3 Questions that could define the Seahawks' 2023 season
The Seahawks set their 53-man roster this week as Seattle looks to build on last season’s return to the playoffs. Seattle’s roster will evolve as the season progresses and, though the Seahawks have settled on the squad that will carry the burden of heightened pressure on their shoulders, plenty of questions remain for Pete Carroll’s […]
The Seahawks set their 53-man roster this week as Seattle looks to build on last season’s return to the playoffs.
Seattle’s roster will evolve as the season progresses and, though the Seahawks have settled on the squad that will carry the burden of heightened pressure on their shoulders, plenty of questions remain for Pete Carroll’s team.
Much of the focus will be on quarterback Geno Smith and his ability to maintain his momentum from last year’s Comeback Player of the Year season.
Yet there are also more granular questions that could have just as big of a bearing on the Seahawks’ hopes for 2023 success.
Will the youth movement prosper?
The Seahawks kept all 10 of their 2023 draft picks and two rookie undrafted free agents on the roster before then claiming the Ravens' fifth-round selection, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, off waivers.
Seattle’s most famous era of success came under Carroll with a host of young players from excellent draft classes.
In addition to the rookies, Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas, Kenneth Walker III, Boye Mafe, Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant will all have prominent roles to play in their second year in the league.
The old adage is there is no substitute for experience, but Carroll has no problem backing a players with little of it to prosper for a team with high expectations.
Said Carroll:
“It’s interesting because we feel new. There is a newness about us. You can feel it and it’s been maybe part of the excitement all along. The guys are really jacked about being apart of the program and being here. It makes me think of leadership that the other guys have been around and how they’ve given those guys a chance by having really good direction and security that we can play with younger guys. We had pretty good success when we were a young team, so I’m okay with all that.”
How will the revamped front fare?
A weakness Seattle must turn into a strength if this young Seahawks team is to have a hope of replicating the success of the ‘Legion of Boom’ era is the defensive front.
Seattle overhauled its three-man defensive line in the offseason, signing Dre’Mont Jones, Jarran Reed and Mario Edwards Jr. The Seahawks also drafted another pass-rushing outside linebacker to boost their edge depth in second-round pick Derick Hall.
The dual aim of those acquisitions was to vastly improve a Seahawks run defense that ranked 25th in Expected Points Added per attempt last season, per Sports Info Solutions, and bolster a pass rush that was 21st in pressure rate in 2022.
In preseason, the signs in terms of run defense were good, the Seahawks allowing the seventh-fewest yards per play (3.52) in the NFL.
But there are reasons for doubt. Behind the starters on the defensive line, Seattle’s depth is lacking, with rookies Mike Morris and Cameron Young likely to be thrown into the fray if there are injuries to the veteran trio up front.
On the edge, Darrell Taylor – the man anticipated to provide the most support to Seattle’s most disruptive pass rusher, Uchenna Nwosu – has dealt with a shoulder injury for much of camp.
The hope is a much stronger run defense will naturally create more opportunities for the pass rush, but that ambition largely rests on the durability of three free agent acquisitions or, failing that, the ability of a pair of day-three rookies to help fill the void.
What will the back seven look like?
Arguably the Seahawks’ biggest strength is the level of depth they have amassed in the secondary.
Seattle’s defensive backfield is blessed with several versatile chess pieces at the cornerback and safety positions.
Tariq Woolen is established as a premier starting corner on the outside and Quandre Diggs is locked in at free safety but many of the other parts are interchangeable.
Fifth overall pick Devon Witherspoon has inside-out versatility while last year’s starting nickel Bryant spent much of training camp and preseason at safety.
Free-agent signing Julian Love can play free safety, in the box, the slot and as an outside corner, and Jamal Adams – now recovered from a torn quad – excels rolled down from the safety position as an additional pass rusher.
All these options give Seattle substantial potential for disguise, and the prospect of the Seahawks frequently playing with six defensive backs is one that has been raised in the lead up to the season.
Though the Seahawks are hopeful an inside linebacker partnership between Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks is one on which they can depend, six-defensive back packages could theoretically minimize Seattle’s weakness at that spot and prevent them being as regularly victimized by throws over the middle of the field and play-action.
With so much potential for rotation in the back seven, Seattle’s deep and versatile defensive backfield must consistently be on the same page. It may spell disaster if it isn't, but the variety of defensive looks the Seahawks could have at their disposal in 2023 is one of the most fascinating aspects of their upcoming campaign.
Ravens help Seahawks get Pete Carroll an early birthday present
The Seattle coach will be very appreciative.
Featured Image Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
