Don Pierson

All eyes are on the passing game in Seattle, where the Seahawks are undergoing changes at the receiver and defensive back positions.

Although coach Mike Holmgren's team became the first Super Bowl losers to advance to the playoffs the following year since 2000, their three-year hold on the NFC West is tenuous. No division was tighter top to bottom.

The 9-7 Seahawks won four games on last-minute field goals by Josh Brown. There will be no place for complacency at this training camp.

Holmgren needs strong years from star running back Shaun Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, both hampered by injuries last season. He also needs a strong showing from receiver Deion Branch, who joined the team early last season in exchange for this year's No. 1 draft choice.

Stars are sometimes taken for granted and aren't noticed until a year or two after they start to fade. Hasselbeck, Alexander and great left tackle Walter Jones all will be over 30 by the time the season starts.

To give Branch all the leeway he needs, the Seahawks traded their most productive receiver, Darrell Jackson, to San Francisco in a gamble they hope pays off in increased production by Branch, D.J. Hackett, Nate Burleson and old reliable veteran Bobby Engram. Like Branch, Burleson also joined the team last season and never reached his stride in the passing game, although his contributions as the primary kickoff and punt return man were pleasant surprises.

Holmgren finally gave up on unreliable tight end Jerramy Stevens, adding veteran Marcus Pollard, who is on his last legs and will share time with Will Heller.

Another focus on offense is to see whether second-year left guard Rob Sims is indeed the answer over Pork Chop Womack as the team tries to settle its search for Steve Hutchinson's replacement. Right tackle Ray Willis also looks like he'll push Sean Locklear.

Holmgren hired ex-Falcons coach Jim Mora to guide the secondary, where wholesale changes are taking place. Jacksonville's Deon Grant replaces departed Ken Hamlin at free safety, unless Grant proves a better strong safety. That's where Michael Boulware struggles and remains available — provided newcomer Brian Russell or ex-Chicago starter Mike Green can't win the spot.

Right cornerback Marcus Trufant is being moved back to left corner, where he played in 2004 and part of 2003, leaving the right side to second-year man Kelly Jennings. Rookie Josh Wilson already looks good enough to assume the nickel role in place of departed Kelly Herndon. The Seahawks were left with walk-ons playing cornerback in the playoffs after injuries devastated the position.

Hot seat
Hasselbeck was the NFC's best quarterback when he took the Seahawks to the Super Bowl two years ago. Now, he must answer whether he's the best in the NFC West, where the Rams' Marc Bulger and two up-and-coming former No. 1 picks, the 49ers' Alex Smith and the Cards' Matt Leinart, are developing fast. Knee and shoulder injuries limited Hasselbeck to 12 starts last season. He'll turn 32 early in the season and should still be in his prime. He must develop rapport with Branch and Burleson and with Pollard. His passer efficiency rating last year was his lowest in five seasons and so was his completion percentage of 56.6, unacceptable in Holmgren's offense.

Overheard
Newcomer Patrick Kerney replaces Grant Wistrom on the defensive line and will play left end, requiring Bryce Fisher to move to right end. The Seahawks are hoping for a quick impact by rookie defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, but they really need a healthy year from Marcus Tubbs to solidify the defensive front. Entering his fourth season, Tubbs has yet to prove durable. Although Mora is not the defensive coordinator, deferring to John Marshall, he was defensive coordinator of the 49ers when Seahawks' linebacker Julian Peterson starred there. Peterson had 10 sacks last year, so Marshall doesn't need a lot of advice, but every suggestion might help.

Outlook
Holmgren rightfully pointed out that injuries prevented him from ever fielding the offense he wanted to field last year. Nine starters missed a total of 48 games. The Seahawks need better luck to stay ahead of the NFC West pack. They have one of the easier schedules in the league for a division winner, so it might be this year or never for this core group of players. If they don't win the division for the fourth year in a row, doubt will creep into the locker room about whether their window is closing.

Prediction
First.

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