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NFC West: Seattle Seahawks preview

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Predicted order of finish in the NFC West: First

Coach: Mike Holmgren, sixth season (41-39), 12th season overall (116-76).

2003: 10-6 (second in NFC West). Lost to Green Bay 33-27 (OT) in NFC wild-card game.

Key additions: S Michael Boulware, CB Bobby Taylor, DT Marcus Tubbs, DE Grant Wistrom.

Key losses: LB Randall Godfrey, DT Norman Hand, DE Lamar King, DT John Randle, CB Shawn Springs, S Reggie Tongue.

Pre-snap read: The Seahawks made the playoffs last season for the first time since 1999 because they had the league's sixth-ranked offense. If they want to win a playoff game for the first time in 20 years, they will need a better defense. In its second year under Ray Rhodes, the unit is a youthful work in progress. Three young players are vying for time at MLB; four young players — including top pick Tubbs — will rotate at DT; and Boulware will try to switch from college LB to NFL strong safety. The defense will be without OLB Chad Brown (broken leg) for at least a month and his backup, D.D. Lewis, for the season. On the ends, Wistrom (7.5 sacks in 2003) and Chike Okeafor (8) will have to find ways to get to the QB. The offense is led by Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck and Pro Bowl RB Shaun Alexander. Despite a lot of dropped passes, WR Darrell Jackson had his best season in 2003, earning a contract extension. But WR Koren Robinson was disappointing in his third year. The team would like more production from TE Jerramy Stevens, who has been a disappointment since being picked in the first round in 2002.

What to expect: The offense will continue to compensate for the shortcomings of a youthful defense, and the Hawks will make a strong run at their first Super Bowl appearance.

The line on the line: Pro Bowl LT Walter Jones and All-Pro LG Steve Hutchinson create one of the league's top left-side tandems, and the rest of the unit is not bad, either (although they did give up 43 sacks in 2003). Grade: B+

Offensive leaders
Pos.	Player	2003 statistics
QB	Matt Hasselbeck	3,841 yds, 26 TD, 15 INT
RB	Shaun Alexander	1,435 yds, 4.4 avg, 14 TD
WR	Darrell Jackson	68 rec, 1,137 yds, 9 TD
WR	Koren Robinson	65 rec, 896 yds, 4 TD
TE	Itula Mili	46 rec, 492 yds, 4 TD

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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