SB Nation - Korey Toomer

Seahawks Vs. Cardinals: Injury Report, Practice Squad, Waiver Wire News & Notes

Danny Kelly — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:00:27 -0000

There has been such a deluge of news, transactions, injury reports, trades, etc. this last week that I felt like a nice little summation would be in order. To start - in case you hadn't realized it quite yet - real, meaningful football is back. With this in mind, let's talk injuries. Golden Tate was held out of practice on Monday and Danny O'Neil reports that Tate could miss 'at least two weeks' with a twisted knee, suffered returning a punt on Thursday. This is bad news for Tate and the Seahawks' offense, as he'd been starting as the team's X-receiver during the preseason. In his place, likely, Braylon Edwards should see a good amount of snaps and don't count the venerable Ben Obomanu, who survived roster cuts once again, to benefit with increased playing time as well.

I haven't heard much about Doug Baldwin, who had blood drained from his hamstring a few weeks back and missed all of the preseason action. I'm assuming he'll be ready to go on Sunday (he says as much on his Twitter account), as of right now, but that is still very much up in the air. If Baldwin is a no-go, look for Charly Martin and Ben Obomanu to pick up the reps in the slot.

James Carpenter, Seattle's first-round pick from 2011, is back at practice and has been medically cleared for full participation. This is huge news, and significantly speeds up a recovery process that many of us thought would last the entire season. Instead, we're likely looking at a week or three for Carpenter to get back up to speed, conditioning and schematically speaking. I wouldn't expect much from him this week, but once he's back to full speed, he could challenge Paul McQuistan for the starting LG job. He noted recently that he's glad to be on the interior, and that he feels it's "where he should be playing," so that's intriguing and encouraging. A strong, mauling, anchoring interior offensive line is of paramount importance to Russell Wilson, as Wilson requires a clean pocket and wide throwing lanes to make up for his height disadvantage. Look for Pete Carroll to update Carpenter's progress later this week.

Evan Moore is now in Seattle and is practicing with the team. He's been issued Kellen Winslow's #82, and spoke with reporters yesterday following practice. In that interview, Moore points out that he was fairly strongly recruited by several teams but wanted to come out to Seattle to play for Pete Carroll. As Scott Enyeart pointed out, Moore went to Brea Olinda HS in Southern California, and coming up in that area, had to have been very familiar with Carroll. Moore was recruited by Carroll's Trojans coming out of High School, Enyeart noted, and even had an SC offer, but Moore chose Stanford over USC and UCLA and as a prep two-sport All-American in football and basketball, he played on both teams for the Cardinal - and keep in mind this was in the days when Stanford balling out in basketball. In 2003, Moore played a reserve role on a Cardinal team that won the Pac-10 title, was ranked No. 1 in the country for several weeks and finished the year with a 30-2 overall record. But, Moore played receiver for the Cardinal as well, along with Doug Baldwin and Richard Sherman (which is funny to think about), and quit hoops in 2004 to concentrate on football. He was signed as an UDFA out of Stanford by John Schneider and the Packers, and they converted him to a tight end.

Waiver Wire Notes:

The Seahawks put in waiver claims for three players over the weekend. Former Texans' OG Shelley Smith, a sixth round pick out of Colorado State in 2010, was targeted, and it makes sense they'd go for a guy that's been playing in Houston's top-tier zone blocking scheme for a couple of years. St. Louis, Washington, Seattle, and Tennessee put in claims for him but he was awarded to the Rams.

The Hawks also tried to claim San Francisco OT Mike Person. Person was a guy the Seahawks had interest in prior to the 2011 Draft and had him out to the VMAC if memory serves, but the Montana State product was drafted by the 49ers in the 7th round. He was awarded to the Colts.

Finally, the Seahawks put in a claim on former Giants RB D.J. Ware. The 27-year old, 6'0, 225 pound back out of Georgia ended up with the Bucs, but I would guess he was going to be replacing Kregg Lumpkin on the roster. That's just a guess, but because they're similar size, it would make sense.

Practice Squad:

The Seahawks settled on a practice squad, after a little shuffling, and we saw Sean McGrath leave and he was replaced by T/G/DT Edawn Coughman. The eight practice squad players, as of right now, are receivers Jermaine Kearse and Ricardo Lockette, offensive linemen Rishaw Johnson and Edawn Coughman, quarterback Josh Portis, safety DeShawn Shead and linebackers Korey Toomer and Allen Bradford.

It's cool to see DeShawn Shead stick, and Korey Toomer and Allen Bradford both cleared waivers and stay with the franchise. Originally, it was reported that Lavasier Tuinei was added to the list but he has recently been replaced by WR/(RB?) Jermaine Kearse. Incidentally, what the hell was all that "Kearse at halfback" business about?

A bit of good(?) news too regarding running back Vai Taua, who cleared waivers and was added to the team's injured reserve. I liked what he brought in the preseason, and he's a logical replacement for the aging fullback stalwart Michael Robinson. Robinson is due $2.5M next year and that's a pretty big haul for a FB, and this team's salary cap management history makes me doubt how secure Robinson's spot will be next season. Taua will probably spend the offseason rehabbing his knee and gaining a little bit of weight. Tight end Cameron Morrah, defensive end Dexter Davis and linebackers Jameson Konz and Matt McCoy were also added to the injured reserve list. I haven't seen if any of these guys were designated for return under the new IR Exemption rule that would allow one player to return after Week 6. That should be announced prior to the game this week.

Allen Barbre is on the suspended list, and Walter Thurmond is the only player on the Seahawks' regular season PUP list. He's eligible to start practicing after Week 6.

NFL Practice Squad: Salary, Rules, Player Eligibility for Seahawks

Danny Kelly — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:44:21 -0000

UPDATE: The Seahawks signed quarterback Josh Portis, wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, linebacker Korey Toomer, tight end Sean McGrath, offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson, linebacker Allen Bradford, and safety DeShawn Shead to their practice squad. Danny O'Neil earlier reported that Edawn Coughman will be signed as well, so he may be the eighth and final member of the practice squad, but still no official word.

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NFL teams, as of 9am PST, are now permitted to begin signing eight players to their respective practice squads. For a brush up on practice squad eligibility rules, I go to the inimitable Brian McIntyre. Mac explains, "Eligibility for the practice squad is limited to players who do not have an accrued season in the NFL, or were on an active list (53-man roster) for fewer than nine games during their only accrued seasons. Players that have served two seasons on a practice squad are eligible for a third season only if the team has at least 53 players on its active/inactive list for the duration of that player's employment. A player will be considered to have served on a practice squad in a season if he were a member of a practice squad for three regular or postseason games during his first two practice squad seasons, or for one regular season or postseason game during a third practice squad season."

The minimum salary for practice squad members in 2012 is $5,700 per week, but teams can pay a player significantly more if another team is trying to add that to their active roster. Tori Gurley, for instance, was offered a position on the Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster last season, but instead opted to stay with the Packers on their practice squad with a nice raise (and a chance at the Super Bowl). Gurley, incidentally, in now a free agent again.

I'll add the Seahawks' signed practice squad players here as soon as they're announced. Mike Sando, over at the NFC West ESPN blog, lists the eligible players from the Seahawks (And NFC West teams) cutdowns. Big hat tip to Sando for that --

Eligible: Pierre Allen, Allen Bradford, Kris Durham, Cooper Helfet, Rishaw Johnson, Jermaine Kearse, Kyle Knox, Cordarro Law, Lazarius Levingston, Ricardo Lockette, Sean McGrath, Kris O'Dowd, Josh Portis, DeShawn Shead, Vai Taua, Korey Toomer, Lavasier Tuinei

Not eligible: Phillip Adams, Deon Butler, Paul Fanaika

NFL Cuts: Analysis of the Seahawks' Initial 53-Man Roster

Danny Kelly — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:19:58 -0000

The Seahawks settled on their initial 53-man roster last night and though I'm sure it's subject to change, probably today even, I wanted to take a minute to do a position by position breakdown of what shook out.

Offense: 25

QB (2): Russell Wilson, Matt Flynn

First off, the decision to keep two quarterbacks was an option I had raised on twitter a few weeks back and though I didn't really think it was all that probable then, it does make sense to me to go this route. The Seahawks have their starter in Russell Wilson and a very quality backup in Matt Flynn, and can, and I'm sure will, develop a third, emergency quarterback on the practice squad, assuming they don't bring in a waiver wire addition to the roster. Because we've talked ad nauseam about Wilson and Flynn already, let's talk about the theoretical emergency option.

My guess is that the Seahawks will try to sign Josh Portis to their practice squad, but they may also look around the league for another player that they like more - perhaps someone more refined and 'game-ready'. Regardless, it's rare for your first two quarterbacks to get injured, and let's be honest, you're sort of screwed anyway if it comes to playing your third QB. The Texans are arguably one of the most talented teams in the league, and when Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart went down late last season, they had to go with rookie T.J. Yates. They limped into playoffs on a three-game losing streak before beating Cincy and eventually losing to the Ravens, but I'm guessing for now, the Seahawks are just really hoping it won't come to that type of situation.

