One of the most intriguing teams in my mind right now is the Seattle Seahawks.
I watched the Seahawks get a big win, and an uncharacteristic win, on the road last week in Chicago. The team is an interesting storyline right now, especially in terms of how one player — Marshawn Lynch – can make such a big difference.
I really think the addition of Lynch clearly puts Seattle on the path right now in the very mediocre NFC West. Matt Hasselbeck may be the best quarterback in the division, and they’ve found a big receiver in Mike Williams (who had a career-high 10 receptions against the Bears), but the addition of Lynch gives them a big back between the tackles to play alongside the explosive Justin Forsett.
I give the Seahawks a great deal of credit for isolating Lynch and realizing they could get him for a pretty good price, and knowing just what a huge difference it would make on their team. There had been limited interest in Lynch because of some of his history, but he’s an intriguing young man.
Adding Lynch was just what the Seahawks needed offensively, and it really gives them one of the more balanced offenses in the league to go along with a defense that’s playing well right now.
One piece of that balance is the offensive line, and I have to note how impressed I was with rookie LT Russell Okung. The Seahawks did some things to help on Julius Peppers, but more than a handful of times Okung was matched-up one on one, and Peppers didn’t get a sniff. Peppers is playing well, so I credit most of this to Okung.
The Seahawks had played Okung, who missed the first three games with an ankle injury, only sparingly the previous week against the Rams, specifically so that his first game wasn’t on the road against Peppers. He only had about 10 days of practice before the Seahawks felt confident in him facing Peppers.
Things are very interesting in Seattle.
– Brian Billick
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