If you had to sum up the offseason for Seattle in one word, that word would be "change". Almost everything about the Seahawks has changed in some form or another since they finished the 2009 campaign a below-average 5-11 team. Coach Carroll, abandoning the sinking ship of USC before all the allegations hit the fan, represents the biggest change in Seattle. Looking to improve his second time around the NFL, he brings rejuvenated vigor to the coaching staff and hope for the fans.
Since arriving in January, Coach Carroll has implemented well over 100 personnel moves designed to shake-up a roster unable to get above the .500 mark since 2007. New players have arrived through trades, the draft, waiver claims, free agent signings and re-signings. Aside from the player movement, a new offensive coordinator has been added and a more aggressive approach is being installed for the defense. Despite all the changes, the core players for Seattle will remain the same on both sides of the ball.
Seattle looked solid, if not spectacular, as they adjusted to their new coach, his philosophy and each other during their opening preseason victory over Tennessee. They still have three preseason games to get the kinks worked out before San Francisco comes to town to open the regular season. With the NFC West wide open for the taking, a victory against the 49ers will vault Seattle into contender status and make the race in the West a three-team battle. Winnable games against Denver and St. Louis early should have this team heading into their bye week at least 2-2, if not 3-1, if they can surprise either San Francisco or San Diego when they journey to Qwest Field.
A fast start will do wonders for a team that has changed so much during the offseason. If they stumble, doubt will set in faster than Seattle cut Lendale White, and without belief in Carroll’s system, this team has no shot to pull itself out of the doldrums of the past few seasons. They will still be better than St. Louis, but being better than the Rams isn’t saying much.
Welcome to the NFL, Mr. Bradford. It’s all fun and games until the Williams Wall smashes into you. The number one overall pick in the 2010 draft, Sam Bradford, finds himself at the center of St. Louis’ rebuilding efforts. Like all former #1 overall picks, he has the potential to steer the Rams away from the disastrous losses they have experienced over the last few seasons, but even an experienced, proven quarterback would have a hard time getting St. Louis to even four wins in 2010. The Rams once again find themselves in the bottom of the NFC barrel. Even Detroit can claim more potential this season than St. Louis, and they went an NFL record 0-for-16 in 2008 and only managed a pair of wins in 2009.
The Vikings buried the Rams in their opening preseason game. Most of the Vikings starters left after the first handful of plays and still the Rams were outgained in yardage, 414-150. Gaining a total of 150 yards in any game, let alone a preseason game, is a recipe for disaster. Add one lost fumble and six sacks to the paltry offense (no interceptions a plus!) and you can easily understand why St. Louis has only managed a 6-42 record over the last three seasons. By comparison, Detroit, including their 0-16 campaign of 2008, has gone 9-39 during the same three year stretch.
I see little changing for St. Louis this season. At best, if Bradford truly emerges as a superstar and follows in the footsteps of the recent rookie success of Sanchez, Ryan and Flacco, the Rams will manage six wins. At worst, they will be lucky to get three wins. Even the other cellar-dwellers on their schedule – Oakland, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Kansas City (the only one of the four making a trip to the Edward Jones Dome) - will prove to be difficult matchups for this downtrodden franchise.
The Rams are rebuilding. Unfortunately, it will be a long and tumultuous road to recovery.
Tomorrow, another Creative Misfortune Fantasy Football preseason matchup...
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