I'm fine with two QBs. Fortunately, the Seahawks' offense is set up to function with a less talented quarterback that can lean on the run game heavily and utilize tight ends and short passing patterns. Any third QB they place on the practice squad though, is going to have to be mobile, with a strong arm to occasionally utilize play-action passing downfield, because you know that if it comes to this, opposing defenses will stack the box with 8 or 9 defenders.

RB (5): Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington, Kregg Lumpkin

The decision to keep two quarterbacks facilitated the ability to to keep five running backs. Kregg Lumpkin was the beneficiary of this choice, and beat out Vai Taua for that final roster spot (though, I tend to think that Taua had him beat until he suffered a sprained PCL on Thursday). This is a running back group that I like a lot though, and with Lynch, Turbin, and Washington carrying the load, then Michael Robinson and Kregg Lumpkin rotating in at fullback, the Seahawks have positioned their roster well to lean on the run game heavily. It will be interesting to see how the carries are divvied out.

WR (6) Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, Braylon Edwards, Charly Martin, Ben Obomanu

The surprise of the group is, of course, Charly Martin, a free agent signee over the offseason. Martin had a great preseason, and proved he can contribute well as a downfield blocker (sprung Russell Wilson for a long touchdown run on a naked bootleg against Tennessee) and a capable special teamer. Martin beat out 2012 fourth-round pick Kris Durham, who disappointed this preseason, and former third-rounder Deon Butler, who I believe lost out because he wasn't as versatile. The other surprise, I guess, is Braylon Edwards, another free agent signee that impressed over the past few weeks. Edwards will fight with Golden Tate for reps at the X-receiver spot and may see a lot of snaps early in the year, depending on the severity of Tate's knee injury.

Ben Obomanu sneaks onto the roster yet again this year, and again, his versatility is probably what earned him that roster spot. Obo can play outside or in the slot, and can contribute on special teams if need be.

TE (3): Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow, Anthony McCoy

I was a bit surprised to see the Seahawks keep only three tight ends but the emergence this preseason of Anthony McCoy allowed the front office that ability. McCoy can back up both Miller and Winslow, and his versatility there is of paramount importance to this team's offense, as both Miller and Winslow have health issues to worry about (Winslow's knee, Miller's concussions). Sean McGrath will likely be on speed dial as a potential replacement if one of these three gets hurt, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him on the practice squad either. McGrath too showed an ability to play in-line or outside, so he could provide value later, if no one picks him up. Cooper Helfet is another option as a joker tight end, down the line.

OL (9): Russell Okung, Paul McQuistan, Max Unger, John Moffitt, Breno Giacomini, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Frank Omiyale, J.R. Sweezy, James Carpenter

The Seahawks settle with nine here to start the year, plus Allen Barbre on the suspended list for the first four games. No real big surprises with the chosen group, other than the decision to take James Carpenter off the PUP list and add him to the active roster. This implies that Carpenter is going to be ready sooner than week six, or I would guess the team would have just placed him on the regular season PUP, as he was eligible for that list. Overall though, I'm less leery than some about the depth on the line here, especially on the interior.

Hugh Millen recently said that Paul McQuistan is playing at an 'Pro-Bowl' level this preseason, and while I cannot agree nor refute that, he's the one guy on the line that I still haven't quite figured out. So, I'll take that assessment. I think that Russell Okung, Max Unger, and J.R. Sweezy have looked great during the preseason and it honestly wouldn't surprise me to see Sweezy starting at right guard next Sunday. I've taken to looking at an offensive line unit as that - a unit, and not a group of five starters. There are going to be injuries on the line this year, so really, it's more logical to look at the first seven or eight guys you have available to play at any given time.

At center, the Seahawks have Max Unger, John Moffitt, and Lemuel Jeanpierre. At guard, they have McQuistan, Moffitt, Sweezy, Jeanpierre, and even Omiyale can play inside. At tackle, there is a little bit of depth to be desired, but they have Okung, Giacomini, Omiyale, McQuistan, and even Carpenter in a pinch. This is why Tom Cable has his guys play and practice at several positions, and some of the guys can even play all the offensive line spots. Right now, I'm feeling pretty good about the overall depth. We shall see. I feel like Omiyale is the weakest link though, so I wouldn't be surprised to see scouring of the waiver wire for a better option. Look to Houston and Washington's cuts, as they both run similar zone blocking schemes. I like the idea of adding OT Willie Smith, a guy that started several games for the Redskins last year and did well for himself against some of the top-tier defensive ends in the league.

Defense: 25

DL (9): Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Alan Branch, Chris Clemons, Jason Jones, Bruce Irvin, Greg Scruggs, Jaye Howard, Clinton McDonald

No real surprises in this unit, honestly. Greg Scruggs played himself into a roster spot, and Jaye Howard has looked very promising. Clinton McDonald is a solid, if not spectacular option on the interior that can backup both the nose tackle and 3-tech spots. Pierre Allen wasn't a big enough difference maker on the end, and Pep Levingston got hurt. I wouldn't be super surprised to see the Seahawks pick up another edge rusher on the waiver wire.

LB (6): K.J. Wright, Malcolm Smith, Bobby Wagner, Leroy Hill, Mike Morgan, Heath Farwell

The surprise cut here was Korey Toomer, but he'll likely be first in line for a practice squad spot. Otherwise, Mike Morgan had a surprisingly good preseason and showed the speed and range to have value as a backup Sam linebacker and core special teamer. Heath Farwell has the ability as a nickel linebacker and backup Mike, and led the NFL in special teams tackles last year, which I'm sure Pete Carroll loves.

Bobby Wagner showed enough for the Seahawks to feel comfortable starting him week one, I think, and so they shipped Barrett Ruud to New Orleans. Incidentally, it looks like Ruud made that roster, so the Seahawks should be getting a draft pick in return (making it somewhat of a wash, they'll also be sending a pick over to Tampa Bay, as Winslow makes Seattle's roster).

DB (10) Brandon Browner, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell, Winston Guy, Jeremy Lane, Chris Maragos, Jeron Johnson, Marcus Trufant

The surprise cut here was Phillip Adams, who had played well in the preseason, but Marcus Trufant got the veteranosity and versatility nod over him for a spot. Jeron Johnson played out of his mind the last few weeks and solidified his spot as Kam Chancellor's backup (plus a key dime/bandit contributor), and Chris Maragos is pretty much the only player on the roster that could back up Earl Thomas. It's surprising and encouraging to see Byron Maxwell make the team, as he'd struggled of late, but I still have high hopes for him to develop. Jeremy Lane and Winston Guy both make the team as late-round rookies, and it will be fun to see if and how they're used in this defense. Pete Carroll seems to really like Guy's ability as a joker piece type of safety that can move around in the box and patrol the secondary. He compares Guy to Lawyer Milloy.

Specialists: 3

Spec (3): Jon Ryan, Steven Hauschka, Clint Gresham

No surprises here.

PUP: Walter Thurmond
Suspended: Allen Barbre
Injured Reserve: LB Matt McCoy, LB Jameson Konz and TE Cameron Morrah.

Interestingly, the Seahawks, yet again, retain Jameson Konz on the injured reserve, and he'll be joined by Matt McCoy and Cameron Morrah. Walter Thurmond is eligible to come off the PUP list after week six. Allen Barbre hangs on by a thread, as he doesn't count against the 53-man limit until week five.

Cowboys WR Danny Coale Tops List Of 2012 Rookies Cut Yesterday

One.Cool.Customer — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 13:00:50 -0000

Last year, Cowboys fifth-round pick CB Josh Thomas was cut during the final cuts for the 53-man roster. A hamstring injury limited him in camp and ultimately cost him a chance to make the roster. Thomas was immediately picked up by the Panthers, where he appeared in nine games last season.

Thomas was one of only five fifth-round picks to who didn't make the team during final roster cuts at this time last year. Thomas and the Patriots' TE Lee Smith were the only two players to be picked up off the waiver wire (Smith went to Buffalo where he appeared in ten games last season). Safeties Shiloh Keo (Texans) and Ahmad Black (Buccaneers) cleared waivers and landed on the practice squad of their teams. Safety Mark Legree has bounced around with four teams since and is currently a free agent.

That brings us to the Cowboys' 2012 fifth round pick Danny Coale. By my count, Coale is one of only three 2012 fifth-rounders released this year. So what are the chances he'll get picked up off the waiver wire?

If the Josh Thomas experience is anything to go by, then there's a two out of five chance that Coale will be claimed off waivers. This year, there were only three 2012 fifth-rounders waived during the final roster cuts prior to the start of the season: Danny Coale, ILB Tank Carder from the Bills and ILB Korey Toomer from the Seahawks. Chances are, at least one of them will get claimed by 12:00 noon ET today.

