Back in contention? Seahawks must have healthy Hasselbeck

There are all sorts of reasons to believe the Seattle Seahawks could return to the top of the NFC West -- with healthy wide receivers at or near the top of the list -- but the way I look at it the team's future depends on one guy: Matt Hasselbeck.

If he's OK, the Seahawks are back in the playoff picture. If not, they are toast.

Matt Hasselbeck's back injury was only part of an IR plague in Seattle last season. (AP)

So far, there is no reason to believe Hasselbeck can't make it through next season, but as coach Jim Mora explained the other day you never know about injuries -- especially back injuries. A sore back sidelined Hasselbeck for more than half the season a year ago, with predictable results: The Seahawks finished third in a division they won the previous four years and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Granted, Hasselbeck wasn't the only guy sitting down. The Seahawks were so depleted at wide receiver they started 10 of them. Star left tackle Walter Jones finished the season on injured reserve. So did guard Mike Wahle. So, for that matter, did offensive linemen Chris Gray, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims and Sean Locklear. Leading pass rusher Patrick Kerney didn't make it through the entire season. In fact, he didn't make it through half a season. He missed the final nine games.

I think you get the idea. The Seahawks had nearly as many injuries as Seattle has coffee joints. But it is Hasselbeck who concerns me most, largely because you hear of so many athletes whose careers are shortened or ended by back problems -- particularly athletes in their 30s -- and Hasselbeck turns 34 in September.

Back in March I was told he was fine, that the back injury was no big deal and that the Seahawks looked at him as someone who had another three or four years of good football in him. Then, as a demonstration of that faith, the Seahawks declined the opportunity to draft quarterback Mark Sanchez a month later.

"That just wasn't the way we wanted to go," said Mora.

Mora cautioned against reading too much into the move, but let's face it: If the Seahawks believed they were vulnerable at the most important position on the field, they wouldn't have passed on a possible franchise quarterback. I don't know what they think of Sanchez, but it doesn't matter. It's what they think of Hasselbeck that is important, and they think enough of him not to start looking for possible successors.

"He's fine," said Mora after watching Hasselbeck in workouts, "and all indications are that he's going to be OK. But you can never predict an injury at any position. I don't know what will happen.

"He looks good. He hasn't missed anything. He feels 100 percent. He doesn't look like a guy who is coming off an injury. He feels like he always did. He doesn't look different than any other quarterback. There are no limits."

Running sprints with his team, Jim Mora knows he needs a healthier roster. (AP)

Mora couldn't have made it clearer: If you're looking for reasons to believe Hasselbeck is winding down you won't find them on the practice field. Mora said the quarterback has gone through every drill, taken every snap he's supposed to take and made every throw he's expected to make -- all without a hitch. Of course, this is May, and Hasselbeck hasn't gone through six weeks of training camp and four months of games, which is why Mora will stay away from predictions. Nevertheless, the early prognosis for Hasselbeck -- and for the Seahawks -- is good.

Jones seems on schedule for recovery from micro-fracture surgery on his left knee. Kerney's shoulder surgery was a success. Wide receiver Nate Burleson is going full speed -- with the emphasis on speed -- after missing all but one game because of a torn ACL. Free-agent signee T.J. Houshmandzadeh is catching everything in practice and seems to be on his way toward developing a rapport with Hasselbeck.

First-round pick Aaron Curry already has shown the speed, quickness, strength and smarts that had him on top of most draft boards. The return of Ken Lucas gives them size at cornerback. Linebacker Leroy Hill is back after the Seahawks gambled and removed the franchise tag from him. Newcomers Cory Redding and Colin Cole strengthen a front seven that lost Rocky Bernard and Julian Peterson.

In the end, though, it comes down to Hasselbeck. If he plays, great. If he doesn't, it's a long winter.

It's not that I don't like Seneca Wallace. I do -- as a versatile backup, not as a full-time quarterback. He wasn't designed to carry this team for half the season, which is what happened a year ago. Rookie Mike Teel isn't the answer, either, though his early work with the team has been impressive.

Nope, this season is all about Matt Hasselbeck and how he recovers from his back injury. When he was healthy during the six seasons before 2008, the Seahawks won 62 percent of their games and missed the playoffs once. When he wasn't in the lineup they were nothing more than another .500 team.

"I don't want to make light of it," said Mora, "because back injuries are serious, but nothing indicates he's feeling anything but fine out there. He's just one of the guys."

But he's not just one of the guys. He's the team's star quarterback and its most irreplaceable part. And it is his future that will determine what happens to the Seattle Seahawks.