|
|
 |
|
|
Tuesday, May 7
Is Mike Holmgren on the hot seat in Seattle this year? One playoff berth in three seasons and a losing record (24-25) since moving to Seattle makes Holmgren an easy target. But the whispers of his demise have died down and owner Paul Allen doesn't seem inclined to make a change on the sideline or in the front office. Remember, Holmgren has five years remaining on his contract, and near-absolute control of football operations. Were Allen to attempt to usurp some of Holmgren's authority by hiring a general manager, it would in essence breach the contract.
He has begun to show better judgement in the personnel department than he did his first couple seasons. Perhaps most important, this spring he re-signed Trent Dilfer and elevated him to the starting quarterback job. Maybe the biggest challenge Holmgren faces is realignment, because he is in a division that features St. Louis and San Francisco, teams that combined for 26 wins in 2001.
|
|
|
A new year brings a move from the AFC West to the NFC West for the Seahawks and that's not particularly good news. The move means that Seattle will be in what could turn into the NFL's best division. San Francisco (12 wins) and St. Louis (14 wins) figure to be as strong as they were last season, while the Cardinals look like a team on the rise. However, coming off a 9-7 season, Seattle figures to compete for a playoff spot in 2002.
On the offensive side of the football, the biggest and most important move the Seahawks made was re-signing quarterback Trent Dilfer. Seattle's commitment to Dilfer means that the Matt Hasselbeck era is over at least for the near future, which is good news in terms of wins and losses. Nobody will ever accuse Dilfer of being pretty, but the fact of the matter is that the guy simply wins. He's strung together an amazing 19 straight wins as a starter, including going 4-0 as a starter last season with Seattle. Hasselbeck might still be the quarterback of the future, however, Seattle will win more games in 2002 with Dilfer over center than it would with Hasselbeck.
On the other side of the ball, veteran cornerback Doug Evans was inked to a three-year deal. With Shawn Springs still recovering from a severe hamstring injury, Evans could compete for a starting job. Even if Evans, who had eight interceptions last season, doesn't win a starting job, he will get plenty of work against the pass-happy offenses in the NFC West. Defensive end Brandon Mitchell was signed away from the Patriots. Mitchell, who played defensive end and tackle for the Patriots, had 43 tackles and one sack last season for New England. He's a solid player, however, Seattle shouldn't expect big sack totals. Mitchell has had only six sacks in his five-year NFL career.
For a complete list of all the players Seattle has signed and lost so far this offseason, click here.
| |
SEAHAWKS AT A GLANCE
|
| | 
| Trent Dilfer was 4-0 as a
starter last season. |
|
2001 record: 9-7
Team rank: Defense (20th); Offense (25th)
Seahawks team news |
How they drafted
Seattle didn't have a great draft. First-round choice Jerramy Stevens is a very talented tight end. However, numerous off-field issues make him an extremely risky pick. Add in the fact that Stevens wasn't the player the Seahawks were targeting when they traded down from No. 20 No. 28 and many Seahawks fans were left scratching their heads. Second-round pick Anton Palepoi (No. 54 overall) was also considered a reach. However, word is other teams below the Seahawks in the second round had Palepoi on their radars.
For a complete list of Seattle's draft picks, click here.
Unfinished business
With the recent re-signing of fullback Mack Strong, the Seahawks offseason to-do list is largely finished. One area Seattle will likely look to address is the offensive line. The starting unit is essentially intact, however, a veteran backup or two would be nice. The Seahawks are also still trying to negotiate a long-term deal with offensive tackle Walter Jones, their franchise player.
|
Fantasy Focus
|
|
Despite Trent Dilfer starting only four games last season, WR Darrell Jackson scored five of his eight TDs with Dilfer at quarterback. Most receivers need a couple of seasons to adjust to the West Coast offense, but Jackson has fared well in his first two years with mediocre quarterbacks Jon Kitna and Matt Hasselbeck at the helm, catching 14 touchdowns. The team's clear No. 1 receiver, expect 10 TDs for Jackson this season by playing with his best QB yet in a familiar system. Click here for more fantasy football news.
-- Roger Rotter, Fantasy editor
|
Another player to keep an eye on is defensive tackle John Randle. The 12-year veteran, who recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, will likely miss the rest of Seattle's spring work and could be limited when training camp opens. Seattle expects Randle to be ready when the season opens, but it is a situation that bears watching.
Outlook for 2002
Coming off a 2001 season that saw the Seahawks finish just short of a playoff berth, expectations will be higher in 2002. That means that head coach Mike Holmgren, entering his fourth season as Seattle's coach and general manager, is sitting on the hotseat. Holmgren's grace period in Seattle is over and fans are going to expect more a return on the investment Seattle made. That said, Seattle has enough talent to make the playoffs. Shaun Alexander emerged as one of the NFL's best running backs last season and second-year wide receiver Koren Robinson could step forward in a similar fashion this year. Add in the commitment to Dilfer and 10 wins certainly isn't out of the question.
Peter Lawrence-Riddell is the NFL editor for ESPN.com.
| |
|
