Promise abounded after Seattle reeled in the big one, head coach/general manager/vice president of football operations Mike Holmgren. Many thought the former Packers head coach was the one person the Seahawks needed to get them into the postseason promised land for the first time since 1988.

	SEAHAWKS AT A GLANCE
	Ricky Watters
	Last year: 8-8, tied for second in AFC West Key returnees:: RB Ricky Watters (1,239 yards, 9 TDs); WR Joey Galloway (65 rec., 1,047 yards); LB Chad Brown (7.5 sacks), CB Shawn Springs (8 INTs) New faces: WR Sean Dawkins (Saints), QB Glenn Foley (Jets), WR Michael Jackson (Ravens) New places: QB Warren Moon (Chiefs) Watch out: QB Jon Kitna looks to be a perfect fit in new coach Mike Holmgren's West Coast offense. Better than '98: Holmgren can teach this group of underachievers how to win. Worse than '98: It's an improved AFC West with tough road games against Jets and Packers. -- Scripps Howard News Service

But things have slowed down for Holmgren & Co. For the first time since Paul Allen took ownership of the franchise, the Seahawks didn't make a splash in free agency. It appears that most of Holmgren's first draft class is geared toward future contributions, not present results. And defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur, who had come over with Holmgren from Green Bay, died Aug. 30 after a battle with cancer, leaving Seattle without an experienced hand to guide a defense that can make big plays but often stumbles over the small ones.

And then there's Joey Galloway, Seattle's star wide receiver who held out all of training camp in an effort to land a long-term contract. Things have gotten a little nasty in the negotiations, and it appears the Seahawks might be preparing to take the field without the rising star. Holdover Mike Pritchard and new acquisitions Derrick Mayes (acquired in a late-August trade with the Packers), Charles Jordan, Sean Dawkins and Michael Jackson will man the position if Galloway and the team don't come to terms.

Holmgren, who holds control over all football decisions for the franchise, will have to deal with those distractions. But he still has a very talented team that should contend for an AFC playoff berth, even though it might not be ready to compete with the conference's power teams quite yet.

Here's a position-by-position look at Seattle's roster:

Quarterbacks
Jon Kitna, former head coach Dennis Erickson's pet project, has shown more physical ability than Holmgren originally gave him credit for, and a strong offseason and preseason has made the Central Washington product the Seahawks' unquestioned starter. The team might try to lock Kitna up with a long-term deal sometime during the season. Kitna is 4-2 as an NFL starter and has shown the intangibles a successful quarterback needs.

		Can Mike Holmgren transform Jon Kitna into a quality quarterback, like he has with every other quarterback he has been around? Kitna isn't going to be Brett Favre, but can he answer the bell and make the plays in Holmgren's offense. You can't have an average quarterback in that offense. The Seahawks think Kitna can do it, and Holmgren will put big expectations on him. The Seahawks should be focusing on making the playoffs. After Denver, I think the Seahawks and the Raiders might battle for second place in the AFC West. But it depends on Kitna's performance. It would help having holdout Joey Galloway there, but they practically stole Derrick Mayes from the Packers in a trade Aug. 30. Galloway ought to take the money they are offering because every star receiver who has played in Holmgren's offense has turned into a superstar.

Ex-Jets QB Glenn Foley is the backup. He struggled at times during the preseason but appeared to be coming on lately. If Kitna isn't the Seahawks' long-term answer, third-round pick Brock Huard might be. The rookie has all the physical tools, but Holmgren will need to rebuild Huard's confidence after a shaky '98 season at the University of Washington. Don't be surprised if Huard passes Foley on the depth chart before season's end. Grade: C+

Running backs
Ricky Watters might be mouthy, but he is an effective and durable back who gets the job done. The former 49er fits into Holmgren's West Coast scheme well, thanks to his receiving skills. The Seahawks will try to use Watters more selectively this season, which means speedy second-year man Ahman Green should get more work. The team might also use Watters and Green together a little bit, sometimes with Green lined up outside.

