Ignore the noise, Hawks best in West

KIRKLAND — It has been one boring offseason for the Seahawks. They haven't had a player sent to the commissioner's office. Their quarterback hasn't been accused of creating a new UFC — Ultimate Fighting Canines. And their offensive-line coach hasn't had to apologize for accidentally sending a sex video to high-ranking NFL personnel.

Given the league-wide absurdity during this restless period between seasons, the Seahawks are fine with dull. Fall asleep on them. They'll continue preparing for another season as silently as possible.

To freshen up an old saying: You snooze, you cruise.

The noisemakers can own this part of the year. The football prophets can proclaim San Francisco is primed to take over the NFC West division. The skeptics can look at Seattle's shrinking window of opportunity — remember that thing? — and wonder how 53 oversized men will fit through there.

Nothing motivates athletes more than doubt, you know. After three consecutive NFC West titles, the third coming in unimpressive fashion, the king welcomes the questioning.

"Do I feel like we're getting pushed off the top of the mountain?" wide receiver Nate Burleson asked Monday, the first day of the Seahawks' second minicamp. "We know what kind of team we have. We're more concerned with not making a mistake and keeping from slipping off the mountain ourselves."

It's all about us. That's always the mantra of a confident, accomplished team. Burleson put it poetically. About a month ago, running back Shaun Alexander put it strongly.

When asked about NFC West teams closing in on the Seahawks, Alexander said, "They needed to."

The Seahawks might brush off their division rivals, but they can hear footsteps. They must. And the 49ers are leading this charge, having swept the Seahawks last season.

Eventually, San Francisco should overtake Seattle. But if you're assuming the Seahawks will hand over the torch this coming season, you're overrating the 49ers' offseason moves, underrating the Seahawks' improvements and forgetting how important continuity is in this league.

No doubt, San Francisco has added some impressive talent. The 49ers drafted linebacker Patrick Willis and signed linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, cornerback Nate Clements and safety Michael Lewis to improve their defense. They collected a couple of new receivers: Ashley Lelie and Darrell Jackson, the malcontent Seattle wideout who was a draft-day trade bargain.

But great offseasons don't always equal great regular seasons. How long will these new acquisitions take to mesh with the team? And, at this point in their careers, do the reputations of Lelie and Jackson exceed their talent?

Lelie caught just 28 passes for Atlanta last season. Jackson had a good year, but he was hurt when the Seahawks needed him most.

Of greater concern, however, is the progress of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. Last season, his first as a full-time starter, Smith played OK. He passed for 2,890 yards to go with 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. A veteran receiving corps is supposed to help him, but Smith lost an important coach in his development when offensive coordinator Norv Turner left San Francisco for the top job in San Diego.

Jim Hostler, Smith's quarterback coach, is the new offensive coordinator. It means the system won't change too much, but as a first-time coordinator, can Hostler call plays as effectively as Turner? Even with the potential for an upgrade at receiver, the San Francisco offense might still be lacking.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks have two things going for them: their track record and fewer question marks. They still have their issues, especially with the uncertainty on the right side of their offensive line. But the Seahawks have become more solid at safety, a huge trouble spot last season. Deon Grant takes over for the erratic Ken Hamlin at free safety. Brian Russell was brought in to compete with Michael Boulware for the starting spot at strong safety.

Furthermore, Patrick Kerney, the new starting left defensive end, should be more effective than Grant Wistrom was last season. And because the Seahawks released cornerback Kelly Herndon last week, they need the diminutive Kelly Jennings, last year's first-round pick, to be a solid starter.

Health is most important to the Seahawks, however.

If you simply look at the 2006 statistics, it's amazing that Seattle made the playoffs despite Alexander missing six games, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck missing four and a slew of offensive-line aches. Of course, if you experienced it up close, you remember how frustratingly inconsistent they were even when healthy.

Seattle's three most important offensive players — Alexander, Hasselbeck and Walter Jones — will all be in their 30s by the fall. This team will hit a major transition soon. For now, blending aging stars with emerging ones should work.

Such a process is done quietly, without fuss. For this team, a mellow offseason could have huge returns. Don't anoint the 49ers just yet.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com. For more on this column, read "Extra Points" at http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brewer.