Sunday, January 15, 2017

Seattle Seahawks 2016 Season Recap

The Seahawks divisional round playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons was a very fitting end to a very up and down season. The loss highlighted all the problems that that team had during the 2016 regular season. To those watching, the way the game played out was all too familiar. The offensive line failed to protect Russell Wilson or provide consistent run blocking for Thomas Rawls. The playing calling gave up on the run really early and made the team one dimensional. The defense failed to get consistent pressure on Matt Ryan and allow a quick passing attack to rack up big yards. The defense also failed to stop the Falcons from converting on important third downs, regardless of the yards to go. 

The result was not too shocking to me, but I was still disappointed. In my head I knew the Seahawks were going to lose to the Falcons. They were just too flawed of a team to win the Super Bowl, let alone beat good team like the Falcons on the road. But in my heart I hoped that the Seahawks might surprise us. Maybe the pressure of the playoffs would get to Matty Ice, or a freak turnover would change a low scoring game. Alas it was not to be and the 2016 season came to an inglorious end in the Georgia Dome.

The Seahawks showed signs of brilliance during the regular season. They went to New England and beat the Patriots on Sunday Night Football. They dominated the Carolina Panthers 40-7 at home in CenturyLink Field. Doug Baldwin showed he is a legitimate number one receiver totaling 94 receptions and 1128 yards.

However there were also several lows. The Rams beat the Seahawks 9-3. The Green Bay Packers shellacked the Seahawks 38-10. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense to 3 points and those were only because of a short field gifted by a turnover. Maybe worst of all, by ranking 25th in the league in rushing yards, the Seahawks lost their identity as a run first power football team.

The Seahawks players, coaches and executives have a lot of improvements to make over the 2017 offseason. First and foremost they need to drastically improve the offensive line. They need to find more depth in the secondary. They need to cut Jermaine Kearse. Finally they need to figure out, either through play calling or personnel, how to stop other teams on third down. Without these changes the Seahawks 2017 season looks to be much like the 2016. A bumpy ride filled with highs and lows, but ultimately ending in an early exit from the playoffs.

All is not bleak and despairing in Seattle. There is lots to be encouraged by heading into 2017. The Seahawks front office has been one of the best in the league at making changes and improving their team year in and year out. Head Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider are one of the best teams in the league. They have consistently been able to add quality players through free agency and the draft, with the only glaring weakness being the offensive line.

On the players side things are also looking good for next year. The team's defense is still anchored by players in the primes of their careers such as Earl Thomas (currently age 27), Kam Chancellor (age 28), Richard Sherman (age 28), and Bobby Wagner (age 26). The teams quarterback, Russell Wilson, despite an injury hampered 2016 regular season, is one of the best in the league. With Doug Baldwin has his primary target, Wilson has a star to throw passes to. The these players give the team a great starting point coming into 2017.

The 2016 season culminated in a fitting loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome. The Seahawks showed all of their most aggravating weaknesses as the game played out as expected. The defense was unable to handle the dominate offense of the Falcons and the Seahawks offense could not get past their own ineptitude to keep the score close. Despite being a frustrating season that ended on a low note things look good for the Seahawks heading into 2017. They will still be the team to beat in the NFC West because of their super talented core of players and their smart front office. 

Friday, January 6, 2017

Boldly Predicting 2017

The new year is upon us and with it will come many new and interesting sports stories. Some will be expected while others catch us completely off guard. Whatever ends up happening in 2017 sports fans around the country will definitely have plenty to talk about. So, to help you prepare for another great year in sports the staff here at Unique Sports Theme Name have compiled a list of news stories to keep your eyes and ears open for in 2017. These may not all come true, but  imagine if they did? We could probably ride that clairvoyance into some sort of paying gig. Anyways onto the soon to be news in 2017.

  • The scandal surrounding Russia athletes doping to boost their performance continues to grow. Not wanting to encourage systematic state sponsored doping in international sporting competition FIFA decides remove Russia as the host for the 2018 World Cup. Now in need of a new host those same FIFA officials decide to award Myanmar the World Cup as an award for their continued march towards democracy and a huge wad of cash that was left at the front door of the FIFA offices.
  • After the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers meet in the NBA finals for the third straight year (with Golden State winning), NBA commissioner Adam Silver decides to revamp the NBA playoff system. In July he announces that the Warriors and Cavs will play for the 2017-2018 NBA championship without playing in the overly long NBA playoffs. The rest of the NBA will instead play in a consolation bracket with the winner of that tournament being named Third Best.
  • Encourage on by the recent success of the Chicago Cubs, both the Seattle Mariners and the Washington Nationals fans (the only two teams to never make a World Series) rush out to reserve post season tickets during spring training. Despite  exciting seasons for both teams, neither makes the playoffs.
    • On a more positive note Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez will rebound from a rocky 2016 season to make the 2017 All-star game.
  • After giving up 12 sacks in a single NFL playoffs game, the Seattle Seahawks decide to fully commit to investing in their offensive line during the offseason. They focus their draft strategy on getting the linemen with the most potential they can find. Somehow they end up drafting three defensive tackles, two tight ends, and a full back with plans to convert all to offensive linemen.
  • For the second year in a row the University of Washington Men's basketball team misses out on the NCAA tournament despite having a player (Markell Fultz) talented enough to be an NBA lottery pick. The continued inability of Lorenzo Romar to adapt to the one and done culture of college basketball finally becomes obvious and he is fired from the head coaching position.
  • In September, still looking for a head coaching job, Rex Ryan reaches out to the Great Orange One and requests state intervention. Not wanting to let a winner like Rex Ryan down The Donald removes Todd Bowles and appoints Ryan as the new head coach of the Jets via executive order. A massive scandal erupts during the Senate confirmation hearings.