Seattle Seahawks: 5 Keys To Success In 2015
Sep 21, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tackle Russell Okung (76) stays on the ground after getting injured during the first half against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
4. The Entire Team Must Be Able To Stay On The Field
There’s no question that the Seattle Seahawks have one of the most talented teams in the league. The team has had at least five players selected to the Pro-Bowl in four consecutive years, including a total of nine 1st-Team All-Pro selections from 2012-2014. They’ve got the skills, they just have to be able to show them.
From a missing games standpoint, the team has not had too many troubles with its star players. However, running back Marshawn Lynch spent a large portion of last season on the injury report with back issues, and plenty other players played through different ailments.
Following the team’s loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, head coach Pete Carroll praised three of his defensive stars for toughing it out through injuries:
"“It was an extraordinary effort from guys who played through unbelievable issues,” Carroll said, according to Seahawks.com. “That was a heroic thing that those guys did to play. They wanted to play for their teammates and they did exactly that, and they did it in great fashion.”"
The team got lucky, in that none of these injuries turned into extremely serious problems, but it could have just as easily gone the other way. Russell Wilson has not missed a game in his career, cornerback Richard Sherman has been healthy through all of his three consecutive Pro-Bowl seasons, and safety Earl Thomas has not missed a game while being selected to All-Pro 1st Teams each of the last three years, but this is not always a guarantee.
These players, coaches, and the training staff deserve credit for managing to stay on the field, but that health is not a guarantee. Should any of these stars go down for an extended period, the team may be hard-pressed to fill their spot. Keeping the full team on the field every game needs to continue to be a priority.
The other thing that may cause players to miss time, is off-the-field issues. The Seahawks have a bit of a history of non-compliance with NFL regulations, as noted in New York Post article by Dan Marin.
These problems include fines due to illegal practices, suspension and fines due to performing enhancing drug tests, and Marshawn Lynch’s famous refusal to cooperate with the media, leading to even more fines.
Luckily for the team, these issues have still not lead to any extreme repercussions on the field, but if this pattern continues, they could see players missing extended periods of time. More discipline may be required to ensure that the team and its players all are compliant with NFL rules.
Seattle’s talent speaks for itself, but it won’t be evident if everyone is not on the field. It can be argued that their loss in Super Bowl XLIX was partially due to the fact that several of their players were not at full strength. Keeping everyone healthy and on the field should mean that the Seahawks once again field one of the league’s top teams in 2015.
Next: Stopping The Run