1 Seattle Seahawks

WHAT'S NEW

> This team could be more talented than the one that lost (got robbed, most Seattle fans still say) in the Super Bowl two seasons ago. Other than the drop-off at left guard, from All-Pro Steve Hutchinson in '05 to untested Rob Sims, every offensive position is as good or better than that NFC-champion lineup; in particular, tight end has been upgraded, with sure-handed Marcus Pollard, signed as a free agent from Indianapolis, replacing butterfingered Jerramy Stevens. Two free-agent pickups on defense are also upgrades: former Falcons left end Patrick Kerney and former Jaguars safety Deon Grant. "We're healthier than we were all last year on offense," says coach Mike Holmgren, "and what I'm really excited about is, we're a lot better on defense." They'd better be. The Seahawks limped into last year's playoffs after allowing 20 or more points in 12 of the last 14 regular-season games.

WHERE THEY'RE HEADED

> Unless, at 30, he shows signs of slowing down, Kerney will give opposing offensive coordinators more to worry about when they prepare for Seattle than just premier pass rusher Julian Peterson. "Whenever we played Atlanta," Holmgren says, " Kerney was the guy we said we needed to stop. He's relentless." In addition, defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, returning from November knee surgery, provides much-needed juice to a run defense that allowed 4.6 yards per attempt, 30th in the league. At safety, Grant and Brian Russell offer veteran leadership to an otherwise young secondary. So let's assume the defense will be competitive for 16 games.

In the meantime, it will be up to the offense to return to its 2005 form, when it scored three or more touchdowns in 12 of 16 games; last year the Seahawks scored as many only nine times. It was easy to blame injuries for the drop-off. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander combined to miss 10 starts with shoulder and foot injuries, respectively; ace receiver Darrell Jackson missed three to a bad toe and was week-to-week after that.

In April, Jackson was traded to the 49ers for a fourth-round draft pick--a highly questionable move, dealing your best receiver to a burgeoning division rival that beat you twice last year--leaving Deion Branch to fill the franchise-receiver role. In truth, it's about time he did; the Seahawks traded a first-round pick to the Patriots to get him last season, and they're paying him $6.5 million a year.

Hasselbeck had off-season surgery on his nonthrowing shoulder and looked fine in camp, but the player who has the fate of the Seahawks in his hands is Alexander. He's the kind of runner who, when healthy and in sync with his line, looks like he's galloping downhill; in the Super Bowl season he averaged 5.1 yards per carry and scored 28 touchdowns. That's what Seattle missed last year. He started the first three games, then sat out half a dozen and finished with a 3.6-yard average and just seven touchdowns. Overall, comparing 2005 with '06, the Seahawks' per-game production dropped by 7.3 points and 58.6 yards.

What you have to wonder about Alexander, who just turned 30, is whether his average of 367 combined rushes and receptions per season from 2001 through '05 will hasten his decline from greatness. His uncharacteristic performance last year gave him reason to beg off the banquet circuit in the off-season and rededicate himself to getting into what he says is the best football shape of his life. "I want to do something spectacular this year," he says. "I'm shooting for Eric Dickerson's rushing record and LT's touchdown record."

That's 2,105 yards and 31 touchdowns. Is he serious?

"It's always possible when you're like I am now--with new blood and new energy," Alexander says. "A couple of years ago, when I had 28 [touchdowns], I didn't play in nine quarters, and we were [so far] ahead a few times that we really weren't trying to score. Thirty-two is possible if you get in the kind of groove I know I can get in."