SB Nation - Alex Barron

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.

Seahawks Make First Round of Roster Cuts

Danny Kelly — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 23:10:45 -0000

The Seahawks made a cluster of moves today to get themselves down to 76 on the official roster, by my count. Seattle has announced that they have waived/injured Jameson Konz, Lazarius Levingston, Roy Lewis, and Cameron Morrah, waived Phil Bates, Edawn Coughman, Donny Lisowski, Ron Parker, Tyrell Sutton, and terminated the contracts of Alex Barron, Deuce Lutui, and Terrell Owens. Seattle has until 1PM tomorrow to get down to 75, and they could possibly place James Carpenter or Walter Thurmond on the official reserve/PUP list to pare down one more spot. Both are still eligible to be taken off of the preseason PUP list.

Konz, Lewis, and Morrah have all really struggled with injuries and just could not get themselves healthy enough to challenge for a roster spot at this time. Konz was a Seahawks' draft pick in 2010 as a TE, and after making the switch to defense last year, tore his ACL on special teams duty in first game after being called up to the active 53 last year. He's a physical freak of nature and could have found a spot as a core special teams guy, but I don't think he's back to full speed at this point, rehabbing his knee. Lewis is also having knee issues after starting out last season on the PUP list with the same problem. Morrah is seemingly perpetually injured, and had a toe thing flare up this past week. I hadn't heard what Levingston was having issues with, but when you're a bubble player like he was, being injured is a tough break. All four players, if they clear waivers, will be eligible to be placed on IR.

Phil Bates was an intriguing player to me, early in camp, but had faded quite a bit over the last few weeks. He saw very little playing time in the Seahawks first three preseason games so his odds of making the team had really diminished as of late. I still think the Seahawks' front office likes him, and he could be a nice practice squad type if he clears waivers. Edawn Coughman played at both guard and tackle, and then this last week saw some time at defensive tackle. He is the type that I could see hanging around on practice squads for a while as well. Ron Parker had the injury bug this preseason as well, and though he flashed as a versatile S/CB, just couldn't get healthy enough to show what he could do.

Tyrell Sutton looked good last week against Denver, scoring a long touchdown on a screen pass, but is a victim of the numbers game at this point. His early release gives him a chance to catch on elsewhere as depth. Donnie Lisowski was impressive as a free agent signing at Rookie Camp, but was also a victim to the numbers game.

Deuce Lutui is probably the biggest surprise cut of the day, but it shows that the Seahawks are very happy with their young depth at the guard position. J.R. Sweezy has emerged, and the team has liked the play of Rishaw Johnson as well and with Lemuel Jeanpierre, Allen Barbre, and Frank Omiyale also factors at that position, Lutui became expendable. I had originally had pretty high hopes for Lutui, but he didn't seem to pick up the ZBS super quickly and looked lost a few times out there, moving around into the second level. Alex Barron isn't a huge surprise cut, nor is Terrell Owens.

Seahawks Roster Analysis: Offensive Bubble Players After Two Preseason Games

Derek Stephens — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:18:30 -0000

In review of preseason game two in Denver, let's take a look at a few veterans and UDFAs on the fringes of making the Seahawks roster. We'll go position-by-position, and rank each bubble player, starting with the offense. Again, these rankings are reflective of the cumulative showing of each guy, from the first two preseason games combined, although the analysis is primarily delivered in consideration of the most recent game.

1. Tarvaris Jackson - Nothing new here from last week. He hasn't seen a single snap in preseason action this year, and won't unless one of the other QBs go down to injury. It would be highly recommended that unless the ‘Hawks can garner a draft pick for him immediately, they hold onto him until the end of the last preseason game, for insurance purposes. If you can get even a 7th round pick for him, you take it and run. After all, Seattle's 7th-round pull of Sweezy and Scruggs this year aren't looking too bad right now.

2. Josh Portis - Portis got limited action in PS Week 2, to close out the 4th quarter. Considering the urgency to offload Jackson between now and the beginning of the season, and taking into account that there really aren't any notable depth QBs on the market who would be clear cut upgrades to Portis, I think he has a lock on the 3rd string job heading into the season. That said, we'll be keeping a close eye on other QBs cut by other teams throughout the preseason, as it's entirely possible that there could be a better fit out there.

1. Tyrell Sutton - I was a lot more impressed this week with Sutton's performance than in week 1. He struggled with his footing against Tennessee, but against Denver, looked a lot better - particularly in getting to the outside on the run and turning the corner, as well as on coming out of the backfield in the passing game and making things happen after the catch. He runs low to the ground, is a short-stepper who can change direction with suddenness, and isn't afraid to run hard on contact. What he lacks is pull-away speed.

