Offseason Outlook 2015: Seattle Seahawks

Offense

THE SEAHAWKS GOT JIMMY GRAHAM! THE SEAHAWKS GOT JIMMY GRAHAM! I know. Probably the most talked about thing this offseason apart from Chip Kelly doing his crazy thing out in Philly. Jimmy Graham is a huge threat to a Seahawks team that doesn't really have a red zone receiving option for Russell Wilson. Don't expect Graham to have the same numbers he did with New Orleans, because he is entering the least productive passing offense in the NFL, but he could end up having a bigger impact on his new team. Even though it's completely obvious and this is very basic analysis, getting the second best tight end in the NFL is huge for a team with few established threats in the passing game. At quarterback, the Seahawks have one of the brightest young stars in football with Russell Wilson. He is easily a top 10 QB in the NFL, and there is an argument to be made that he should be in the top 5. He is mobile, has incredible skills when the pocket breaks down, makes good decisions, and has one of the best pure arms in the NFL too. Unfortunately, there was some regression in 2014 with Wilson (he regressed as a passer), but if he bounces back and improves on his 2013 Super Bowl winning season, then this kid will easily be a top 5 QB. Either way the Seahawks should be handing him a hefty contract soon if they are smart. In the backfield, Seattle has one of the most entertaining, and one of the best running backs in football. Marshawn Lynch is outstanding. As much as Russell Wilson is the star and face of this team, I would say that this offense relies on Marshawn Lynch just as much as Wilson, if not more so. Lynch is the classic power back, and about once a year he runs for one of the craziest 60 yard "bust through the entire team" runs. It's not just about one run with him, he is so consistent and even though defenses stack the box he can break off a touchdown at any time. Literally any time. Watch the two crazy runs he had against the Saints and Cardinals. This offense works so perfectly with Lynch and Wilson too because they help each other so much. This team had 25 rushing yards per game more than the next highest in the NFL, because Wilson and Lynch are terrific off of read option plays, and they both spread out the field for one another. At wide receiver, the Seahawks look better than they have in recent years. I think Tyler Lockett will have a huge impact on this team right out of the gate. He is explosive, has versatility, and is just a flat out playmaker. Russell Wilson will love him, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him lead Seattle in receptions next season. They also have Doug Baldwin who just goes about his business being a very good wide receiver for a run first team. As added depth, they have Ricardo Lockette, Paul Richardson, Super Bowl breakout player Chris Matthews and Jermaine Kearse. In my opinion, I don't think any of those players will be consistent players for them, I'm sure all of them will have a big game or two, but Baldwin and Lockett are going to be the receivers to watch on a consistent basis. Past the skill position players is where I have a problem with this offense. I don't like this offensive line one bit. They have one good established player, and that is Russell Okung at left tackle. Unfortunately, even he has had some injuries and has struggled to stay healthy. From left guard to right tackle, the Seahawks have Alvin Bailey, Lemuel Jeanpierre, J.R. Sweezy and Justin Britt. All of those players are either unproven, or just not very good. Sweezy and Britt (even though they both had bad seasons last year) could be decent, but that's no guarantee. I feel like this is an issue that a lot of people have been overlooking because of the Jimmy Graham trade. Wilson has the ability to mask a lot of issues on the offensive line, and he's been very healthy thus far into his career, I just worry about him holding up behind this offensive line. Especially having to face the St. Louis Rams defensive front twice this year. I really am expecting more moves to at least add some more depth, because they have very little depth behind these underwhelming starters too. Overall, this offense should still be good. If a team has a good defense, it can really help out an offense by giving them better field position, creating turnovers, etc. This is what Seattle has done over the last couple of years, and I expect them to do it again in 2015. In my opinion, the struggles along the O-line cancel out the additions of Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett, so I'm predicting the Seattle offense to rank similar to where they were last year, which was around 10th in the league. If Seattle does finish around the top ten, then Seahawks fans should be very happy about that because their defense will be elite again and that is more than enough offense to win with.

