Ron Borges

The Seahawks are so clearly the best and most balanced team in the NFC West they might have to fear complacency more than anything else were it not for the existence of "The Jinx of the Super Bowl Losers.''

The Seahawks are well aware that the past five teams to lose the Super Bowl missed the playoffs the following season, and they are rallying around that fact. That may not amount to a hill of beans, but Super Bowl losers seem to need extra incentive to return to a high level of play, so it's a start.

What may be more important is whether coach Mike Holmgren will again choose to run the ball more than he throws it, something he's never liked to do but has allowed because of the production of Shaun Alexander. Holmgren believes it's easier to throw for a 6-yard gain than run for it, so he prefers a 60-40 ratio pass to run. Yet last year Seattle ran more times than it threw (519 to 474). It was only the second time in Holmgren's 14 years as an NFL coach that this happened.

Holmgren has always been uncomfortable with his offense's heavy reliance on Alexander, so it will be worth watching to see how the offense approaches things. When Holmgren was in Green Bay, the Packers had a back carry 30 or more times only three times in seven years.

Alexander did it twice last season, an emphasis Holmgren may well decide to alter. The loss in free agency of perennial Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson might play a role in that decision as well. Alexander gained much of his yardage running to Hutchinson's side, but he's being replaced by journeyman Floyd Womack, a change that could alter the offense's approach.

The loss of wide receiver Joe Jurevicius means 10 TD catches have to be replaced, but the free-agent signing of Minnesota wideout Nate Burleson is supposed to make up for some of that loss. Burleson is most productive out of the slot so he may find himself there. His presence in the starting lineup may not be enough to offset the continued keen problems of the Seahawks' leading deep threat Darrell Jackson. Jackson wasn't seen much this summer, which is why Seattle continues to try to make a trade with New England for its holdout wide receiver Deion Branch.

Jackson averaged 6.3 catches and 80.3 yards a game last season but he only was on the field for six games because of a knee injury. Jackson led the league in receptions after the first four weeks but missed 10 of the final 12 games. If he can return to the form that made him quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's favorite receiver, it would open up the offense considerably.

He will be closely watched to see if he's back to full strength and what the effect might be if he is.

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Defensively, a young, fast group improved itself with the free agent signing of linebacker Julian Peterson. Peterson was once a difference maker before tearing an Achilles two years ago in San Francisco. It's been a slow comeback to full strength, but he showed flashes of what he used to be last season. He will be closely watched because if Peterson can get back to being the same type of player he once was the Seahawks will have three dynamic linebackers on a team that led the NFL with 50 sacks a year ago.

Hot seat
Floyd "Pork Chop'' Womack. Womack is being asked to replace the game's best left guard, departed free agent Steve Hutchinson. Shaun Alexander ran his way to an MVP season last year behind the blocking of Hutchinson and left tackle Walter Jones. Since Jones is a perennial All-Pro, any dropoff will be attributed to the loss of Hutchinson and by definition the presence of Womack. Womack is a five-year veteran who has started at both tackle and right guard but he's never been in a position like this.

Overheard
The Seahawks believe safety Ken Hamlin will come back to being the same kind of hard-hitting presence he was in the midst of their secondary before head injuries he sustained during a fight in a nightclub a year ago put him out of football. Hamlin was not only once a big hitter but a difference maker. .

Outlook
Barring injuries, it's difficult to see anyone unseating the 13-3 Seahawks in the division. They have a potent offense, young and stingy defense, Pro Bowl performers at quarterback, running back, left tackle and linebacker and may have added a second one in Julian Peterson, who used to play for divisional rival San Francisco. A run defense that allowed only one back to rush for over 100 yards and a running game that's all but unstoppable makes for a difficult group of factors for anyone in the NFC West to overcome.

Prediction
First.

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