Obviously, there's no way to quantify the chances of Coale being the claimed by another team. But initially, it looks like the Cowboys took a big risk with this move. Fifth-rounders don't get released often, and this fact alone will have other teams' interest piqued.

Then again, there were 103 wide receivers released yesterday, many with more experience, many with a better draft pedigree, some with better measurables and certainly a lot who showed more in camp than Coale did.

The table below shows a tally of the 2012 draft picks released yesterday, sorted by the order in which they were drafted in April. Teams across the league are going to be comparing a similar list to their own draft grades. They have until 12:00 ET to make a decision on whether they want to give a spot on the 53-man roster to one of these players or one of the othe 670+ players released yesterday.

Round	Pick	Team	Player	POS
5	147	BUF	Tank Carder	ILB
5	152	DAL	Danny Coale	WR
5	154	SEA	Korey Toomer	ILB
6	174	TAM	Keith Tandy	CB
6	178	BUF	Mark Asper	OG
6	183	MIA	B.J. Cunningham	WR
6	184	CHI	Isaiah Frey	CB
6	193	WAS	Tom Compton	T
6	194	PHI	Marvin McNutt	WR
6	200	PHI	Brandon Washington	OG
6	201	NYG	Matt McCants	T
6	202	NYJ	Terrance Ganaway	RB
6	203	NYJ	Robert T. Griffin	OG
7	209	STL	Aaron Brown	LB
7	214	IND	Tim Fugger	DE

Round	Pick	Team	Player	POS
7	218	KAN	Jerome Long	DT
7	219	MIN	Trevor Guyton	DE
7	220	CHI	Greg McCoy	CB
7	230	OAK	Nathan Stupar	OLB
7	231	PIT	Toney Clemons	WR
7	233	TAM	Drake Dunsmore	TE
7	235	NWE	Jeremy Ebert	WR
7	237	SFO	Cam Johnson	LB
7	238	KAN	Junior Hemingway	WR
7	241	GNB	Andrew Datko	T
7	243	GNB	B.J. Coleman	QB
7	244	NYJ	Jordan White	WR
7	246	PIT	Terrence Frederick	CB
7	247	CLE	Brad Smelley	FB
7	250	SDG	Edwin Baker	RB

The table is based on the list of roster cuts as published on the NFL Transaction Report , and crossreferenced with the Pro Football Reference draft data. Any misses are obviously due to software issues, and therefore the fault of Microsoft.

Thirty 2012 draft picks were waived, and an additional four were placed on IR yesterday (if the data in the table above is correct). Danny Coale sits at the very top of this list, and as a result he'll attract some interest at the very least. Keep your fingers crossed that he makes it back to the Cowboys.

The other thing about this list is that it also contains some names that were popular among Cowboys fans in the weeks and months leading up to the draft. And while all of these players were released for a reason (most of them because they simply weren't good enough), are there some players here that you would like the Cowboys to take a look at?

NFL Cuts: Projecting the Final 53 for the Seahawks

Derek Stephens — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:30:50 -0000

After the fourth and final preseason game, I've updated the final-53 projection with a few replacements/additions. Again, this is strictly my perspective as a scout/analyst and is not a prediction as to what the team will do.

Let's go through each position group, and note some observations from tonight's game:

Quarterbacks (3) - Russell Wilson, Matt Flynn, Josh Portis

Game 4 notes: Wilson looked good, with the exception of one or two accuracy checks. He stayed in the pocket, utilized play-action, and checked down when he needed to. I was looking for a change in decisiveness, or any hesitation to let go of the football, and saw none. I have very few concerns about Wilson's ability to lead this team to wins, this year. Flynn was Flynn - efficient and conservative - although he was locking on to his primary target (see two Lockette catches in 3rd Quarter) more than I'd have liked to see, and again was not as decisive as Wilson to let the ball go. And finally, remember how good Josh Portis looked last preseason? Those were good times.

Running Backs (5) - Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington, Vai Taua

Game 4 notes: Both Taua and Lumpkin made roster cases here, but the wildcard is Washington (did not suit tonight), who remains the top return man on the team, and who possesses an element of explosiveness - both as a pass-catcher and runner - that sets him apart from the rest of the group here and makes him the most natural 3rd-down ‘back of the bunch. Taua is a more versatile ‘back than Lumpkin, in that he can contribute as a featured runner, lead blocker and pass-catcher, and proved it tonight with his impressive performance in all three areas. I don't see any scenario whereby the Seahawks don't keep at least 5 RBs. Tonight, Taua and Lumpkin both pushed coaches to consider cutting Washington.

Tight Ends (4) - Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow, Anthony McCoy, Sean McGrath

Game 4 notes: McGrath was once again solid tonight with an impressive catch on a tipped pass down the seam, and solid blocking up front. Helfet showed up again with a couple of nice grabs in the flat, one of which he manufactured a TD out of by maintaining balance on contact and extending to the pylon for the finish. The other was a tough, low catch that required him to adjust his body back toward the QB while breaking toward the sideline, extend his arms below his knees and secure the ball with his hands before getting his head around and turning up field for a few extra yards.

Good display of coordination and awareness, as well as quickness off the line. These are two completely different TEs, but I still think the ‘Hawks go with McGrath as the 4th here, due to better blocking. The lack of an emerging 6th WR could potentially leave the door open for all 5 TEs to stay, especially considering that Helfet can line up in the slot.

Wide Receivers (6) - Sidney Rice, Braylon Edwards, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Deon Butler, Kris Durham

Game 4 notes: Between Durham, Martin, Tuinei and Kearse, it was Durham that looked the best tonight. Nobody stole the show by any means, but Durham got separation on some routes and made a nice sideline catch on a deep out pattern from Flynn. If I had to pick a 6th, it would be Durham at this point.

Martin has been good, but he's really nothing more than a slot receiver if he does make the roster, and both Baldwin and Butler run better routes underneath. Very possible that the team goes with 5 here, and keeps an extra TE or RB. Golden Tate appeared to injure his knee on a 2nd-half punt return, but I haven't heard anything in terms of how serious it is.

Offensive Linemen (8) - Russell Okung, Paul McQuistain, Max Unger, John Moffitt, Breno Giacomini, J.R. Sweezy, Lemuel Jeanpeirre, Paul Fanaika

Game 4 notes: With Alex Barron gone, Fanaika moved to RT tonight and surprisingly, looked good there. He bolsters his value a lot by doing so, and moves ahead of Rishaw Johnson, who struggled to stay engaged at the point of attack tonight, and isn't out-playing Lemuel Jeanpierre, who's simply more polished at center, and can play either guard position.

Defensive Linemen (9) - Brandon Mebane, Alan Branch, Jason Jones, Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Clinton McDonald, Greg Scruggs, Jaye Howard

Game 4 notes: Nothing changes here, from my pre-game analysis. Cordarro Law and Pierre Allen are the cuts. Howard locked his spot tonight, displaying incredible get-off and a wicked swim to notch a safety, and got consistent penetration to disrupt the pocket throughout the night. Scruggs did not suit but loses no ground.

Linebackers (6) - Bobby Wagner, Leroy Hill, K.J. Wright, Malcolm Smith, Mike Morgan, Korey Toomer

Game 4 notes: Mike Morgan probably secured a spot tonight, and once again, Toomer was a factor both on special teams and as a disruptive force in the backfield. There's something about Toomer that bothers me though. He doesn't fly around with the same fire as Morgan or even Allen Bradford. He's a bit more of a "glider". I think it's more his running style than his effort, but it does impact how visible he is.

I have a feeling that Toomer and Bradford may be closer in their overall grades than some might think. Personally, I still grade Toomer higher for the value he brings to the pass-rush, and one-on-one coverage ability, but Bradford lined up in a few different spots tonight (MLB, WLB) and displayed big-time explosion to the hole, making a couple of key stops against the run. If coaches become convinced that Bradford can play the middle, he could potentially steal a spot from either Morgan or Toomer.

Cornerbacks (5) - Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Phillip Adams, Byron Maxwell, Jeremy Lane

Game 4 note: Trufant, Maxwell and Lane all had good games tonight, and Adams didn't do anything to lose ground. The cut here will probably come down to a decision between Trufant and Lane. While Trufant is probably the more reliable cover guy of the two, and is certainly better in the slot at the moment, Lane shows some real promise on the outside. This decision comes down to a question of "future vs. present". If it's me, I see enough good play out of both Adams and Maxwell to justify letting Trufant go, and giving Lane the 5th spot. Both Maxwell and Adams can play inside or out, so you don't necessarily need that same versatility out of Lane. He can be brought along and developed, and be an immediate special teams contributor (much like Maxwell was last year).

Safeties (4) - Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Jeron Johnson, Winston Guy

Game 4 note: Chancellor and Maragos sat out tonight. Johnson played like a Pro Bowl-caliber safety, particularly against the run, and further confirmed that he's ready to be the 3rd man in the rotation. Winston Guy got several shots at rushing the QB with the "Bandit" package, and took several reps in pass coverage as well, looking impressive in how quickly he closed on plays in front of him. All of Thomas, Chancellor, Johnson and Guy are locks to make the team, so Maragos is the odd man out here. The team has kept 5 safeties before, so I don't consider that to be out of the realms of possibility, considering how well Maragos has played both at safety and on special teams.

