This year won't be so bad for the Hawks. They have a window to realistically repeat this season as there are almost no key players that will demand enough to break the bank. They planned on releasing two that had big contracts.... Browner CB and Rice WR anyway.
Next season will be more restrictive as Wilson and I believe Sherman's contracts are due not to mention several others. The good news is that for at least four more years the Seahawks won't have any player aging problems.
NOW if we can only keep Mr. Percy Harvin healthy... He REALLY is a key ingredient to the offense Carroll had envisioned when he signed him. His efforts in the Superbowl and the offense as a whole in that game was what it was supposed to be all of last season. The team as it sits right now is a head and shoulder better than it was at the start of last season. You other teams in the NFC West had better start praying for Wilson or Harvin to stub their toe in pre season cuz I'm afraid to say that as is I seriously don't see the Hawks losing to any team this season.. OH I know they will...there will be some injuries but as it stands they are far away the best Offense AND defense as a TEAM in the NFL right now.
I'm not saying they will break Mannings scoring or yardage records or anything but they could win every game by 2-3 scores. They simply get more opportunities to score with this defense taking away the ball and giving it to the offense almost two times a game and that means taking two opportunities for the opponents to score. That is on average an almost unsurmountable hill to climb for any team.
Your 9ers could catch the Hawks screwing up and win one at home but looking at our schedule that is the only game we should realistically have a fight to win.
I haven't looked at the SF web sites recently. They did a funny thing just before the conference game ...they made it impossible for me to see the threads on their MBs. Sort of a dirty trick against obvious Seahawk fans. How petty !! So I haven't seen the latest SF news and probably won't. I'm not going to establish a new IP just to look at 9ers crap.
You guys will keep me informed of the important stuff I'm sure.
So what are your worries with your team for THIS season?
Well, we still don't have a speedy playmaking receiver ala Harvin. Boldin will hopefully be back, and if Crabtree stays healthy we have two extremely capable hands-type guys, but neither is going to break any 40 records.
I was very disappointed with the Niners' running game in the playoffs. Sure, I give a little leeway against Seattle because of how good your D is, but the team shouldn't need to rely so much on Kaepernick for rushing yards. I don't know how much is Gore, how much is the O-line, how much is play calling, but the 49ers are a team that needs a productive running game, even if it isn't flashy or spectacular.
Justin Smith is getting up there in football years. He's so important to the defense and I'll be concerned every year until he retires about his ability to play at a high level. Hopefully he can keep it up.
Aldon Smith is a big question mark. Will he continue to have substance abuse problems? Will he get suspended? Can he be consistent as a pass rusher (he seems very up and down to me)? Can he be more of an asset against the run?
I was actually fairly happy with the 49ers secondary this past year. They aren't the Legion of Boom, but they played well. The linebackers, obviously, are the best group in the game. The only issue is how quickly Bowman recovers from his injury and if there are any lingering effects.