Seahawks Season Begins Sunday

Seahawks season starts this weekend with Rookie QB Russell Wilson at the helm of the Seahawks offense.  They start on the road in Arizona against the Cardinals who is starting the lesser known John Skelton at QB.  A big key to the game will be how well the Seahawks defense applies pressure to Skelton and are able to contain wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

The player to watch on defense will be the Seahawks number one draft pick Bruce Irvin.  He has been improving all pre-season and in his last game fans saw a glimpes of what might be to come with his quickness off the line.

The "feel-good", story of the off-season has to be rookie offensive lineman J.R.Sweezy who the Seahawks drafted in the 7th round.  When Offensive Line Coach Tom Cable worked him out before the draft he saw the potential of moving him to offense.  What makes his story so incredible is that he has played defensive lineman since pee-wee football.  Because of his hard work and ability to pick up how to play the offensive line position, J.R Sweezy the 225 pick overall will make his first NFL start this Sunday.

The pre-season player that caught my attention was offensive line right tackle Breno Giacomini.  While watching him in the pre-season games his aggressiveness reminds me a little of a Howie Long.  He does need to work on not getting caught with his illegal contact penalties.  He is a big man out there and his 6'7 frame better not block the view of 5'11 Russell Wilson's passing lane. 

Something to watch this Sunday will be the replacement referees.  The Cowboys/Giants game went off with no major blown calls.  As long as they don't make a big mistake that will cost a team a game, then the NFL will continue to have the leverage in bargaining with the union referees.

The great sport gurus have the Seahawks finishing anywhere with a 7-9, 8-8 or 9-7 record.  Some have the Seahawks winning the West while others have them not even making the playoffs.  My hometown homer prediction is they will be playing in New Orleans on Feb. 3, 2013, in the Superbowl.  Go Hawks!

Seahawks 2012 Schedule:

Sept 9          @          Arizona Cardinals

Sept 16       Home      Dallas Cowboys

Sept 24       Home      Green Bay (Monday Night Football)     

Sept 30        @          St. Louis Rams

Oct 7            @          Carolina Panthers

Oct 14         Home      New England Patriots

Oct 18          @          San Francisco 49ers (Thursday)

Oct 28          @          Detroit Lions

Nov 4          Home      Minnesota Vikings

Nov 11        Home      New York Jets

Nov 18        BYE

Nov 25         @          Miami Dolphins

Dec 2           @          Chicago Bears

Dec 9         Home      Arizona Cardinals

Dec 16         @          Buffalo Bills

Dec 23       Home      San Francisco 49ers

Dec 30       Home       St. Louis Rams

Feb 3   New Orleans  Houston Texans(my prediction)