I really don't know how this team will do this year, but I took a look at the 2016 schedule and I firmly believe that if the Offensive Line had been capable of providing even average protection for Russ, the Seahawks would have gone 15-1. The only game they weren't really in was the Packers game at the end of the season. Other than that, they could have, and should have, won every other game:
L 3-9 Rams -- The Rams were a joke last year, and all it would have taken was some modest blocking success to pull this game out.
T 6-6 Cardinals -- The line actually blocked a little in OT and the result was an easy game-winning FG that Hausch$ biffed. If there had been any blocking throughout regulation, this would have been a blowout win.
L 20-25 Saints -- Just looking at the score, one might think that the offense did OK here, and that it was the defense that lost this game. Not true. Even though they took a 14-13 halftime lead into the locker room, the offense was abysmal against a Saints Defense that was pretty terrible. The Seahawks needed a trick play to set up their second score, but were totally and completely outgained by the Saints. Throughout the game the Seahawks D forced 4 FG's. Even with all this, the Seahawks had a chance to win it at the end, with Kearse catching a TD pass on the final play but coming down out of bounds.
L 5-14 Bucs -- This game was a mirror image to the Rams game at the beginning of the year, only the Bucs have a better Offense. Offensive Line got totally and completely dominated by a Bucs Defense that had given up 36 pts to the Bears a couple of weeks prior. Even halfway decent blocking would have completely changed the complexion of this game as the Seahawks were 1/11 on 3rd down. Brutal to watch.
L 10-38 Packers -- I don't think much would have changed this game, except maybe having Earl Thomas available. Aaron Rodgers was at his best, the Pack was on a roll.
It is amazing, however, to think how close we were to 15-1 last year. Just a little blocking here and there. One made FG from point blank range.
This is what gives me hope for this year, but it's also what gives me cause for concern. Our big need was OL. Yes, we took two Offensive Linemen in the draft and signed some promising free agents. If those guys work out, or if some of the guys we have (Fant, Glowinski, Ifedi) develop and get better, we have every reason to be optimistic.