Seattle Seahawks: Offense all the rage this preseason

It’s no secret the Seattle Seahawks won last year’s Super Bowl in large part due to a defensive unit who’s season is cemented as one of the best in NFL history. A remarkably vaunted set of defenders in a modern era of increased offense and friendly rules to encourage more scoring.

A 43-8 Super Bowl victory over Denver was evidence defenses are plenty capable of matching up opposite seemingly unstoppable offensive attacks. With 32 NFL teams around and salary cap restrictions galore, winning consecutive Super Bowls hasn’t been accomplished since New England’s early-2000s dynasty.

Pete Carroll’s time in Seattle coach is closely mirroring his success at USC since hewas hired in 2010. He doesn’t need to fret about being jettisoned from his post for using compensated players. Carrollmay be entrenched for a good, long while in the Pacific Northwest. A suddenly unstoppable offense brings it full circle. USC boastedelite talent on both sides of the ball under Carroll.

The Seahawks have outscored Denver, San Diego, and Chicago 65-0 in three combined first halves this preseason. It’s always a mistake to consider preseason results analogous to actual games of importance. Yet, Carroll has to feel at ease knowing his offense has performed exceedingly well. A tone has been established for 2014.

Marshawn Lynch is entering his fifth year in Seattle and he’s exceeded 300 carries the last two seasons. He remains the focal point offensively, but his workload could be lightened a bit with strides from Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. That’s a trio of large, physical backs nobody enjoys bringing down. Michael’s catch-and-run skills only add to a versatile, dynamic backfield.

Understand Seattle wasn’t a pushover as their unit scored 26.1 points per game, good for eighth-best. That withstanding, it was relatively unbalanced. Their 26th ranked pass offense was an issue. Promising results in the 2014 exhibition indicate those flaws are being smoothed over.

Wilson has adapted from college to pro football seamlessly in his first two seasons. Being drafted by an organized and cohesive franchise with amicable relationships in the front office and coaching staff put him in a good atmosphere to have immediate success. Now he’s anticipated to ratchet his game further.

A contributing factor (as it the case for all teams) is health. Wilson is intelligent and possesses characteristics that imply he could be an elite NFL quarterback in the near future. He was coerced into adjusting on the fly, much like Tom Brady, with a receiving corps he didn’t have chemistry with once injuries eliminated a couple main targets.

Sidney Rice went down with an ACL tear and played in eight games. Signed from Minnesota in 2011, Rice’s history of concussions prompted him to abruptly retire at 27-years-old.

Percy Harvin quickly became nightmare for defenses to scheme against with his array of multi-dimensional skills once he was drafted out of Florida. A Pro Bowler in 2009, Harvin’s bad luck includes a history strewn with concussions, migraines, and a variety of maladies in his career.

General manager John Schneider’s interest in another Minnesota Vikings receiver lead him to trade for the explosive, speedy Harvin. Unfortunately, he appeared in one regular season game before he was cleared for the Super Bowl. His presence on the field illustrated the upgrade he lends to the offense as a whole.

Harvin showcased his affinity for the big-play with a kickoff return to start third quarter play. It squelched any hopes Denver mustered at halftime to cut into a 22-0 deficit. Percy Harvin running on all cylinders is the multi-dimensional weapon Seattle played without in 2013.

Wilson has been practically flawless in three practice games. He’s 30 of 39 for 360 yards and two touchdown passes. He’s also run for three scores himself. At one point with him under center, the Seahawks offense scored on nine possessions in a row these last two contests.

It’s no longer going to be Lynch and five clouds of dust anymore. Dynamic, chunk plays are becoming a focal point in relation to a ground attack. Wilson has proven in two seasons he can harness more responsibility. He’s thrown for 26 touchdowns in each of his first two seasons and minimized turnovers.

Kearse and Baldwin played in 15 and 16 games respectively in 2013. Kearse and Baldwin’s comfort level shall increase as offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell implements them as every-down type receivers. Rookies Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood assume secondary roles. Richardson was the Seahawks’ first pick of 2014’s draft in the second round from Colorado.

Imagine their elite secondary defending sizeable leads because Wilson is finishing drives with touchdowns instead of field goals.

The behemoth constructed in Washington State may have subsequently improved after winning a championship. A rare occurrence in today’s NFL. A flowing, more explosive offense easily bolsters the Seattle Seahawks’ odds to lay claim to another Lombardi trophy in February.