Matt Hasselbeck and the rest of the first team offense played well, especially Marcus Pollard. Shaun Alexander ran hard a few times and looks ready to go. The offensive line did a good job of keeping pressure off of Hasselbeck. Seneca Wallace also bounced back with a nice game, including a strike to emerging talent Ben Obomanu.
Baraka Atkins is where the team hoped he would be at this point in time when they drafted him. It didn’t look like he was progressing that fast during the first half of camp, but he kicked it up a notch and looks solid now.
Pete Hunter outplayed DeJuan Groce, if that is even relevant. Groce had the ball thrown at him quite a bit, and was getting beat. He would have looked bad if Brooks Bollinger could throw an accurate pass. Kevin Hobbs had his ups and downs, but he looks as good as or better than Groce and Hunter. He just isn’t as consistent.
If the team needs a 5th CB for a few games to start the season, then it would probably be Hunter, but Hobbs looks like a guy that would be more valuable in the long run. As long Kelly Jennings and Jordan Babineaux are good to go at the start of the season, then expect the team to go with 4 CBs and stash Hobbs on the practice squad.
(This is a follow-up to What to Watch For: Vikings vs. Seahawks)1) LinebackersSorry, Mike Holmgren. I don’t believe you. Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, Kevin Bentley, Niko Koutouvides, Lance Laury, and Will Herring are all going to make the Seahawks active roster. I count seven. Herring missed a tackle, but had that interception in the endzone. He is too good to let go. Laury isn’t a starter-caliber LB, but he is a decent reserve and a good special teams player. The same goes for Koutouvides. And you really need 7 LBs on an NFL roster anyway. The only way a team would go with 6 LBs is if they didn’t have 7 guys talented enough to play in the NFL, and that isn’t the case in Seattle.
2) Darryl Tapp vs. Bryce FisherDarryl Tapp wasn’t nearly as effective going against Minnesota’s first-stringers as he has been against the backups on other teams. On the other hand, Bryce Fisher didn’t appear to benefit from playing against the second team guys, the way Tapp did in Green Bay and San Diego. This is a situation to watch, but Tapp and Fisher are both going to play a lot this year.
Tapp will get more snaps because he is a better situational pass-rusher, and whether or not he starts ahead of Fisher depends on his ability to play the run. The Seahawks are in good shape this year with the combination of the two opposite Patrick Kerney. The real question is if Tapp is going to take a big enough step forward to be a full-time starter in 2008 when Fisher might not be around, or be as good. Fisher’s contract runs through 2008, and he is scheduled to make $2.6 million next year.
3) Kelly Jennings and Josh Wilson Kelly Jennings played well while he was in there. It was Marcus Trufant getting all of the balls thrown in his direction. That is how Bobby Wade managed 5 catches for 85 yards. It isn’t time to hit the panic button, but Trufant needs to do more than just play tight coverage on completed passes. He also let the receiver get behind him to the outside on at least one play. That happened to Trufant too often last year, and it had nothing to do with the safeties. The one concern about Jennings is that he bruised his leg in this game. The MRI came back negative, so it sounds like he will still be ready to play against Tampa Bay.
Josh Wilson looked good returning kickoffs again. He didn’t fumble and didn’t make the cutbacks that Mike Holmgren said would eventually lead to fumbles. The starting kickoff return job still belongs to Nate Burleson, but Wilson looks like a great second option if Burleson is injured or injuries deplete the rest of the receiving corps. Wilson looks ready to be the nickel corner, and he should be able to step in and do an adequate job as a starter if Jennings can’t go.
4) Tight Ends Bennie Joppru sealed his spot on the roster. Joppru came in the game almost immediately when the team when with a two-tight end set in the redzone during the second possession. He also played on basically all of the special teams units, and is the Seahawks emergency option at long snapper. Joe Newton continued to do nothing. Newton might have a spot on the practice squad if the team has given up on Leonard Stephens because of his injury, but even that doesn't seem too likely.
