What is a Seahawk?
By Davie Wong, Sports Reporter
The hopes were never high for the new expansion league teams. While the Seattle Seahawks inaugural season was slightly better than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was only so by a bit. What more is expected from a team that got to pick 39 of the worst players in the NFL to start a team?
Their man under-center was Jim Zorn. He threw for slightly under 2,600 yards with 12 touchdowns; but those arenât his most impressive stats. Throughout the 14 games in which he played, Zorn threw 27 interceptions.
It didnât help that the Seattle passing game was easier to read than a childâs book. Any defensive coordinators that could understand football knew how to stop Zorn. They just had to take away the pass to receiver Steve Largent.
By the end of the season, these two had amassed 54 completions for a total of 705 yards. Even when defensive backs swarmed Largent, it seems that Zorn still threw to him. While Zorn was still considered a âthreatâ in the air, along with Largent, he had few alternatives.
Even though Sherman Smith had played a mobile style of game while in college, he still primarily played quarterback when the Seahawks drafted him in the second round. The fact that he had never played a down of professional football as a running back is astounding as that is exactly what the Seahawks wanted him to do. The transition was not an easy oneâthat was especially evident this season as he only rushed for 537 yards.
Defensively, the Seahawks were a little better. Steve Niehaus, the Seahawksâ first round pick, won NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year, picking up nine and a half sacks throughout his season. Linebackers Mike Curtis and Ed Bradley, along with free safety Dave Brown combined for a total of 319 tackles. The mix of veterancy and youth may end up working out for the Seahawks, but they need more.
They need a coach who can coach both sides of the game. Sure Jack Patera has worked with and is partially responsible for several successful defensive lines in his time, but this year, his lack of offensive knowledge was blatant.
Oddly enough however, the fan support for the team have been unwavering. For the awful start that theyâve had, fans of the Seahawks have flocked out in the thousands to see the team play. The atmosphere at the Kingdome when the Seahawks play is contagious. Itâs as if the fans donât realize that the Seahawks donât win. They just keep cheering.
