It looks like WR Peter Warrick should come out on top for returning punts, but CB Jimmy Williams, WR Ben Obomanu, and WR Keenan Howry are also getting a look. Along with RB Josh Scobey and RB Maurice Morris, Obomanu, Howry, and Williams are probably all in competition to return kickoffs as well. The winner of the return jobs will impact who makes the team and how many players are kept at each positions.
2) Final Running Back Spots
Shaun Alexander, Maurice Morris, and Mack Strong are firmly entrenched. Leonard Weaver should be in the lead to backup Strong at this point, but could be overtaken by David Kirtman. Performance during camp and the preseason will determine who fills that role. The Seahawks will probably only keep five running backs. Six is not impossible, but very unlikely. That means one of the fullbacks will be left out in the cold if Scobey makes the team because of his special teams play and kickoff return ability. If Alexander and Morris were both injured, Weaver would probably be the top choice to carry the ball. This gives him a little edge over Kirtman, but Kirtman excels on special teams. Weaver's ball carrying ability also makes Scobey a lot less valueable to the team. Weaver is almost certain to make the team, and the final spot should come down to Kirtman and Scobey.
3) Wide Receiver Count
Will Ben Obomanu make the team? Training camp is meant for position battles, but Darrell Jackson, Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Peter Warrick, and D.J. Hackett will all make the team barring injury trouble. The Seahawks might only keep five receivers, which seems like a precarious position to be in given the injury problems at the position last year. Most of those guys were slowed or missed time with injuries last season, so a sixth receiver seems like a smart use of a final roster spot. Obomanu can help his chances by contributing on special teams and winning a return job. He dropped a lot of passes during the second day of training camp, but it was windy. He is probably nervous in his first year and feeling the pressure a little bit. It was only the second day and a few dropped passes, but he will need to improve and show more of the same flashes he had in the minicamps to win one of the 53 roster spots.
4) Defensive Line Health
Defensive line play will be important in camp with all of the injuries - DE Joe Tafoya (shoulder), DT Marcus Tubbs (Achilles), DE Grant Wistrom (shoulder) and DT Rocky Bernard (knee). The team will likely keep nine defensive linemen. Eight of those spots should be locked up by DE Bryce Fisher, DT Rocky Bernard, DT Chuck Darby, DE Grant Wistrom, DE Darryl Tapp, DT Marcus Tubbs, DT Craig Terrill and DT Russell Davis. Keeping five DTs might seem excessive, but it makes sense given the injuries to Bernard and Tubbs and the ability of Terrill to remain healthy. The smaller Terrill will play more in passing situations and Davis will plug up the middle against the run. The final spot comes down to the fourth defensive end. Given DE Joe Tafoya's injury along with the collective health of the line, DE Kemp Rasmussen should have the inside edge for that spot. It will come down to the two of them, but Rasmussen's contribution on special teams might push him over the top.
5) Third Quarterback Battle
Gibran Hamdan has positioned himself to make a run at David Greene. The team cleared him to practice just three months after he suffered a broken ankle. He needs to get on the field and start showing coaches he has what it takes to surpass David Greene as the third string quarterback. It will be an uphill battle for Hamdan; he needs to play very well and avoid any setbacks coming back from his ankle injury. It is Greene's job to lose, but it should be an interesting battle if Hamdan is completely healthy. His health is still a concern though as both of his NFL Europe seasons were cut short by injury. When the #3 QB comes in, it means the top two guys have already gone down with injuries. Having a fragile guy in that spot would be unwise and Greene's 52 straight starts in college might help him retain his spot.
5) Cohesive Secondary
Ken Hamlin is back and hitting in pads starting tomorrow. The team needs him to be the same guy he was before he suffered a fractured skull in a bar fight last year. Hamlin gives the secondary an excellent hitter and a safety that plays with a lot of range. Hamlin is important to protect rookie Kelly Jennings from getting beat deep or missing tackles. If Herndon is starting, then he needs Hamlin's help over the top as well. Michael Boulware is also someone to watch coming off knee surgery. He has been playing very well in his young career, but he is still making the transition from linebacker to safety. The addition of Mike Green makes the sitaution a lot better because he can fill in very adequately at either safety spot and gives the entire unit some veteran experience to fall back on.
6) Tight End Rotation
Jerramy Stevens is coming off knee surgery and his health will be very important to success on offense. Itula Mili had conditioning problems as well as his intestinal blockage issue last season. If Stevens and Mili are both healthy and play at the level we have seen in the past, then the team is great at tight end. If there are issues, the uncertainty behind those two could be a problem. TE Will Heller should win the final spot, especially given his success making the team in Tampa Bay with Tim Ruskell as an undrafted rookie free agent. Stevens is in the final year of his contract and Mili is nearing retirement. This will be an area to watch in camp, this season, and next offseason.
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