Prior to last year's Super Bowl playoff run, the young sullen balding handy man with black eyes dismissed Seattle's chances by saying, "We have a quarterback who is so short he can't see over his own linemen." This is something that is just not uttered in Seattle where Russell Wilson is a holy figure, an avatar of positive thinking who transformed the Seahawks into world champions.
Though the balding, black-eyed young handy man proved to be wrong about Seattle's playoff chances, there is some truth to what he said. Russell Wilson, shorter than even Drew Brees, has trouble seeing down the field when he is lined up behind center. Defenses that have success against the Seahawks load the box with eight men and play man-to-man coverage; they'll blitz frequently, daring Russell Wilson to beat them.
This is the way Denver played in the Super Bowl, and Russell Wilson beat them. Well, the Seattle defense beat the Broncos. But Russell Wilson played well connecting with Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse; his passing was of critical importance because Denver was concentrating all its effort on shutting down Marshawn Lynch.
The idea going into this year was that any erosion in the league-leading Seattle defense could be compensated by an increase in the passing potency of the offense. Percy Harvin fully restored to health and lined up in an array of formations was going to be the calling card of a supercharged pass-happy attack. If Red Bryant has taken his D-line anchoring physical dominance and his leadership skills to Jacksonville, not to worry. A West Coast offense for the 21st Century will score so many points even if the defense turns out to be truly mediocre the Seahawks will still have no trouble beating any team they end up matched against in the NFC Championship Game.
After NFL Week Seven it is apparent that Seattle is dealing with the worst-case scenario. Harvin, dealt to the Jets for a conditional draft pick, is gone, as are hopes for a high-powered offense that can mechanically put up 35 points a game, while the once historic defense is clearly -- no bullshit here -- mediocre. Seattle generates no pass rush; besides Richard Sherman, it has no lock-down defensive backs; and without Bobby Wagner, who has turf toe, it has no run-stopping middle linebacker. The entire vibe of the defense radiates lethargy and a fallen state. Earl Thomas looks nothing like his former self; it's like he has the flu. Kam Chancellor is obviously still not 100% from his off-season hip surgery. Byron Maxwell who played so well last season looked entirely beatable prior to his injury.
Can Seattle turn it around?
It is possible but highly unlikely. The offense got on track in the second half in St. Louis, but that was because the Rams defense got tuckered out chasing Russell Wilson around. A better-conditioned team would not have broken down so badly. The Seahawks need to keep a lot of motion formations; they need to bring back the read-option play.
The Panthers are a wounded team, a good opponent for a similarly disappointing Seahawks. It is a coin toss as to who wins.
