Accelerating the 4 Year Plan

Schneider: I didn't know the University of Phoenix had a football team!  58-0?!!?
Pete: Good one, John.

January 19, 2010.  Already feels like an eternity ago, huh?  This is one of the biggest dates in the history of the Seattle Seahawks.  John Schneider, director of football operations for the Green Bay Packers at the time, is handpicked by new Seahawks President and Head Coach Pete Carroll to be the Seahawks General Manager.  The result?  Many moments like the one captured in the picture above and a genuinely excellent working relationship between the two.  Much of this stems from a shared football philosophy and common beliefs the two share on roster construction.  One of these beliefs has been the "4 Year Plan."  We've heard about it time and time again from both men but could this be one of the few times they've been wrong?

The old saying goes, you hope for the best but prepare for the worst.  With regards to the Seahawks, I can see the perpetually optimistic Pete Carroll constantly thinking about the positive possibilities while John Schneider's job is to sort of "prepare for the worst", in a sense.  Schneider is the yin to Carroll's effusive yang.  This isn't good cop/bad cop though, no.  This is the ever rare good cop/good cop routine.  A positive outlook is just one of the many things that Pete Carroll and John Schneider share in common.  Which brings me back to the 4 Year Plan.

When these guys took over they laid out their blueprint for a self-sufficient, sustained Super Bowl contender.  So far, they've followed that blueprint to near-perfection.  The first order was gutting an aging, overpriced, and talent bare roster and stocking the cupboards with young, affordable, and controllable talent.  Mission accomplished.  Next up was going outside the organization and accelerating the process by adding young free agents with existing upside and potential.  Check.  Then, the most daunting task of them all, finding the much talked about but seldom seen "Franchise Quarterback."  I think it's safe to say they found him.  Finally, allowing the team to grow together and gel through game experience.  That's the phase we're currently witnessing.  Things seem to be going according to plan, right?  What if I told you this team might actually be ahead of schedule?

After all, stranger things have happened in the NFL.  The New York Giants were all set to fire Head Coach Tom Coughlin before ending last season on a magical run capped off by a Super Bowl crown.  Why can't this team accelerate the process and cash in in Year 3 of the 4 Year Plan?  Carroll and Schneider said that Year 4 would be the year they expect this team to start consistently competing year in and year out for Lombardi trophies but the football gods may be smiling favorably upon them for their hard work.  Remember the days when the Hawks couldn't go a day without making a roster transaction?  That due diligence and amazing work ethic is finally paying off.

In a sense it already did when Marshawn Lynch ran through all of the Bayou and into the endzone en route to a shocking upset of the defending champion Saints in the NFC Wild Card game in 2010.  However, that appears to simply be a taste of things to come.  The question is, how soon can we expect greatness? 

For starters, Schneider and Carroll couldn't have known that by Year 3 they would find their mythical franchise quarterback, and I'm not talking about Blaine Gabbert here.  Russell Wilson has the savvy of a 7 year veteran, not that of a typical rookie.  He has the poise and polish to thrive down the stretch and into the playoffs.  While the team may have hoped that by Year 3 they'd have their guy, they couldn't have envisioned him being so NFL ready and so ready for success.

How about guys like Richard Sherman and Bobby Wagner?  While I'm sure Carroll and Schneider have always believed in their players abilities, they couldn't have imagined Sherman's meteoric rise or Wagner's emergence all happening so quickly.  The same can be said for guys like Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor.  Even the most optimistic of Hawks fans would've had a hard time predicting how quickly they'd take to the NFL game.

This is what leads me to believe that while Pete and John were preparing to compete by Year 4 of the plan, they were really hoping for the best all along.  Winning it all in Year 3.  There's just been so many "best case scenarios" that have unfolded for the Hawks when it comes to player development that it's hard NOT to believe.

I know a few of you are probably cringing right now but screw it!  We haven't even clinched a playoff spot and here I am talking about playoffs.  I'm sure Jim Mora Sr. would have something to say about that.  When the season started, I wasn't alone in picking the Hawks to go 10-6 with a playoff berth so I know there are believers out there.  In fact, it's still possible for the Hawks to one up that prediction by finishing 11-5 and potentially winning the NFC West.  Unbelieveable when you consider how this season has transpired. 

Here are a few of the keys to "accelerating the 4 Year Plan."

