In the 1991 comedy “What about Bob?” Richard Dreyfuss’ character, Dr. Leo Marvin, tries to help his patients by encouraging they take baby steps.

And while there’s no proof that the Seahawks are following the advice of a fictitious Doctor in their 2009 campaign, 12 games of anecdotal evidence suggests that the Seahawks are, in fact, improving over last season one small step at a time.

Baby steps in the run game, baby steps on pass defense, baby steps on the scoreboard, baby steps in the standings…

In other words, 2009 has been better than last season’s 4-12 debacle, but just how much better?

Asked if he feels like his defense is playing better in recent weeks, Seahawks coach Jim Mora talked about improvements he has seen, about the big plays that have helped in each of the past two wins, about players getting more comfortable in a new system, but followed those comments with this:

“We’ve got to continue to improve. We’ve got a long, long ways to go.”

And asked if he is seeing progress from his offense, Mora gave a lengthy pause before finally answering.

“Yes. Yes, I am,” he said. “We’re running the ball better. We’re not setting the world on fire, but we’re running the ball better. I like that. I think that the quarterback and the receivers are meshing up a little bit better. I still think that we have some protection issues.”

Baby steps.

The Seahawks are now three-quarters of the way through what people had hoped would be a bounce-back season, a return to the playoffs after what they thought was an aberration in ’08. And while a return to the playoffs is highly unlikely at this point, the Seahawks still have plenty to play for with four games remaining. They still have a chance at finishing with a winning record, but beyond that, they can show over the final quarter of the season that growth — significant growth — is possible this season.

Because what we’ve seen so far in 2009 has been an inconsistent team that, when you factor in all the good and bad, is only marginally better across the board than it was last season.

Through 12 games this season, the Seahawks’ offense has averaged 20.2 points per game (20th in the NFL), 317.2 yards per game (23rd), 93.4 rushing yards (27th), and 223.8 passing yards (14th).

In 2008, those numbers were 18.4 points per game (25th), 274.1 total yards (28th), 110.5 rushing yards (19th), and 163.6 passing yards (29th). So other than in the run game, which has featured the two worst single-game totals in franchise history, the Seahawks are better, but not by much, on offense. Another area of concern has been pass protection, where the Seahawks are currently ninth worst in the league with 31 sacks allowed, a pace that should see them surpass last year’s 16-game total of 36 sacks with two games still on the schedule.

The defense has also shown signs of improvement, but again, the Seahawks still rank in the bottom half of the league in a number of categories, indicating that the growth has been slow.

Through 12 games, the Seahawks have allowed 22.2 points per game (20th), 349.4 yards (21st), 105.9 rushing yards (13th), and 243.5 passing yards (25th).

Last year’s totals?

Again better, but not substantially. The 2008 Seahawks allowed 24.5 points per game (25th), 378 yards (30th), 118.7 rushing yards (18th), and 259.3 passing yards (32nd).

The first third of the season saw the Seahawks go 1-3, and they’ve gone 2-2 in each of the past two four-game stretches. An unbeaten final quarter of the season would be great for a team trying to turn things around, but short of that, even a 3-1 finish would be a good sign heading into the offseason.

And even though there has been talk amongst Seahawks players and coaches about progress taking place during this season, the number would indicate that Seattle is treading water more than anything.

Early in the season injuries, particularly on the offensive line, explained some of the struggles. And a new coaching staff means new systems to learn, and inevitably that takes time. But over the last four games, a stretch during which the Seahawks have been as healthy as they have all season, the progress doesn’t show in the numbers.

The Seahawks have rushed behind the same line in each of the past four games, yet are still wildly inconsistent. They’ve posted their season-high total of 170 rushing during that span, but also their franchise-low total of four. They’ve also allowed sacks at a higher rate (3 per game) than during the entire season (2.58), a sample size that includes the early-season revolving door at left tackle and left guard.

Over those last four games, the Seahawks have averaged 19.0 point, 310.25 total yards, 111.25 rushing yards, and 199.0 passing yards. Defensively they’ve given up 25 points per game, 403.25 yards, 112 rushing yards, and 291.25 passing yards. Of all of those numbers, only the rushing offense is better over the last month than it has been for the entire season.

And yes, Seattle had to face Arizona and Minnesota during that stretch—both are teams that feature top-10 offenses—but the Seahawks also got to play St. Louis and San Francisco, which rank in the bottom 10 offensively. And while the Vikings are formidable on defense as well, the 49ers, Rams and Cardinals all rank in the bottom 12 defensively.

So just where is this team?

They’ve got four more games, starting Sunday, to figure it out.

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog