SB Nation - Jeff Rowe

Seattle Seahawks 14 - Kansas City Chiefs 10 (Winners and Losers)

John Morgan — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 03:13:49 -0000

Corey Mays is forgiven for his foul. John Carlson deemed no flag shall be thrown.

Winners

Seattle Seahawks: Won at Arrowhead. Won with their starters and won with their depth. The Seahawks showed something passing, rushing, defending the pass and in coverage teams.

Matt Hasselbeck: Has developed #1-receiver like chemistry with T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Hasselbeck showed confidence in the system and decisiveness in his reads. Spread the ball well. Better poise in the pocket and near flawless decision making.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Fulfilling potential of stronger, more athletic Bobby Engram.

John Carlson: Better as a blocker, and taking his receiving game to the heights of ‘game-changing'.

Julius Jones: Productive, undemanding, reliable and fearsome as a pass blocker.

Courtney Taylor: Played with the first team and contributed. Put a sizable gap between himself and Ben Obomanu.

Ray Willis: His pass protection has grown in bounds.

Nate Burleson: Freed from Holmgren's exacting offense.

Aaron Curry: Still a rookie, but fans needed to see the athleticism and power. See the athleticism and power.

Will Herring: Herring entered the league a tweener with a legitimate chance to never make it. His light build and cover-only instincts threatened his chance to ever become an NFL linebacker. Tonight, he survived in the scrum and showed what it's like to have a linebacker with DB zone skills.

Darryl Tapp: Disruptive.

Josh Wilson: Incredible awareness. Wilson adjusted to an underthrown ball as it passed over the linebackers and broke for an impressive near-pick before defending the ball from his back.

Derek Walker: Made impressive plays in garbage time to protect him from the cut to 75.

Losers

Devin Moore: Cut is a lock, but does Seattle bother with the practice squad?

Logan Payne, Jordan Kent, Mike Hass and Michael Bumpus: Will, short of injury, not make the roster.

Jeff Rowe: Camp days coming to an end.

Steve Vallos: Enough of a problem at center that Seattle will entertain free agents.

Seneca Wallace: That grimace and sullen look says: "the dreaded groin."

Olindo Mare: Unable to make up ground.

Kevin Hobbs: Picked on and playing his way out of the league.

Ken Lucas: Another so-so game.

Lofa Tatupu: Have we reached the point where Tatupu is too bulked up? I think he'd have trouble hugging me.

Cameron Morrah: Now well behind Joe Newton.

Strength in numbers; an examination of who the Bengals started the regular season since 2006

Kirkendall — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:05:45 -0000

When the preseason marches towards a welcomed conclusion, discussion and debate takes place on who the team cuts and keeps. Sometimes the topic goes into salary cap causalities; veterans that are cut, like Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson last year. Other times, the debate talks about players that surprisingly make the roster. As jsl413 broke down, the Bengals depth is strong in some areas, weak in others. Which means the Bengals could strengthen weaken positions by increasing the depth. It's a numbers game.

You see that notably with linebackers. In 2006, Brian Simmons was nearing retirement; his production was falling. David Pollack, while great with potential, was only then starting to adjust from being a defensive end in college to an outside linebacker in the NFL. Rashad Jeanty was a rookie. Landon Johnson was arguably our best linebacker. If you look back to that season, only one linebacker remains (Jeanty) with the Bengals and as far as I can tell, three are still in the NFL (Jeanty, Johnson and Ahmad Brooks). The position didn't improve in 2007 and grew worse when it was decimated by injury. Dhani Jones, an unlikely stability force who would join the team later in the year, became the most productive middle linebacker during Marvin Lewis' tenure. By 2008, the linebackers were on pace to be the most talented group assembled, taking less into the regular season while numerically increasing their numbers at other spots, like running back, defensive tackles -- two spots with limited production. You'll obviously see that again this year, with Jones, Jeanty, Rivers, Brandon Johnson and Rey Maualuga as the depth leaders.

