Thursday, August 29, 2002 Updated: September 4, 5:43 PM ET
Seattle Seahawks
By
LAST SEASON: 9-7, 2nd in AFC West
PROJECTION: 3rd in NFC West
Mr. Jackson -- he is for real.
STRONG SIDEWR:Darrell Jackson's not exactly a household name. That's a little surprising, considering how often he cracks into some DB's house. Last year, the second-year WR had 7 catches of 40-plus yards among his 70 total for 1,081 yards and 8 TDs (tied for eighth-best in the NFL). Second-year wideout Koren Robinson (39, 536) is over his hammy problem, so figure on Jackson getting better known fast. Veteran Bobby Engram is a solid insurance policy. And if 6'7'', 265-pound rookie TE Jerramy Stevens becomes the deep threat Holmgren thinks he can be, the Seahawks will look like they've been in the NFC West for years.
WEAK SIDEST: Seattle K Rian Lindell was only 62.5% (20 of 32) on FG attempts, missing 6 of 14 from 40-49 yards. He made just 18 of 27 outdoors. Significance? P Jeff Feagles can't boom them anymore, but at least he's still accurate. The return game took a bit of a hit when Charlie Rogers was lost in the expansion draft.
QB:Trent Dilfer's knee injury gives Matt Hasselbeck a chance to redeem himself from a poor start in 2001. But Mike Holmgren needs Dilfer because he's a superb game manager, and he wins. Dilfer's 15-game personal winning streak will end, as will any chance of Seattle getting into the playoffs.
RB:Shaun Alexander's 266 yards against the Raiders in Week 9 marked him as a back to watch. And his 1,318 yards rushing convinced the Seahawks to cut ties with Ricky Watters. But the pouty and fumble-prone Watters logged 10 seasons as a quality back. Do it again, Shaun -- then we'll talk.
OL: The last time the Seahawks started the same O-line for two consecutive seasons? 1987-88. The revolving-door streak continues this season. All-Pro LT Walter Jones is holding out for more money. Both tackles -- rookie Matt Hill and three-year vet Chris McIntosh -- are downgrades.
DL:Chad Eaton and John Randle are solid on run defense. This season DE Lamar King and second-round pick Anton Palepoi need to improve a pass rush (38 sacks) that was 18th in the league. Randle (team-high 11 sacks) missed training camp recovering from knee surgery.
LB:Anthony Simmons is a star in the making, and Chad Brown is a premier defender. But the key to this group is Isaiah Kacyvenski, who moves into Levon Kirkland's slot at MLB. Kacyvenski, a Harvard man, has been a standout on special teams, but the Crimson is not exactly "Linebacker U."
DB: Facing Terrell Owens, David Boston and the Rams twice is not easy. Fortunately, CB Shawn Springs is healthy, and 10-year vet CB Doug Evans can mentor young DBs Ike Charlton and Ken Lucas.
This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.
