Time to Rebuild

The Seahawks 2017 season has been full of ups and downs. The embarrassment at home against the Los Angeles Rams, who were leading 34-0 at half time and were never once at risk of losing, was a turning point for me. The game reinforced that the Seahawks are a team full of weaknesses. They are no longer a dominate team, but instead a mediocre team with a few superstars. The glory days of the Seahawks dominating the NFC West have come to an end.

The Seahawks have had an amazing run of success. Since 2012 they have won at least 10 games each seasons, going 56-23-1. This year they could still finish 10-6 if they can beat the Cowboys and the Cardinals to end the season. This kind of success is hard to come by in the NFL. The only other team over that five year stretch to win at least ten games each season is the New England Patriots (the Packers made the playoffs every year, but went 8-7-1 in 2013). Pete Carroll and the Seahawks players from those teams should be proud of their accomplishments. However if the team wants to continue their run of success they need to realize this turning point, clean house and start a rebuild.

Blowing up a team that still has many fan favorites that helped the team achieve their success will be a hard pill to swallow, but it has to happen. If they don't act now the team will enter the all too common curse of former great teams, treading water as mediocre. The ageing star's big salaries and inconsistent play will let them win some games, but keep them from winning enough to reach the most important one of all. The fans may like having their favorites around, but they will be frustrated by the fading glory.

2017 has been a perfect example of this mediocrity. They have had impressive wins like against the Philadelphia Eagles, and embarrassing losses, like against Washington. All the money tied up in the Seahawks big name star has created weakness in the reserves and the offensive line. The lack of depth is obvious at linebacker when absent Bobby Wagner (admittedly an All-Pro) and KJ Wright, the corps appears to vanish, as tackles are missed and plays go for extra yards. The current team is too flawed to win consistently.

The front office should be open to moving, either trading or cutting, every single player on the roster, with one exception. Stars like Michael Bennett, Kam Chancellor shouldn't be spared. In Bennett's case he still shows signs of greatness, but other weeks he is a complete no show and he always hurts the team with stupid penalties. Kam is still an emotional leader for the team, but Bradley McDougald has shown Chancellor's on field play can be replaced. Additionally Kam has failed to stay healthy and on the field. It is a harsh reality of the NFL that players have to be able to stay healthy if they are going to stay on a roster.

Other players will be easy to let go. Blair Walsh has proven to be a liability. He can't hit a FG over 50 yards and struggles even at much more routine distances. He should be the first player gone. Jeremy Lane often looks lost. He has been beaten several times. According to Over the Cap he is set to get paid $6 million in 2018 and hit the Seattle salary cap with $7.25 million.  For a fairly mediocre player that price is easily replaceable in the draft.

As previously mentioned there should be one exception to the fire sale, Russell Wilson. Franchise QB are too important and difficult to find. Without one teams end up like the Cleveland Browns, desperately searching for years. Russell is 29 years old and in his NFL prime. Before the Rams debacle he was playing at an MVP level. Although that game should take him out of the consideration.

On the season he has 32 passing TD to only 11 INT and an additional 3 rushing TD. Wilson has thrown for the tenth most passing yards in the NFL and rushed for the second most, after Cam Newton, of any quarterback. He is one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league, despite playing behind one of the worst offensive lines. He is super clutch, frequently carrying the team on his back during the fourth quarter to make the game close. Simply put Russell Wilson is the most value Seahawk and will be leading the team for at least another 6 seasons.

It will be painful, but the Seahawks need to rip the band-aid off and start a rebuild. If done now it will save them and their fans from years of frustrating mediocrity. Aging former stars with major contracts can put on an impressive performance from time to time, but they can't play with enough consistency to win a Super Bowl. The team needs to get young and hungry again. They need to build depth at linebacker and offensive line.

Sources: Over the Cap, Pro Football Reference