2014 NFL Season Preview- Seattle Seahawks

After 38 years, the Seattle Seahawks finally hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and won their first Super Bowl.

The team entered 2013 with big expectations after coming one win short of the NFC Championship the year earlier. The team started the year 11-1 and quickly gained supremacy in the NFC. The team went through the playoffs knocking off New Orleans and division rival San Francisco to advance to Super Bowl XLVIII. The game was very anticlimactic as Seattle's Legion of Boom defense dominated from the start. The team shutdown the league number one offense in Denver to a 43-8 rout.

Quarterback Russell Wilson proved he is the perfect quarterback for this team with his smart decisions and escape ability. With an injured offensive line, running back Marshawn Lynch's numbers went down but still retained his reputation as "Beast Mode." Wide receiver Percy Harvin was injured for most of the year but came alive in the Super Bowl.

The defense was phenomenal. The line was key in the reason Seattle finished 7th against the run. The linebackers were stable in all aspects and weakside linebacker Malcolm Smith was named Super Bowl MVP. The secondary was the best in the league. Cornerback Richard Sherman, and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor were named All-Pro and allowed the fewest passing yards in the league.

Together head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider assembled a team that relied on an aggressive defense and a strong commitment to the run. With the talent they have, the two know they have a strong chance of repeating.

The Legion of Boom became the first Super Bowl defense to lead the league in fewest points allowed,passing yards allowed, and turnover margin since the 1985 Bears. The team proved the stigma that defense wins championships and with their depth on that side of the ball, they will continue to be ranked in the top half of rankings in all major categories.

Notable additions- DT Kevin Williams, T Eric Winston

Notable departures- CB Brandon Browner, WR Sidney Rice, WR Golden Tate, FB Michael Robinson, DE Red Bryant, DE Chris Clemons

Holding the final pick in the first round, Seattle had several positions that needed to be addressed in the draft. Primarily at the offensive line, tight end, and wide receiver.

Marshawn lynch saw a decline in his stats and Russell Wilson was sacked 44 times in 2013. The offensive line needs upgrades and depth at every position.

Zach Miller is really the only notable tight end on the roster and he isn't going to instill fear in defenses. The team needs depth at the position as well as player who can stretch the field down the middle.

With Golden Tate gone through free agency and Sidney Rice surprisingly retiring, the wide receiver position is now heavily depleted. Seattle needs to address the departures and bring in more playmakers to an offense that ranked 26th in passing yards.

On draft day, Seattle traded out of the first round so Minnesota could draft Teddy Bridgewater. This made the team's first draft pick was in the second round. Seattle used the second round pick to draft Colorado wide receiver Paul Richardson. Richardson was seen as the ideal vertical threat receiver but his slim build has made him struggle with durability in the past. The team also drafted Alabama wide receiver Kevin Norwood in the fourth round. Norwood was A.J. McCarron's favorite target at Alabama but never proven himself as a standout on a talented team.

Seattle also picked up Texas defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat as an undrafted free agent. Jeffcoat's father Jim was an NFL defensive lineman for 15 seasons and many expected Jackson to live up to the family legacy. Jeffcoat was seen as the ideal defensive end but was criticized for his poor technique.

With the addition of Eric Winston to the offensive line, the team has reliable tackle to team with Russell Okung to help keep Russell Wilson upright. With Winston playing right tackle, Marshawn Lynch will be able to run behind him and prolong his career. Paul Richardson gives Wilson a target that can get open and gives the team a deep threat to complement Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse.

As long as Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor, the defense will be competitive. The addition of Kevin Williams gives the team another great defensive linemen to plug in the rotation. As long as the linebackers can be as consistent as they have been, success for the team will continue.

With the talent on this team, the Seahawks are more than capable of repeating as Super Bowl champions. Russell Wilson skill set makes him a factor opposing defenses can't predict and will ultimately be the reason for the offenses success in the future.

Best record they can hope for- 13-3