5) Wide Receiver Battles Nate Burleson is really pushing D.J. Hackett to start at split end. Both players have had great camps, but Hackett started out as the starter, so he will probably retain that role for the time being. Burleson has been laying down some great blocks, which could swing things in his favor. His role as a return man doesn’t preclude him from starting, but it might influence a very close race. Burleson and Hackett will probably both start some games, and will be on the field at the same time in many of the 3-wide and 4-wide sets the Seahawks will frequently employ this year.
Courtney Taylor did not play, which means he doesn’t really have a chance to grab a roster spot. He still figures to be in the mix for a spot on the practice squad. That battle appears to be down to Taylor, Chris Jones, and Logan Payne. Surprisingly, Chris Jones was the 5th/6th receiver off the bench against the Vikings (he came in with Ben Obomanu). Jones has had a few nice practices after moving his way up the depth chart.
If the Seahawks keep only one receiver on the practice squad, then it would probably be Taylor, assuming he plays against the Raiders and looks like he is back to normal. It is hard to get a read on whether they would go with Jones or Payne as the second practice squad receiver, if there is one. Payne has been more consistent throughout camp, while Jones has really shined at times, but also disappeared at others. Jones first tried out with the team last November and was signed in January. His extra time with the team might give him an advantage.
6) Offensive Line Floyd Womack did a good job at left tackle in the second half. It was enough to solidify his spot on the roster, assuming he doesn’t get hurt before the final cuts. If the team keeps another offensive lineman, then it would have to be as a 10th guy, and it would be C Pat Ross. However, he appears to be headed back to the practice squad for another season.
7) Running BacksI don't think Leonard Weaver had such a bad game. You never want to get called for holding, but it was on a running play, which hasn’t been a problem for him. He actually dominated the guy he was blocking, but made the mistake of turning and pushing him down to the ground. It wasn't a true "hold" because he was getting beat in pass protection, which would have been more of a concern.
The fumble is inexcusable, but aren’t they all? He appeared to be pushing to make something happen after the illegal shift a few plays earlier. Marquis Weeks is notorious for lining up in the wrong place during the preseason and fumbling a lot, so it isn’t like Weaver is going to lose his spot to him on those grounds.
And a few nice runs by Marquis Weeks with less than three minutes to go against nobodies isn’t going to change my opinion of the running back situation. The team could always count on Weeks as the 3rd RB off the practice squad in the past, so maybe that changes because he is no longer eligible and he gets elevated to the active roster. But then again, they might just keep A.J. Harris in that role in case of injuries. He looks like an alright practice squad running back.
The Seahawks know what they have in Josh Parry, so that could be why he isn't getting that much playing time at fullback, especially when they need to spend some time vetting Leonard Weaver. Parry still plays a lot on all of the coverage and return units.
My best guess at this point in time is still that Weaver and Parry make the team, and I think they will probably stick A.J. Harris on the practice squad. I could even see them cutting Weeks on Tuesday so he has a chance to catch on with another team.
Ellis Wyms, left, and Chuck Darby.
Scott Audette/Associated Press
Reuters Photo
Photo: Billy Calzada
Andy Rogers/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
AP Photo/John Froschauer
AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey
AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey
Dan DeLong/Seattle Post-Intelligencer
I would believe Mike Holmgren if he said the team was only going to keep 5 DTs. That is going to be a difficult decision, and it comes down to Craig Terrill (93) and Russell Davis (95) for the final spot. The team appears fairly certain to keep only 4 DEs, so 6 DTs is a possibility. That is basically what they did last year when they kept Chris Cooper as the 10th defensive lineman. Although he is listed as a DE, he lined up at DT almost exclusively during training camp. But Cooper only stayed on the roster until September 23rd. The uncertain status of Marcus Tubbs might cause the team to go with 6 DTs for at least the first part of the year, and longer if injuries provide an open roster spot. Marcus Tubbs, Chuck Darby and Rocky Bernard will not see much action, giving these guys a chance to battle it out.
Nate Burleson (81) and D.J. Hackett (18) are still battling for the starting split end spot. It is somewhat irrelevant because they will both play a lot, and whoever is making more plays will get more playing time. Hackett shined earlier in training camp, Burleson has been great as of late. They have both been solid all camp.