job, it will take some time for the Seahawks to figure out how to best utilize him. However, if you see an early trend in the pre-season in which they turn to Heller often in the redzone, by all means take a gamble and stash him as your back-up TE.
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Rookies to Watch
Lawrence Jackson (DE) - With the Seahawks turning into a pass first team, many experts believed that come draft day, the Seahawks would use their first rounder on either a wide out or tight end. Instead, they went with Jackson, a defensive end out of USC. Jackson will spend much of 2008 as the team's thrid defensive end behind Patrick Kerny and Darryl Tapp, and with his excellent pass rushing ability should see many third downs. Still, we can't help but wonder why the Seahawks passed on all the wide outs still left on the board when they announced Jackson's name.
John Carlson (TE) - What does Carlson have in common with the likes of Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez? Like those super stud TEs, Carlson played some college basketball while at Notre Dame. That means you know the TE has hands, but does he have the speed needed to get open. After his 4.89 forty at the draft combine, that became a question on every team's mind. The Seahawks though took a gamble and Carlson could reward them with some solid outings if he gets the starting nod.
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Other Team Capsules
NFC WEST - ARI I STL I SF I SEA
NFC SOUTH - ATL I CAR I NO I TB
NFC NORTH - CHI I DET I GB I MIN
NFC EAST - DAL I NYG I PHI I WAS
AFC WEST - DEN I KC I OAK I SD
AFC SOUTH - HOU I IND I JAX I TEN
AFC NORTH - BAL I CIN I CLE I PIT
AFC EAST - BUF I MIA I NE I NYJ