It was fun while it lasted. We knew it would be an uphill battle, but in the end, the Seattle Seahawks came up just short. If you had polled 1,000 Seahawks fans in August, 950 of them would have told you there was no way this team would be in the playoffs this season. Most would have honestly said that they would be competing for the first overall pick, which they sort of were, just with Denver’s selection and not their own.
The Hawks’ big loss to San Francisco was tough at the moment but does represent a bright future that is evident in Seattle, and it sparks confidence in Pete Carroll that he still has what it takes to lead this team. There are plenty of things to work on, and this should be an intriguing offseason for the Hawks, who have good draft capital for what seems like the first time in years. Let’s grade this team’s performance from start to finish and label some of the valuable players who made this year a success.
Offense: A-
All things considered, it is amazing that Seattle finished as high as they did offensively this year. When Russell Wilson was traded, and it felt like Drew Lock was the quarterback of the future in Seattle, it was hard to have confidence in this unit. But Geno Smith came out of nowhere and made his mark on Seattle. From game one, it was clear that this was not the same Geno we remembered from his time in New York. Something went off inside this guy’s head, and he led the offense to the 9th best scoring unit in the league, and they finished 13th overall in terms of yards per game. Compared to Wilson’s Broncos, who ranked dead last in points per contest, this was quite the feat.
Smith ended the season with 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The debate has already begun as to whether or not Seattle should extend him, and while a small extension isn’t a bad idea, I still wouldn’t throw all the eggs in one basket. He was perfect for what the Hawks needed this season and will be perfect as they transition to a long-term solution at the position. There is no denying that he loves this franchise.
“I want to finish my career in Seattle, I want to be here. The town, the city, the team, Coach Carroll, the organization, they all embraced me. I was a guy who probably could have been out of the league. They embraced me, and I want to repay them for that.”
On top of Smith’s stellar performance, Hawks fans watched a new rushing threat blossom right before their eyes. Kenneth Walker is the real deal, and he showed that off in a season where he wasn’t able to play every game but still racked up over 1,000 yards rushing and found the endzone nine times on the ground. He is a part of a really special rookie class that will lead the NFL for the next decade or so.
Defense: D
This was the crutch for Seattle once again this season, and we saw it loud and clear in the loss to the 49ers. During the regular season, the Hawks allowed 24.6 points per game which was the eighth most in the National Football League.
Once again, they got torched game after game which has to be a priority if Settle insists on avoiding a full rebuild. With a couple of first-round picks in this upcoming draft, that side of the ball could receive a major upgrade. The beginning of the season seemed like there was positive change under Clint Hurtt, but things went south during the second half, and the playoff game was a total nightmare.
Rookies: A
This is what fans should be most pumped about. Charles Cross was already a dominant tackle in his first year; the Hawks seemed to get a generational back in round two. In round three, they drafted a day-one starter in Abraham Lucas, who finished the season with just 28 pressures allowed. Maybe the player you can get most excited about is Tariq Woolen, who had six interceptions and was a major playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. I failed even to mention Coby Bryant, who played quality minutes, Boye Mafe, who stepped up big time, and a bounty of others who made impacts.
For so many years, the Hawks have been without quality picks, or the selections just simply failed to pan out, but for the first time in years, it seemed like the class came together perfectly, and there is an argument that this is a top-three class from the 2022 season.
Overall: B+
It’s hard to knock this team for losing to the Niners in the first round of the playoffs when this Niners team has a legitimate shot at winning a Super Bowl this season. The Hawks really proved everyone wrong this season and made up for the trade of Russell Wilson. Not only was the season a success, but they still have a top draft pick and a chance to improve in 2023. This was a great season for fans who got to watch a fun, fresh team take the field.
