Courtney Taylor looked like an NFL wide receiver, and his play combined with that of Obomanu could have pushed management to seriously consider keeping 6 receivers. However, he has basically no chance of making the team if he misses the next four weeks (as Holmgren reported he would). And that is important for Craig Terrill.
These may seem unrelated, but Craig Terrill is fighting for one of the final spots on the roster. The Seahawks will either keep five or six defensive tackles. The first four are set: Rocky Bernard, Chuck Darby, Marcus Tubbs, and Brandon Mebane. And the absence of Tubbs has allowed Russell Davis more time to show his importance in stopping the run (especially with the ever-looming concern over Tubbs’ health).
That probably means Craig Terrill’s only shot at making the team is if the team keeps 6 defensive tackles. Serious threats to that would be if the team kept 6 wide receivers or 10 offensive linemen. The injury to Courtney Taylor makes the former much less likely. And although possible, it would be somewhat surprising if the Seahawks kept 10 offensive linemen (9 is almost always the number kept). If Terrill remains sidelined for too long (which isn’t likely), then his other concern should be DE Brandon Green, but right now Terrill looks like a safe bet to make the team.
Jordan Babineaux and Patrick Ghee
Patrick Ghee had an outside chance of challenging for a roster spot. His injury basically makes that impossible. That is good news for Mike Green and Michael Boulware, as is the injury to Jordan Babineaux. It was already pretty much certain the Seahawks would keep 8 defensive backs, and Green and Boulware were going to be among them as long as they were heathly. The injuries to Babineaux and Ghee only solidify that.
Walter Jones and Floyd Womack
Walter Jones is fine, but his absence gives other guys a chance to show what they have. It also forces the Seahawks to reveal some of their thinking about the rest of the group, especially combined with the absence of Floyd Womack. Chris Spencer potentially getting days off to rest his shoulders might figure into this as well.
It wasn’t surprising to see Sean Locklear at left tackle with Jones out, but it was revealing to see Ray Willis working exclusively at right guard during the scrimmage. In the past, including during minicamps, the absence of a tackle has resulted in Willis playing tackle and not getting any work at guard. Willis lined up at RG more than Gray did with the first team line, had more time there than Gray with the second team line (Vallos had the most), and was in there again with the third string line. They are giving Willis every shot to earn the starting spot at RG.
The move of Willis to guard helps with depth on the interior, but it compromises it at tackle, especially if Willis is starting at RG. The top three tackles would be Jones, Locklear and Ashworth. If injuries hit two of them, then Willis could always slide over to RT with Gray coming it at RG, but it might be more appealing if they had another guy that could play tackle.
That is where Jonathan Alston could come in. He was playing left tackle with both the second and third string lines during the scrimmage. He looked pretty good against the first team defense. Womack can’t be excited about Alston getting a chance to show what he has. And that is a direct result of the absence of Jones (otherwise Ashworth would have been at LT with the second unit, instead of at RT with the first unit).
Womack is probably still the most likely guy to get the final offensive line spot, but other guys are getting the chance to steal that spot every day he is out, and even more so when other locks to make the team sit out. Just as the absence of Jones gives more chances to Alston, Chris Spencer sitting out gives Pat Ross more reps.
Ross worked at center with the first unit during both minicamps when Spencer was out. That will probably continue if and when they rest Spencer’s shoulders during camp and preseason games. Having a designated backup center would also free up Chris Gray to focus on playing guard. That makes Ross pretty appealing. In short, the two guys Floyd Womack should be concerned about are Pat Ross and Jonathan Alston.
Will Heller and Bennie Joppru
I had figured it was a three-way battle for the third tight end spot between Leonard Stephens, Bennie Joppru, and Joe Newton. At the scrimmage it looked like Newton was not getting serious considerations. Stephens and Joppru got almost all of the playing time with Pollard not playing much and Heller sitting out. Newton stood around holding his helmet.
So, another injury to Joppru (he has missed basically his entire career with injuries since being drafted) means that the final tight end spot almost certainly belongs Stephens. And the longer Heller and Joppru sit out, the more work Stephens will get to cement that role. He will get all of the work in two-tight end sets and with the second team offense. It may also open the door slightly for Newton to get a shot (reps with the third team), but Stephens already has a big lead and the injury situation helps him more than it does Newton.
Leroy Hill
Leroy Hill should be fine, but his absence does give the three reserve outside linebackers (Bentley, Laury, and Herring) a chance to replace D.D. Lewis as first off the bench. Kevin Bentley seems like the obvious choice (he played when Hill and Lewis were injured last year), but Lance Laury could have something to say about that. It is something to watch because the Seahawks need a dependable fourth linebacker. Niko Koutouvides has been playing well as the reserve middle linebacker.
David Kirtman
Kirtman wasn’t going to make the team anyway, but his injury assures it. Josh Parry should be the fifth back, especially with the increased responsibilities for Weaver. A third half-back (Marquis Weeks) adds less value to the team than Parry The only time Weeks would be better to have than Parry would be if injuries hit Strong, Alexander, and Morris. Then a Weeks-Weaver backfield would probably be better than a Weaver-Parry backfield. In any other situation Parry is the more valuable player.
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