Wilson, who was 33-of-42 passing in the preseason with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and 437 yards, led a four-play touchdown drive to start the team's preseason finale against Oakland to cap a training camp that Carroll called "phenomenal." Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
RENTON, Wash. — A year and one Super Bowl title later, the Seattle Seahawks say not much has changed.
One notable difference – the Seahawks are the hunted now.
And with a Super Bowl title came the perks of being a champion — notoriety, lots of off-field opportunities, and for a few players, hefty new contracts.
As head coach Pete Carroll said the day after his team partied into the wee hours in New York to celebrate trouncing the Denver Broncos to put a party hat on the 2013 season, the Seahawks insist the new year brings a newfound focus. The desire and hunger to win another title is the same as it was to win the first one a year ago.
“It feels like we have got more to go, more to accomplish, more things to do,” said cornerback Richard Sherman, who bagged a four-year, $57.4 million contract in May. “I don’t think anybody on our team is complacent with one championship.”
The Seahawks seem well-positioned to become the first team since the 2005 Patriots to repeat.
Seattle lost 10 players from their February Super Bowl roster to either free agency or salary cap-related, the bulk of the team that beat Denver 43-8 remains, led by quarterback Russell Wilson, tailback Marshawn Lynch, receiver Percy Harvin safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, and Sherman.
Wilson and the offense were the stars of the preseason, at one point driving for scores on 10 straight possessions and 11 of 13 for the preseason, and taking a 31-0 halftime lead on the Bears in the third preseason game — when starters for each team played the first half — and 24-7 in preseason Week 2 against the Chargers.
Wilson, who was 33-of-42 passing in the preseason with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and 437 yards, led a four-play touchdown drive to start the team’s preseason finale against Oakland to cap a training camp that Carroll called “phenomenal.”
The apparent offensive improvement was credited to Wilson being even better in his third year in the system, and a healthy Harvin giving a different look to the receiving corps.
After the Bears game, Thomas paid what for him is the ultimate compliment, saying that the offense “is as good as we are.”
After the preseason finale against the Raiders, a 41-31 loss in which the starting offense and defense each played one series, Carroll echoed Thomas’ thought.
“We’ve moved ahead (from a year ago),” he said. “We are better than we were in the past and I think it’s the growth of the quarterback and his connection with all his guys. It’s (guards) J.R. Sweezy and James Carpenter. Those guys are really good football players … They’ve just improved. They’ve just grown with us. Hopefully that makes a difference. We are going to need it all.”
Indeed, repeating isn’t easy — only eight teams have done it.
Carroll hasn’t talked often during camp about repeating itself, instead keeping with a day-at-a-time theme.
The day, though, is now at hand with Seattle’s repeat bid coming Thursday in the NFL’s annual kickoff showcase.
“I think we’re ready to go,” Carroll said. “I really feel that we are.”
He’ll find out quickly enough against Green Bay, a team that many think is one of the most dangerous threats to Seattle in the NFC.
