Analyst Bucky Brooks likes Seahawks to win NFC West
Aug 26, 2011, 6:31 PM | Updated: Aug 27, 2011, 8:31 am
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By Brady Henderson
Seahawks fans fretting over the team’s offensive struggles in the preseason can turn to NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks for some reassurance.
Brooks, a former NFL player who later worked as a scout in the Seahawks’ front office, joined the “Kevin Calabro Show” on Friday and said it’s only a matter of time before Seattle’s offense, with a new system and several new players, gets going.
“They just still need time to get it together,” he said. “I just think they’re really talented on offense and their offense is going to be enough to really carry them to a division title.”
Brooks hasn’t been impressed with what he’s seen from the 49ers and thinks they aren’t as talented as the Seahawks. He pointed to the Rams’ difficult schedule without mentioning the Cardinals.
“With Seattle, I just think things bode well for them to win it because they have explosive weapons on the outside in Sidney Rice, Mike Williams and Zach Miller, they have a good running back in Marshawn Lynch,” he said. “It’s just a matter of them getting it together.”
They haven’t quite got it together yet, not in either of their two preseason games. After completing 3 of 5 passes in two series in the preseason opener, Tarvaris Jackson played two quarters against Minnesota last weekend and completed 11 of 21 passes for 75 yards and an interception that wasn’t his fault. The Seahawks haven’t scored in either game with Jackson running the offense.
Brooks shrugged off concerns about Jackson’s performances, attributing them to protection issues. He thinks Jackson can thrive once the Seahawks begin running the ball effectively.
“Marshawn Lynch has to be a guy who’s a major factor,” Brooks said. “If he’s a factor, a 1,200-yard rusher, then Tarvaris Jackson will be able to throw comfortably off play action and it makes it easier for everyone on the offense to feed from Tarvaris throwing off play action.”
After winning the NFC West last season, the Seahawks have a tough schedule of their own, especially early. They host the Falcons and play road games against the Steelers and Giants before a Week 6 bye.
That’s right around the time Brooks thinks the Seahawks could start to get things going. Despite their formidable early schedule, he thinks they could win up to nine games.
“I think they’re going to be a team that really kicks in at the middle to the end of the year because everything will finally fall into place,” Brooks said. “They’re as talented as any team in the division. I just think they have to get steady play from their O-line and their quarterback to really maximize the potential that they have.”
Follow Brady Henderson on Twitter @BradyHenderson
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