Running backs is another example. In 2006, and even 2007, Rudi Johnson was considered the team's feature back. No competition. Hands down. After all, he set franchise rushing records in 2004 and 2005. However, along with the offensive line's degradation, he started degrading (some will note his inadvisable weight loss regiment, losing all of his strength in 2006) until he was finally cut in 2008. More importantly, the Bengals decided to take two fullbacks because Jeremi Johnson was simply not the force he used to be and the team liked Coats' enough to make room for him. While the talent level dipped, the team decided to strengthen the depth with numbers.

Take note of this. Am I saying that the depth and position is stronger because there's more players? Obviously not. You either have talent or you don't. A combination of average talent still makes that position average. But it is a luxury that most teams have, which largely depends on play-calling philosophy, as well as projecting your opponents philosophies. If you take on more defensive backs in any given year because your passing defense is poor, it allows you additional packages. But it's also dictated by strength. You will note how once the team had Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph, they believed the position strong enough to only take four cornerbacks in 2008, as opposed to five in 2007 and 2006. Safeties increased because a long-standing issue of giving up big plays was still unanswered. You can bank on at least six safeties this year.

After the jump, you can see which players the Bengals took after cutdown day and how many players the team took at each position.

First thing we should note are the roster cut deadlines:

DATE	EVENT
September 1st	Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players
September 5th	Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players

Here's a breakdown on what positions the Bengals after final cutdown heading into the regular season.

Position	2006	2007	2008
Quarterbacks	3	3	3
Running backs (including FB)	4	4 (1)	5 (2)
Wide Receivers	6	6	6
Offensive Linemen	9	8	9
Tight Ends	2	3	2
Total on Offense	24	24	25

Defensive Ends	4	5	4
Defensive Tackles	4	3	5
Linebackers	8	7	6
Cornerbacks	5	5	4
Safeties	5	6	6
Total on Defense	26	26	25

Specialists	3	3	3

After the jump, we chart which players the Bengals kept since 2006.

2006

Position	#	Players
Quarterbacks	3	Carson Palmer, Anthony Wright, Doug Johnson
RB / FB	4	Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, Quincy Wilson, Jeremi Johnson (FB)
WR	6	Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Henry, Tab Perry, Antonio Chatman, Kelley Washington
O-Line	9	Levi Jones, Eric Steinbach, Rich Braham, Bobbie Williams, Willie Anderson, Andrew Whitworth, Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews, Scott Kooistra
TE	2	Reggie Kelly, Tony Stewart

DE	4	Justin Smith, Bryan Robinson, Robert Geathers, Frostee Rucker
DT	4	Sam Adams, John Thornton, Domata Peko, Shaun Smith
Linebackers	8	Brian Simmons, Landon Johnson, David Pollack, Rashad Jeanty, Marcus Wilkins, Ahmad Brooks, A.J. Nicholson, Caleb Miller
Corners	5	Deltha O'Neal, Tory James, Johnathan Joseph, Keiwan Ratliff, Greg Brooks
Safeties	5	Dexter Jackson, Madieu Williams, Kevin Kaesviharn, Ethan Kilmer, Herana-Daze Jones

Specialists	3	Shayne Graham, Kyle Larson, Brad St. Louis

2007

Position	#	Players
Quarterbacks	3	Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeff Rowe
RB / FB	4	Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, Clinton Dawson, Jeremi Johnson (FB)
WR	6	Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Tab Perry, Glenn Holt, Skyler Green, Antonio Chatman
O-Line	8	Levi Jones, Willie Anderson, Bobbie Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Stacy Andrews, Scott Kooistra, Eric Ghiaciuc, Alex Stepanovich
TE	3	Reggie Kelly, Daniel Coats, Nate Lawrie

DE	5	Justin Smith, Robert Geathers, Bryan Robinson, Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fanene
DT	3	Domata Peko, John Thornton, Michael Myers
Linebackers	7	Ahmad Brooks, Rashad Jeanty, Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller, Lemar Marshall, Andre Frazier, Anthony Schlegel
Corners	5	Deltha O'Neal, Leon Hall, Johnathan Joseph, Keiwan Ratliff, David Jones
Safeties	6	Dexter Jackson, Chinedum Ndukwe, Madieu Williams, Marvin White, Herana-Daze Jones, Ethan Kilmer

