People use the wrong stats when judging offense and defense. Yards matter not. Points are everything.
This year the Seahawks Offense, even with a plethora of injuries, ranked #9 in scoring in the NFL. 25.3 points per game with one of the toughest Strength of Schedules in the NFL.
Vikings: 25.4
New England: 26.2 (cupcake schedule)
Cowboys: 27.1
Chiefs: 28.2 (2.9 PPG difference from Seattle).
Tampa Bay: 28.6
New Orleans: 28.6
SF: 29.9
Ravens: 33.2
Defense was the issue. Unlike SF, we don't have the luxury of a losing history with high 1st round, after high 1st round pick on the DLine (19.4 PPG), or a Cupcake Division like New England has (14.1 PPG)
After years of double digit wins and being in the playoffs, our Cap was getting maxed out, our players were getting old, and we had to do a "turn" as Pete called it. Cutting a bunch of aging, high-priced players, and replacing them with draftees and signees. Since all of our picks were late picks, we didn't have the luxury of selecting the cream of the crop.
But, with great scouting, and coaching, and in spite of injuries, we made it to 11-5 this year. We were inches from being NFCW Champions, and possibly the #1 NFC seed.
As it was, with 17 players on IR, and 1 Rookie DT (DeMarcus Christmas) on PUP, this team still managed to keep games close, by holding opponents to 24.9 PPG. Granted, that left them ranked 22nd, but considering how decimated this team was, that's damn good coaching.
That's only 5.5 ppg more than a LOADED SF Defense gave up.
None of that takes in to account defensive players that they nursed through to the end. Clowney (Core Injury requiring surgery), Bobby Wagner (knee), Quinton Jefferson (Ankle/Broken Foot), Ziggy Ansah (Neck), Tre Flowers ((knee), Marquise Blair (Ankle), Quandre Diggs (Ankle).
Would I like to see some changes though? Yes. But not to coaching staff, and nothing major. Just some offensive adjustments to take advantage of our MVP Caliber QB, and our newfound weapons that nobody realized that we had.
I'd like to see the OLine improve, and add a good to great TE and WR.
I want to see draft capital go in to the defensive line. If we could have gotten some pass rush, it would have helped out our backfield a LOT. As it was, once we finally got the Safeties settled, it looked pretty good. Trey Flowers had some bloopers, but I expect him to make a big jump during his 3rd training camp, much like our Pro Bowl DB did.