Kickoff Primer: An instant guide to the 2016 Seattle Seahawks

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Seattle Seahawks

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Pete Carroll
Offensive Coordinator: Darrell Bevell
Defensive Coordinator: Kris Richard

Key Additions

• G Germain Ifedi (1st round)
• DT Jarran Reed (2nd round)
• DT Tony McDaniel
• OT Bradley Sowell
• OT J'Marcus Webb

Key Departures

• OT Russell Okung
• LB Bruce Irvin
• DT Brandon Mebane
• G J.R. Sweezy
• DT Jordan Hill
• C Lemuel Jeanpierre
• C Patrick Lewis

Preseason Power Ranking - No. 5

Russell Wilson played the best football of his career and is expected to lead the offense to new heights, despite Marshawn Lynch's retirement. With the league's best scoring defense, the Seahawks are chomping at the bit in trying to dethrone the Cardinals for NFC West supremacy. More...

Projected Starting Lineup

* tight end Jimmy Graham (knee) is questionable to play Week 1

Questions to Answer

• How will the running game cope after Marshawn Lynch retired?
• Will the offensive line be able to gel in time to protect Wilson?
• Can the Seahawks lead the NFL in scoring defense for fifth straight year?

Best-case Scenario

Wilson's superlative form in the second half of last season carries into 2016 and he emerges as a legitimate MVP front-runner as the Seahawks' passing game steamrolls the opposition. Thomas Rawls and Christine Michael effortlessly fill the hole left by Lynch's retirement, while the Legion of Boom returns to its 2013 form and tops the NFL in scoring defense for the fifth consecutive year. Firing on all cylinders, the Seahawks go 14-2 and win their second Super Bowl in four years.

Worst-case Scenario

The anemic offensive line collapses upon itself and Wilson suffers a major injury due to the relative lack of protection, and the team resorts to undrafted rookie Trevone Boykin at quarterback. Opposing quarterbacks attack Jeremy Lane and DeShawn Shead with relentless precision, and the Seahawks fall to 9-7, just missing out on a playoff spot for the first time since 2011.