Specialists	3	Shayne Graham, Kyle Larson, Brad St. Louis

2008

Position	#	Players
Quarterbacks	3	Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jordan Palmer
RB / FB	5	Chris Perry, Kenny Watson, DeDe Dorsey, Jeremi Johnson (FB), Daniel Coats (FB)
WR	6	Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Glenn Holt, Antonio Chatman, Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson
O-Line	9	Stacy Andrews, Levi Jones, Eric Ghiaciuc, Bobbie Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Dan Santucci, Kyle Cook, Scott Kooistra, Anthony Collins
TE	2	Reggie Kelly, Ben Utecht

DE	4	Antwan Odom, Robert Geathers, Jonathan Fanene, Frostee Rucker
DT	5	Domata Peko, John Thornton, Jason Shirley, Pat Sims, Michael Myers
Linebackers	6	Keith Rivers, Rashad Jeanty, Dhani Jones, Darryl Blackstock, Brandon Johnson, Corey Mays
Corners	4	Leon Hall, Johnathan Joseph, Simeon Castille, David Jones
Safeties	6	Dexter Jackson, Kyries Hebert, Herana-Daze Jones, Corey Lynch, Chinedum Ndukwe, Marvin White

Specialists	3	Shayne Graham, Kyle Larson, Brad St. Louis

Seattle Seahawks Starters and Reserves for Saturday's Game Against San Diego

John Morgan — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:22:09 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

William Robinson, center, hopes to be the next Kyle Williams, left. Williams hopes to be the next Donald Penn. Sean Locklear hopes an echo Sean Locklear hasn't seduced his mother and erased him from existence.

Browse more photos »

With much of training camp accounted for, it's time we turn our attention to the preseason. The preseason is as rich as the knowledge of the fan watching it. The first thing to watch is who starts and how long they start. Below is a projection. One-series does not mean literally one series, but only a reasonable minimum depending on the coach's preferences. I know that Mike Holmgren would sometimes pull vulnerable players if the team wasn't playing well. Other coaches might play them more.

One-series Starters

Matt Hasselbeck: Seattle wants Hasselbeck to orchestrate the offense in a game situation and then retire to Dick Cheney's private bomb shelter.
Chris Spencer: Seattle needs Spencer to get game experience in its new system, but however minor his ankle injury, expect him to be protected.
Deion Branch: Too valuable and too injury prone to risk too many snaps.
Patrick Kerney: Seattle might not start him at all, but I think it will risk a series to get him game action.
Lofa Tatupu: If training camp is any indication, Tatupu isn't just the quarterback of the defense, he's getting quarterback treatment, too.

Most of the starters will play for most of or all of the first half. There's not a lot to say about some, but a few involve interesting angles.

Aaron Curry: Curry should start and play through the half at strongside linebacker.
Kelly Jennings: Marcus Trufant's injury has been the best thing to happen to Jennings professionally since lucking onto the most talented secondary in Hurricanes' history. Jennings is frustrating, but the team is committed to Josh Wilson at nickelback and doesn't see Kevin Hobbs as a starter. So Jennings is primary depth at starting cornerback. He's still going to need to show something to stick.
Cory Redding: Redding is returning from what murmurs suggest is a very serious knee injury. He hasn't looked or been especially limited, and so a strong showing throughout the preseason could help put doubts behind him.
Owen Schmitt: If he starts. Quietly, Justin Griffith has reasserted himself. Or, maybe, Schmitt just hasn't gotten up to speed as quickly as Knapp would like.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Housh doesn't seem the type you protect, but he's very expensive and may not need the snaps.
Nate Burleson: Coming off injury, Seattle might err on the side of caution.
T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones: Should play through the first half, but how many snaps each player receives and in what situations should be interesting.

The second half is the more provocative. It's when players play for their jobs and draft fans see the guys they've read so much about. It's also a telling indication of a player's position on the depth chart. Watch for these players and positions in the second half.