As I mentioned last week, he reminds me a lot of Justin Forsett, but probably runs a bit more physical, and possesses better initial burst and first-step from behind the line. I have him as the 5th RB at this point (behind Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Leon Washington and Michael Robinson), and slightly ahead of Vai Taua based on what he can do in the return game, along with his contributions in the passing game. I still see it as a stretch for him to make the team, simply due to numbers. The ‘Hawks broke camp with four RBs last season, and I think they may lean toward keeping more WRs if they have any extra numbers to use.

2. Vai Taua - Taua got the start at fullback and looked good as a lead blocker. What's nice about the former Nevada ‘back is that he's been in the system for over a year now, and possesses the single-cut nature to fit the blocking scheme. Thus, he can double as a fullback or halfback, as well as contribute on special teams. He's not far behind Sutton on my depth chart, but doesn't give the ‘Hawks the same threat on 3rd downs, that they'd have with a guy like Sutton, which is more in line with what they would need outside of the top 4 ‘backs, if anything.

Versatility does go a long way with Carroll though, and Taua laid some nice blocks leading for Lynch against Denver. He hit the hole quickly, was decisive in targeting defenders, and squared up nicely at the 2nd level, adjusting his body on the fly to establish position. Would like to see him get a few more carries before the preseason is over as well. He did have the one short-yardage, 3rd down conversion against Denver, to extend a drive.

DK note: Michael Robinson has a toe injury, and as Carroll noted in his presser yesterday, it wasn't responding how they had hoped. Toe injuries can be problematic and chronic, so monitor this development.

3. Kregg Lumpkin - Lumpkin had another good showing, both from a power/inside running perspective, as well as in flashing some ability to bounce it to the outside and turn the corner (see his TD run). Lumpkin clearly has some potential in a scheme like this, and could be a potential insurance policy between now and the beginning of the season if Turbin or Lynch have to sit out at all. I see Lumpkin lasting through at least one cut.

Off The Bubble This Week: Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington

1. Deon Butler - Butler picked up where he left of in PS week 1 with three more catches. The plays were nothing too special, but in breaking down the replay, I continue to be encouraged by his suddenness and quickness in and out of his breaks. He rarely telegraphs a stop or cut in his route and comes back to the football. We know he has some wiggle after the catch as well.

What I'd like to see, though, is the vertical acceleration that he showed before the broken leg. If he has that back, and can exhibit it to a degree that indicates he can provide a consistent vertical threat, he's probably a shoe-in to make the roster. He's certainly establishing himself well from the slot, in Doug Baldwin's absence.

2. Ben Obomanu - Obomanu sat out this week, and as a result, probably lost some ground to Deon Butler, who continues to get open and make catches. The rust that T.O. showed might have helped Obo's case a bit, but if Owens gets warmed up and on the same page with both QBs, that could all change very quickly. At this point, I'd put Obo behind T.O., Braylon Edwards, Doug Baldwin, Sidney Rice and Deon Butler, but ahead of Ricardo Lockette, Kris Durham, Charly Martin, Phil Bates and Lavasier Tuinei.

If the ‘Hawks were to make final cuts today and keep six WRs, I believe Obomanu makes the team. He needs to get back into action though, and make some plays, particularly now that I'm hearing he'll no longer be a special teams player (where he has created a lot of value for himself in the past).

3. Kris Durham - In the second game, Durham didn't see a single pass thrown his way. I watched pretty close, and did see him getting some separation down field. Early on, Flynn was targeting T.O. excessively and for good reason, so he may not have even been considering Durham on some of those early snaps that the second-year wideout got. Later in the game, Wilson appeared to look Durham's direction a couple of times but opted to go another direction.

This doesn't mean Durham wasn't open, and on second look, he actually was, considering the type of receiver he is - long, rangy possession guy who's length and catching radius are key. He's not expected to pull away from defenders on speed alone, but he is expected to sink his hips, accelerate out of cuts, and go up for the ball when it's in the air. I'm not ruling him out just yet. We need to see him get some more opportunities. A few drops in camp, as well as one in PS week 1 may be causing QBs to be a bit trigger-shy with him at this point. He'll need to establish confidence with his QBs in practices, if he wants to get more balls in the games.

4. Ricardo Lockette - Lockette again didn't show anything in PS week 2 to indicate that he's settling into a role with this offense. I saw some separation on deep routes, but QBs just aren't looking his way. Like Durham, drops in camp have really hurt Lockette's stock, and at this point the odds are against him to make the roster.

