A lot of NFL analysts don't seem to know what to make of the Seattle Seahawks heading into the 2024 season. To be fair, it's almost impossible to predict how much of a difference a head coaching change can make for a team - especially in their first year in the position. That said, everything we have heard and everything we know about new head coach Mike Macdonald makes us believe this team is going to be far better than most pundits are predicting right now.
We also have a strong suspicion that a lot of those pundits are not actually seeing Geno Smith play and are relying on his numbers to inform them - which would give them a very inaccurate view of his game. The truth is Smith has been held back by mediocre playcalling the last couple of years by former OC Shane Waldron. In a vaccuum, Smith is about as capable as any non-superstar quarterback in the league right now - and in some areas (like accuracy and fourth-quarter performance) he's better than anybody.
A lot of things can trip up an NFL team - and Seattle's offensive line as always has the potential to spoil the whole thing. That said, we'd be very surprised if the Seahawks don't win at least 10 games. It sounds like Bill Simmons agrees and is very high on this team going into Week 1. Here's what he told Fan Duel TV about Seattle.
Bill Simmons on the Seahawks going into 2024
"Their over is 7.5. They're +172 to make the playoffs. They're +210 for 10+ wins. 7/1 for the division and I have this as a healthy over. I think at least nine and I'm not opposed to the 10... I really like this team. Easy schedule first couple weeks. They go Denver, at the Pats, home Miami and that could be a 3-0 coming out of the gates. New coach theory kicking in full throttle with Mike Macdonald, who I thought did an awesome job with Baltimore last year..."
Simmons is correct, but the average fan probably isn't aware of Macdonald and the splendid work he did transforming the Ravens defense from an average unit to the best defense in the NFL last season by a pretty wide margin in just two years. We're expecting a similar surge for the Seahawks, who have plenty of talent on that side of the ball and just need a cutting-edge playcaller to bring out their best.
Offensively Seattle is stacked as well, at least everywhere but the line of scrimmage. Much will depend on offensive line coach Scott Huff and if he can get the sum to be greater than the parts. However, he has a brilliant playcaller in Ryan Grubb to help, a quarterback who's become sensational at avoiding pressure and getting the ball out quick, and a newly-arrived veteran center who should improve the group overall.
Anything can happen in a long season, but write these Seahawks off at your peril.