Quarterback: Seneca Wallace will get most of the snaps, but see if Mike Teel or Jeff Rowe get a series. It would be nice to see Teel even if he struggles.
Strong safety: The team could just play C.J. Wallace and not shake things up, but with Courtney Greene practicing well and Jamar Adams being the best talent and entering his second season with the team, both deserve some snaps to show off their ability.
Kevin Hobbs: Kid might want to share his talents with the rest of us, because I've read his name for so long without actually seeing him, I wouldn't be surprised if he had eyestalks and tentacles.
Justin Forsett: Short story: Had a good game once. Was cut. Might have a good game again.
Max Unger: Unger has been quiet at practice, but it's in the game where his skills should show.
Red Bryant: It's time Bryant stops toying around with second-stringers and dominates.
Will Herring: Herring is moving up the pecking order. He offers a skill-set unlike any of Seattle's other linebackers. I am curious not just how much Herring is used, but how Herring is used.
Kyle Williams: Capable depth or liability yet to be actualized?
Right tackle: Ray Willis might be in for only a series at right tackle, and that means someone is going to get a lot of snaps in his place. Actually, two players are likely to play extensively. Watch Andre Ramsey and Na'Shan Goddard and have a list of available free agents handy.
Travis Fisher: Where he plays, how much he plays and how well he plays interest me. I want Seattle to retain this guy, but he's currently on the outside looking in.
Wide receiver second wave: This is what everyone else will be talking about. And, heck, it will make for an interesting and hotly contested battle.

The final list is players that I am interested in seeing if they play at all. This is the fringe.

*Fun fact. No one is quite sure if it's Tereshinski or Tereshinksi.

Bengals draft picks typically sign in the 11th hour

Kirkendall — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:30:08 -0000

In writing notes for the Inside Slant, FoxSports.com writes that "negotiations also have not started with second-round pick Rey Maualuga."

It's pretty common that draft picks tend to sign late in the offseason -- like right before training camp starts. Last year, the Bengals officially signed five draft picks on the day players reported to camp: Jerome Simpson, Pat Sims, Andre Caldwell, Anthony Collins and Corey Lynch. Most of them had agreed to deals beforehand, electing to actually sign when they arrived to Cincinnati for training camp. The Bengals signed Kenny Irons, Jeff Rowe, Matt Toeaina, Dan Santucci and Chinedum Ndukwe a day before the 2007 training camp. The Bengals reported to training camp in 2006 on July 29 and on that day (or the day before), the Bengals signed Andrew Whitworth, Domata Peko, Ryan McNeal and Ethan Kilmer. To say that the Bengals, and other teams, wait until the 11th hour with a majority of their picks, would be an understatement.

However, "team officials foresee no problems in signing their middle- to late-round picks. It's the first-round pick though that continues to be a concern as the team looks to be preparing for a long standoff with Andre Smith."

Joy.

John's Mock -- And in the fifth round...

John Morgan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:53:05 -0000

This is Jeff Rowe:

He is Seattle's current third string quarterback. Mary Lick would argue Rowe is without obstacle to reach his potential. Rowe's potential is debatable, as he's very young and very inexperienced. Seattle acquired him by signing Rowe off Cincinnati's practice squad. He's the kind of prospect people attempting to beat the system always clamor for their team to take, then forget before whining about their stupid GM and his stupid inability to sign a quarterback. Rowe is a sleeper because he's 6'5" and his stats aren't horrendous. Except his sack stats. His sack stats are horrendous, but pocket presence and quick release are totally de-emphasized in the NFL. Skills as out of place as the option pitch. Besides, he's probably grown out of it. Let's see...Rowe has...42 preseason pass attempts, and in those attempts he's been sacked..hmm...9 times. So...you see...

This is Seattle's current third string quarterback:

But this could very soon be Seattle's third string quarterback:

Nate Davis has a learning disability. It's a reading disability not unlike Seneca Wallace's. That's sent pro teams scurrying. At Ball State's pro day, only Indianapolis was in attendance. That's more depressing the more you think about it. Davis also tosses without the laces, which seriously weirds out scouts. Davis is too short, too. A full, well about a half rather inch shorter than Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez. A crucial half inch. That's more or less the case against him.

