59-year old head coach Pete Carroll got the Seahawks to win the NFC West and a playoff game (a shocker over the Saints) in his first year on the job.  That being said, the Seahawks were only 7-9 during the regular season.  The Seahawks have a pretty soft schedule, so Carroll could get his team back to the playoffs in 2011.  Carroll is now 40-40 (50%) during the regular season in his first five years as a NFL head coach.  He is also 2-3 (40%) in the post-season.

The Seattle Seahawks quickly signed 28-year old Tarvaris Jackson when free agency opened and he will be the starting QB in 2011.  Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, had the same job with the Vikings when Jackson was with the team.  Jackson played in 3 games (1 start) for the Vikings last year and he completed 34 of 58 passes (58.6%) for 341 yards with 3 TD passes and 4 INTs (63.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 7 times for 63 yards (9.0 ypc) last year.  Jackson has good mobility and a strong arm, so it will be interesting to see how he handles being a starting QB once again in 2011.  Jackson has played in 36 games (20 starts) in his first five years in the NFL and he has completed 354 of 603 passes (58.7%) for 3,984 yards with 24 TD passes and 22 INTs (76.6 QB Rating).  Jackson has also carried the ball 119 times for 535 yards (4.5 ypc) with 4 TD runs so far in his NFL career.  Jackson is 10-10 (50%) as a starting QB in his NFL career.

28-year old Charlie Whitehurst comes into this season as the Seahawks’ #2 QB once again in 2011.  Whitehurst played in 6 games (2 starts) for the Seahawks last year and he completed 57 of 99 passes (57.6%) for 507 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 INTs (65.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 20 times for 43 yards (2.2 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  He has now played in 8 games (2 starts) in his first five years in the NFL and he has completed 57 of 99 passes (57.6%) for 507 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 INTs (65.5 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 22 times for 56 yards (2.5 ypc) with 2 TD runs in his NFL career so far.  Whitehurst is 1-1 (50%) as a starting QB so far in his career.

24-year old undrafted rookie Josh Portis out of California (PA) has a very good shot of winning the #3 QB job for the Seahawks in 2011.  He is a great athlete who has a lot to learn about playing QB in the NFL, so the Seahawks will take it slow with him.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS QBS IN 2011:  C

24-year old Justin Forsett is the likely starting kickoff returner for the Seahawks in 2010.  He played in 16 games for the Seahawks last season and he returned 18 kickoffs for 432 yards (24.0 avg).  Forsett has now played in 30 games in his NFL career and he has returned 36 kickoffs for 854 yards (23.7 avg).  He is going to likely have a much bigger role on offense in 2010 but unless someone steps up on kickoff returns, Forsett will likely have that job too.

25-year old RB Louis Rankin could also get a chance to return kicks for the Seahawks in 2010.  He played in 9 games for the Seahawks & Raiders last season and he returned 22 kickoffs for 466 yards (21.2 avg). 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  C

Rookie LT Russell Okung will step right into the Seahawks’ starting lineup.  The first round pick out of Oklahoma State is the real deal as he’s both a solid run and pass blocker.  Matt Hasselbeck should be a little more comfortable in the pocket this season.  LG will likely be a battle between Ben Hamilton and Chester Pitts.  They are both solid veterans so the Seahawks will be O.K. no matter which one of them wins the starting job.  Chris Spencer will be the starting center for the Seahawks in 2010 but he will have to play well to keep the job as Max Unger played well there when he was out of action.  Spencer has good speed and a nasty streak.  Max Unger will likely step back into his starting job at RG.  He’s a mean and nasty guy so look for the Seahawks to run behind him quite a bit.  RT will belong to Sean Locklear and he’s a very average player.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS O-LINE in 2010:  B

The Seahawks have signed 28-year old linebacker Tyjuan Hagler.  Hagler played in 7 games for the Colts last season and he had 26 tackles and 3 passes defensed.  He has now played in 37 games in his NFL career and he has 114 tackles, 4 passes defensed, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles.  This was a solid signing for the Seahawks as Hagler will give them depth at linebacker and possibly some help on special teams.