Long Snapper (1) - Clint Gresham

Kicker (1) - Steven Hauschka

Punter (1) - Jon Ryan

PUP or IR - James Carpenter, Walter Thurmond III, Matt McCoy

Practice Squad: Cooper Helfet, Kyle Knox, Jermaine Kearse, Lavasier Tuinei, Cordarro Law, Desean Shead, Kris O'Dowd, Rishaw Johnson (it's unlikely that all of these players will end up on the practice squad, but any one of them could, so we list them all here).

Derek has transitioned from doing league-wide NFL Draft analysis at his blog to a more focused and specific Seahawks-centric draft - free agency - pro player personnel site called "ScoutTheSeahawks." It's now up - and it's definitely a site you must bookmark. Derek also maintains a really great free agent trackerthat is much more in-depth than most places because of his background doing deep scouting of NFL Draft prospects. It's updated daily.

NFL Cuts: Final Seahawks' Preseason Position Battles

Derek Stephens — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:43:11 -0000

Here we dive into the remaining key battles for roster spots at each position. A few things should be noted. First, I'm not predicting who will or won't make the team. I'd have to live in Pete Carroll or John Schneider's head, or be a fly on the wall in each position group's classroom to have a realistic shot at doing that, particularly with some of the closer battles. I'm simply applying my own grading/scouting criteria in conjunction with what I know about the team's personnel philosophy, to what I've seen in hours of geeky tape breakdown of the first three preseason games, and establishing a final roster that I would compile based on that criteria. We start with the offense...

Offense: Quarterbacks

Number to Keep: 3

Analysis: All three of Russell Wilson, Matt Flynn and Josh Portis make the roster as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd QBs respectively. We've already analyzed the heck out of this spot.

Running Backs

Number to Keep: 5

Analysis: Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin and Michael Robinson are all shoe-ins to make the final 53, with Leon Washington a near lock. Washington has exhibited change of pace explosiveness and pre-injury speed this preseason, and the value he brings to the return game speaks for itself. Kregg Lumpkin has been good, but I have Taua graded higher for versatility and 2-position depth (FB and HB), and I simply don't see the team keeping 6 RBs, at least long-term.

I've received a few questions about the possibility of Washington being cut, but I just don't see it happening. Nobody else has emerged as a legit big-play return threat outside of Golden Tate, and even Tate would probably only be used on punt returns. Coye Francies and Phillip Adams have been the other two return men this preseason, but Francies was cut and Adams has done nothing special as a returner. I know Washington's contract isn't league minimum by any means, but you can't go out and re-set every position and hope to get the same impact out of bargain players that you do out of an elite return man like Washington.

Building a roster isn't all about cutting costs. Not to mention, Washington has done a lot of the little things well this preseason, both as a blocker and a runner and is a respected leader in the locker room. It's not like the guy has become a liability. Vai Taua probably has a better shot at making the roster than Lumpkin, simply because of the versatility to swing between tailback and fullback, and he's a pass-catching threat out of the backfield in short-yardage situations. This staff loves versatility, so if the ‘Hawks did go with 5 ‘backs, I would put Taua on the roster as a backup FB and 4th RB.

Wide Receivers

Number to Keep: 6

Analysis: Beyond Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate and Braylon Edwards, there is at least one remaining receiver spot to be won, but probably two, and maybe three. The front-runners for the 5th and 6th spot would be Deon Butler, Charly Martin or Ben Obomanu, with Kris Durham, Ricardo Lockette and Lavasier Tuinei competing for a back-end spot if one is available.

Keeping either of Butler or Obomanu around as a 6th or 7th receiver wouldn't make much sense, so assuming one of them hangs on as the 5th, the competition for a 6th spot probably falls between Martin, Durham, Lockette and Tuinei. Based on limited targets to the latter three in the preseason so far, I'm evaluating blind somewhat in guessing which of them grades out higher than the others at this point. Only Tuinei has a catch among them, and it was just that - one catch. I have Jermaine Kearse bringing up the rear with no shot of making the final-53.

Tight End

Number to Keep: 4

Analysis: There might be a 4th TE spot available, and if so, it will come down to two UDFA rookies in Sean McGrath and Cooper Helfet. McGrath has been the more well-rounded of the two on tape in terms of both blocking and pass-catching, but Helfet has some quickness and would provide more of a versatile, field-stretching threat than McGrath, as a receiver.

With the current group of locks (Miller, Winslow, McCoy) all having a history of injury, a guy like McGrath would be my pick to stay around considering how much this offense is going to run the ball, and thus will rely on its TEs to block quite a bit. Helfet is an ideal Practice Squad candidate though, who could have a future in the league, with teams going more to the hybrid WR/TE types.

Offensive Line

Number to Keep: 8

Analysis: Assuming the Seahawks keep 8 O-linemen, I have the following group as locks: Russell Okung, Paul McQuistain, Max Unger, John Moffitt, J.R. Sweezy and Breno Giacomini. That's six. Assuming there are two spots remaining and Carpenter goes on the PUP for the first six weeks, I have graded out Lemuel Jeanpierre and Rishaw Johnson as the best of the remaining bunch, with Paul Fanaika and Frank Omiyale rounding out the bottom of the group, and Kris O'Dowd on "warm body" duty.

While Johnson has graded higher than Omiyale, I could envision a scenario whereby Omiyale makes the roster over Johnson, simply because Johnson doesn't give you anything that Jeanpierre doesn't give you in terms of depth, although from a technique and physical standpoint, Johnson does give you more power and a bit more "nasty". Omiyale gives Seattle a rotational tackle as insurance (and not great insurance, by the way) in the case that either of the starters go down to injury.

Thus, I see Johnson probably more in competition with Jeanpierre for the backup guard/center two-position depth spot - and very much a contender in that competition - and Omiyale retaining a decent chance of making the final-53. Tackle depth is the biggest weakness on this side of the football, by far, so another scenario I could envision would be Seattle initially cutting Omiyale, keeping 7, and then subsequently signing a better backup tackle from the proverbial "scrap pile" of other teams' cuts. There's got to be something better out there, and we'll continue to track free agents as they become available. I think Fanaika and O'Dowd miss the cut here on an 8-man keep.

Defense: Defensive Line

Number to Keep: 9

Analysis: The key in staffing the D-line will be versatility and speed. It's no secret that Pete Carroll and Gus Bradley love switching up the groups and "looks" along the front line, and the concerted effort to go out and get more speed has yielded a crop of athletes that definitely give the ‘Hawks some options. Locks to make the roster are Brandon Mebane, Alan Branch, Red Bryant, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Jason Jones, Clinton McDonald and Greg Scruggs. That leaves competition for what will probably be one more spot between Jaye Howard, Cordarro Law and Pierre Allen.

After watching the tape of all three games several times over, it's a no-brainer in my mind, that Jaye Howard is that guy, if there's a single spot left here. He's got more consistent impact potential than the other two, and has played and improved at the level and rate of no less than a 4th-rounder at this stage, and has the natural physical tools to continue to develop. Not ideal for a starting role, but for depth and rotation, perfect. You keep him. Considering Law's speed, length and versatility (he rushed from the interior on passing downs against K.C. and looked pretty good doing it), I think he beats out Allen - a one-dimensional edge-setter type who won't ever be much of a pass-rush threat. Considering our criteria of "versatile", one-dimensional players don't have a home here past Mebane and Branch. Seattle needs to stock D-line depth with speed, plain-and-simple.

This group is pretty set. Some may not have McDonald as a lock, but the guy has been a consistent, solid contributor against the run since he got to Seattle. He goes a bit under the radar simply because there's not a ton of flash to his game. He's physical, tough, nasty and is your only true run-stuffer past Branch and Mebane. Defending the run is key in this defense, so I just don't see getting rid of him as an option.

Linebackers

Number to Keep: 6

Analysis: Locks to make it - Leroy Hill, K.J. Wright, and Bobby Wagner. Outside of these three, the competition is wide open. I could see the ‘Hawks keeping as many as 6 or 7 Linebackers here, when considering the special teams contributions that guys like Mike Morgan, Malcolm Smith, Korey Toomer, Matt McCoy and Heath Farwell have shown us they can make. Kyle Knox and Allen Bradford shouldn't be left out of the discussion either, especially if the ‘Hawks decide to go younger here, in which case I see Toomer, Smith and Morgan as the "keeps".

I think Toomer makes it either way, as he has shown steady technical and instinctive improvement/correction throughout the preseason, and has flashed some impressive ability to disrupt opposing QBs with his speed and length on blitzes. I would be curious to see Toomer with his hand in the ground coming off the edge in nickel situations, and wonder if coaches might try him out there in PS week 4. Smith rivals Morgan as the fastest remaining linebacker in the group, and he made an impact on special teams last year. Smith is also more fluid in space and gives Seattle depth on the weak-side whereas Morgan is strictly a SAM and while he plays the run better than Smith, is limited in coverage.

