TERRY MOSHER
TOP OF THE TOWN – I wrote before the 2021 NFL season started the Seahawks would finish last in the NFC West because they had not improved and the rest of the division did. Now that it has played out that way, the Seahawks are gamely trying to catch up by turning over their defensive coaching staff. They need to go further then that because the Rams have been built to sustain Super Bowl success indefinitely. If Aaron Donald retires as he has hinted he might the Rams will suffer a big hit defensively. I got to believe, though, that a franchise that has shown it will take risks to win will find a way to fill Donald’s position adequately enough to keep the team on track to defend its Super Bowl win. The 49ers are going to get better and the Cardinals will be better with Kyler Murray, once he is back to 100 percent healthy. So for the Seahawks to work to better the defense, which was horrid against the pass, is the correct thing to do. But Pete Carroll’s crew needs to be better on offense, too. The offensive line still needs some work, especially if left tackle Duane Brown is not retained. Brown will be 37 when the season starts and he showed late in the season the wear and tear 14 seasons of pro football has done to him. Nobody could be as good as they once were after playing that many seasons of a violent sport. The truth is that he is still a good presence in the locker room. And if he can hold up another season, he’s better than anybody else the Seahawks have. But is he worth the risk? The Rams would say yes. What will Pete Carroll say? Yes, solving the cornerback situation is critical. It will get a big boost if Tre’ Brown proves to be as good if not better than he was before he got injured. His presence is a big key. Is he the real deal? If so, the defense automatically gets much better. Quandre Diggs is THE man in the clubhouse and at safety. But are the Seahawks going to pay big bucks to keep him? I say, they better. And speaking of big bucks, the new defensive coordinator needs to find the optima use of Jamal Adams. He will make $17.5 million in 2022 and somehow the Seahawks have to put in the best position to get value for him. I think he has to be menace as a quarterback rusher. Cut him loose. Let him go on the attack. The sad story in pro football is often teams cut their most popular player to save bucks. That is where the popular Bobby Wagner stands as of now. Wagner will be 32 in June and has been a Seahawk for 10 seasons. He is a certain future Hall of Famer. However, Wagner’s 2022 salary is $16.35 million, a roster bonus of $250,000 and has a salary cap hit of $20.35 million. Cody Barton is set to take over for Wagner. He will earn $965K in 2022, the last year of his rookie contract. So you decide. Keep Wagner and his huge salary or Barton? Yeah, that is what I thought. You don’t know what you would do either. My biggest concern is quarterback Russell Wilson. He will be 34 on November 29 and its clear he does not escape defensive pressure as easily as he once did. He has gained some weight and is slower now. He is still extremely good at throwing strikes while on the run. Nobody other than Aaron Rodgers throws a deep ball as well as Wilson does. But defenses have adapted and do a better job of man coverage on Seahawk receivers while also applying pressure on Wilson. Teams that have success doing that windup beating the Seahawks. I still think as I did this past season the Seahawks need to diversify their passing attack. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are two of the better receivers in the league, but they are not enough. There are games where they have been shut down and when that happens defeat follows. Other receivers – D’Wayne Eskridge, Penny Hart and Freddie Swain ‑ need to step up and be a bigger part of the offense. Tight ends need to be a bigger part of the offense. And instead of Wilson relying on the big bomb, the passing attack should concentrate on the shorter mid-field pass routes, crossing routes, throws to running backs and sideline safety valves. Force defenses to have to play a guessing game. Bottom line, when it finally all shakes out the Seahawks will be better in the 2022 season. But will they be good enough to overtake the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals? That is the big question. Ok, that is enough for today. Stay safe.
Be well pal.
Be careful out there.
Have a great day.
You are loved.