THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Seahawks have high hopes — and so do we

The Seahawks feel optimistic.

They honestly believe that Mike Macdonald’s second year running the show — and the team’s 50th NFL season — will play out as something special.

OK, then, here’s an opinion from the sidelines.

Barring crucial injuries (the mandatory disclaimer for judging any football team) I think the Hawks could be on to something.

Can they become the league’s new darlings, joining the likes of Detroit, Washington and maybe the Chargers?

It’s not impossible.

In fact, we can start by dismissing the Vegas notion that the Seahawks will have no serious impact at all — the proof being an over/under line of 7 1/2 games.

Unless new quarterback Sam Darnold is bitten on the right arm by a tarantula, this team will cruise to eight or more wins.

Note: There are very few tarantulas in the Northwest.

I know fans are fretting over Darnold, who’s had some very blah seasons before going ballistic with the Vikes last year.

They’ll remind you that Sam even went in the tank during Minnesota’s final two games, spoiling his Cinderella season.

All true, but any semi-competent QB should go crazy in the offense installed by offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

I’M NOT kidding about the scheme changing a team’s personality — and chances of success.

The Seahawks will run the ball, no matter what.

This rush game is usually called “outside zone,” which denotes the type of blocking and the way running backs can find space.

It’s critical to understand that the second part of the outside zone rushing scheme is that it’s tremendously QB-friendly.

Play-action, rollouts, bootlegs, changing pockets to alter throwing lanes — this offense uses every device to give quarterbacks an easy ride.

One unfortunate piece of timing: You’ll get a full dose of the Seahawks’ new offense on Sunday, because the 49ers also run it.

The outside zone, and pass plays off it, have made Brock Purdy a gazillionaire.

Allow me to suggest that Darnold is every bit as gifted as Purdy.

When you connect the dots, an opening-day slugfest between two division rivals who run the same offense should be decided on the other side of the ball.

Which defense will own the line of scrimmage?

Yes, the 49ers have some big-name stars running around out there, but the Seattle defense — Macdonald’s baby — evolved last season into one of the NFL’s very best.

Once Macdonald canned his two inside linebackers and replaced them with Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight, the Seahawks became a serious force.

Macdonald was always going to bank on defense — he calls all schemes and coverages — as the backbone of a championship team.

Having watched Seattle reach back-to-back Super Bowls with the Legion of Boom dominating games, fans almost surely will leap on the Macdonald bandwagon.

Now, to complement that.

Ideal offense for Seattle: The outside zone running game moves the chains and chews up clock, while Darnold manages the game but still takes some shots downfield. 

In a world of sunshine and lollipops, the Seahawks would clinch the NFC West before they face the 49ers a second time — on the last day of the regular season.

OF COURSE, I have questions about this team.

I’m wondering about Darnold, but his teammates in Minnesota loved him — and have loudly denied that Sam was really to blame for those last two games.

Under other circumstances, the Vikings would have been happy to stick with Darnold.

However, they’d previously made an organizational decision to go with former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, reaching for that magic combination of a potential star QB on a rookie contract.

What else gives us pause?

Well, Darnold needs someone to catch his throws, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the only established vet you can say is still on the rise.

We’d all love to see Cooper Kupp explode back into the spotlight, but questions about his age and health will linger until he proves (on the field) that he’s fighting fit.

Rookie Tory Horton has been a revelation for a fifth-rounder, and figures to get his share of targets.

If you’re talking about issues that could make or break the entire season, I suppose the Hawks clearly need the remodeled offensive line to perform — although this new offense suits them, too.

It would help if Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet run through some holes the size of Lake Coeur d’Alene in those “outside zones,” and don’t pull hamstrings doing it.

Bottom line: We’ll know a lot after two games.

Following the 49ers, it’s the Steelers with Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers throwing to ex-Hawk DK Metcalf.

Fired up yet?

No?

Put on your pads, pancake some stranger at Walmart, then high-five a few clerks.

You’re ready.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and 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.”