Problem with Smith is, he's been injured and hasn't spent much time on the field this preseason, and as I mentioned in a previous post, when you have as much talent as Seattle does on the defensive side of the football, health has to be graded long with any other "skill" or fundamental. Missed time, regardless of the cause, is still missed time, and should factor into coaches' decisions on depth positions.

Farwell and McCoy are both major special teams contributors,and when healthy, McCoy also provides insurance at the MLB spot. I'd keep Toomer, Smith and Farwell if it were me, simply because Farwell is healthy, provides a veteran presence and leadership element to the group, and is an outstanding special teams contributor. If Carroll decides to go young and fast here, and it comes down to Knox, Morgan or Bradford over Farwell, I keep Morgan. He's relentless, fast and would boost the special teams unit.

Cornerbacks

Number to Keep: 5

Analysis: Corners who have a spot on the roster locked up, include: Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner. This is another position, like linebacker, whereby depth positions are completely up for grabs. You have to have a nickel/slot corner, and considering that Walther Thurmond probably starts the season on the PUP, the key nickel battle comes down to Marcus Trufant, Byron Maxwell and Phillip Adams. Trufant hasn’t been awful, but he’s clearly adjusting to new technique at a new position, and hasn’t blown me away in underneath coverage, often struggling to feel routes and movement behind him – something he rarely had to do on the outside.

Maxwell is a special teams gunner and has looked good at corner, outside of PS week 1 against Tennessee when he surrendered a couple of big plays. Adams looks quicker in diagnosing and reacting to the underneath routes, and also possesses versatility to move outside, although more so in off-man situations than in press. I give the edge to Adams and Maxwell over the former Pro Bowler, but I don’t consider Trufant a sure cut, especially in light of his lowered salary. His veteran savvy and "plus" tackling boost his value beyond his coverage inconsistencies, and his physicality and high-effort approach are still a good scheme fit.

That leaves Jeremy Lane as Trufant’s main competition for the 5th corner spot, and in getting younger and more dynamic at the position, I would have to strongly consider keeping Lane over Trufant. He’s the third best technical press corner on the roster, plays with a high level of intensity, is a strong tackler and can get down the field on special teams. He needs to learn to control his aggression and become craftier about how he uses contact in man-coverage situations, but what’s left to develop is minimal considering where he was drafted. I think you keep 5 corners here, with Thurmond going on PUP or perhaps, waivers. If they decide to keep 6, then I see Trufant as still being able to contribute both in nickel and dime situations, as well as on special teams, where he’s always been effective.

Safeties

Number to Keep: 4

Analysis: Locks at Safety include: Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and Jeron Johnson. Considering the variety of multi-safety packages that this defense runs, it wouldn't be inconceivable to think the team could keep 5 here. As a pure safety, taking into account both coverage and run-support, Chris Maragos is further along than Winston Guy. But this is where scheme really comes into play.

Seattle's "Bandit", rush package, among others, often features a safety coming off the edge as a DPR, and Guy is the ideal fit for that role. He played a very similar role at Kentucky, and in review of the first three preseason contests, he clearly has a knack for getting off the ball and into the backfield quickly. His short-area burst is a lot more impressive than his elongated straight-line speed, but considering how Jeron Johnson has really embraced that versatile 3rd safety role, Guy's skill set is the better scheme fit than Maragos's for that 4th spot. Again, the team could decide to keep both, and it wouldn't be a bad decision.

If they do let Maragos go, there will definitely be teams willing to cut existing 3rd and 4th safeties to add him. He has improved drastically in coverage, and he'd upgrade a lot of current special teams units around the league. A few weeks back, I expressed concern about existing safety depth past Thomas and Chancellor, but this group, particularly Johnson and Maragos, have been a pleasant surprise and have really answered the bell this preseason. DeShawn Shead has some intriguing upside but has simply been over-shadowed by a much improved group.

Key spots still up for grabs going into final preseason game:

- 6th Wide Receiver - Contenders: Durham, Obomanu, Lockette, Martin

- 4th Guard/2nd Center - Contenders: Jeanpierre, Johnson

- 4th And 5th Linebackers - Contenders: Smith, Morgan, Toome

- 3rd/Slot Cornerback - Contenders: Trufant, Adams

Players who could push coaches to make an additional spot for them with a strong final preseason performance (means coaches make a place for them by keeping fewer at another position):

- Any WR for a 7th spot - Tuinei included

- Cordarro Law for a 10th DL spot

- Kyle Knox for a 7th LB spot

- Allen Bradford for a 7th LB spot

- Chris Maragos for a 5th Safety spot

In summary, here's a quick breakdown of how I would put the roster together, if cuts had to be made today:

3 QB - Wilson, Flynn, Portis

5 RB - Lynch, Turbin, Robinson, Washington, Taua

4 TE - Miller, Winslow, McCoy, McGrath

6 WR - Rice, Edwards, Tate, Baldwin, Butler, Tuinei

8 OL - Okung, McQuistain, Unger, Moffitt, Giacomini, Sweezy, Jeanpeirre, Johnson

9 DL - Mebane, Branch, Jones, Bryant, Clemons, Irvin, McDonald, Scruggs, Howard

6 LB - Wagner, Hill, Wright, Smith, Toomer, Farwell

5 CB - Sherman, Browner, Adams, Maxwell, Lane

4 S - Thomas, Chancellor, Johnson, Guy

1LS - Gresham

1K - Hauschka

1 P - Ryan

PUP or IR - Carpenter, Thurmond III, M. McCoy
Practice Squad: Helfet, Knox, Kearse, Law, Shead, O'Dowd, 2 others

Seahawks Replay Booth: Dime Blitz Leads to Earl Thomas Pick-Six

Danny Kelly — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:02:05 -0000

With the way the Seahawks have been investing in the defensive back position these past two seasons, we writers around here have speculated that you could see a return to Seattle's more heavy use of dime looks and the seven-DB "bandit" package in 2012. For a quick refresher on these DB-heavy packages - something the Seahawks utilized a good deal in 2010 in Pete Carroll's first year, because of their glut of versatile athletes at the time - I reference an article I wrote back in May that talked about some of the reasons these looks are effective.

"If you feel okay about your guys rushing, which some teams don't, then they can rush, they can drop, they can cover 'backs," said Carroll, back in 2010, talking about the 'bandit' package that featured seven defensive backs. "A guy who's on the line of scrimmage can end up being a deep defender and so you just give yourself a variety of things that you can do and interchange some parts and stuff and try to make it difficult."

"It's a fun package for the guys to play, because a lot of guys get to do things," Carroll said. "We're utilizing Lawyer in ways and Babineaux in ways that they give us unique stuff. It's nice also to get Kam Chancellor on the field in the package so that he can play some, there are just some things that he does well. Earl has some stuff that he does that's kind of unique, so that's all part of it. We're just trying to be very multiple in that because of the availability of the movement."

Lawyer Milloy explained it back then, noting: "When you have six, seven guys out there as (defensive backs) that are pretty interchangeable, it makes it really tough for a team to know where you're coming from." He elaborated - "[The offensive linemen] don't know where to go. They point out the protection and once you get that little small mix-up, then someone is coming scott free. It's giving the offense a lot of problems and we look forward to having those packages on the field because we've got guys that can cover, pass rush and make tackles."

Milloy, Big Play Babs and Roy Lewis are all now gone (Lewis for now, anyway), and have been replaced by guys like Winston Guy, Marcus Trufant, Phillip Adams, Jeremy Lane, and Walter Thurmond, once he gets healthy. These guys all bring different skillsets to the table. Making things a little more multiple and versatile against both the pass and the run are speedy linebackers being added into the mix the last two seasons, like Bobby Wagner, Korey Toomer, Mike Morgan, and Malcolm Smith. All four of those LBs were clocked in the 4.4s coming out of college so each guy can certainly cover some ground while still offering a little more dependability against the run than a normal DB.

Now, I think we'll see some limited use of the seven-DB 'bandit' package in 2012 in very obvious passing situations, but for anything 3rd down and less than maybe eight or so, I think the dime packages (6 DB) might be a little more common, simply because of the speed at the linebacker position now.

This personnel grouping was used on at least one play on Friday and it resulted in a pick-six for Earl Thomas after a 75-yard return. Let's break it down.

3-7-SEA 24 (5:01 3rd Q) (Shotgun) M.Cassel pass short right intended for K.Boss INTERCEPTED by E.Thomas [K.Toomer] at SEA 25. E.Thomas for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Below, you'll see that the Chiefs are driving here, nearly into the red-zone, and now face a 3rd down and 7. Seahawks break out their dime look with three down linemen (Pierre Allen LDE, JayeHoward DT, Cordarro Law RDE), two linebackers (Toomer and Wagner), and six defensive backs (Phillip Adams, Marcus Trufant, Winston Guy, Richard Sherman, Jeron Johnson, and Earl Thomas), visible below. This is in response to the third down/distance and a three-wide set by KC.

