Roster Analysis: QBs

In the coming weeks, I will break down the entire Seahawks roster position by position. It makes sense to start with the QBs because that situation is pretty fixed, and leaves little room for debate (at least among those who know what they are talking about).

Quarterbacks
Matt Hasselbeck is the unquestioned starter, and is a Pro Bowl caliber QB when at his best. Seneca Wallace is cemented as the backup. Now that Wallace got some actual playing time in games that mattered last year, he is a legitimate #2 QB. He was not going into last season. The Seahawks would love for him to become a slash type player, but Seneca Wallace has to want that as well. He would likely sign with another team as the backup QB than re-sign with Seattle to play another position.

David Greene is the #3 QB, and he has been fairly safe in that role since he was drafted (despite the clamoring among fans). I am not sure it even makes sense to talk about if David Greene has lived up to expectations. As the #3 QB, you get very limited work, even in camp. Running an offense is all about rhythm and being comfortable, which takes time.

The Seahawks may talk about bringing in a veteran QB, but that has proven to be lip service to this point. Players have been available (e.g. Tim Rattay), but the Seahawks never make a move. Part of the problem is that Seneca Wallace in entrenched as the #2 QB. No experienced veteran free agent wants to sign as the #3 QB. Veterans worth signing are looking for a chance to at least compete to be an injury away from getting some starts and maybe landing a starting gig again (see: Jeff Garcia in Philadelphia). That is part of the reason the Seahawks did not end up signing David Carr.

What does all of that mean? It means there is basically no chance the Seahawks would be able to sign a veteran unless they were planning on getting rid of Seneca Wallace or moving him to a different position. Moving Seneca Wallace to a different position and re-signing him might be next to impossible when he becomes a free agent next year. That leaves the Seahawks with someone like David Greene as the #3 QB as long as Seneca Wallace is on the roster.

David Greene is most likely to be replaced by the Seahawks drafting another 3rd or 4th round quarterback in the next two years. The team will eventually be looking to land someone like others did with Brodie Croyle, Matt Schaub, or Chris Simms. That was the hope with Greene, but it hasn't panned out. Seneca Wallace is never going to be the long-term solution to replace Matt Hasselbeck.

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Former Hawks to the Rescue?

Unless we want to consider the Sonics getting the #2 pick in the NBA Draft Seahawks news or find a way to link Blake Lewis to the Seahawks, this is the time of year for wild speculation on how to improve the team. How about bringing back some former players?

The offensive line has some issues at the center position, but we all hope that problem will be resolved with a full recovery by Chris Spencer (fingers crossed). Second-year player Pat Ross is not terrible, but a Chris Gray-Pat Ross depth chart to start the season would be bleak. Not to mention the wrench it throws into the situation at right guard.

If we have no Spencer, then the Seahawks are looking at a starting unit from left to right of: Walter Jones-Rob Sims-Chris Gray-Floyd Womack-Sean Locklear. That is a disaster waiting to happen. Gray and Womack wouldn't make it through the season healthy. The interior of the line was never properly addressed after the Seahawks lost Steve Hutchinson. Picking up Tom Ashworth only made sense if the team planned on moving Locklear to guard because Ashworth cannot play on the inside. The Robbie Tobeck idea is both appealing and possible, but unlikely.

And the other obvious problem is at tight end. Marcus Pollard is a backup on a lot of teams in the NFL, so the Seahawks are already weak at the top of the depth chart. Will Heller was thought of as a weak third tight end last year during training camp. I don't care how far he has come since then, he is a lower-tier second stringer at best. Backing those two up with Joe Newton, an undrafted rookie, might give the Seahawks the worst tight end group in the NFL, top-to-bottom. Sorry to all you Bennie Joppru fans, but I think Newton beats him out if we are stuck with the current group.

I don't have a problem with Joe Newton per se (I even mentioned him last preseason as a possible addition for 2007), but the team needs someone they know they can count on to go along with Pollard and Heller. Ryan Hannam would be a fan favorite to return to the Seahawks, but don't hold your breath. It looks like the Seahawks made the right call not to give a big contract to someone with a degenerative knee condition (maybe they made the right call on Darrell Jackson as well). Dallas cut Hannam outright, so his knee probably means the end of his career.

As long as we are talking about former players returning to the area, I will throw one more name out there: Ernie Conwell. The veteran tight end was never a Seahawk, but the Renton native strapped on a helmet for Kentwood High School and the University of Washington. Conwell in 34 years old and has had injury problems of his own in the past few years, but he is a hard-working, high-character guy that can play football. He was never exceptional, but he is a reliable veteran that can run-block, make blocks on the second-level, and get open underneath. If he has anything left in the tank, the Seahawks could use his experience to solidify a bad situation.

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First Look at the 53-man Roster

Here is a rough look at what the final 53-man roster might look like. Obvious items for debate are the number of wide receivers, defensive lineman, and defensive backs, and how the running back/fullback situation will play out. The team will keep five, but I am sure a lot of people think Marquis Weeks should be included over Josh Parry.

Injuries will have a lot to do with how things shake out as we get closer, and almost certainly claim one of the defensive lineman or defensive backs. Plenty of people will be down on David Greene again, but the #3 QB position is even less important with the experience Seneca Wallace gained last year.