He does have another year of Practice Squad eligibility though, and could be worth keeping around to see if he can get better at catching the ball. He has made some plays (last season) that would indicate he's fully capable of catching some tough balls, so it's most likely a concentration/pshych issue that only he can really fix.

Other WRs to consider:

5. Lavasier Tuinei (UDFA) - Tuinei got better separation this week, crossing the field and displayed his range when he grabbed an off-balance, wild Russell Wilson toss, falling out of bounds. The dude is long. Based on some of the routes I saw on the replay, Tuinei may be worth a look in some packages with the high-2nd team, or even with the 1st team in red zone situations. He's coordinated and well-timed on high balls, and could establish himself as a go-to guy in short yardage and goal line situations, with the way he can use his length and leaping ability.

I wasn't as impressed last week as he came off the line a bit sluggish, but this week, he didn't struggle as much to get a release off the line. That said, he wasn't facing first-line press corners, which is why I'd be curious to see him in some early-game situations. That's more for my own evaluation though, and may very well not be in the plans that the coaching staff has.

6. Phil Bates (UDFA) - Bates made one short catch over the middle this week, and just missed another that would've been a game-breaker. I was encouraged by the separation he was able to get down the sideline on the missed go-route toss from Russell Wilson, but I was discouraged by his mid-route let-up which was the main reason for the incomplete pass.

Physically, Bates has all the tools to separate with either speed or strength, but he has some development left from a route-running standpoint. He's definitely a guy I'd put on the Practice Squad, as fearless over-the-middle guys who play with a physical nature are tough to find, and he has "plus" athleticism to be more than just a possession guy.

7. Charly Martin - Martin didn't look quite as sharp this week as he did in week one, as he struggled to separate out of his breaks, and simply didn't get the targets. He made a couple of solid blocks on running plays, and clearly gives a good effort on every down. There just isn't a place for him here. I could see him catching on with a team like Cleveland who could use a veteran guy to help from the slot in 3rd down situations.

8. Jermaine Kearse - It was good to see Kearse get into the action this week, with a spectacular seam route catch, going up for the ball and securing it at the high point, in traffic. He badly needed to show something or risk being out with the first round of cuts (which is still possible). He also showed up around the ball on special teams (kick coverage) and made a couple of nice blocks for the run.

It's still an uphill climb for Kearse, who most certainly won't make the roster but could be one of 3 or 4 Practice Squad candidates at the position. He's more polished as a receiver than Bates, but hasn't shown the same knack for making plays, so at this point, I have him behind Tuinei and Bates in the group's 3rd tier.

Off the Bubble This Week: Sidney Rice, Braylon Edwards, Doug Baldwin, Terrell Owens, Golden Tate

TEs

1. Anthony McCoy - McCoy had a great game. He sprung a key block on the Kregg Lumpkin run, and made a great, leaping catch down the seam, showing off his ability to separate at the 2nd level, and athleticism and ball skills to go up and secure the rock. Now, if he could learn to catch the easy ones, he'd be set. He's certainly doing what he needs to, to secure the 3rd TE spot on this roster, and unless he completely blows it these last 2 games, he's a lock to make the roster.

2. Cameron Morrah - Morrah came through for one catch this week, and looked good coming off the line, and out of his breaks. He's behind McCoy on my depth chart, due more to the availability, blocking and big-play flashes from McCoy and less to any "poor" play from Morrah. He's still definitely in the race here and holds higher depth-chart position at the moment than Sean McGrath, but questions around his health, and continued solid performance from McGrath both as a blocker and catcher, could lead coaches to consider shaking things up and potentially leaving Morrah off the roster. Ability to stay healthy is viewed by many coaches and FOs as a ‘skill'. Keep that in mind with this unit.

3. Sean McGrath (UDFA) - McGrath did what I said he had to do last week to stay in contention for a roster spot - he continued to catch the ball and block for the run. He did both really well again in week two, and showed both fearlessness and concentration on the 22-yard reception from Wilson over the middle. My favorite UDFA in camp, and a guy I think has a legitimate shot of beating out Cameron Morrah for a roster spot. He's not as athletic, and that may be where he ends up the odd-man out, considering the fragility of Winslow and experience of Morrah - both more the athletic, play-making types, which are essential to this offense.

4. Cooper Helfet (UDFA) - Helfet had the late-4th quarter touchdown pass, where he ran a nice corner post, looked the ball in, and dragged the feet to stay in bounds. What I liked early in the play was his release. He got off the line quick, and displayed some WR-type qualities in terms of how quickly he got up to speed. He's a pass-catching TE with some upside who would be a nice addition to the Practice Squad. No chance of making the final-53 in my view, barring multiple injuries at the position.

Off The Bubble This Week: Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr.

1. Alex Barron - Well, the worse Frank Omiyale looks, the better Alex Barron looks. Barron can mirror and stay with some pretty quick ends, and did so relatively well in Denver. He's not false-starting as much as his reputation coming in might have led us to assume he would, and he clearly still has the athleticism to be an impact RT in the NFL.

He's patient in pass protection, to sit back and extend his arms, and possesses good natural power to steer or toss his man out of the play. Where he needs to show a bit more effort is in down field blocking on run plays - just from an overall effort standpoint. I'd be surprised though if he doesn't make the final-53 man roster as the rotational reserve tackle behind Giacomini and Russell Okung.

2. Rishaw Johnson - Johnson was effective again as a run blocker in Denver, and continues to be adequate in pass-protection. What I really like about this kid is his natural power as a drive blocker. He's violent, and tough to escape once he gets his hands on you, and he possesses better anchoring strength than a guy like Sweezy, in that he can dig in at the line and hold position without having to adjust his feet too much.

Not that the latter is good technique, but it just shows the type of natural strength this guy possesses. He's not as quick laterally, and is a bit sluggish in his kick-slide when attempting to mirror a rusher or pick up a blitzer. After two weeks, I have him higher on the depth chart than Paul Fanaika or Allen Barbre at the guard spot.

3. Paul Fanaika - Fanaika didn't really stick out against Denver, and that's probably a good thing. He knows the scheme, having been in it for a year now, and although he isn't a quick lateral mover in pass-protection, he can be devastating at the point of attack when clearing the way for the run. He's versatile enough to play either guard position as well. The emergence of guys like Sweezy and Johnson, however, could make it tough for Fanaika to secure a roster spot, as they're both upgrades over him, athletically.

4. Allen Barbre - Barbre was responsible for a couple of pass-protection leaks again in Denver, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Barbre gone with the first round of cuts. That said - and I keep going back to this, because there's value in it - he does have a handful of starts under his belt, and has experience at both tackle and guard, so the experience/versatility combination may keep him around for a bit longer. Don't be surprised if you see him taking reps at left tackle, considering how awful Omiyale has been there. Or, I guess he could take reps at RT with Barron moving over. There are a few possibilities there.

5. Frank Omiyale - This was another bad week for Omiyale. The guy just doesn't look right at left tackle. He stops moving his feet, overextends, bends his arms and gets knocked aside way too easily, by 2nd and 3rd unit linemen. I've highlighted a potential replacement for Omiyale in Stephon Heyer (among a few others on our FA list), a 6 year NFL vet with 60-plus starts at tackle, who was recently released by the Jets in what many fans thought was a controversial move. Something has to be done about the backup LT spot, and although moving McQuistain over could work, and did work last year, you don't want to start pulling from your depth at other spots along the line, especially if you're pulling a starter. Russell Okung has yet to put a full healthy season together, so this is a pretty big deal.

Others To Consider: Edawn Coughman, Kristofer O'Dowd

Off The Bubble This Week: Russell Okung, Paul McQuistan, Max Unger, John Moffitt, Breno Giacomini, J.R. Sweezy, Deuce Lutui, Lemuel Jeanpierre.

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 trackerthat is much more in-depth than most places because of his background doing deep scouting of NFL Draft prospects. It's updated daily.

Seahawks Roster Analysis: Offensive Bubble Players

Derek Stephens — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:26:29 -0000

In review of preseason game one, and to supplement my Seahawks Rookie Report, let's take a look at a few veterans and UDFAs on the fringes of making the Seahawks roster. We'll go position-by-position, starting with the offense:

QB-

Tarvaris Jackson - Looks pretty solid in the new colors, and they stayed pretty clean on Saturday. The writing is on the wall for the former Viking, and it's only a matter of time before he's out. Some think he'll be the starter if Matt Flynn gets injured before the regular season, but I couldn't disagree more. I don't think Pete Carroll will have any reservations about starting Russell Wilson, and in fact, I think he'd relish the opportunity to start him in a non-controversial scenario (like, say, if there's an injury to Flynn).

And before you go asking or yelling at me on Twitter, no, I'm not saying that anyone is hoping Flynn gets hurt. Just making the point that if Carroll was forced to go with someone other than Flynn as the starter, for any reason, I disagree that Jackson would get the nod over Wilson. In that scenario, however, I could see Jackson staying on as the backup. Seattle is trying to trade him though (heard from sources other than media), and if they could garner a pick (any pick) for him, it should be considered a win.