I've laid out the scheme below. Essentially, both Wagner and Allen will rush left, with Toomer stunting over both of them through the open gap. The Seahawks have the numbers advantage on the left because Wagner comes in pass rush and Chiefs running back Shaun Draughn badly misses on his blitz pickup.

Kevin Boss runs a hitch route to the flats and Earl Thomas anticipates and jumps this route.

Ball is snapped. You can see Wagner and Allen strafe left and forward on the rush, and Toomer stunts over. Toomer, for what it's worth, has shown very nice closing speed on several blitzes this preseason so I have no doubt this is a role they see him being utilized in.

Winston Guy drifts back into zone coverage. Johnson drifts to the middle and you can see Earl Thomas below already breaking to intercept Boss. Cassell isn't even looking there yet.

He is now, but underestimates Earl's speed. He also fails to step into the throw, recoiling a bit before following through fully as Toomer closes in.

As you can see below, Toomer hits Cassell hard as the ball comes out. Boss looks open, but, folks, he ain't.

Earl.

NFL Roster Cutdowns Coming: Who On Seahawks Might Go First?

Derek Stephens — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 14:00:22 -0000

Here's a list of 15 players that I would cut from the Seahawks roster, based on a combination of both depth at their given positions, and performance throughout preseason games. I haven't based any of this on what I've seen or heard about how they've done in practice. Game performance holds much more weight in these evaluations.

1. Edawn Coughman - OT/DT: Coughman is a good athlete for his size, and was even tried out on defense against K.C. this week (DT), but he's not in a position to have significant impact at this point, and is an ideal first-round cut.

2. Kyle Knox - OLB: Knox had a good game on special teams in PS week 3, but considering how well both Mike Morgan and Korey Toomer are playing, Knox probably has to go here.

3. Kris O'Dowd - C: O'Dowd was brought in as insurance, when Lemuel Jeanpierre suffered a minor injury a couple of weeks back. But Jeanpierre is back now and rookie free agent Rishaw Johnson can move over to center in a pinch, so there's no room for O'Dowd.

4. Cooper Helfet - TE: I like Helfet's quickness, route-running and hands, but he's a victim of good TE depth, and is out with the first group here.

5. DeShawn Shead - S: I've been vocal in my admiration for Shead as a prospect. Unfortunately for him, Jeron Johnson, Chris Maragos and Winston Guy have all shown improvement through three preseason games, and Shead has been buried on the depth chart. He's certainly a practice squad candidate at the end of preseason, but has a good shot at getting picked up by another team between now and then considering his size and speed.

6. Jermaine Kearse - WR: Speaking of guys who are buried on the depth chart, Kearse simply hasn't been on the field enough to warrant keeping him as one of the 75 here.

7. Donny Lisowski - CB: Lisowski was a roster fill re-sign with the release and IR placement of Dexter Davis. Another depth casualty here at corner.

8. Ron Parker - CB: Parker possesses great size and speed, and gives the Seahawks some versatility to switch between corner and safety. However, he's been dinged up and both DB groups are deep enough to warrant the cut here.

9. Lavasier Tuinei - WR: Like Kearse, Tuinei has shown some good things throughout camp and preseason, but simply hasn't been a consistent enough contributor, to stick around. A strong PS week 3 performance by Charly Martin didn't help guys like Kearse and Tuinei, either.

10. Paul Fanaika - G: Depth along both lines is so much better this year, that guys like Fanaika aren't going to have much of a shot at getting on the field. With O-linemen like Jeanpierre, Johnson and Lutui able to play multiple positions, Fanaika's lack of versatility bumps him off with the first round of cuts here.

11. Allen Barbre - G: With Barber, the issue has simply been too many blown assignments and two rookies stepping up and performing better (Johnson and Sweezy). His experience is desirable, but this line just keeps getting bigger and faster, and I don't see Barbre as a fit going forward.

12. Allen Bradford - LB: Bradford hasn't played enough to warrant keeping him here. What I've seen, I've liked. But it's been limited. Staying healthy has to be viewed as a "skill" at this point, and Bradford simply hasn't shown enough. The upside could be there, but these 90-to-75 cuts are going to force teams with good depth, to cut quality guys.

13. Jameson Konz - LB: Injuries have plagued Konz since he came into the league. He got some playing time late in K.C., but he simply can't take a roster spot any longer with how unreliable he is health-wise.

14. Phil Bates - WR: Bates is a guy who I know this staff really likes. He's raw and explosive, and has intriguing measurables. But at this point he's a project, and with competitions tightening up, there simply isn't the time or room on the roster to wait for him to develop

15. Lazarius Levingston - DT/DE: Levingston is competing with better, more explosive athletes in Greg Scruggs and Jaye Howard, for a spot on this roster. He hasn't shown much improvement over last year, and although he flashes some nice athleticism for his size, he's not standing out in this group, and it would make sense to let him go now.

A few other possibilities:
Pierre Allen - DE
Kris Durham - WR
Malcolm Smith - LB
Coye Francies - CB
Frank Omiyale - OT (probably saved by the fact that the ‘Hawks are thin at LT depth, but he hasn't played well)

DK Note -- Derek has transitioned from doing league-wide NFL Draft analysis at his blog to a more focused and specific, Seahawks-centric draft - free agency - pro player personnel site called "ScoutTheSeahawks." It's now up - and it's definitely a site you must bookmark. Derek also maintains a really great free agent tracker that is much more in-depth than most places because of his background doing deep scouting of NFL Draft prospects. It's updated daily.

Know The Foe Offseason Storylines: Reviving Idaho's Offense

Brett Hein — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 17:58:14 -0000

The Offseason Storylines series welcomes Sean Kramer of the Idaho Argonaut's Vandal Nation blog to preview Idaho.

It's almost impossible to believe it was only three years ago that Idaho lit up the scoreboard en route the program's pinnacle moment in the Humanitarian Bowl. Quarterback Nathan Enderle threw for just under 3,000 yards with his team averaging 32 points per game. The Vandals won a program high eight games.

In 2011, the only way to describe the Idaho offense was "pathetic."

Need a gauge on just how pathetic? Consider that as a team, Idaho threw only 11 touchdown passes the entire season. Or, there is the fact that the teams' punter, Bobby Cowan, out-punted the offense with 4,048 yards on 88 punts (that's 7.3 punts per game).

Needless to say, offensive coordinator Steve Axman got the proverbial axe at the end of the year.

Now, it will be up to 33-year old first-year (ever) offensive coordinator Jason Gesser. He will be asked to revive a Vandal offense that was the primary reason Idaho regressed into a two-win team, from one that had won 14 in the two seasons prior.

Gesser's meteoric rise towards taking the reigns of the Vandal offense started less than 8-months before he would take the position of the "retired" Steve Axman. He had spent the 2011 season as Idaho's running backs coach, a position he accepted after two years as head coach of Eastside Catholic High school in Sammamish, WA - and two weeks at quality controls at Washington State.

The biggest issue with Axman's offense was how predictable and out dated it was. It's safe to say that won't be a problem under Jason Gesser. The strength of the offense is that it's not going to pretend to be something it isn't.

Starting QB Dominique Blackman is a strong, accurate intermediate thrower which will be the boon of the offense. He will line up in the shotgun with four or five receivers running routes that enable Blackman to get the ball out of his hands in three seconds or less. The tight ends will get vertical, instead line up in traditional H-back positions and stay back to block in run heavy formations that netted a whopping 3.5 yards per carry for Idaho last season.

It'll help that Idaho has four wide receivers that are capable of grabbing the ball in space and taking it up the field. The idea is that it will turn a methodical offense that just prays to move the chains in to an explosive offense.

The offensive line will feature two redshirt freshmen on the left side, and all-conference candidate Mike Marboe, a sophomore, at center. The right side protecting the blind side of the left handed Blackman will have two upper classmen, unless sophomore Spencer Beale fills in. It's worrisome to think about four underclassmen protecting the rather immobile Blackman - but that's the idea behind Gesser's quick passing, spread the field attack.

A running game might help. The team's leading returning rusher is senior Ryan Bass, who ran for 175 yards last season before getting slowed by injuries and eventually buried on the depth chart. Bass has shined in the fall and will top the depth chart. Opposing defenses should also meet James Baker, the 6-foot-2 225 pound downhill bull that will give the Vandals the goal line presence they'll need. Sure, every team usually has these guys. But Idaho hasn't. They had a linebacker taking goal line carries last year. It was fun. (Korey Toomer had three scores!)

With that said, improving the Idaho offense is much easier said than done. There is still a noticeable talent disadvantage that Idaho faces with many of its 2012 opponents.

But Jason Gesser is no stranger to being the under dog. That's how he ended up as the winningest quarterback in Washington State history, taking that program to its second Rose Bowl in five years. Gesser wouldn't mind ending up back in Pullman some day, he probably wouldn't mind ending up as a head coach somewhere someday. But that won't happen unless the Idaho offense shows noticeable improvement.