Battle Tested
If this team does fulfill it's destiny in the Year of the 12 by making the playoffs and possibly doing more, no one will be able to say they didn't earn it. Don't let the people at ESPN fool you, this team is already and will be further battle tested upon completion of the season. You know all about the 5 Quality Wins, the Opponents Winning Percentage, all that good stuff that makes us glow with excitement. I feel that all of the close games and even the heartbreaking defeats have accelerated the growth of this team from young and untested to tough and battle scarred all throughout the course of a single season. The Seahawks finally showed their potential to play dominant football this past Sunday. Pretty impressive when you consider that it came in Week 14. Lesser teams would have broken by now and would be praying for the finish line. Not this team, they appear to be getting stronger. The game in Toronto will continue to tell this story...

Street Fighter
It's something I've commonly referred to and it's one of the quotes that made me fall in love with John Schneider. The players he's looking for are guys that could "win a street fight." Lucky for John, the Seahawks have played in their fair share of street fights this season and they stand at 8-5. It hasn't always been pretty and it's always been nerve-racking but this team is taking the shape of one that John Schneider could be proud of. I think this desire for "street fighters" also has a lot to do with the fact that the Seahawks have remained relatively healthy throughout the season, KNOCK ON WOOD! This team is built tough and the road ahead is a tough one, so it would appear that they are well-suited for whatever the football gods are ready to throw at them.

Generating a Consistent Pass Rush
This one is the major key for me. It's true, sacks are overrated. Pressure is not however and if the Seahawks are to make a long playoff run to eventual glory, they'll have to do a better job of consistently creating pressure. Wreaking havoc is the name of the game and in the games where Seattle has lost they have failed to force poor throws and capitalize. Whether it be through dialing up the blitz or getting better pressure from the Front 4, this team will need to harrass opposing QB's at a better rate. If they can do this, it should have a trickle down effect on the team's production. More pressure means more forced throws which potentially means more turnovers which means more possession on offense which means more success for the team as a whole. Something tells me that Gus Bradley has an ace up his sleeve and that we'll see it unleashed down the stretch.

Next Man Up!
Traditionally, this is the part of the season where you tend to see more and more injuries. Sidney Rice is wearing a boot because of a foot bruise and his status for Sunday is uncertain. That would be a major blow to Russell Wilson and the rest of the offense, but it's not something that can't be overcome. When Leroy Hill, Brandon Browner, and Marcus Trufant went down with injuries/suspension it was uncertain how Walter Thurmond Tres and Malcolm Smith would perform in their absence. So far, the results have been stellar. It's this "Next Man Up" mentality that this team will need to survive the march for the Lombardi trophy. What I really appreciate is the fact that no one is pointing fingers at Brandon Browner for his suspension. Yes, the team and fans are let down by the news, but no one has thrown BB under the bus and have actually been rather supportive of him and Sherm. I like it. Tim Ryan said during the Cardinals broadcast that this team is tight like a family. Of course, we've known that all along, but it's great to see it even during tough times.

Balance on Offense
It's what all teams strive for but few actually achieve. The Seahawks have the potential to be a well balanced machine on offense the rest of the way. With the potential emergence of Anthony McCoy, the Seahawks now look dangerous in 2 Tight End sets. You know Pete Carroll just LOVES that. Now that opposing defenses have to account for McCoy as a receiver it opens things up a bit for Darrell Bevell and Russell Wilson, not to mention Marshawn Lynch. This team can now pass or run out of 2 TE sets with equal effectiveness. When opposing defenses can't stack the box to shut down Beast Mode, it makes life nearly impossible. Just ask the Cardinals. Keep in mind the Seahawks will always be a run first team. Creating more balance on offense has and will continue to help the team fulfill it's goal of establishing the run and passing out of play-action. You couldn't dream of a more perfect situation for Russell Wilson.

Demand Greatness
Finally, the key to cashing in on success this season. Next season needs to be a distant thought in the back of everyone's mind. We all know that this team is going to be a force to be reckoned with next season and beyond, but it's important to realize that they already are one when they're on top of their game right now. I'm sure the confidence in the locker room is sky high right now. If you were to look any one of these guys in the eye and tell them they aren't Super Bowl contenders this season they'd be sure to let you know how wrong you are. They believe and rightfully so. They know what will be required of them in order to pull this whole thing off and that's greatness. We saw it on display on Sunday, let's hope that it infects the team down to their core and they have no choice but to fulfill their destiny in the year of the 12!
 

Pete Carroll and John Schneider have been steadfast in their commitment to the 4 Year Plan.  However, this talented group of Seahawks might be good enough to accelerate the process.  I'm sure Carroll and Schneider and 12's everywhere could live with it actually being a 3 Year Plan.