The post-draft lead-up to the pre-season is the time to feel confident about your team. Everyone is 0-0, there have been few significant injuries and poor pre-season play has yet to mar one's belief in a player and team.
So with that in mind, let's drink some Kool-Aid.
To start is newly acquired DT Colin Cole. The 'Hawks have added plenty of size to their front seven this offseason, none bigger than the 330-pound Cole. Clare Farnsworth explains why he'll have an impact on the team even if you don't necessarily see it.
To continue...
Cole was Seattle's first big signing this offseason, giving him $21 million for the next five years. He was brought in to be the wall in the middle.
Think Chuck Darby. He arrived in 2005, one of the first free-agent additions by then first-year club president Tim Ruskell.
One look at Darby’s squatty body (barely 6 feet, 297 pounds) prompted one question: What is Ruskell doing? Answer: Dropping an anchor in the middle of a defensive line that helped the Seahawks make their Super Bowl run that season.
Now, think of Cole as a bigger, younger (28) version of Darby – who signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency last year.
Ever since Seattle signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh, there have been talks of Deion Branch being on his way out.
But Eric Williams at TNT explains why he believes the oft-injured receiver is here to stay and why the running back position isn't as big of a concern as some may think.
It's hard to argue with him, especially since the trade in question has Seattle sending Branch to New York for Thomas Jones, a decent back on the wrong end of 30.
Of course, third-round pick Deon Butler may eventually make Branch redundant and unneeded. But we're still probably at least a year away from that.
Teaching Butler the ropes here in Seattle is new wide receiver coach Robert Prince, who you can get to know better at Seahawks.com.
Prince has coached all over the place, even Japan. He's also managed to have a position everywhere on the offensive side of the ball except tight ends coach.
It has allowed him to develop a broader view of the game, and plays into Mora’s desire to have his assistants and players see the total picture.
“Is that right?” Prince asked when informed that he had coached the offensive line, wide receivers, quarterbacks and running backs in addition to being a head coach, offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator and even recruiting coordinator.
Before landing in Seattle, he was the assistant receivers coach at Jacksonville, a place hardly known for its high-quality pass catchers these past few seasons. But then, Prince should find it easier coaching players who actually try and aren't snorting coke in their off time.
OK, that was a low blow, Jacksonville. But seriously, we should find out whether this guy is any good based on the development of Butler and Ben Obomanu. Hopefully, the team can find some stability there after going through two new wide receiver coaches in the past two years.
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