Sean Kramer is a 24-year old journalism student at the University of Idaho. He is currently the manager of the Vandal Nation blog, operated by University of Idaho student media publication, The Argonaut.

|| "Offseason Storylines" examines the biggest pre-season stories from each team on BYU's schedule. Stay tuned for further game previews as the season approaches. Offseason Storylines has covered:

Washington State & Mike Leach
Weber State Gets John L'd
Utah's Young Offensive Coordinator
Boise State's Quarterback
Notre Dame's Quarterback
Hawaii: Chow Time
New Mexico St: Bowl or Bust
Georgia Tech's (In)Experience
Oregon State: Running the Ball

Seahawks Rookie Report: Evaluating the Draft Picks After Two Games

Derek Stephens — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:30:18 -0000

This week, I figured I'd analyze and rank at the same time. Here's my breakdown of the draft picks after preseason week 2 in Denver. Keep in mind, these rankings are taking into account both games and are not just rankings for the most recent week. They're cumulative and take into account week-to-week improvement, primarily from an intangibles and instincts perspective, as these are typically what dictate long-term success and ultimately, these players' chances of making the Seahawks Roster.

Here are the rankings after two weeks:

1. Russell Wilson - QB - At first glance, Wilson seemingly picked right up where he left off in PS Week 1, again buying time with his feet, escaping pressure, utilizing play-action and exhibiting good accuracy. On second look, he showed us a little bit more this time around. What I liked about his performance this week, was that he actually stayed in the pocket and made some throws that indicated he could see the field just fine.

The 3rd quarter seam route to Anthony McCoy was placed right where only McCoy could get it, and Wilson did a good job on that play of looking off defenders, locating McCoy and getting the ball out with strong zip and good location. On another play in the 3rd, Wilson dropped back, set his feet in the pocket and hit Robert Turbin on an out route toward the sideline. Again, Wilson checked a couple of other targets first, then led Turbin nicely to a ball outside the numbers, where only Turbin could get to it, despite being blanketed pretty good underneath.

In the fourth quarter, Wilson hit Sean McGrath down the middle on a three-step drop whereby he put enough zip on it to beat the closing safeties this time (as opposed to last week's interception in the end zone), and put enough touch on it to drop it in over the linebackers. Then there was the go-route toss up the right sideline that would have been a completion and most likely a touchdown had Phil Bates not let up mid-route. It wasn't just the throw from the pocket on this play, but you'll notice if you watch it back, that Wilson's eyes were in the middle of the field until just before he threw it. He's looking off the safeties. He's doing the little things. He's doing them from the pocket, and he's putting the ball where it needs to be.

On the Jermaine Kearse post route completion, Wilson utilized play action, took a deep drop, hitch and put the ball on a line down the center of the field where Kearse could get it at the high point. What was interesting about that play, was that there was no sight lane open between Wilson and where the ball ended up. There was actually a cluster of about 5 linemen stacking up directly in front of Wilson when he threw it.

I had said after last week that I needed to see some accuracy from Wilson, from inside the pocket, to get a better indication as to whether he could see from back there or not, and I saw that on a number of occasions this week. Let's also not forget the touchdown pass to Cooper Helfet in the fourth quarter. Here, Wilson again utilized play action, pulled linebackers and safeties forward with his eyes, and then softly dropped a corner-endzone pass into the hands of Helfet who got a great release, by the way, and ran a really nice corner post. Again, he wasn't outside the pocket here.

As for his running and escapability, Wilson was good again. Fans who enjoy seeing him run for his life, should send Frank Omiyale a "thank you" card with some cookies, and ask him to share a couple with Allen Barbre.

2. Bobby Wagner - MLB - Wagner once again put together a solid showing, and continued where he left off in terms of diagnosing the run early and staying around the football. On the 3rd down run stop (for loss) by K.J. Wright early in the first quarter, Wagner was the key penetrator on the play as he shot through and filled the initial hole, forcing McGahee to the outside where Wright was able to disengage in the backfield and drop him for a loss. Wagner showed the discipline to stay in his gap on this play, and trust in the guys on the edge to close the deal, when he could've over-pursued to the outside (a common rookie mistake).

On Denver's first run play from scrimmage, Wagner displayed the ability to again keep himself clean with his hands and exhibited the vision to mirror the RB from the other side of the line, with the burst to close and wrap the runner in the hole. His progress continues to remind me of K.J. Wright last season in terms of being conservative to keep with his assignment and not get over-excited. The big plays will come, but right now he's doing a good job of staying disciplined and aware of what's going on around him. After last season, I wrote an article for Hawk Blogger on K.J. Wright's development and progress throughout his rookie year, and specifically, how he began to really turn up the aggressiveness toward the end of the season, once he got comfortable. I could see Wagner's rookie year unfolding in a similar manner.

One criticism I have of Wagner at the moment is that he seems to be a bit more susceptible to play action than he should be. However, when he bites on play-action, he has the fluidity and quickness to correct, accelerate his drop and get back into proper position. As a one-on-one cover guy, Wagner displays (as he did at Utah State) more than adequate agility and hip quickness to mirror tight ends, but he's got some work to do in terms of his instincts and awareness in space when dropping into zone. On Saturday, he really wasn't a part of Seattle's first string nickel defense and pretty much sat out entirely on a couple of those 1st quarter drives. Wright was playing the middle in these situations, with Hill as the only other linebacker in the formation, and Chancellor up in the box acting as a kind of 3rd linebacker. At this point, I would consider this to be nothing more than an experience issue and we'll probably see Wagner worked into these situations as the year progresses, considering his athleticism and clear natural ability to cover.

3. Robert Turbin - RB - Last week I made it a point of emphasis that Turbin needs to run better through contact, and show better effort to engage and move defenders. He did that this week. He ran a lot more aggressively, cut back more sharply, committed a lot quicker and kept his feet moving a lot better on contact. There were only one or two instances this week where he was taken down too early when he could have avoided it, and in those cases, it was simply a case of limited vision and awareness. These issues are to be expected when you're learning a new system. Especially a system as intelligence and anticipation-dependent as Tom Cable's zone blocking scheme, which relies on the patience and vision of the runner to allow blocks to set up and to identify running lanes before they develop.

There were a couple of plays in the 3rd quarter where Turbin was dropped at or near the line when there were creases to either side of him. Instead, he elected to dive into the pile and try to squeeze whatever he could get out of the play. Turbin possesses the lateral quickness and burst to make the jump-cut and exploit those lanes, but didn't see them in these cases. Lynch actually does this on occasion as well, but they were a lot more frequent for Lynch during the first half of last year, which might lead one to believe that a guy like Turbin will start seeing those opportunities as he gets more comfortable with the scheme.

Additionally, Turbin has quietly shown that he can be relied upon in the passing game both from a blocking standpoint and as a pass-catcher. The bootleg toss from Russell Wilson on 3rd down was an impressive play, despite it only going for a few yards. Turbin got out into the flat quickly, got his head around, located the ball, secured it, and then immediately got his head upfield and his arm extended to hold the ball across the first down marker as he stepped out of bounds. All are indications of a solid, smart pass-catcher, and I think we could see a lot of Turbin in 3rd down situations this season. As a pass blocker, Turbin does a good job of bending at the knees and snapping into the chest of his target. Several improvements this week for Turbin.

4. J.R. Sweezy - OG - Last week, I mentioned that Sweezy was the most surprising of the draft picks in my view, simply because of his lack of experience at O-line, and his decent week 1 performance at guard despite it. Well this week, I came away even more impressed.

Sweezy started the game at right guard, ahead of Deuce Lutui, and at times, flashed complete dominance. He drove his opponent off the line and into the ground on more than one occasion while run-blocking. He displayed both power and awareness to chip the D-lineman off the snap, then explode to the linebacker at the next level and cut him down. He did this on more than one occasion. Did he always make a clean cut block? No, but the explosion to the 2nd level and the quickness with which he identified his target, as well as the decisiveness and commitment to get there were all mightily impressive. His biggest area of work right now is going to be learning not to drop his head on contact. Maybe it's the D-lineman in him, but quite frequently when engaging an opponent both at the line of scrimmage and when attempting to cut a man down at the 2nd level, Sweezy bends at the waist, lowers his head and throws his arm or shoulder at his target. This is easily evade-able by D-linemen and especially linebackers, and he'll need to work on it. Initially, he gets away with it due to his quickness and ability to put himself in good position, but it's not a sustainable blocking technique and could lead to injury, among other things.

In pass protection, I saw a lot of improvement from last week. Whereas against against Tennessee Sweezy often moved forward off the line in pass protection (as if firing off from the DT position) leaving him susceptible to being easily ripped or clubbed aside, this week, he did a much better job of "sitting" and "punching" which is basically a quick way of saying he took a step back off the snap, got set, bent at the knees and got his arms extended and into the chest of his opponent.

