The Seahawks season is done. What comes next?

Wasn’t a great year overall, but can’t be upset

Matt Baide | Jan 13, 20220

The NFL regular season ended Sunday and the Seahawks are getting ready for another postseason run.

Just kidding! Seattle didn’t have a good season, finishing 7-10, last in the NFC West, and the only team in the division to not make the playoffs.

It has been a weird year for the Seahawks. They started slow, and then Russell Wilson got hurt, and things went downhill from there. Let’s look at why the Seahawks weren’t good this season and what the offseason could look like.

Let’s start with why they weren’t good, and the biggest reason is Wilson. Before the injury, Wilson was playing all right. He wasn’t bad by any means, but he wasn’t playing as well as he usually does, which makes this team a playoff team most years. After the injury, he came back in record time, and that was a mistake. I feel like he wanted to come back as quick as possible to help, but it likely ended up hurting the team. In a physical game such as football, playing while hurt can be done, but playing while recovering from injury isn’t a great idea. The issues with Russ caused the offense to be mediocre and they finished 16 in points per game

On the defensive side, it was also an all right year. With some of the offensive problems, it forced the defense to be on the field a lot, and they performed decently. They finished the season 21 in points per game allowed, but with how much they were on the field, it’s expected they would get tired and give up some points. Jamal Adams was a disappointment this season, but there were some bright spots and the defense improved throughout the season.

One of the more alarming problems was special teams, specifically Jason Myers. Last season, Myers was 24 for 24, including hitting both field goals of 50 yards or more. This season, he was 17 of 23. Of course, being perfect is a tough act to follow, but there were times where Myers missed kicks in critical situations that cost Seattle games, including two misses in a three-point loss to the Saints and one miss in a one-point loss to the Bears.

What does the offseason look like? The team was 7-10 and scored 29 more points than they allowed, so there is talent on this team that finished 12-4 and won the division in 2020, but changes must happen.

I wrote during the middle of the season, I wanted everything to change or nothing to change, because you can’t point to one person and say he is the problem. They all played a part in this down season, and I’m totally cool with returning the core of general manager John Schnieder, head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson. Their successes and failures are tied together with how long they have been together. However, if it doesn’t go well next season, tear it down and start over.

This offseason, they need to address the trenches. That starts with improving the offensive line. The Seahawks have $52.5 million in cap space available this offseason, according to OvertheCap.com and need to spend some of it to protect Wilson.

The defensive line could also use some help and some cap money should be spent there. Defensive end seems more like a need than defensive tackle with Poona Ford and Al Woods playing solid down the stretch at DT.

I think they also need to spend a little bit of money on a running back. Chris Carson’s season ended with a neck injury, and I’m no doctor, but a neck injury does not sound like something you can come back from with a lot of certainty, even for someone as fit as Carson. Rashaad Penny showed flashes down the stretch of the season, and bringing him back would be excellent for the right price.

It wasn’t a great year for the Seahawks, but overall, I can’t be too upset. The Seahawks have made the playoffs eight of the last 10 years, made the Super Bowl twice and won it once. As someone who never thought they would see any teams I root for win a title, I’m satisfied with the organization. Now I can sit back, relax and watch the NFL playoffs without the stress of the Seahawks involved. For more Seahawks takes, check out my podcast, Washington East to West Sports, on YouTube.