Defense

Seattle's defense is elite, and is the favourite to have the number 1 ranked defense by the end of 2015. Should I keep going? Well I may as well start with the Legion of Boom. It starts with Richard Sherman. He is the most talkative (trash talk wise) player in the NFL, but he always backs it up on the field. He is the premier cornerback in the National Football League, and he has games where he shuts down one side of the field. Remember the first game of the season when Green Bay didn't pass to the right side of the field? Yeah, good times. Not saying he can't be beat (Odell Beckham Jr. did it), but he is not only the best cornerback, but one of the best players in all of football. While Sherman gets all the publicity, Earl Thomas might be the most important player on this defense. The best safety in all of football, Thomas is just incredible to watch. He has instincts out the wazoo, terrific ball skills, and insane closing speed too. He really is the perfect player to have manning center field for any football team. He also works perfectly in the Seahawks Cover 3 defensive scheme. His running mate Kam Chancellor is the enforcer of this secondary. He's basically a linebacker with the speed and athleticism of a safety. One play that describes him perfectly, (this is purely off memory so bear with me) Seahawks were playing the 49ers, and Kaep threw a ball near the sidelines, a foot away from the end zone too, and Crabtree (I think?) went up and Chancellor hit him. He hit him so hard that the refs threw a penalty flag. It wasn't an illegal hit, or he didn't show any intent to hurt him, he just destroyed him and got penalized for it. Kam isn't perfect, he's definitely no Sean Taylor back there, but he does his job very well in Seattle's scheme. The Seahawks signed Cary Williams to be their second CB to replace Maxwell, and... Well... Maybe he'll be okay? I thought he was very bad with the Eagles. At times he was a liability in coverage, so I'm not really a fan of that signing to replace a very good cornerback in Byron Maxwell. Jeremy Lane will be their slot cornerback, and he's solid. Nothing special or flashy like the rest of the LOB, but he's fairly reliable. Seattle has quietly (I say quietly because all of the attention is on the LOB) put together a deadly front seven. At linebacker, this team has three very good starters. Bobby Wagner is an incredible inside linebacker, I don't think he's elite yet, but if he shows any more development in coverage, he'll be right up there with Kuechly and Bowman. Seattle also has two very good OLB's in K.J. Wright and Bruce Irvin. Wright is a terrific coverage linebacker, and Irvin is more of a pass rushing LB. On the defensive front, this team showcases two very successful free agent signings. Michael Bennett being one of them, is one of the most versatile defensive lineman in football, and he is a terrific pass rusher too. He can move all around the line, and the Seahawks line him up inside a lot of the time as well as outside. Opposite Bennett, Cliff Avril is another very successful free agent signing. He didn't put up ideal sack totals last season, but he was constantly getting pressures on opposing QB's and still managed to have a huge impact in their pass rush. Inside, Brandon Mebane is coming off of an injury riddled 2014 season, and he looks to bounce back to form. He wasn't great last season even when healthy, but he was sensational in 2013, and if he can recapture that form then he will once again be one of the most vital pieces of their defense. Tony McDaniel will play alongside Mebane, and he's decent. He can struggle at times, but he's not a horrible option, especially on a defense with so much talent. This defense has been the best defense in the NFL for 3 straight years and after 2015 it should be 4. They lost their defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and that could hurt them as he was loved by players and clearly a very good coach. They also lost a key piece in Byron Maxwell, and that could hurt them more than they think because their number 2 cornerback can be more easily targeted based off of their scheme. That shouldn't matter in the long run, as this defense exhibits strength across the board. Their D-line is strong, their linebackers are very versatile, and their secondary is almost legendary at this point. This is the defense to beat going into 2015. Every team knows it, now it's just a matter of doing it.

Seattle on paper is a ridiculously good team. They are incredibly strong at every single position group on their team, except for WR (which they are young) and offensive line. I have them as the second best team in the NFL, behind the Green Bay Packers. I still do really think their offensive line is an issue, and until they prove to me they can keep Russell Wilson upright I won't think differently. The Seahawks have been to two consecutive Super Bowls, and are one misplay (run with Marshawn!) away from winning both of them. They are one of the elite franchises in the NFL, and they have a historic defense behind them. Pete Carroll is a terrific coach too, and he should once again have no trouble posting one of the best records in the NFC, and returning to the NFC Championship game once again.

