Jim L. Mora - head coach
This one shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Jim Mora is replacing the most successful head coach in team history and a likely Hall of Fame inductee--Mike Holmgren.
While his struggles in Atlanta can be blamed on many factors outside of his coaching, there's no doubt 8-8 and 7-9 records just won't fly in Seattle anymore.
What will be expected is results similar to his first season in Atlanta, when the team went 11-5 and took a trip to the NFC Championship game. A Super Bowl title at some point would also be nice.
To continue...
But perhaps Super Bowl expectations aren't fair. After all, the Seahawks franchise has never tasted Super Bowl glory. But they came close, and that hunger is still burning in the bellies of most fans.
As a truly wise man once said, "You play to win the game."
So what does Mora need to bring Seattle in order to one day hold the coveted Vince Lombardy Trophy?
Defense, defense, defense!
In 43 years of Super Bowl champions, only four have finished outside the top 10 in points allowed. In contrast, a Seahawks defense has cracked the top 10 only eight times.
Now, they've done so twice in the last four years, so the talent is there. Mora just needs to build a unit that's more than just bend, don't break. From time to time, it needs to do some breaking of the opposing offense.
If Mora can mold Seattle's defense into a fast, aggressive unit that gets to the quarterback and creates turnovers--and does all this on the road--then Seattle should be in good shape to build on the success of the Holmgren era.
Leaders on and off the field
Every championship organization is strong from top to bottom, filled with leaders who can hold the team together even in the lean times. And there will be lean times.
But there needs to be the strength of character to keep going, work hard and fight for every inch at all times.
Mora needs to demand excellence of his players, his staff and himself no matter what. If he gives up then you get moments like this:
Or this:
Spoiled little babies
Unfortunately for Mora, the fanbase has been incredibly spoiled this past decade. Not only is a division title expected, but if he can't lead this team back to the big game in February, then his time in Seattle may not be as long and fruitful as Holmgren's or Chuck Knox's.
This, of course, applies mostly to the bandwagon fans and not the true blue 12th Man, who filled the Kingdome even in the Tom Flores years. (Sorry I brought him up.)
There are plenty of reasons to be excited for the Jim Mora years. He brings a youthful enthusiasm sorely lacking from past Seahawks coaches. But that golden smile of his will warm the hearts of Seahawks fans for only so long.
Digging this team out of a 4-12 hole is a tough prospect, and Mora will need to prove himself more than just an adequate coach, more than just an above average coach. He needs to be something special, and sooner rather than later would be nice.
Number 2 - Chris Spencer
Number 3 - Julius Jones
Number 4 - Gus Bradley
Number 5 - Brian Russell
Number 6 - Lawrence Jackson
Number 7 - Deon Butler
Number 8 - Ken Lucas
Number 9 - Leroy Hill
Number 10 - Brandon Mebane
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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