I hear people saying this a lot, but I disagree with it for many reasons.
The 2012 team was a really really good team. Their DVOA was almost identical to 2013's, and their 'estimated wins' were exactly the same (13). This year's team feels like an 11 estimated wins kind of team. Roughly on par with a franchise like Green Bay. Seattle was the best team in the NFL in 2012 by a few different metrics. I'm doubtful the 2014 version will be #1 at the end of the regular season.
You'd never see a team punch the 2012 Seahawks in the mouth and kick their asses like Dallas just did a couple days ago to the 2014 version.
Seattle had a very different offensive identity in 2012. Both offenses were efficient, but in drastically different ways.
The pass rush is similar in terms of sack totals but different under the microscope. Irvin had 8 sacks that year but half of them came in two games and he was clearly a one trick pony who's contribution was essentially a mirage that season. Clemons was the only real pass rushing force on the team. The 2014 pass rush is still doing an excellent job of creating pressure with several different contributors pitching in almost equally, but is in a dry spell for sacks, similar to the 2014 Rams.
The secondary played much better in 2012 than it has in 2014. And when it failed in 2012, it failed because of Gus Bradley's love for blitzing with soft zones. When it fails in 2014, it's because Seattle spent years drafting corners who could be physical, but now cannot touch receivers in the new rules environment.
Seattle had an identity in 2012. They are still figuring out their identity in 2014.
