We’re exactly 100 days away from Seattle’s first game of the 2016-17 regular season, and with offseason activities already underway, it’s time to look at what to watch for as we grind our way through the summer months and toward the shining light that is football season. Here are key dates to watch for, more than a few roster changes, and some notes on several key players the Seahawks and their fans will be very glad to have back in uniform this season.
2015 finish: 10-6, 2nd NFC West, lost in divisional round (Carolina)
Offseason calendar:
OTA workouts – June 3, 6-7, 9
Mandatory Minicamp – June 14-16
Training camp July 25 – August 12
68 days until first preseason game
100 days until first regular season game
Preseason calendar:
August 13th game against Kansas City (away)
August 18th – game against Minnesota (home)
August 25th – game against Dallas (home)
September 1st – game against Oakland (away)
Key additions:
QB Trevone Boykin (TCU)
RB CJ Prosise (Notre Dame), Alex Collins (Arkansas), Zac Brooks (Clemson)
WR Kenny Lawler (Cal)
OL Germain Ifedi (Texas A&M), Rees Odhiambo (Boise State), Joey Hunt (TCU), Bradley Sowell (Cardinals), J’Marcus Webb (Raiders)
DL Jarran Reed (Alabama), Quinton Jefferson (Maryland), Chris Clemons (Jaguars)
CB Brandon Browner (Saints)
Key losses:
QB Tarvaris Jackson (FA)
RB Marshawn Lynch (retired)
RB Fred Jackson (FA)
WR Ricardo Lockette (retired)
OL Russell Okung (Broncos), JR Sweezy (Bucs), Alvin Bailey (Browns), Drew Nowak (waived)
DL Brandon Mebane (Chargers)
LB Bruce Irvin (Raiders)
Key returning players:
TE Jimmy Graham –
After struggling through many weeks to develop a strong rapport with one another, Graham and QB Russell Wilson were finally on the same page in their week 12 game at home against Pittsburgh. Early in the 4th quarter while trailing 21-20, Wilson had a first down from the Pittsburgh 24 yard line and tossed a deep fade to Graham in the right corner of the end zone, despite Graham facing double coverage. Graham fell awkwardly while adjusting to try and catch the pass, while being pushed by one of the defenders. Graham stayed on the ground clutching his right leg, and the next day a MRI confirmed that he had torn his right patella tendon and he was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Assuming Graham can pick up where he left off, he will be one of the most deadly weapons in the passing game in the entire league and will give Wilson a red-zone target that perhaps no one other than Tom Brady has.
RB Thomas Rawls
In Seattle’s week 14 game at Baltimore, Rawls continued his stellar rookie season by carving the Ravens for 44 yards on 6 carries in the Seahawks’ first drive of the game. Facing 2nd and 1 from the Baltimore 5 yard line with 5:55 remaining in the 1st quarter, Rawls took the handoff from Wilson and was tackled behind the line of scrimmage. Rawls stayed on the ground and the trainers were called to look at him on the field. He was able to get up and walk off the field under his own power, but he did not return to the game and it was confirmed that he had broken his left ankle and was lost for the remainder of the season. With Lynch’s pending retirement, Rawls is expected to lead the ground attack going forward and proved in 2015 that he is more than capable of being Wilson’s backfield mate of the future.
WR Jermaine Kearse
Kearse made headlines when he opted to test the free agent market this spring, vowing not to offer Seattle a “home-town discount”. Kearse has been a key member of the offense since 2012 and has “grown up” in Seattle’s system alongside Wilson and WR Doug Baldwin. Kearse has good speed and hands and is a reliable go-to target for Wilson in must-have plays. With Ricardo Lockette retiring for medical reasons Seattle is low on experienced wideouts so getting a solid player and a great teammate back in Kearse is vital to this offense as they continue to move toward a balanced attack.
CB Jeremy Lane
After dealing with injuries to their secondary in 2014, along with last year’s Cary Williams disaster (following Byron Maxwell’s departure), Seattle now has a solid group of corners to play alongside all-pro cover corner Richard Sherman. Both Lane and DeShawn Shead proved their worth last year and that they were capable of holding down the left side of the offense. Both decided to return to Seattle, and that will bode very well for the Legion of Boom. The return of Brandon Browner and a healthy Earl Thomas will make this a secondary to fear once again.
RB Christine Michael
Rawls should be the starter going in to the season, but having Michael re-signed is good move. Michael isn’t a slasher or a bulldozer, but he is a quality change of pace back and a reliable option if the starter is hurt. While he has not shown he can handle the full workload, he’s a great asset in a reserve role and he knows the offense well. With many changes on the offensive line, and Lynch’s assumed retirement, having another veteran who really knows the offense will help the younger players a lot.
Regular season key dates:
Week 1 against Miami –First home game
Week 2 at LA – First divisional game
Week 3 against San Francisco – First divisional home game
Week 5 – Bye week
Week 7 at Arizona – First game against last year’s division winner
Week 10 at New England – First time facing Patriots since Super Bowl XLIX
Week 13 against Carolina – Rematch of divisional round loss
Week 14 at Green Bay – Round 5 of Wilson-Rodgers rivalry (Wilson holds 3-1 lead)
Week 16 against Arizona – Last home game of regular season
Week 17 at San Francisco – Final division game and regular season finale
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