The Seattle Seahawks Are Not Built For A Dynasty
By Erik Lambert
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) greets cornerback Richard Sherman (25) before Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
I’m sure the firestorm to come from the 12th man will be brutal but I must forge on. A lot of talk has already started on the idea of a Seattle Seahawks dynasty. Here is why such an idea is false.
Russell Wilson is not Joe Montana or Tom Brady
First and foremost all the notable “dynasty” teams of the Super Bowl era had one thing in common: a Hall of Fame quarterback. Bart Starr commanded the Packers, Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers, Joe Montana guided the 49ers, Troy Aikman threw for the Cowboys and of course Tom Brady rose to prominence with the Patriots. Obviously Seahawks fans will be quick proclaim Russell Wilson in that category, but is he? He’s a gamer for certain, a terrific leader, athletic and elusive. The fact he’s made two Pro Bowls hasn’t hurt his stock. However, one must ask the inescapable question. If he didn’t have Marshawn Lynch and that defense, would he be as good as he’s been? Certainly the threat of “Beast Mode” allows Wilson to get creative with his runs and bootlegs, not to mention the always dangerous play action. Yet his numbers in the grand scheme of things are good, but not great. Even combined with his rushing totals he has yet to top 4,000 yards as a pro. His fumbling problem has actually gotten worse, going up from six as a rookie to ten in 2013. For all the magnificent plays he can make, he’s very inconsistent.
NFL history does not favor defensive teams
Seahawks players were eager to shout out comparisons after the domination of the Denver Broncos, proclaiming their defense was the best since the 1985 Bears. Indeed the performance did offer glimpses of that all-time unit. However, it’s also not a favorable comparison if one wants to think about a dynasty. History shows that the greatest defensive teams to win the big game like the Bears, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, the 1990 New York Giants and the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs dominated for a year and then suddenly faded away. NFL Films eloquently called such types of teams like “comets” that shine brilliantly for a year and then vanish. Also, aside from the Ravens none of those other teams had to worry much about free agency, another problem the Seahawks can’t avoid in their dynasty bid.
San Francisco 49ers and NFC West shows zero signs of offering relief
One final road block standing in the way of that lofty goal for Seattle is their division. From top to bottom the NFC West is packed with talented, young teams including their hated rival San Francisco 49ers. Both they and the St. Louis Rams are loaded for bear in the 2014 NFL draft to infuse their already stacked depth charts with even more talent. Not to mention the Arizona Cardinals dealt the Seahawks their first home defeat in years late in the season. This division in not going to be a cakewalk for the foreseeable future, which is not conducive to dynasty thoughts.
Conclusion
Now before a riot ensues, understand I’m not saying the Seattle Seahawks won’t win another Super Bowl. Their roster is certainly strong enough to make that happen over the next two or three years. However, based on the way they’ve been built and the obstacles in their way, the dynasty talk has to stop.