2003 SEAHAWKS
	Matt Hasselbeck passed for 3,075 yards last season.
	Head coach: Mike Holmgrem (5th year). 2002 record: 7-9. NFC West finish: 2nd. Season opener: Sept. 7 vs. Saints. Schedule | Depth chart

This is finally the year for Mike Holmgren and the Seahawks. It has to be. For better or worse, what might be the NFL's last five-year rebuilding plan is about to mature.

Don't be fooled by Holmgren's forced forfeiture of his coveted general manager title following a disappointing 2002 season. This is still his team, from the quarterback (Matt Hasselbeck) to the running back (Shaun Alexander) to the receivers (Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson) and beyond.

The defense is the difference this year. In landing well-traveled coordinator Ray Rhodes, Holmgren finally found the perfect successor to Fritz Shurmur, his beloved former right-hand man in Green Bay. Shurmur died four years ago, only days before Holmgren's first regular-season game in Seattle. Only now is the defense recovering.

Rhodes routinely transforms mediocre defenses into top-10 units. His presence in Seattle instantly breathed life into cornerback Shawn Springs and linebacker Anthony Simmons, among others.

With Rhodes and a few key additions -- Norman Hand, Randall Godfrey, Chike Okeafor, Marcus Trufant and Ken Hamlin qualify -- the defense is improved. For Rhodes, elevating the NFL's 28th-ranked defense into the teens might be enough to deliver double-digit wins for a team loaded on offense.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Hasselbeck finished 2002 as the hottest quarterback in the game, passing for at least 260 yards in seven of the final 10 games. That lifted Seattle's pass offense to a No. 3 NFL ranking. At age 27, Hasselbeck should continue his rise following a rigorous offseason program complete with a personal chef and stepped-up workouts. The light came on for Hasselbeck when he became more trusting of the system. Holmgren responded with more enterprising game plans. The trend should continue. But Hasselbeck must stay healthy because backup Trent Dilfer needs time to regain his touch after an offseason of physical hardship and personal tragedy.
Grade: B

Running backs: Show him to the red zone or place him on a national stage, and Alexander takes his game to the highest level. Alexander's failure to maintain his edge under less glamorous circumstances is puzzling, but his production could skyrocket if Seattle can carry leads into fourth quarters. Alexander worked hard this offseason to become a better receiver. Coaches think he could top 1,800 total yards. The offense has other backfield options, beginning with Maurice Morris. Seattle won't ask him to carry the full load, but Morris is good enough to siphon carries from Alexander. He's healthy, too, having recovered from the hamstring injury that ended his rookie year. Mack Strong remains a solid blocking fullback who won't complain when the ball again fails to come his way.
Grade: A-minus

Receivers: Robinson, Jackson and Bobby Engram provide the offense with a dynamic mixture of potential and proven ability. Robinson, 23, is coming off a 78-catch season in which he nearly eclipsed Steve Largent's single-season franchise record for receiving yards. His best is yet to come. Jackson, 24, has more receptions for more yards and more touchdowns than any receiver chosen in the 2000 draft. He bounced back quickly from the concussion and seizure that nearly ended his 2002 season, making 32 of his 62 receptions in the final six games. Engram, a relative elder statesman at 30, has become one of the better third-down receivers in the game. Half of his 50 receptions last year came on third down, while 43 produced first downs. Throw in Alex Bannister, a 6-foot-5 prospect who has taken hold of the No. 4 spot, and Seattle is well-equipped to continue its offensive surge. Tight end is another strength so long as Itula Mili and Jerramy Stevens stay healthy. They combined for 69 catches and five scores a year ago, but both were banged-up in training camp.
Grade: A

Offensive linemen: Chris Terry elevated this group upon his arrival off waivers late last season. However, he has been suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse and personal conduct policy. With Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones continuing to hold out, Terry's absence creates a huge problem at tackle for the Seahawks. With Jones out, Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack plays left tackle, and Chris Gray takes over at right guard. Terry is important to the team because his arrival after 10 games with Carolina coincided with the Seahawks' blistering finish. The former second-round pick is an excellent pass protector with a mean streak to match. If the team wins, left guard Steve Hutchinson could join Jones as the only Pro Bowl offensive linemen in franchise history. Hutchinson was a worthy candidate last year until a broken fibula ended his season after four games. Center Robbie Tobeck isn't overpowering, but he is adept at springing Alexander for big gains on screens. Jerry Wunsch is a long-armed mauler who provides above-average depth at guard or right tackle. Grade: B

Defense
Defensive linemen: John Randle is healthy, and that makes all the difference up front. The line struggled mightily until Randle's surgically repaired knee came around toward the end of last season. Randle has 18 sacks over the last two years. Management gambled by investing $10 million in unproven defensive end Antonio Cochran. The 1999 fourth-round pick moved from the right to left side when Rhodes arrived. Seattle needs him to produce. The Seahawks whiffed in their attempt to land a big-name pass-rushing end in free agency. They settled for Okeafor, a rising player who came from San Francisco at an affordable price. Okeafor collected six sacks with the 49ers last season. The fortuitous addition of an in-shape Hand was offset when two offseason knee surgeries forced the Seahawks to place fellow defensive tackle Chad Eaton on injured reserve. Rocky Bernard and Cedric Woodard are active young tackles who must pick up the slack early in the year.
Grade: C-plus

Linebackers: Chad Brown, Simmons and newly acquired run stuffer Randall Godfrey look great on paper. But they missed a combined 25 games to injury last season, and that's a concern. On the positive side, Rhodes and position coach John Marshall will better utilize a decent group of backups, notably D.D. Lewis. Brown is a three-time Pro Bowl choice with 70 sacks in 10 seasons. He missed 10 games in nine years before suffering a sprained Lisfranc joint in his right foot last November. At 33, this is a pivotal season for him. Rhodes vowed to use Simmons' speed for pass rushing. That could take some pressure off Brown while helping Simmons finally realize his potential. Seattle wasted little time in signing Godfrey once the Titans decided they couldn't afford him. The signing addressed a major weakness if the 30-year-old Godfrey bounces back from his only injury-shortened season.
Grade: B-plus

Defensive backs: Springs, a former Pro Bowl left corner, stayed healthy for an entire offseason. Consider it a victory given Springs' recent history. With Springs healthy, Seattle has the best secondary in the NFC West, and it isn't close. Ken Lucas is a capable starter on the other side. Rookie first-round pick Trufant dazzled teammates from his very first practice, instantly becoming the third corner while pushing Lucas for the starting job. Rhodes also has veteran options at the position. An injury to veteran free safety Damien Robinson didn't hurt because Hamlin, the team's second-round choice, was ready to assume the starting role. Hamlin is a big hitter with outstanding range. Robinson might not reclaim the starting job upon his return from a shoulder separation. Strong safety Reggie Tongue has never been a big hitter. He does possess good ball skills, though (five interceptions in 2002).
Grade: B

Special teams
Letting Jeff Feagles leave in free agency wasn't a wise move. The team saved money but lost one of its most dependable players. Feagles' directional punting produced favorable field position. Tom Rouen has been inconsistent in his effort to replace Feagles. The team did seem to upgrade the kicking game. Josh Brown, a seventh-round choice from Nebraska, has threatened the endzone with nearly every kickoff during an impressive preseason. His recent predecessors rarely produced touchbacks. Seattle missed Morris on kick returns late last season. He's healthy again and back in the role. Morris had a 97-yard return for a touchdown last season.
Grade: C

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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