The Seahawks have a handful of players battling for those final spots.
Kemp Rasmussen vs. Joe Tafoya
We are likely to keep 9 DL. This probably ends up being 5 DTs and 4 DEs. Barring injury concerns, Rocky Bernard, Chuck Darby, Marcus Tubbs, Russell Davis, and Craig Terrill should make the team at DT. Craig Terrill has the least job security if everyone else is healthy. Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher are locked in at DE, and Darryl Tapp has been very impressive. That likely leaves Kemp Rasmussen and Joe Tafoya to battle it out for the final spot. I give the edge to Rasmussen for his ability on special teams and the fact that he is more of a natural DE than Tafoya who is a bit of a tweener (DT/DE). Rasmussen vs. Tafoya is a traditional position battle to watch.
Jimmy Williams vs. Brandon Haw vs. Shaunard Harts
The Seahawks may very well only carry 7 DBs. This group would be Michael Boulware, Mike Green, Ken Hamlin, Marcus Trufant, Kelly Herndon, Kelly Jennings, and Jordan Babineaux. Babineaux can play CB or FS and Mike Green can play SS or FS, so the team may not feel the need to keep an extra FS unless Hamlin proves unable to play due to health concerns. If the team feels a need to keep another DB, Jimmy Williams is the front-runner as an incumbent and his experience returning punts and covering kicks last season. However, Peter Warrick is the favorite to assume PR duties, especially after Jimmy Williams performance against the Redskins in the playoffs. Brandon Haw has played CB and FS, as well as being a practice squad player last year and had a great season in NFL Europe (leading the league in INTs). Shaunard Harts did not play last year, but was once a starter for the Kansas City Chiefs. It would be nice to see Haw make the team as someone who has worked really hard. It is just as likely that none of these guys make the team as any of them making it.
David Kirtman vs. Josh Scobey vs. Leonard Weaver vs. Ben Obomanu
Leonard Weaver is probably considered by many to be on the team already. The Seahawks love him and he played well last year. He has also shown that he could maybe play a Nick Goings type role if Alexander and Maurice Morris were both injured. David Kirtman has shaken off his hamstring injury at the first min-camp. He was a RB in high school, but of course moved to fullback and broke open all those holes for Reggie Bush and LenDale White at USC. Mel Kiper said he has the hands of a WR and he could develop into a Larry Centers or maybe a Willie Henderson type fullback in the west coast offense. He is also known to be a warrior on special teams. Kirtman's strengths from Scouts, Inc. and ESPN draft coverage:
"Plays with a mean streak, rolls hips at the point of attack and flashes the ability to knock undersized defenders back. Plays with good leverage, has the upper body strength to lock onto defenders' frames and can sustain blocks once in position. Takes good angles to blocks, has the lateral mobility to adjust to the moving target in the open field and can get into position at the second level. Shows good awareness, gets good knee bend in pass set and generally does a nice job of picking up the blitz. Rarely drops passes that should catch, runs adequate routes and is a reliable safety valve as a receiver out of the backfield. Plays with a good motor and has the tools to develop into a quality special teams' player."
Josh Scobey really only has value on special teams as a cover guy and a kickoff returner. If Obomanu is able to claim the KR position, then Scobey loses a lot of his value. That might open up a spot for Kirtman as a pass catching FB and special teams cover guy. It might also free up a spot to carry 7 WRs and Obomanu and Fulton could both make the team. Although that seems unlikely.
Skyler Fulton vs. Ben Obomanu
Keeping 7 WRs is very unlikely. Obomanu needs to win the KR job for this to be much of a possibility, but if he does, then he probably beats out Fulton as the #6 WR and we do not keep a #7. Fulton has had injury trouble, but you have to love a local guy who plays his heart out and had such a good season in Europe. He also has a Master's degree. Great article on him here: http://www.nfleurope.com/worldbowl/news/story/9460619.
Fulton is a long shot to make the team, but a guy to watch in the preason.
Ryan Plackemeier vs. Tom Rouen
Rouen's advantage is supposed to be his great touch in pinning teams inside the 20. The defense did a great job of forcing 3 and outs vs. the Redskins in the playoffs but Rouen punted a bunch of kicks into the endzone in the playoffs. He is getting old and might be losing it. Also, Plackemeier is bigger than Darryl Tapp. I like the idea of having a huge punter back there to make a final saving tackle a la Mitch Berger.
Plackemeier needs to be consistent on his distance and placement. He booms the ball, but I think they say he needs to show touch and consistency in placement instead of just kicking it as far as he can every time. Rouen makes $810,000 this year, so we would save $500,000 if Plackemeier beats him out.
He averaged 47.2 yards per punt as a Senior and can serve as an emergency FG kicker (think David Akers last year, if Josh Brown gets hurt in a game). "His mechanics are inconsistent and he does not show good enough directional skills as a punter or KO specialist yet." (Scouts, Inc.) If he can improve on that in the preseason, then he should be our man.
Overall
Ideally, I would like to see Ken Hamlin be healthy and that it means no Brandon Haw, Shaunard Harts or Jimmy Williams. I would like to have Rasmussen over Tafoya. I would like to see Kirtman on the roster instead of Scobey. And I would like to see Obomanu and Fulton both make the team with Obomanu returning kickoffs. It would be more likely that we keep an 8th DB and Fulton does not make the team. I would also like to see Plackemeier beat out Rouen.
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