His hand placement was good this week for the most part, and he kept his feet moving to mirror his man. He's easily the quickest O-lineman on the roster, and he plays hard to the whistle.

A couple of other mistakes I noticed from Sweezy were the occasional instance of getting too upright/stood up when engaging a bigger D-tackle. In these cases, Sweezy has the tendency to be driven back easier than he should. He doesn't possess a great deal of anchoring strength to just sit there, dig in and hold position. His game is one of quickness and leverage at this point, and he needs to bend at the knees and stay low when engaging his opponent, to hold ground. For the most part, he did the right thing, but there were a couple of cases where he got blown off the line relatively quickly. It's all about position, and I saw more good than bad here.

He also needs to continue to learn blocking assignment on blitzes. There was one instance (the Marshawn Lynch holding penalty) where Lynch was waiting behind Sweezy to pick up whatever rusher that Sweezy didn't, as there was a lineman and a blitzing linebacker both coming through the right side. Sweezy started toward one of the two and Lynch appeared to move into position to take the other. Then, Sweezy changed his mind and switched targets, leaving Lynch out of position and forcing him to hold. Situations like these are where Sweezy's inexperience will show the most, simply because he lacks the instincts for the position. But I'm confident he'll make the adjustments and learn this stuff relatively quickly, as throughout the game, the awareness seemed to get better in each passing situation.

While it could be argued that Scruggs has played better at his position, fundamentally, than Sweezy at his, Sweezy is starting and running fully with the first team. Thus, the significant bump in ranking.

5. Greg Scruggs - DT/DE - Scruggs picked right up where he left off last week, showing explosive get-off, violent hands, good use of arm length and lower body leverage, closing burst and a relentless motor. He had another sack and got penetration repeatedly from the inside. One thing that became more evident this week as well, is his ability to break down and change direction in space to prohibit QB escape-ability.

As predicted last week, Scruggs did get some late first-half reps with the first team D-line on passing downs, both at the 5-technique DE position, as well as the 3-technique. One thing that I didn't note last week in my review, but noticed again this week, is that Scruggs displays a pretty good spin move from the inside. There's all kinds of potential with this guy, but he's far more polished than he looked in the limited footage I saw at Louisville, and than I expected him to be coming into preseason. Between he and Sweezy, Seattle might have had the best 7th round of any team in this year's draft.

6. Bruce Irvin - DE - Watching Bruce Irvin in PS week 2, I've got to say that I got a bit frustrated. There's no doubt that the guy has incredible get-off, and elite speed for the position. It has become evident rather quickly, however, that he doesn't have a go-to move once he reaches the edge. He's resorting far too often to the bull-rush, and he's getting stood up pretty easily on contact. Orlando Franklin (Denver's right tackle) pretty much manhandled Irvin in the first half, and seemed to have no issues locking him up at the point of attack and rendering him ineffective as a pass-rusher. What's additionally bothersome is that once his progress was stopped on a given play, Irvin didn't exhibit any real second effort to fight off his blocker, disengage or play through the contact. It's on the tape, folks. Just keepin' it real.

He also appeared to be attempting to set up moves for a majority of his time, rather than using his speed to reach the edge quickly and then find a way to disengage and close from there. He'd come off the snap, get into what might be classified as ‘rapid jog', then burst toward Franklin as if he was trying to surprise him with some type of change-of-pace move. But then, nothing. No spin, no swim, nothing. He'd just put his hands into Franklin's chest and get swallowed up.

There was, however, one particular play where Irvin came off the line extremely quick, and took a powerful swipe at Franklin with his right hand, knocking Franklin out of his way completely. He then displayed strong closing burst to wrap up Manning who had barely gotten the ball off in time to prevent a sack. That is what he should do more. It shows that he does possess natural hand power and ample strength to combat NFL tackles. That was the first real ray of hope I've seen during the preseason that Irvin possesses something more than just pure speed and good flexibility to turn the corner.

Bottom line, as I mentioned last week, Irvin must develop a spin move or something back to the inside. If he does, he could be devastating. As of right now, he's just a fast, undersized end with a limited repertoire.

Against the run, Irvin exhibited adequate "squeeze down"/"pinch" ability from the strong side, but again, doesn't play well through contact to finish plays. When he's in space, chasing the QB, you'll see a lot of hustle and relentlessness. Against the run, he simply doesn't look very motivated.

7. Jaye Howard - DT - Howard really made some strides this week. I saw a lot more use of hands, and some other technique (swim, rip) that suggest he's not going to try and rely solely on the bull-rush as I noted in last week's analysis. He made a key tackle for loss on a play where he was able to twist his upper body to knife through a gap right off the snap, and close on the ‘back. What was most impressive this week though, was his get-off. He was jumping a lot quicker, and firing off with good pad level, much more aggressively this week. He looks a lot more explosive than he did initially.

Get-off is one of those things that typically transitions to higher level of competition, because it's not affected by an opponent. Some of the vanilla scheming of the preseason could make snap counts a bit predictable I suppose, but I'm not reading too much into that. Overall, I just thought Howard was much better this week, and looked more like the interior rusher that he was drafted to be. He wasn't content with simply holding the point of attack this week. He was getting upfield. At this point, I'd say he and Scruggs are pretty close in depth chart competition, with Scruggs having a bit of an edge from a pure performance standpoint. Both guys in on passing downs could make for a really quick tandem of DTs to go with Irvin and Clemons on the edge. You can see how some of these packages could develop and give Seattle a huge pass-rush upgrade over last year's unit.

8. Korey Toomer - OLB - Toomer hasn't been in a ton of "big-play" situations, but one thing comes through on the tape that I'm encouraged by - discipline. Like Wagner, Toomer doesn't show a lot of the overreaction or over-compensation that you typically see with rookie ‘backers coming into the league. He's attentive and although he appears to be calculating and analyzing a bit too much, he's constantly conscious of where he needs to be. Sure, he's a bit late in getting there sometimes, but this is nothing out of the ordinary in terms of what you'd expect from a 5th round linebacker.

The guy has some really appealing tangibles - length, speed, and strong closing burst. He's not as laterally fluid as a guy like Wagner, but drops well and can certainly cover enough grass to maintain one side of the field. He's physical at the line and isn't afraid to bump a tight end off the snap and crowd him down field, and when blitzing, he uses his length and active hands well to keep off the blocker's frame. He's been quite, but he has minded his assignments well I think, and has a good shot of making the team. The blocked punt recovery was a display of good awareness and composure, and certainly scored him some points from a roster/depth chart perspective. I'd like to see him get in on more ST tackles.

9. Jeremy Lane - CB - Lane continued with aggressive, sound open-field tackling against the run this week, and also showed us more of his closing burst and recognition on plays in front of him. He didn't press a ton in game 2, and I couldn't see a whole lot of what was going on down field, but he didn't surrender anything big, and was around the ball a lot. Coye Francies and Phillip Adams being contributors in the return game could mean that one or both of them have the overall edge at this point, but as far as long-term fit and coverage technique, Lane is still the better scheme fit.

The ‘Hawks just have to decide if they want to go "future" or stay a bit safer with a veteran like Francies. If I had to choose the two, I keep Lane, simply because this staff has shown us nothing in two and a half years that would lead me to believe they'll toss aside a future fit for a "now" solution. If it's clear there's no future (LeGree), they have no problem sending you on your way, but that's far from the case with Lane. He too needs to really step up on special teams and make some plays. He's often the first one down the field on coverages but needs to thwart blockers better and fight through contact there the same way he fights for position at the line on defense. These young guys need to look just as motivated to make a special teams tackle as they do to make an interception or hard hit.

10. Winston Guy - SS - In many ways, PS week 2 was a week that Winston Guy should try to forget. Well, in 2 ways specifically. Guy was responsible for both blocked punts. His man beat him on both of those plays, as he simply wasn't aggressive enough and didn't put enough of an effort forward to wall off his man. As I tweeted at one point yesterday, "punt team protection" is a lot more than just "punt team protection" when you're a 6th round pick. It could mean your job.

As for his play in coverage, I did see a couple of things that indicated he's making progress. First off, he got some first-half time with the defense, spelling Chancellor up in the box in 3-safety situations, and also covered the flexed TE from the slot a couple of times.

In coverage, all I could really see was what he did when he was up near the line, and I was encouraged by his transition from backpedal to turn and run stride-for-stride with the TE. He looked quick and fluid, and didn't appear to be laboring too hard in the process.

As far as what was going on deep, I couldn't see the action clearly enough to really be able to adequately judge his read/react skills, which are what I'm most interested in from a coverage standpoint. Jeron Johnson obviously did a lot to help himself, both in coverage (INT) and up in the box (strip) against the run, so Guy is by no means a shoe-in to make this team. I can tell you this - he can't continue to blow assignments on special teams and simply play adequately on defense against 2nd and 3rd team offenses. At this point, I've got him as the 5th safety in line, behind both Johnson and Maragos.