Seattle looks to me to be a team poised to become something new. Last year, and the year before, Seattle was a team with an injured running game trying to pass their way back to the Super Bowl. Now their receivers are not deep and have no real stars who will be healthy at the start of the season. Their defense has gotten healthier, better and added depth. Two veteran running backs add to the mix to improve the running game and ensure that Seattle is not one injury away from being one dimensional. The offensive line seems more together. If I had not watched Holmgren coach for so long, I would be looking for smashmouth, gritty run-oriented game plans from this mix. Assuming the defense all remain healthy, this could be the best defense that I have ever seen Seattle put on the field. That should translate into more offensive time of possession, but with average receivers the ball should stay on the ground much more than it has in three of the last four years.

QB –

QB Matt Hasselbeck remains the face of the franchise, but I would not draft him early in the fantasy draft. He has a drastic lack of support in the receiver ranks and that will contribute to him either handing the ball off more often or having even more passes dropped. I would look for Matt as a backup fantasy QB late in the draft.

RB –

All signs point to RB Julius Jones putting together some monster numbers. This season could be his perfect storm to really bump up his stats into the 20+ TD and 1500 yard range. It all depends on what is happening in camp, but Jones will likely not go high in the first round and should be nabbed late in the first or early second. If you get Jones, then RB TJ Duckett is good insurance in later rounds. If Jones goes down or this team relies heavier than expected on ground control, then Duckett becomes a huge part of the offense. And Seattle has not shown how they will handle goal line offense. Will Duckett be Mr. 1st and Goal and Jones just the guy who gets them there? Either way, after this season most will not even remember who RB Maurice Morris is.

WR –

What in the world is going on here? Coach Holmgren’s final year and no one to catch the ball? WR Bobby Engram continues to sit out and wants more money. I like Engram and want him on the team, but even if he is made happy then he has to deal with more defensive pressure than before. Engram came to Seattle as a 3rd down hands guy. That makes him everyone’s hero. But with WR Deion Branch injured until who knows when, Seattle needs someone who can beat the opponent’s #1 corners. Who here can do that? WR Nate Burleson had his best season in Minnesota and has been little more than a return guy in Seattle. He either cannot or will not be the man here. The rest of the guys have yet to prove themselves anywhere and even 1st round picks at this position are not ready to go up against #1 corners every down. My fantasy recommendation continues to just take any Seattle receiver still on the board with your final fantasy pick. One of these guys has to get some catches, right???

TE –

Welcome to the NFL, TE John Carlson. Carlson should end up being the starter, but he may also be the best receiver on the field which will make it hard for him to perform. None of these guys are ready to play against top corners, so the glaring weakness at receiver and the complicated game plans for tight ends will eliminate them all from fantasy viability.

K –

O Mare, ooo ooo ooo o. PK Olindo Mare is looking like he will force Seattle to pay for their kicker rather than keep the cut rate rookie PK Brandon Coutu. Mare has recovered from injury and looks as good as ever. Coutu remains good long, but inconsistent short and mid range. Unless Coutu improves dramatically, this job is Mare’s. The other side of this is that without a solid passing game, more drives should be stalled within field goal range. Mare could make a fantasy owner very happy and should be available in late fantasy rounds.

D –

So here’s the deal. Seattle basically got 2 first round defensive lineman in DT Red Bryant and DE Lawrence Jackson. Also this year is a do or die year for former 1st round DT Marcus Tubbs. I like Tubbs, but he had trouble performing the first year while his mom was dying, then has been injured over and over. Now he will be healthy and needs to do it or go home. Assuming DT Rocky Bernard can quit doing Jeremy Stevens impressions, DUI that is, then this line can be the best and deepest that I have ever seen. The linebackers remain strong and deep and the safeties and corners seem better than last year when I thought they were quite good. This defense could really show up. That is good for team based fantasy owners, but for individual defensive players it will be harder to draft. Imagine if Tubbs, Bryant and Jackson all come in like 1st round guys. All the dynamics change. Jackson may be in coverage instead of LB Julian Peterson. LB Lofa Tatupu could get half the tackle opportunities. Increased sacks could limit interceptions and defended passes stats. Be careful drafting these guys, but definitely pick up someone. Seattle’s D is looks like they are ready for bear.