Detroit Lions 2015 Schedule Preview: Seattle Seahawks
By Zac Snyder
A tough early season schedule for the Detroit Lions doesn’t get any easier in week four when they hit the road again to take on the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks always enjoy a strong home-field advantage and that will sure to be the case against the Lions as the two NFC playoff teams from a year ago meet on Monday Night Football. It will be a second-straight appearance on national television for the Lions after hosting the Broncos on Sunday Night Football in week three.
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To check up on the Seattle Seahawks as they get ready to report to training camp, I got together with Keith Myers, editor at 12th Man Rising.
Below are my questions followed by Keith’s answers.
1. How would you assess the team’s offseason? Did they do what they needed to do through the draft and free agency?
"It is tough to complain about Seattle’s offseason from a talent perspective. They’re returning all but three starters and they’ve significantly improved their depth in some key places. Plus, any time you can add a major weapon like Jimmy Graham, you’re destined to get better.On the other hand, Seattle’s weakest link the last few seasons has been their offensive line. Two of the starters they lost were on line, and the Seahawks will be replacing them with at least one rookie. While that unit should be much improved by 2016, there are bound to be some major growing pains this season."
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2. Which rookie are you most excited to see play in 2015 and why?
"Wide receiver Tyler Lockett is the one guy that should make an impact right away. While the Seahawks will ease him into the offense, Lockett should make his presence felt instantly on special teams.Most people outside of Seattle don’t seem to realize just how bad Seattle’s return teams were last season. The loss of Golden Tate and Percy Harvin created a major hole that was never filled last year. Lockett should step in and provide a massive improvement for the Seahawks."
3. What is the biggest question that still needs to be answered heading into training camp?
"Who will start at center and left guard, and how quickly can they grow into the job. Max Unger and James Carpenter might have both been injury prone and a bit of a disappointment in the last few seasons, but at least everyone knew what to expect from them. Right now we don’t even know who will be on the field at those positions for Week 1.Currently there’s a five man competition for the starting center job and three players competing at LG. Three rookies are in the mix and two guys that are defense-to-offense conversion projects that are elite athletes for offensive linemen.With Tom Cable running this competition and having the final saw on the depth chart for the offensive line, it is impossible to handicap this race. He stuck J.R. Sweezy in the starting lineup in Week 1 of his rookie season, and Sweezy hadn’t played a snap on offense since he was in a Pop Warner league."
4. What are your expectations for the team in 2015?
"Expectations are extremely high for the Seahawks this season. The defense, especially the defensive line, was decimated by injuries last season and they still finished at the best defense in the NFL and got the Seahawks 1 yard away from a Super Bowl championship.Now they’re deeper and more talented up front, as well as being healthy again. With Wilson and Lynch able to mask the offensive line deficiencies, and with the improvement that Jimmy Graham will bring, there’s no reason to expect the offense to take a step back either.I expect the Seahawks to get off to a slow start because of the offensive line issues, but then make a run deep into the playoff again once the new linemen adapt to their new roles. Unless there’s an injury to someone like Lynch or Wilson, anything short of an appearance in the NFC Championship Game would be a major disappointment."
5. Right here, right now, are you marking down the game against the Lions as a win, loss or toss-up?
"Right now I have to give the edge to the Seahawks. Seattle’s defense is strong where it needs to be to slow down Detroit’s offense, and I don’t see Detroit’s defense as being that strong this season. Without the two big defensive tackles from last season, the Lions will likely have a tough time slowing down Marshawn Lynch and Seattle offense."
Next: Lions 2015 Schedule Preview: Broncos