The Vikings will begin the 2008 exhibition season at home by facing a familiar foe – the Seattle Seahawks. Since 2002, the Vikings and Seahawks have squared off six times, including twice in the preseason. Qwest field in Seattle was the site for the previous two matchups in this series, but this year the Seahawks visit the Metrodome for the first time since 2004.
The 2007 Seahawks finished with a 10-6 mark, winning the NFC East and advancing to the Divisional round where they lost to the Green Bay Packers. A regularly crisp passing game - led by quarterback Matt Hasselbeck - kept Seattle in the hunt but the ground game remained in a rut all season. Mike Holmgren’s version of the west coast offense in 2007 produced the league’s eighth best passing attack and only the 20th ranked rushing attack.
To assuage the ground game concerns, Seattle signed both T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones in the offseason to replace one-time MVP Shaun Alexander. Since his MVP season in 2005, Alexander has not gained more than 1,000 yards or scored more than seven rushing touchdowns in a season. On top of that, Seattle scored only nine rushing touchdowns last season, compared to Minnesota’s league-best 22.
While the addition of Jones and Duckett does not add a player of MVP-caliber, it does equip the Seahawks with a two-headed ground attack, a popular strategy employed by more and more teams each season. If Holmgren and his offensive staff can reinvigorate their ground game, it will only enhance an already sound passing attack that thrives on high percentage completions and yards after the catch.
Defensively, Seattle played well against the run in 2007 and saw mixed results against the pass. The Seahawks stout defensive front – which included new addition Patrick Kearney at defensive end – and athletic corps of linebackers held opponents to 102.8 rushing yards per game (12th best in the league), while the secondary gave up a league low 15 passing touchdowns and picked off 20 passes. Also, the addition of Kearney helped Seattle rank fourth in the league in sacks, with 45.
In order for Seattle to keep a firm hold on their division, Holmgren will look for his defense to remain stout against the run and continue improving against the pass. He will also hope to see his ground game improve to open up even more lanes in the passing game.
Seattle fans should be confident that Holmgren, who has an 82-62 record at Seahawks Head Coach, will be able to build on last season’s 10-6 record in an effort to tighten their grip on the NFC West and continue to make noise in the playoffs.
Next week, Seattle will continue its exhibition season by returning home to host the Chicago Bears, another NFC North opponent. The Vikings, meanwhile, will hit the road for a contest against the Baltimore Ravens and their new head coach, John Harbaugh.