Consider them done

Success is fleeting, particularly in the NFL. Age and injuries finally have caught up with the Seahawks. For a few weeks, I've heard fans say they only needed time to get it together. But there should be no debate after Sunday night's 20-10 loss at Tampa Bay that dropped Seattle to 1-5.

It's rare that a team reaches the playoffs with less than a 9-7 record. The Seahawks would have to win 80 percent of their remaining games to accomplish that. Winning at that clip is a lot to expect from even the best teams. Considering that a 12-4 season wouldn't hit that mark — a record they only have surpassed once in franchise history — only the most staunch supporter would believe they still could make the playoffs.

So where did this team go wrong? Injuries to the team's top three wide receivers — Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram — haven't helped, but none of those players are considered elite-level talents, anyway. They're solid, as are running backs Julius Jones and Maurice Morris, nothing more. If the talent level, including the offensive line, is average at best at full health, consider how quickly it falls with each injury.

With quarterback Matt Hasselbeck injured and the problems at wide receiver, the Seahawks rank 31st (out of 32 teams) in passing offense. The running game is better, but not good enough to play smash-mouth football behind a mediocre offensive line.

As for the defense, it doesn't have the injury or talent excuses that have hindered the offense. General manager Tim Ruskell has invested a lot of money and draft picks to rebuild this unit since he was hired in 2005. His first draft yielded linebackers LeRoy Hill and Lofa Tatupu, and he signed another linebacker, Julian Peterson, and defensive end Patrick Kerney to big free-agent contracts. Kerney, Peterson, Tatupu and cornerback Marcus Trufant all have been Pro Bowl selections. There's no excuse for this unit to be ranked 27th in the league.

When Jim Mora succeeds Mike Holmgren in the offseason, he needs to examine the situation on that side of the ball. Given that the production doesn't meet the talent, it makes sense for Mora to bring in new coaches on that side of the ball.

The defense should be fine with some coaching changes in addition to some adjustments in the secondary. Ruskell can use his high draft pick, Seattle sits at No. 3 right now, to find upgrade the offense. And while Hasselbeck is 33 years old, it's not uncommon for quarterbacks to play at a high level beyond 35. Couple that the return to health for Branch and Burleson — Engram likely will leave as a free agent — and there's no reason why Seattle can't be a playoff contender again next year.