2000 season-in-review team reports —
AFC West
As published in print Jan. 31, 2001
|
| Overview |
| Many believed head coach/general manager Mike Holmgren would have the
Seahawks on the right path in just his second year in charge, but the 2000 season proved
it will take a bit longer to bring the organization around. Seattle chose not to re-sign
DLs Sam Adams and Phillip Daniels, and the team wasn’t the same up front because of
it. A QB quandary that is still unresolved, too many free-agent blunders and too many
defensive lapses caused the Seahawks to slip off the playoff map. |
| Turning point |
| A 24-17 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City in Week Five was the start of a
five-game losing streak that all but knocked the Seahawks from playoff contention. An
injury to signalcaller Brock Huard in that game put the QB situation in a state of
uncertainty for the remainder of the season. |
| Offensive MVP |
| In his 10th NFL season and with a talented rookie, Shaun Alexander,
supposedly hot on his heels, Ricky Watters continued to impress. Watters finished with
1,242 yards rushing and caught 63 passes for an additional 613 yards. He scored nine
touchdowns for Seattle and increased his average per carry from 3.7 yards in 1999 to 4.5
in 2000. Watters served as the one constant for the 19th-ranked Seahawks offense. |
| Defensive MVP |
| The Seahawks received a poor performance from their defensive line and a
shaky one from their secondary. The result was an overburdened group of linebackers.
Luckily for Seattle, third-year OLB Anthony Simmons was up to the challenge. Simmons
recorded 147 total tackles to go with four sacks and a pair of interceptions. |
| Biggest surprise |
| Ricky Watters was promised that his starting job was not in jeopardy when
the team drafted Shaun Alexander with its first-round pick, but few believed it.
Alexander’s limited role in the offense came as a major surprise, especially
considering he always seemed to produce at a high level when he was on the field.
Alexander rushed 64 times for 313 yards (4.9-yard average) and two touchdowns. |
| Biggest disappointment |
| Mike Holmgren’s mismanagement of the QB situation really hurt the
Seahawks’ cause. Holmgren did little to help Jon Kitna through his struggles during
the first half of the season and showed very little confidence in him, despite some decent
performances by Kitna in place of the injured Brock Huard. Holmgren did not even meet with
the quarterbacks to discuss their situation until mid-November, and by then it was too
late. |
| Rookie recap |
| The Seahawks found themselves a nice crop of rookies in 2000. Shaun
Alexander showed flashes of brilliance in his limited opportunities, but he figures to be
a bigger component in the Seahawks’ plans next season. ORT Chris McIntosh, the
team’s second first-round pick (No. 22 overall), held out and was not in
Holmgren’s good graces at the start. McIntosh eventually saw more action as the
season progressed. He improved his pass blocking and showed plenty of promise opposite
talented OLT Walter Jones. WR Darrell Jackson (third round) finished third on the team
with 53 catches for 713 yards and was a very polished route-runner for a first-year pro.
PK Rian Lindell was picked up after the season began and nailed 15-of-17 field-goal
attempts, including all three of his tries of 50 yards and beyond. CB Ike Charlton (second
round) didn’t see much action until the end of the season. |
| Free-agent/trade review |
| The trade of WR Joey Galloway to Dallas allowed the Seahawks to draft
Chris McIntosh and gave them an extra draft pick in April, which they could use to trade
for a starting quarterback. Seattle came up empty with SS Reggie Tongue, who was signed to
a $13 million contract during the offseason. The team also failed by trading RB Ahman
Green to Green Bay in exchange for CB Fred Vinson, who missed the entire year with injury.
C Robbie Tobeck was injured in minicamp but returned to good reviews at the end of the
season. George Koonce played OK at middle linebacker. |
Top of page
|
Regular-season record: 6-10
|
| Team leaders |
|
Rushing — Ricky
Watters, 1,242 yards on 278 carries, 4.5 avg., 7 TDs.
Passing — Jon
Kitna, 259-418 attempts for 2,658 yards, 18 TDs, 19 interceptions, 75.6 rating.
Receiving — Sean
Dawkins, 63 receptions for 731 yards, 5 TDs; Ricky Watters, 63 receptions for 613 yards, 2
TDs.
Scoring — Rian
Lindell, 70 points on 25 PATs and 15 FGs.
Kickoff returns — Charlie
Rogers, 66 for 1,629 yards, 24.7 avg., 1 TD.
Punt returns — Charlie
Rogers, 26 for 363 yards, 14.0 avg., 0 TDs.
Punting — Jeff
Feagles, 74 for 40.0 avg., 36.9 net, 2 TB, 24 inside 20, 1 blk., 57L.
Interceptions — Jay
Bellamy, Willie Williams, 4.
Sacks — Chad
Brown, Lamar King, 6. |
| Results |
|
| Pointspread Shown Refers to Seattle. |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
At Miami |
(+3) |
0-23 |
| Sept. 10 |
St. Louis |
(+8.5) |
34-37 |
| Sept. 17 |
New Orleans |
(-5.5) |
20-10 |
| Sept. 24 |
At San Diego |
(-2.5) |
20-12 |
| Oct. 2 |
At Kansas City |
(+4) |
17-24 |
| Oct. 8 |
At Carolina |
(+3.5) |
3-26 |
| Oct. 15 |
Indianapolis |
(+6) |
24-37 |
| Oct. 22 |
At Oakland |
(+7) |
3-31 |
| Oct. 29 |
Kansas City |
(+3.5) |
19-24 |
| Nov. 5 |
San Diego |
(-3.5) |
17-15 |
| Nov. 12 |
At Jacksonville |
(+9.5) |
28-21 |
| Nov. 19 |
BYE |
|
|
| Nov. 26 |
Denver |
(+3) |
31-38 |
| Dec. 3 |
At Atlanta |
(+1.5) |
30-10 |
| Dec. 10 |
At Denver |
(+10.5) |
24-31 |
| Dec. 16 |
Oakland |
(+7) |
27-24 |
| Dec. 23 |
Buffalo |
(-3) |
23-42 |
|
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