THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: A good start, but Seahawks need to stay healthy soon

Starting to feel an exciting Seahawks season?

Squinting just a bit, can you even see a deep playoff run?

Well, off the tiny sample size of three games and two wins, I suspect your optimism MIGHT have some legs.

However, there are also facts in the cold light of day that suggest the Hawks are a middle-of-the-pack outfit.

And please don’t forget that the schedule is unusually rugged.

We’ll know a little more after Monday night’s bout in New York, but please remember that the Giants are not the 49ers.

In fact, they got pounded like schoolkids by those same 49ers just last weekend.

(Side note, just because this has bugged me for years. Why do so many of TV’s talking heads refer to the “New York football Giants”? There haven’t been any other New York Giants since 1958, when the baseball team moved to San Francisco. Didn’t anyone get the memo?)

OK, I feel better.

Now, back to the Seahawks — and reasons to feel good (or otherwise) about how this season might play out.

Let’s start with injuries, and there have been enough to fill your average hospital wing.

Believe it or not, the fact that the Hawks offensive line and secondary have required endless play from backups is both good and bad.

CLEARLY, you don’t want to try surviving long-term with just one starting interior lineman in front of Geno Smith.

That was the situation for a decent portion of the Carolina game, when left guard Damien Lewis hit the medical tent with a hand injury.

Center Evan Brown became the lone starter on the field, with Lewis gone and right guard Phil Haynes, plus tackles Charles Cross and Abe Lucas, already ruled out.

There were some scary moments, sure, like when tackle Stone Forsythe completely whiffed on a blitz, nearly getting Smith knocked to Yakima.

Overall, though, the makeshift group of Forsythe (LT), Ben Brown (LG), Anthony Bradford (RG) and Jake Curhan (RT) held its own against a decent Carolina front.

The group took a while to jell, which is understandable.

With help from running backs and tight ends occasionally, though, the No. 2 line kept Smith clean in the second half – allowing him to complete 12 of 13 throws for 143 yards and a TD, breaking open a game Seattle trailed 13-12 at halftime.

Even better (especially in the Pete Carroll playbook), the line banged away with enough muscle to allow Kenneth Walker III and battering ram Zach Charbonnet to pick up 146 yards on the ground.

If we’re looking closely at the offense, though, one major problem remains for Smith – and it’s an issue that has dogged him throughout his career.

Simple fact: Geno is generally sub-par on third downs, a trait that keeps him from being one of the league’s elite QBs.

It’s pretty obvious that the Hawks struggled on third downs against the Panthers (3 of 13), since Jason Myers had to kick five field goals.

This isn’t a new problem.

Seattle has converted just 30.3 percent of its third downs so far this year, and although there are issues with blocks, pass routes, play calls and assorted other things, this ultimately comes down to Smith.

The best quarterbacks somehow find a way.

ON THE other side of the line, the Seahawks defense seems to have cured a problem from a year ago.

However.

However.

However.

The Hawks and their fans suddenly have seen a different issue cause plenty of serious anxiety.

Last season, the Hawks couldn’t stop anyone’s running game.

Now, with Jarran Reed back at nose tackle — flanked by Dre’Mont Jones and Mario Edwards Jr. — the Seahawks are getting a push at the line of scrimmage.

The return of Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner alongside Jordyn Brooks has really helped stop the run, as well.

The Hawks have held teams to 2.9 yards per rush so far.

Ah, but the emphasis on bullying opponents’ runners has been accompanied by a truly scary weakness against the pass.

Quarterbacks Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Andy Dalton have sliced open the Seahawks at an alarming rate.

Remember discussing that third-down problem dogging the Seattle offense?

Unfortunately, it’s been the same on defense.

Problems against the passing game have led to the Hawks yielding a 57.4 percent success rate when defending third downs.

The spotlight here may fall on two players.

WAGNER is still terrific against the run, but he’s lost a step in pass coverage, and teams are exploiting it.

Then there’s Jamal Adams, the all-purpose (and All-Pro) safety who’s been gone so long, his picture is turning up on milk cartons.

Adams is due back this week, and if he’s anywhere near his best, he adds both a pass rush threat and veteran savvy on the back end.

That would be an immense help to a group that has been hurt – not with their play, but literally hurt.

Corners Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant have missed time, and big-play artist Tre Brown is dealing with the league’s concussion protocol.

Rookie Devon Witherspoon is now getting up to speed after an extended hamstring problem.

This SHOULD be one of the league’s best secondary groups, but they need to get well.

Plus, plus, plus … they really could use a pass rush to give them some help.

Cue Jamal Adams.

The coaches also have to decide whether Wagner should be on the sidelines for most passing downs, which Bobby wouldn’t like at all.

Hey, it’s a tough league.

Bottom line: If they can get healthy, the Seahawks could become a bona fide contender in the NFC with addition of a pass rush and better third-down play on offense.

In other words, we’re back to Geno.

It’s always about that position.

Always.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”