THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Aug. 6, 2014

Two days.

18 hours, give or take really.

That's how long Seattle Seahawks fans have to wait to catch a first glimpse of what a defending Super Bowl champion looks like.

OK, SO this isn't the regular season yet, or will these games count in the long run, but they're important for a couple of different reasons if you're a fan.

First, you want to see just what the Seahawks are going to do with Terrelle Pryor after trading for him during the offseason. Will he be a backup to Russell Wilson, or Tavaris Jackson?

Or will they use him more as a wide receiver, much like they did with Seneca Wallace a few years ago?

Marshawn Lynch is in camp, but isn't anywhere near playing shape according to some reports, really opening the discussion of just who will be the second back in the backfield between Robert Turbin and Christine Michael.

Seattle hasn't lost in the preseason in two years either, but will be tested pretty well as they travel to Denver to open things up on Thursday night.

Yeah, Denver, the same team they closed the season with, and will see again three weeks into the regular season, back in Seattle.

Both teams might look at it more like a scrimmage, but since both will be favorites to get back to the Super Bowl again, don't expect to see Peyton Manning or Wilson trying to lead fourth quarter game-winning drives.

A LITTLE closer to home, things will begin to heat up with area prep football and soccer programs getting ready for the upcoming season.

With two teams making it to the state 5A and 4A playoffs this year, league games - if they weren't already - in the Inland Empire League will be a lot more interesting, especially with the three-team 4A IEL featuring Lakeland, Moscow and Sandpoint.

Coeur d'Alene, which went on a run to capture last year's state championship, will have a few pieces back, as will Lake City and Post Falls.

Two years ago, the Lake City girls soccer program won its first state championship in school history, as did Post Falls on the boys side.

In a few weeks, cross country teams will start their summer workouts and with a majority of its roster back from a back-to-back state 5A champion, can anyone catch Coeur d'Alene, or will they separate themselves from the pack once again this year.

It will also be interesting to see just what happens when the men's and women's soccer programs at North Idaho College take the field for the first time in the Northwest Athletic Conference after starting the move from the NJCAA Scenic West Athletic Conference.

A lot to be on the lookout for indeed.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.