Super Bowl XLIX: Seahawks Deflated

As the NFL season comes to an end the Seahawks are looking to bounce back after a tough loss on a bad call to end Super Bowl XLIX. They proved that the lack of a big receiver and the lack of a good nickel corner can lead to bad things. The loss of Jeremy Lane and Cliff Avril during the game was instrumental. The Seahawks pass D relied too heavily on Tharold Simon who got burned time after time, and the pass rush was clearly not as effective with Avril out.


Before I go onto analyzing the off season let me just say that I agree with the rest of the world on the bad call to end the super bowl. With a timeout, the best RB in the league, and the ball on the 1 yard line you would automatically assume run. Since the Patriots stacked the box it would've made most sense to do a read option or play action roll out, which gives Wilson the option to run it or throw it. If the Pats can stop Lynch/Wilson 3 plays in a row then they clearly deserved to win but losing on a bad route call is just unacceptable. To expect a converted track star with 18 career receptions to run a route he never runs is ridiculous. Baldwin is Seattle's best receiver and best slant runner, so if anyone is going to have a chance at a game winning catch, it's him. With that said I think we can all agree that Darrell Bevell's career is in jeopardy. Not only did he make the world's worst call to end the super bowl, but his offense has struggled mightily under his tutelage. As everyone knows, the Seahawks always struggle on offense in the first quarter. This is because that quarter is mainly scripted by Bevell. It's always been clear to me that he cannot pre-plan for a game very well as the offensive numbers in the first quarter the last 2 years have proven. Seattle has mainly relied on Beast Mode, the read option, and play action passes for most of their offense. I also realized how bad Bevell was when the only plays he would call with Percy Harvin were sweep plays. While Harvin is fast and can run these, I would've loved to see more deep routes with Percy. Look for Seattle to replace Bevell this offseason if they want any chance of winning Super Bowl L.


Now to the offseason. Seattle has some free agents coming up in James Carpenter, Byron Maxwell, Ricardo Lockette, Jermaine Kearse, Malcolm Smith, and O'Brien Schofield.
Additionally, big name players like Marshawn Lynch, Bobby Wagner, and Russell Wilson are all on their last year of their current contracts. All 3 of these players will be demanding huge contracts and they deserve them. I expect Seattle to be sneaky with Lynch, Wagner, and Wilson. The team is built around these 3 so I expect Seattle to spread each player's contract so that larger salary cap hits coming in different years for each player.
My prediction is that Seattle cannot afford to keep Maxwell. He will be highly sought after around the league. Unfortunately, Maxwell's replacement is Tharold Simon, who gets targeted and burned time after time in big situations. I really hope that Seattle can keep Maxwell over Simon, but if they lose Maxwell then I expect them to draft or trade for a solid starting CB.
Most likely Seattle will sign Wilson to a huge $20M/yr contract extension. Additionally, Wagner will be one of the highest paid linebackers in the league. Lynch will get a fairly good contract extension offer from Seattle, but nobody knows his intentions after this season. At the start several people thought Lynch would be done, but he still has a year left on his current contract, so unless he retires, I expect to see him back for one more season.
Expect Seattle to not offer big deals to Lockette or Kearse. Both players are mediocre at best and Seattle can be just as effective with Norwood, Richardson, and/or Matthews. I also expect Seattle to draft or trade for a WR who is a big down field threat. That has always been the missing ingredient in the offense and I am sure John Schneider knows this.
It is anyone's guess if Seattle chooses to keep Carpenter and Schofield. Both players have had their ups and downs all season. Carpenter is very injury prone which leads me to suspect he could be replaced in the draft. Additionally, Alvin Bailey did a fine job filling in for Carpenter this season.


Predictions for next season. The NFL will be an interesting league next year. The Seahawks will have a very tough schedule as they must play the NFC West twice each, and they must face 8 playoff teams from this season. While the 49ers just lost their best coach ever, their defense will still be spectacular. They will get all their injured players back and should be one of the top10 defenses in the NFL. Also, the Cardinals and Rams will have stellar defenses and will each get their starting QB's back. Expect the NFC West to be up for grabs by the end of the season, just as it was this last season.
I expect to see the Seahawks, Cardinals, Falcons, Eagles, Packers, and Lions in the NFC playoffs. In the AFC playoffs I expect to see the Patriots, Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, Colts, and Broncos.
The teams on the cusp of playoffs next season are the Cowboys, Panthers, Saints, 49ers, Bills, Chiefs, Chargers, and Texans.