There is something about these 2023 Seattle Seahawks that has me increasingly super excited. I am resisting all urges to compare them to the historically awesome 2013 squad, but it’s becoming a challenge.

This team is fun to watch. They have an infectious energy. They are playing fast, and furious, and they are playing together.

They are also playing confidently, and you can see it with all three of their quarterbacks. I imagine some fans will remain skeptical as to whether Geno Smith can sustain his 2022 play this year. I am here to tell those sorts, I think he’s going to be better. I honestly do, and I think he’s going to continue being the guy here for a while.

I sat on the berm of a practice a weekend ago, and I witnessed Geno Smith running this offense like a pro bowl quarterback in his football playing prime. Against a very scrappy secondary, his passes were crisp, on target, and on time. With all of the weapons he has now, it felt like player’s choice as to where he went with the ball. In his brief appearance in this game, I saw more of the same. In my view, he looks really good.

In two preseason games, Drew Lock is showing a similar confidence and control over this offense. Last night, Lock looked like an NFL starting quarterback. He just did. If that was Justin Herbert playing in a Seahawk uniform, I can just hear the color analytic saying “yup, that’s the arm that made him a top ten pick in the draft.. yup, those are the athletic traits that are going to make you get paid.”

Through two preseason games, I also look at undrafted rookie QB Holton Ahliers, and I cannot help but think that John Schneider has unearthed a fascinating diamond in the rough who deserved to be rostered in the final cutdown. Ahliers just makes plays. He does it with his legs, and because of his threat as a runner, that opens up opportunities to make plays with his arm, and so far, he has been delivering. He is fun to watch.

This is just the quarterbacks. Seattle also has crazy depth at receiver. Every fan should be excited about Jaxon Smith Njigba, and he showed us why again last night. He can be a true superstar. For my money, though, I do not see how undrafted rookie Jake Bobo does not make this roster.

Bobo has so much going on for him in this offense. He feels like a classic possession receiver in a west coast offense. He’s big, he’s way faster than he tested at the scouting combine, and he’s a natural route runner with the soft hands you want to see. He looks like a guy that just gets it. On top of continuing to make plays on offense, he’s showing to be solid on special teams. Bobo has all the makings of becoming a classic Seahawk fan favorite.

So many key young guys are showing up, and balling out. This is what has me most excited about this club moving into the regular season.

Last night, Zach Charbonnet showed us why Seattle felt compelled to spend another second round pick on a running back. He looks like he can be a top end every down back in this league, but for my money, it’s the young edge rushers who have my juices flowing.

Boye Mafe was a highly drafted edge rusher last year who played well, as a rookie, against the run, but felt a bit raw as a pass rusher. Last night, Mafe looked like the best pass rusher in the game. On multiple plays, he had me leaping out of my seat. He was consistently effecting the quarterback, getting pressure, batting down passes, and hurrying bad throws. Make has the physical talent to be a stop end defensive end in this league. That is not an exaggeration and every Seahawk fan should be excited about that.

Rookie edge rusher Derick Hall has that potential, as well. That’s nuts. Like Mafe last year, he was a high second round pick. With Hall, though, his pass rush ability looks more immediate. He looks like a ready-to-go young Frank Clark. He’s thick, he’s fast, and he’s physical. You felt that at Lumen Field last night as he exploded in for a pivotal fourth quarter sack.

Second year edge rusher Tyreke Smith is building a case for himself, as well. He redshirted last year with an injury, but the Ohio State product looks promising now, and capped the game off with a fun, game clinching, fourth down sack.

Undrafted rookie edge rusher Levi Bell, through these two games, is also making a very interesting name for himself. He is consisting pass rushing and playing the run really well. He’s a dude who I am really rooting for to make this team. You want guys like this on your club.

With all the depth and talent at edge rusher, I honestly wonder if Seattle doesn’t consider moving Darrell Taylor for perhaps another proven interior defensive linemen, where their depth is more of a question mark. In his post game press conference, Pete Carroll said that he likes his rotation of defensive tackle types, and feels good there, but if I had to pick one spot where I would like to see Seattle had one more legit piece, it would probably at DT, and I like what depth players like Myles Adams are going through these two preseason games.

It was nice to see third year corner Tre Brown make a key red zone interception with the game on the line. He’s probably a depth player with the talent at corner now on this club, but he feels like a top end depth player who could start for some teams, and will become a key player this year.

What are my concerns about this club this year? Am I nervous about the depth at middle linebacker, and the defensive line?

Yeah, I don’t know, maybe. Not overly, though. Not like I was entering into training camp.

Devin Bush looks like a really good linebacker to mix in with Bobby Wagner, and Jordyn Brooks. I also think when teams start to get into a lot of passing plays against this defense, we could see a lot of dime coverage that will limit the need for multiple linebackers on the field. I also think that when they do finally get Jamal Adams back, he will be more in a linebacker role than a safety one.

I also think the steady preseason play of Myles Adams, and the promising play of rookie DT/DE Mike Morris might have Seattle better on their defensive line than many fans and media types think, but we will see. My daddy used to say that you can never have enough defensive linemen, and I hold true to that. I always want more. I see value in being greedy there.

But these 2023 Seattle Seahawks right now, through two preseason games, I really like. Like, I like them so damn much.

Also, it’s fun to see Jarran Reed back in a Seahawk uniform getting sacks. Love that dude.

Go Hawks!