48-year old head coach Pete Carroll was a awesome coach at USC.  But in the NFL you don’t play 8-9 home games and 2-3 road games and you certainly don’t get to pick your own schedule.  Carroll last coached in the NFL with the Patriots in 1999.  He has been a head coach in the NFL four years and he has a regular season record of 33-31 (51.6%).  Carroll also has a 1-2 (33.3%) post season record.  I’m thinking the only reason he left USC was because he knew they were going to get drilled by the NCAA for rules infractions so it will be very interesting to see if he’s better this time around in the NFL.

37-year old kicker Olindo Mare was awesome last season to say the least.  He played in all 16 games for the Seahawks last season and he made 24 of 26 field goals (92.3%) and all 28 of his extra points good for 100 points.  He has now played in 200 games in his NFL career and he has made 303 of 373 field goals (81.2%).  He has also made 405 of 410 extra points as he has 1,314 career points.  The Seahawks hope that Mare keeps up the good work because they can’t afford to leave any points on the field in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS KICKERS in 2010:  A

32-year old T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be the Seahawks’ #1 WR once again in 2010.  He played in 16 games (all starts) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 79 passes for 911 yards (11.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Houshmandzadeh has now played in 121 games (90 starts) in his 9 years in the NFL and he has caught 586 passes for 6,693 yards (11.4 avg) with 40 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 23 times for 142 yards (6.2 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Houshmandzadeh has been to one Pro Bowl in his career but I don’t think he’ll be taking another trip to one in 2010.

31-year old Deion Branch enters training camp as the #2 WR of the Seahawks.  He played in 14 games (5 starts) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 45 passes for 437 yards (9.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Branch has now played in 100 games (80 starts) in his 8 years with the Seahawks and he has caught 390 passes for 4,979 yards (12.8 avg) with 28 TD grabs.  The Seahawks are hoping that Branch steps up in 2010 to justify the cash he’s making.

Rookie 3rd round pick Golden Tate out of Notre Dame is the likely #3 WR for the Seahawks in 2010.  Tate is on the smaller side at 5’11″, 195 pounds but he’s fast.  He would seem to be the perfect slot receiver for the Seahawks in 2010 and much more than that down the road.

24-year old Deon Butler was a rookie last season.  He played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 15 passes for 175 yards (11.7 avg).  Butler will move up or down on the depth chart based on his play in training camp and the pre-season.

26-year old Ben Obomanu does most of his work on special teams.  He played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 4 passes for 41 yards (10.3 avg).  Obomanu has now played in 27 games (0 starts) in his two years in the NFL and he has caught 16 passes for 221 yards (13.8 avg) with 1 TD grab. 

27-year old Ruvell Martin played in 8 games (0 starts) with the Rams last season and he caught 6 passes for 99 yards (16.5 avg).  Martin has now played in 49 games (9 starts) in which he has caught 58 passes for 848 yards (14.6 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his NFL career.  Martin has the skill to move up the depth chart for the Seahawks.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE WRs in 2010:  C

The Seahawks have a nice pair of TEs in 26-year old John Carlson and 30-year old Chris Baker.  Carlson played in 16 games (all starts) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 51 passes for 574 yards (11.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He has now played in 32 games (25 starts) in his two years with the Seahawks and he has caught 106 passes for 1,201 yards (11.3 avg) with 12 TD grabs.  Look for Carlson to see even more targets in 2010 as he has developed into one of the better pass catching TEs in the NFL.

Chris Baker played in 16 games (7 starts) for the Patriots last season and he caught 14 passes for 142 yards (10.1 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has now played in 115 games (57 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 159 passes for 1,647 yards (10.4 avg) with 14 TD grabs in his NFL career.  Baker is a solid football player but he is clearly #2 on the Seahawks’ depth chart.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS TEs in 2010:  B+

The Seahawks likely won’t be handing off or throwing to their fullbacks any time soon.  They will depend on them for blocking in the running game.  25-year old Owen Schmitt will be the starter at fullback for the Seahawks.  He played in 15 games (1 start) for the Seahawks last season and he caught 6 passes for 21 yards (3.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Schmitt has now played in 30 games (2 starts) for the Seahawks in his two years with them and he has carried the ball 5 times for 21 yards (4.2 ypc).  He has also caught 12 passes for 50 yards (4.2 avg) with 1 TD grab in his career.

Ryan Powdrell will be Schmitt’s backup.  He is a 2nd year player out of USC (surprise there!) but he hasn’t gotten into any games yet in his NFL career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SEAHAWKS FBs in 2010:  B-