Davis' arm strength is comparable to Stafford's. Stan Parish's offense was somewhat like a spread offense, but from what limited tape I've seen, it's actually more downfield focused than Mark Richt's screen-intensive Georgia offense. Davis has taken snaps from center (he estimates 30% of all snaps), but may need a glove to ensure strong ball handling. He's a great athlete, with ability to move inside and outside the pocket and launch bombs on the run.

He dominates Stafford statistically. In 39 games played, Davis threw for more yards per attempt (8.21 to 7.83), a better completion percentage (60.3% to 57.1%), more touchdowns per attempt (1 per 15.2 to 1 per 19.4), fewer interceptions per attempt (1 per 51.1 to 1 per 29.9) and a lower sack percentage (4.7% to 5.2%). Davis may not be better than Stafford. The odds are against it, but that the two are so comparable is poignant. Not long ago there were whispers Davis could be drafted in the first day. Between then and now, no football games have been played. Davis wasn't injured or arrested. And if the real reason many are no projecting Davis to fall to the sixth is a learning disability and an unorthodox delivery, damn if I wouldn't want Seattle to be the team that gives him a chance to punish the league for its bigotry.

Jeff Rowe is signed off the Bengals practice squad by the Seattle Seahawks

Kirkendall — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:50:22 -0000

Remember 2007, when the Bengals kept defensive tackle Matt Toeaina on the team's practice squad and was eventually signed away to the Chicago Bears? In his first game with the Bears, at the Minnesota Vikings, Toeaina made two tackles during a Monday Night football broadcast and had this Bengals blogger pulling his hair out, likely over-reacting, "we let him go?" Toeaina even returned an interception for an 81-yard touchdown in a preseason game against the Detroit Lions. We let him go? In the end, Toeaina had six total tackles to close out 2007 and got his first action against New Orleans on Thursday Night Football.

This year's version of Toeaina is Jeff Rowe, signed Friday afternoon off the Bengals practice squad by the Seattle Seahawks. As of this posting, Rotoworld is the only one reporting this. Rowe was always considered a developmental backup, never reaching "backup" status with guys like Anthony Wright and Ryan Fitzpatrick ahead of him. The Bengals eventually dropped him, and signed to the practice squad once he cleared waivers to start the season.

UPDATE: Hobson originally mentioned it during my "scanning" sessions this afternoon.

Additional roster moves

Kirkendall — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:51:39 -0000

The Bengals made a series of moves on Friday that included signing quarterback Jeff Rowe to the team's practice squad.

Special teams ace Herana-Daze Jones and backup center Kyle Cook were both sent to injury reserve. Cook injured his toe during warmups before the 31-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys (only the Bengals suffer season-ending injuries during WARMUPS). Cook's injury likely forces Bobbie Williams into the role of backup center, in case Eric Ghiaciuc goes down.

The Bengals signed Geoffrey Pope, from the practice squad to replace Herana-Daze Jones, giving the Bengals 10 defensive backs. Nate Lawrie was also signed off the team's practice squad giving the team three tight ends... a position that hasn't contributed much this season.

With the signing of Rowe, and two players signed away, the Bengals now have eight players on the team's practice squad which includes the exemption of Carl-Johan Bjork -- so they can sign one more player.

Cook and Herana-Daze Jones increases the total of players on Injury Reserve to seven.

Update: Rowe signed to practice squad

Kirkendall — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:17:16 -0000

UPDATE: Rowe was signed to the team's practice squad.

In a move that could point to Carson Palmer calling the season over, to rest and recover for 2009, the Bengals are "expected to announce that they have re-signed quarterback Jeff Rowe" to fill out the team's quarterback roster. Rowe was waived during final cuts before the start of the regular season, beaten out by Jordan Palmer.

With Palmer not playing every week, being the #3 quarterback though not even dressing, consistently leaves the Bengals short-handed at quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jordan Palmer. With Jeff Rowe, the team will be back to three quarterbacks while we'll probably learn of Palmer's plans this season relatively soon, I'm assuming.