Offseason Outlook 2015: New Orleans Saints

Offense

The Saints were not good last season. There are a lot of people that think last season will start the downfall of Drew Brees too. THIS IS NOT THE END OF DREW BREES PEOPLE! He was a lot better than given credit for last season, and for an entire Saints team that struggled, he was once again their best player. Brees did have a subpar season by his standards, but he is still elite, and until he is actually bad, then I'm not going to count him out. Apart from Brees, the Saints made a lot of changes. The most notable one is the trade of Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks. I might be crazy, okay I'm definitely crazy, but I don't think this was as lopsided of a deal as NFL analysts imply it is. Jimmy Graham is an elite tight end. Is he Gronk level elite? No, but he's the second best tight end in the NFL that's for sure. Still, the Saints upgraded their biggest weakness on offense (center) through the trade, and they got a first round pick too. Max Unger is a good center, and when he's fully healthy he can be a great one. He's going to be in the middle of what figures to be a very good offensive line for New Orleans in 2015. At left tackle, Terron Armstead should be the guy moving forward. He had a solid season, although he needs to be more consistent, and he's a young guy that should grow as a player. At left guard, the Saints first 1st round pick should start there for them Andrus Peat has a future as a good starting tackle in the NFL, but the Saints one hole on their O-line is at left guard and he should have an immediate impact and in fact has high upside at the position. At right guard, Jahri Evans returns for his 10th season with NO, and he has been a staple for them his entire career. He is extremely durable (starting all but two games in his 9 year career), and is as reliable as they come at the position. To round out the O-line, at right tackle the Saints have one of the most underrated offensive lineman in Zach Strief. He is incredibly reliable and was the Saints best offensive lineman last season. This strong offensive line will really help the Saints in changing their strategical approach as a team. By the moves they made this offseason, New Orleans seems to be leaning more towards a run-centric offense to preserve Brees' arm. In the backfield, the Saints resigned last years breakout running back, Mark Ingram. They also signed C.J. Spiller who could prove to be a huge signing. Ingram will probably be the lead back, but adding the change of pace Spiller to the mix brings a huge home run threat to go along with Ingram's hard running style. These two could quietly become a great RB tandem, so watch out. At tight end, the Saints have two players that will be key to their offense in 2015 and for entirely different reasons. First, Benjamin Watson is going to be relied upon to be an impactful blocker at the position. He has been an underrated player for years now, but his blocking has opened up a lot of opportunities in the run game, and passing game, for this Saints team in recent years. The other player the Saints will rely on at tight end in 2015 is Josh Hill. Reports say that New Orleans was willing to part with Jimmy Graham because they really believe in the talent of Hill. He won't be a Jimmy Graham, but if he can be a solid red zone option for Brees and occasionally stretch the seems, then he will be huge for this offense. At wide receiver, the Saints are not as deep as they have been in recent years. Marques Colston is getting older, and apart from Brandin Cooks they don't have a lot of talent at the position. Cooks is awesome though. He had an up and down rookie season, but he could quickly become Drew Brees' safety blanket and most reliable target if he isn't already. This offense put up the highest total yards in 2014, and were top 10 in points per game too. They are not doomed by the loss of Jimmy Graham. This is an improved O-line, and they are changing their philosophy on offense too. With the shift to a more run focused offense, this should cut down on the turnovers, and actually help them score more. I think this offense will be a top 7 offense in the NFL next season, and their new approach will work wonders. Brees will also have a terrific season again, and even though I don't think he will throw for 5,000 yards or 40 touchdowns, he will be more efficient then he has been in recent years.

Defense

This defense has nowhere to go but up in 2015. They were the 5th worst defense in 2014 after a season in which they were the 4th best defense in 2013. Just based off of them not making a lot of roster changes on defense, there is enough talent for them to succeed. On the defensive line, Cameron Jordan leads a young, improving group. Jordan had an up and down year in 2014 after a really strong 2013, so hopefully he can capture his 2013 form again next season. John Jenkins or Brodrick Bunkley will be the starting nose tackle. Both of those players are average starters, but nothing incredible should be expected out of them. Opposite Jordan, Akiem Hicks is entering his fourth season, and he has proven to be a solid player for them. This linebacker group has gone through some change this offseason. The Saints drafted Stephone Anthony at the end of the first round. He should be a solid player straight out of the gate, but I didn't have him as a great ILB, I think he's an above average player at best. He should still be an upgrade over Curtis Lofton though, and they also traded for Dannell Ellerbe to play alongside Anthony. Ellerbe wasn't great last season, but he has talent and a change of scenery could really benefit him. At the edge rusher position, New Orleans has added depth to a group that just had Junior Galette as a good player last season. This offseason, they signed Anthony Spencer to a prove it deal, and if he reaches his ceiling he could be a game changer for them. He's a great pass rusher, and he could take a lot of pressure off of Galette. The Saints also added Hau'oli Kikaha through the draft, and he should be a key cog in their pass rushing rotation next season. In the secondary, this team is coming off of an atrocious year yet they have a lot of talent. They signed Jairus Byrd in the 2014 offseason, but he didn't play a down for them last season because of injury. Byrd will have a huge impact on a defense that is really missing that ball hawking free safety. Beside Byrd, Kenny Vaccaro is coming off of a bad year, but in 2013 he showed a lot of promise and still has a ton of talent. Vaccaro will definitely have to prove himself in 2015, but I believe he can still do that. At cornerback, the Saints signed Brandon Browner to pair with Keenan Lewis. This should be a big physical duo and an upgrade from 2014, although they still aren't an elite pair. This defense should be solid. Chances are it will fall somewhere in the middle of the 2013 and 2014 ranking, which is enough for Saints fans to be excited about. If this defense is league average, then the Saints have a very good chance to compete as their offense will be very good. The added edge rushers will really help this defense alleviate the pressure off of the secondary, and getting Jairus Byrd back from injury is a huge addition to the team. They had a lot of trouble stopping both the pass and the run, and the additions at ILB and OLB should benefit this team in the near future. I expect a middle of the pack finish, although there is more talent than there 2013 roster so a top 5 finish wouldn't be the most shocking thing in the world either.

This Saints team has a lot of questions. They have gone through a lot of changes and are coming off of a bad year. With that being said, if they are a top 3 team in the NFL next season, that would not shock me one bit. There is so much talent and history of this team, with this roster, doing great things. Rob Ryan needs to fix this defense. That should be the first priority, and the draft and free agency have been indicators that the Saints are really trying to do just that. I think the signing of Anthony Spencer could be a very impactful one, and I also think that the change in philosophy on offense is for the best. I still think the Saints are going to go through their fair share of struggles, as is what usually happens when making big philosophical changes to a team. I think they will finish second in the NFC South and have a shot at the wild card, but ultimately miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year.