The Top 10 Seahawks In 2011

I’m aware that there is one week left in the season. But honestly, who wants to talk about the 49er game right now? Too much salt in the wound for me… So instead, I’m starting my yearly recap blogs a week early. Below is a very imperfect list for my choice of the top Seahawks in 2011. Enjoy and argue.

10. KJ Wright: Does anyone else remember all those big pass plays Seattle gave up underneath the safeties last season? I sure do. The fact of the matter was that Lofa Tatupu’s knees had ruined him, and Aaron Curry never had the football instincts expected of the 4th overall pick. KJ Wright made such a good impression on the coaches that Seattle was able to release both of those linebackers by early season. This completely changed the dynamics of Seattle’s defensive style. KJ Wright is an athletic freak of nature. He has blazing speed from sideline to sideline, sound tackling, and is a mammoth 6’4″ at the outside LB position. His length, speed, and athleticism helped Seattle generate tunovers all season long. KJ is a 4th round pick who supplanted a 1st and a 2nd rounder as a starter. Aside from the respect he has garnished, think of all the salary cap room he saved Seattle for next season.

9. Tom Cable: I cannot say enough about how awesome it is to finally have a running game again. Seattle’s offensive line, decimated by injuries, has proven to be as tough-nosed as they come. Seattle’s opening day starting line featured 3 first round picks, a 2nd, and a 3rd. Tom Cable turned this talented unit into an angry, mauling machine by mid-season. Then when 3 starters went down, Cable revamped the line and made 3 young journeymen look like quality NFL starters in McQuistan, Giacomini, and Jeanpierre. Tom Cable’s style and technique completely changed their identity on offense. And Seattle will no longer be labeled “soft.”

8. Tarvaris Jackson: I’m really protective over Tarvaris Jackson. I had as many doubts as anyone when Seattle brought him in. But looking back, I’m sure glad Seattle didn’t spend the picks to get Carson Palmer or Kevin Kolb. It was time to move on from Hasselbeck. And has any rookie QB that Seattle had a chance at drafting been a homerun? No. Andy Dalton fans go home. T-Jack is a very affordable interim starter that has earned the respect of the team. He still holds the ball too long, and his fumble against the 49ers sealed Seattle’s fate, but who cares? We have gotten more out of him than we could have from any other option available to us last year at less cost. Furthermore, playing through a partially torn pectoral muscle all year earned him massive respect in the locker room and brought the team together.

7. Doug Baldwin: This undrafted rookie free agent from Stanford is going to finish the season as the team’s leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TD’s. I quietly wept to myself when Brandon Stokley was not resigned last year, but that’s why John Schneider is in charge, and not me. Doug Baldwin looks to be a cornerstone in the slot position for many years as a Seahawk.

6. Chris Clemons: If Seattle’s defense had one weakness it would be consistently rushing the passer. But don’t tell that to Chris Clemons. The Eagles’ sendoff had another career year, with 11 sacks and constant QB harassment lawsuits. Just imagine how nasty the defense would be if Seattle invested their first overall pick for a pass-rushing specialist opposite Clemons on passing downs next year (*Homer Simpson’s Drool sound).

5. Jon Ryan / Steven Hauschka: For a team that plays tough defense and conservative offense, the kicking game cannot be understated. Ryan, who has a chance to make the pro-bowl, has been able to pin the opponents deep in their own territory all year. This puts the defense in an ideal position to pin their ears back and load up against the opposition. Meanwhile, Hauschka has made 23 of 27 FG’s and has consistently forced touchbacks and low-quality returns on kickoffs. These two are paramount to playing the style of football Seattle wants.

4. Red Bryant: This is what we get from a full season’s worth of Big Red Bryant. Bryant has missed roughly half the season each of the past 3 years. Now we know what he can do. After moving to the run-stufffing DE position last year, he has truly blossomed. Seattle ranks 5th in rush yards per attempt, largely because of Bryant. This year he had 4 blocked kicks, 2 interceptions, 1 TD, 1 sack, and 26 tackles. But stats aside, I cannot oversell the importance of his attitude to the defense. Jacob Green’s son-in-law Red Bryant brings a fierceness to the defensive line that Seahawk fans haven’t seen since Cortez Kennedy. Much like Kendrick Perkins was to the Celtics, Red Bryant’s true value comes from his emotion and his aggressiveness. Above any other free agent the Seahawks have, this man needs to be given the number one priority.

3. The Secondary: I only had 10 spots on this list, and the secondary would have accounted for 2/5 of it had I not grouped them together. We all know who Earl Thomas is: a highly-touted, first-rounder from Texas with amazing speed, range, and play-making abilities. But before this year, who would have ever thought that Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, and Kam Chancellor could be such ball-hawking studs? At 6’4″, 6’3″, and 6’3″ respectively, Seattle’s giant secondary has transformed their biggest weakness from a year ago, into their biggest strength. Their 21 interceptions ranks 2nd in the league behind only Green Bay. But the most impressive factor is their draft pedigree (or lack thereof). A Canadian football leaguer, and two 5th round picks comprise this trio of gargantuan play-makers. I’ve watched Seattle waste 1st and 2nd round picks on DB’s half as talented (Kelly Jennings, Ken Hamlin, Michael Boulware). Anyway, I could write an entire article on how impressive this secondary has been, but I’ll close with also giving kudos to the reserves. Atari Bigby, Walter Thurmond, and Roy Lewis were all solid contributors when healthy as well.

2. Marshawn Lynch: Beast Mode. Earthquakes. Bruiser. Never give up. Skittles. These are all synonymous with Seattle’s first 1000 yard back since Shaun Alexander in ’05. Aside from scoring 13 TD’s and accounting for over 1300 total yards with 1 game left to play, Lynch has utilized Tom Cable’s scheme to stamp the Seahawks’ offense with an identity. His identity. Ram-it-down-your-throat, stiff-arming, arm-tackle-breaking, power. And realistically, who would have ever thought the Seahawks could be a team like that 2 years ago? I know that Shaun Alexander tanked after getting his big contract, but Lynch is nothing like Alexander, and is 3 years younger than Alexander was at the time of his extension. So please, pay the man, Shirley.

1. John Schneider: Let’s try and remember the general expectations for Seattle heading into 2010. The team had gone 9-23 the previous two years. GM John Schneider architected a competitive team while simultaneously overhauling the entire roster for 2 straight years. The only player who was a major contributor this year, that was also a major contributor in the Ruskell era, is Leroy Hill. And who in the world saw that coming? Sparing you an article where I breakdown ever minor move that paid off, which you can read here. Schneider has built a team Seattle can be proud of: a tough team with limitless potential that is already earning respect from the NFL’s brass. I cannot wait to see what he does in the draft this year.

Again this was an imperfect list. I tried to use both quantitative and qualitative data. I also considered draft picks used, style, and intangibles. Honorable mentions to Leroy Hill, Alan Branch, and Michael Robinson.