Seattle Sports Insider

Seahawks will be back, if they can answer a few questions

Today we start answering a few as we head into the offseason

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1/18/16

There is no need for any analytics or second guessing to determine why the Seahawks lost Sunday. They simply laid the egg of all eggs in the first half and could not come back all the way, even with the valiant effort they put up in the second half. It almost makes the loss feel that much worse, the second half showed that the Panthers were not as good as the first half score might indicate. Rather the Seahawks gave it away.

That first half seemed to be all mental, they were overpowered in every facet of the game. Then in the second half they played as well as they have played against anyone, it's like this team needs to have its back against the wall in order for it to kick into full gear.

What's done is done, and it's time to look ahead. Even if the Hawks won the Super Bowl yesterday, they would still be looking ahead. And ahead lies many a question mark.

Will Jermaine Kearse be back?

Let's start with the star of the game: Jermaine Kearse. Before the game, Kearse might have been expendable, he isn't the most sure handed on the team, and with Tyler Lockett's emergence, wide receiver is more crowded than anticipated.

In what could be his last game as not only a Seahawk, but for a team in Washington state, Kearse snagged 11 balls for 110 yards and two touchdowns, turning in probably the best performance of any Seahawk. Surely that has caught the eye of other teams around the league. Of course, players on successful teams often get poached, and often at an inflated price ie: Byron Maxwell.

As hard as it would be to let a fan favorite like Kearse go, there are players on the team that could replace him at a cheaper price. Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams, both former UW stars like Kearse, were undrafted free agents like Kearse, and found their way onto the active roster after spending most of the season on the practice squad.

Another summer of potential contract disputes

Two summers ago it was Marshawn Lynch, who is likely to go. Last year Michael Bennett girped a bit although he did not miss any practices. And of course Kam Chancellor took his hold out into the regular season.

Of the two unhappy campers from last summer, Bennett played well enough to possibly warrant a raise, as he was one of the best defensive lineman in the league. Kam had an un-Kam like year overall, one that included many miscues, some costing the Seahawks wins.

Both are likely to ask for more money this offseason, which will be key in how the Seahawks draft this spring. Frank Clark seems like an almost Bennett clone, and maybe Seattle drafts Chancellor's replacement, putting him on notice.

Photo: Flickr/Keith Allison