Two and Two / 9-10-10

Realistically, that's about what we can expect out of the Seattle Seahawks this season. Two wins, and two losses. Mmmm? What's that you say? And as for the other dozen games? Bpthfffff. Who knows?

I'm somewhat knowledgeable about sports, somewhat able to tell when a team is going to suck and when it's going to unsuck. Most the time.

This Hawks squad leaves me perplexed. Pergoogleplexed. (There are lots and lots of English-speaking people in the world, and lots of them say goofy things, so I'm going to conclude that very, very VERY sadly, there is a thirtysomething dad out there who has also invented that exact same word. He's a dork and a loser, whereas I am supercool.)

Who's to say how this season will be any different than the last, when they went 5-11 and looked exactly as bad as their record?

I'm to say that things are different.

The defense that looked like it was playing 8-on-11 last year will be better organized, more healthy and better in pass defense this season.

The reliable QB who got hurt and missed half the season will play more games this season.

The offensive line that lost 14 left tackles to injury last year (I joke, but the Hawks did use their fifth-string guy for a while) will perform better, with the development of new blood and improved coaching.

If those three improvements hold, and the division gets even weaker with Arizona's perceived step back (they have no quarterback or receivers left), then I could see Seattle picking up two or three more wins than last year.

But at the same time, there's the stunning turnover from '09 that weighs on my mind, and I find myself wondering, with half the 53-man roster gone, including important contributors like T.J. and Josh Wilson, will there be any semblance of continuity? And if, Tao forbid, anyone important gets re-hurt, could this team be two or three wins WORSE than last year?

And then, there are these 3,256 other questions left to be answered:

(I'll pick just 10.)

315. Will left tackle Russell Okung ever see the field this year?

666. Why the h*ll did our offensive line coach, widely regarded as the best in the business, quit a week before the opener?

777. What if everyone stays healthy? Is 10-6 out of the question?

1,002. Is Golden Tate for real?

1,003. Is Aaron Curry for real? Will he ever be?

1,974. Who exactly will be rushing the passer?

1,976. Who exactly will be rushing the football?

2,011. What if Whitehurst takes more snaps than Hasselbeck?

2,987. Is 8-8 enough to win the division?

3,256. You know, Jim Mora was a pretty good college coach too.

That's all I've got. Go Hawks!

EDIT after Sunday's season opener: The O-line looked decent, the receivers were better than good, we created a pass rush, Hasselbeck made only one mistake all day, lots of guys carried the ball in acceptable fashion, and the rest of the division looks awful. Carroll completely outcoached Singletary, and now I have to aggressively remind myself: IT'S JUST ONE GAME dude.