FB Mack Strong is solid, but he battled an ankle injury in the preseason. He could play more of a hands-on role in the offense this year. Reggie Brown backs up Strong and doubles as a reserve tailback. Grade: B

Receivers
Galloway is the big question mark here. If he's around, he gives the Seahawks a breakaway threat whom opponents must contend with on every play. But one has to wonder whether he'll be at full effectiveness when (or if) he returns from his work stoppage. In his place, the Seahawks have several options.

Mayes played under Holmgren in Green Bay, so his late arrival in Seattle shouldn't hurt that much in his learning the system. Chances are he'll play a significant role even after Galloway returns. Pritchard is a reliable but unexciting type who is probably better-suited as a No. 3 receiver. Dawkins and Jackson, both 6-foot-4, give the Seahawks the height they've lacked at receiver for many years. Jordan has been one of the surprises of camp.

Christian Fauria's receiving skills could make him an asset in Holmgren's scheme, but the tight end battled a knee injury during the preseason. Backup Itula Mili is more of a receiver, whereas Deems May is more of a blocker. Grade: B-

Offensive linemen
OLT Walter Jones is supremely talented and could be on the verge of a breakout season under new offensive line coach Tom Lovat. One of the stories of camp has been C Kevin Glover's return from a '98 neck injury. He has played very well in the preseason. ORG Brian Habib had a problem with false starts last season but appears to have licked it in the preseason after a scolding by Holmgren. Pete Kendall is the left guard.

Howard Ballard entered the preseason as the starting right tackle, but a chronic knee problem might force him to retire. If he must, unproven second-year man Todd Weiner would probably take over, unless fifth-round pick Floyd Wedderburn develops at a stunningly fast pace. Grade: B

Defensive linemen
DLE Michael Sinclair claimed the NFL sack title last season and now has a fat, new contract. DTs Sam Adams and Cortez Kennedy provide great size in the middle, and they can be dominating at times.

Adams, who is entering a contract year, struggled some in '98 but still can be one of the NFL's best when he wants to. Phillip Daniels, also in a contract year, starts at right end, although first-round pick Lamar King is expected to supplant him at some point. Matt LaBounty provides depth across the line. Grade: B+

Linebackers
LLB Chad Brown is one of the league's best defenders and a complete player. He can rush the passer, drop into coverage or play the run with almost equal effectiveness. RLB Darrin Smith has great speed and made a ton of big plays last season, but he is injury-prone.

Anthony Simmons, the team's '98 first-round pick, appears to have won the MLB job from veteran James Willis and fellow second-year man DeShone Myles. Simmons is another playmaker with great speed and a nose for the ball. Grade: A-

Defensive backs
Shawn Springs is coming into his own as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks. He made his first Pro Bowl appearance last season and should only get better. On the other side, undersized Willie Williams is the starter. He figures to see a lot of action as teams begin to avoid Springs. Nickel DB Fred Thomas has talent and can make the big play, but he's also prone to giving up large chunks of yardage.

The Seahawks swapped their safeties, with Darryl Williams moving to strong safety and Jay Bellamy to free safety. Kerry Joseph, a former quarterback, has come out of nowhere to establish himself as the primary backup at safety. Secondary depth still might be a bit of a concern. Grade: B

Special teams
Special-teams coach Pete Rodriguez is the only holdover from Erickson's staff, and he earned the job after helping convert one of the NFL's worst units in '97 to a solid group in '98. The return game will feature Green, rookie Charlie Rogers and even Galloway on occasion. Kicker Todd Peterson is dependable, and punter Jeff Feagles gets the job done. He pinned 27 punts inside the 20 last season.

Long-snapper is a concern after Jason Kyle went to Cleveland in the expansion draft. Either May or second-year man Jason McEndoo, who went to NFL Europe in the spring, will probably draw those duties. Grade: B

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