Through out the NFL season we will welcome in bloggers from the city of the Cardinals opponent for the week in a new feature we will call behind enemy lines. yThis week we welcome in Jeff Nusser from the Seattle Sports Report. Below he breaks down everything you need to know about the Seachickenshawks for week 2:

The Seahawks come into Glendale on Sunday feeling pretty good, but not great, about their season-opening win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defense was very good, but the offense and special teams were inconsistent, leaving plenty of room for growth. It was a comfortable win to be sure, but it also was the kind of win that leaves you feeling just a little unsatisfied, knowing mistakes the other team made contributed greatly to the final margin.

But I guess it could be worse. (Looking at you, Cardinals fans.)

What can you expect from the Seahawks on Sunday? Probably a lot more of the same stuff you’ve seen over the last five years as the Hawks have won seven of the last nine against the Cardinals. For as much as the Cardinals have been a franchise in flux and disarray, the Seahawks have been qually constant. There won’t be a lot of secrets here, but some notable offseason additions make the Seahawks a different team than the one that lost in Arizona last season.

OFFENSE
Just as the offensive line was a huge problem for Cardinals last year, so it was for the Seahawks as well, and it’s roundly considered to be the root of their inconsistencies last season. Everyone knew losing guard Steve Hutchinson was a blow, but no one expected the drop off for that unit to be so precipitous. After 12 games of floundering in 2006, the Seahawks settled on a combination that nearly carried them into the NFC championship game, and is back intact this season. Of course, Walter Jones anchors the left side, but the guys to keep an eye on are left guard Rob Sims, a second year player, and center Chris Spencer, a third-year pro. Both are physical and athletic.

The improved line play was palpable on Sunday. Shaun Alexander rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown; Matt Hasselbeck completed 70 percent of his passes while being sacked just twice. By contrast, he was sacked five times in last season’s opener at Detroit, and Seahawks quarterbacks were sacked 49 times in 2006 – fourth most in the league. The result was an offensive showing that wasn’t spectacular (20 points, 343 yards), but solid enough to comfortably lead the team to a win.

The receivers’ inability to get open downfield was a bit of a concern – Deion Branch, expected to be the team’s No. 1 receiver had zero catches – and the team took a hit when No. 2 receiver D.J. Hackett suffered a high-ankle sprain that will keep him out for a while. But it’s tough to say if this receiving corps, roundly considered to be pretty talented going into the year, is going to have problems on a consistent basis, or if the issues were more due to that troublesome Tampa Two scheme.

Oh, and you might have heard the Hawks traded for former Browns QB Charlie Frye this week. Don’t expect to see him on a field for Seattle any time soon, unless it’s an emergency.

DEFENSE
The defense looked better than anyone expected, hitting hard and making plays. Newly acquired defensive end Patrick Kerney lived up to his billing, putting pressure on Jeff Garcia all day. His 1.5 sacks were part of the five total by the defense. Lofa Tatupu, after a somewhat disappointing 2006 season in which he often failed to make the expected impact, appears ready to resume his role as one of the top up-and-coming linebackers in the league. He was all over the field, collecting eight tackles.

The other notable offseason signings, safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell, had the desired effect on the defense as well. Brought in to shore up a defensive secondary that was prone to giving up the big play over the past few years, the Bucs had but one deep completion, and even that one was nearly knocked away. The best part about Grant and Russell’s performance? Fans barely noticed they were there. And after “noticing” Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware chasing down receivers who had gotten behind them week after week, that was an extremely welcome change.

One thing you’ll note about the Seahawks’ corners is that they’re small. Real small. And not physical. A big key this Sunday might be whether the Cardinals can exploit that on offense with Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Nate Burleson proved again on Sunday why he is such a valuable member of this team, even if he has yet to live up to his billing as a receiver. His big punt return at the end of the first half set up the Hawks’ first touchdown, and really put them in control of the game. The same can’t be said for the coverage units, which were burned a couple of times, only to be bailed out by penalties by the Bucs. New coach Bruce DeHaven promises improvement this weekend. Kicker Josh Brown (2-for-2 FGs) and punter Ryan Plackemeier (three punts inside the 20) both were excellent.

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