The obvious void is with the pass-catchers. The Seahawks will probably go with 5 receivers and 3 tight ends, but there is a lack of talent at tight end on the roster right now, and any of the young receivers could emerge (Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent). Keeping 6 receivers would probably mean sacrificing either a DT or safety.

Offense (25)
QB (3) - Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, David Greene
RB/FB (5) - Shaun Alexander, Maurice Morris, Mack Strong, Leonard Weaver, Josh Parry
WR (5) - Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, DJ Hackett, Ben Obomanu
TE (3) - Marcus Pollard, Will Heller, Joe Newton
OL (9) - Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Chris Spencer, Floyd Womack, Chris Gray, Tom Ashworth, Ray Willis, Rob Sims, Mansfield Wrotto

Defense (25)
DE (4) - Patrick Kerney, Bryce Fisher, Darryl Tapp, Baraka Atkins
DT (6) - Rocky Bernard, Chuck Darby, Marcus Tubbs, Brandon Mebane, Russell Davis, Craig Terrill
OLB (5) - Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, Kevin Bentley, Marquis Cooper, Will Herring
ILB (2) - Lofa Tatupu, Niko Koutouvides
S (4) - Deon Grant, Brian Russell, Michael Boulware, Mike Green
CB (4) - Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Jordan Babineaux, Josh Wilson

Special Teams (3)
K - Josh Brown
P - Ryan Plackemeier
LS - Derek Rackley

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Tight Ends

Is Marcus Pollard a better tight end than David Martin, Eric Johnson, or Randy McMichael? That is at least an interesting question to debate. Pollard has been a solid, complete tight over his career. I like that he is on the roster, but he is 35 years old. I would have liked to see the Seahawks add both Pollard and one of those younger guys (all were born in 1979).

Johnson has injury concerns, but he did manage 82 catches when he was able to stay healthy. Martin has the weakest resume of the three, but he is a decent young veteran with experience in a similar offense. McMichael may struggle with his blocking at times, but he is a much better receiver than Pollard.

Speaking of stats and Sharkira's hips (neither lie, of course) McMichael averaged 65 catches (34 first downs), 670 yards and 4 touchdowns over the past three seasons. Pollard has never had more than 47 catches in a season, and a good amount of his touchdowns can be attributed to Peyton Manning and the rest of that offense. The guys in Miami throwing to McMichael didn't help him any. Don't get me wrong, I like Pollard, but Will Heller and Marcus Pollard are not going to get it done.

Back to Shakira, and if she can play tight end. A picture is worth a thousand words, but that sure looks like a tight end to me.
Before we put Mansfield Wrotto in the ring of honor, we should probably let him at least play out his rookie contract. Wrotto could be great or he could be a bust. He has huge upside potential, but he may never live up to it. He is the kind of pick that good teams make hoping it pays off in the future. Darrell Jackson is the kind of receiver that can help put an offense over the top right now, but only if his knee holds up. I understand why they got rid of Jackson, but keeping him makes more sense to me from a cost-benefit/risk standpoint.

Keep the comments coming. I will be tweaking the format, so they appear on their own separate page instead of taking up the entire main page.

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Back for 2007

The draft is over...yawn. The only really interesting thing that happened was losing Darrell Jackson, which was terrible. He was somewhat of a malcontent, but he produced like no other receiver in Seahawks history except Steve Largent. I'll pencil him in for about 10 catches, 120 yards, and 2 touchdowns next year against the Hawks - not to mention a few big third down drive sustaining receptions. Oh well, with Tim Ruskell you have to take the good with the bad. Let's hope his knee starts acting up.

Mansfield Wrotto may end up being a great offensive lineman, but he is too raw to make an impact in the near future. The Seahawks appear to be heading down the road of a frustrating team that lurks on the edge of winning it all for a few years and then tumbles into mediocrity (see: Seattle Mariners). The loss of Jackson is huge with a big void at tight end. I guess I can give everyone a big, "I told you so" regarding Jerramy Stevens.

Just like Stevens, the Seahawks dropped the ball during free agency with respect to tight ends. David Martin and Eric Johnson were available relatively cheap. Martin signed with Miami for 3-years, $3.57 million and Eric Johnson signed a one-year deal with New Orleans. Randy McMichael signed a richer, but fair deal in St. Louis at $11 million over 3 years. The Seahawks were probably wise to pass on Daniel Graham, given that he nabbed a five-year, $30-million deal that includes $15 million in guaranteed money from Denver.

2007 might really be the year the Seahawks defense outshines the offense unless Shaun Alexander and the offensive line recover to 2005 form. That seems at least possible, but will be difficult with a troubled passing game. Deion Branch, D.J. Hackett and Nate Burleson could potentially pull it off, but that is more wishful thinking than anything else. I actually like Marcus Pollard.

The addition of safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell more than make up for the loss of Ken Hamlin. Hamlin has always been immature and his big hit mentality and on-field antics cost the team a lot last year in terms of stupid penalties, missed tackles, and blown assignments. Hamlin is one of the most talented safeties in the league, but he isn't too bright. The team is deeper on defense than it was last year, and has less injury concerns coming into the season. The loss of D.D. Lewis should not be underestimated, but overall things are looking better on that side of the football. If Mike Green is back to pre-injury form, then the secondary is in good shape. Jim Mora, Jr. helps there as well.

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