“Their offensive line is terrible.”
“They can’t run the football.”
“They invested too much money in the quarterback.”
“What’s wrong with the defense? Remember how good our defense used to be?”
Sound familiar?
If you’ve been anywhere in Vikings country this fall you’ve seen, heard, and perhaps even made comments strikingly similar to those above, but in this case, I'm not taking about the Vikings. Instead, the topic of discussion is the Vikings Monday night opponent, the Seattle Seahawks.
In fact, as recently as the Sports Illustrated double issue of September 24-October-1 there was a feature article on the Seahawks called “The Dynasty That Never Was.” It was all about how the Seahawks built a team to rule the NFL, then let preferential treatment and internal squabbles cause the would-be empire to crumble long before its time.
The premise of the article is that the Seahawks were built around defense but gave preferential treatment to star quarterback Russell Wilson, which fostered bad blood among their defensive stars. Many of those have either since been injured, traded or allowed to leave via free agency.
Besides Wilson, the two people blamed for the Seahawks supposed-demise are General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Pete Carroll, with the conclusion being the Seahawks had it all... only to mismanage the team and let a promising future slip away.
Not so fast.
Pete Carroll arrived in the Emerald City in 2010, while Russell Wilson showed up in 2012. During that time period Seahawks GM Schneider had been amassing defensive talent that would collectively become known as “the Legion of Boom”. While the charismatic Carroll earned more than his fair share of publicity and Wilson brought he level of play at quarterback to a Pro Bowl level, the identity of the team was shared between the hard-running, mercurial Marshawn Lynch (aka “Beast Mode”) and the collective “Legion of Boom”.
The Seahawks hit peak in Super Bowl XLVIII when they thoroughly embarrassed an aging Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos 43-8. The next year brought a Seattle return trip to the Super Bowl, but in the game’s final seconds (with the Seahawks just a yard away from a second consecutive victory) Carroll opted to have Wilson throw the ball instead of hand it to Lynch. Wilson’s pass was intercepted by New England’s Malcolm Butler, the Seahawks lost in dramatic fashion, and the questioning of both Carroll and Wilson immediately began.
2015 saw Seattle slip to 10-6, but they made the playoffs and turned in a nail-biting 10-9 Wild Card win over the Vikings at frigid TCF Bank Stadium when Blair Walsh missed a chip-shot potentially game-winning field goal in the game’s final seconds.
2016 produced a 10-5-1 record and another wildcard appearance, but 2017 saw Seattle slip to 9-7, leaving the Seahawks out of the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The dismantling of the “would-be” dynasty would soon commence.
After the season the Seahawks released All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman and fellow corner Jeremy Lane. They traded Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett and refused to meet the salary demands of All-Pro safety Earl Thomas. Defensive stalwarts Cliff Avril and Cam Chancellor were forced to retire due to neck and spine injuries, while the team allowed cornerback DeShawn Shead and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson to depart via free-agency. Yes, THAT Sheldon Richardson (see Vikings roster).
Seattle kicked off the 2018 regular season with just five players left over from their last Super Bowl team, and just 11 who were on the roster just two years earlier. Predictions for the season were dire at best, and when the Seahawks started the season at 0-2 calls started for both Carroll and Schneider to lose their jobs.
In truth, Schneider had been doing more than just letting players go..., he was re-stocking Seattle roster with younger, less expensive players while recasting the Seahawks image.
Seattle, which started the season 0-2, has since led the NFL in rushing, averaging more than 164-yard per-game. The offense (which still revolves around Wilson) runs on more than 54 percent of their plays, with 18 percent of those carries averaging more than 10-yards.
The Seahawks offensive line, which will be missing mammoth guard D. J. Fluker (lost to a sprained ankle against the 49ers), has become a strength, allowing Wilson to operate with lethal efficiency. Consider that in last week’s win over San Francisco Wilson threw the ball just 17-times for 187-yards. Yet four of those completions (nearly 25 percent!) went for touchdowns, including three in the first half as the Seahawks were building an insurmountable lead.
As for defense, the Seahawks still have linebacker Bobby Wagner as a holdover from the “Legion of Boom.” Wagner is the reigning NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the 49ers, a game in which he forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, sacked the quarterback, recorded 12 tackles (2 for loss), 2 quarterback hits, defended 2 passes and returned an interception 98-yards for a touchdown. Seriously... in ONE game.
Excluding Wagner, the Seahawks retooled defense (while lacking the big names and big plays of the departed ‘Boomers’) still ranks in the top-10 in 3rd down efficiency.
Bottom line?
While the Vikings are struggling to find themselves and reach the playoffs, the Seahawks (after stumbling out of the gates) appear to be peaking at just the right... or in the eyes of the Purple, the wrong time.
After that already-mentioned 0-2 start, the Seahawks are getting better and better every week. They’ve won 7 of their last 10, including the last 3 straight. Of their three losses, two came against the 11-1 L.A. Rams... by a combined total of 7 points. The other L came at the hands of the 9-3 L.A. Chargers by just 8 points.
A team with a dominant offensive line that runs first, yet revolves around an efficient quarterback? A team that still emphasizes defense but without ego or attitude? It’s more than just a problem for the Vikings on Monday night, it’s also a potential window to the future for Minnesota's football club.
One more reason to hate green…
As if Viking fans needed any more reason to hate the color green, the Seahawks may be providing that ammunition, Monday night.
For just the third time in franchise history the Seahawks are going to wear their 'Action Green' alternate uniform for Monday night's showdown with the purple gang.
Seattle debuted the uniforms two years ago for the NFL’s Color Rush campaign and have worn them each season since.
If you’re wondering what Action Green looks like, picture human highlighters playing football and you’re pretty much there. But before you go dismissing the impact of the neon football outfits, at least one Seahawk says the alternative uniforms do give the home team yet another advantage.
“We’re a different team. We’re a different animal” says wide receiver Doug Baldwin. “When you put on these colors you represent the Seattle Seahawks and that means something. It’s a little different than what anybody else can understand, but when you put on these colors you understand it when you’re out on the field.”
OK.
Don't doubt Doug... the Seahawks are 2-0 when wearing them, and Monday’s game marks the first time they’ll be donning the neon against a non-NFC West opponent so they obviously mean something to the Seahawks.
Just sayin…