Josh Portis - We probably won't see any of this guy until Preseason Week 3 at the earliest, but he's a guy that coaches like. Strong arm, mobile and mechanically sound from the pocket. Again, there's nothing really to grade here except what we've seen in practices (which hasn't been a ton), but I think he's a guy that Carroll and Co. see as a part of the future, even if initially remaining the 3rd string QB. He makes a lot more sense as the 3rd guy than Jackson does. More to come on Portis, once we see some action in a game.

Kregg Lumpkin - Lumpkin displayed solid burst and a bit of power on Saturday, averaging nearly 4 yards per carry on six carries. But considering that Robert Turbin is on board, a guy like Lumpkin really doesn't have a place here unless he can fill a fullback spot and excel on special teams. But even the latter scenario would require an injury to either Michael Robinson or Turbin. He does possess better natural power on contact than Turbin and could be a suitable backup and short-yardage ‘back in the case that a guy like Turbin, or even Lynch suffers injury prior to the season starting.

Tyrell Sutton - Sutton had a couple of slips that led to him falling earlier than he should have on what looked to be potentially productive plays (one kick return, one run). There's certainly some quickness to this guy, and in many ways he's similar to Justin Forsett in terms of not being afraid to play physical and engage defenders head-on. He has a reputation as a guy who can make some catches too, but the lack of straight-line speed pretty much puts him in the same boat that Forsett ended up in with this team - he's not an every-down ‘back, and on third downs, it appears Leon Washington will be the guy, considering that he's back up closer to the speed he played at pre-injury. Again, a guy like Sutton could provide some insurance in camp, in the case of an injury, so you may see him stick around a bit longer for that reason.

Vai Taua - Taua looked good last year in limited PS duty, and he possesses the one-cut run style that suits this blocking scheme. He's put on some weight and did line up at fullback quite a bit on Saturday, so the versatility that he brings makes for yet another "insurance" type of guy to buffer for injury. The fact that he's been in this system for over a year now (was a Practice Squad member last year) may give him a leg up on a guy like Lumpkin, but even still, I just don't see room for a 5th RB on this roster (Lynch, Turbin, Washington, Robinson) unless the ‘Hawks settle on 5 receivers (which I don't think they will - certainly not in favor of any of these three ‘backs).

Off The Bubble This Week: Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington

Kris Durham - Durham, last year, displayed clean routes, good acceleration, impressive ball skills and solid hands throughout camp and in preseason. The tape on him at Georgia was impressive (despite him seeing limited action there) as well, and although he was a surprise grab in the 4th round last season, he appeared at the time to be as advertised. This year, so far, he's had a pretty volatile camp. He has dropped too many passes, is struggling to separate and doesn't appear to be playing with the same energy we saw last season.

There's something psychological going on here, and it's not helping his case for making the roster. At 6'6 and with plus athleticism for his size, Durham is a guy you really want to work out simply because he's the ideal fit, physically, for the "Pete Carroll Receiver" and has the potential to be a go-to possession guy from various areas of the field. I still think he has a shot at making the roster, but an inexcusable drop on the only pass he saw Saturday night has to be the only one of those we see for the rest of the preseason if he's going to make the cut. The additions of Terrell Owens and Braylon Edwards to the mix will make it that much harder, especially as guys like Ben Obomanu and Deon Butler continue to do the little things right.

Ben Obomanu - Obomanu probably has the best shot of all the "fringe" receivers, of making the final roster simply due to the fact that he knows the offense well, is consistent in his route running, and is a great special teams player. He's a veteran, but doesn't appear to be slowing down, and doesn't really need to do anything spectacular. He knows how to get open, is physical and crafty in how he creates separation both down the field and across it, and he's a good blocker in the running game. He can also line up anywhere (slot, flank, split) and be a factor. Look for the ‘Hawks to put him in the slot more, now that Owens and Edwards are here. Obo will be in the competition all the way to the end of camp.

Deon Butler - Butler made a couple of catches on Saturday and continued to display the suddenness and crispness in his route running that made him a keeper when Carroll and Schneider took over. As for the straight-line speed, we haven't really seen it on display yet this preseason, but in light of the emergence of Doug Baldwin last season, the acquisitions of Owens and Edwards, and the health improvements of Sidney Rice, it will be the vertical capabilities of Butler that I think will either earn him or lose him a roster spot. Thus, I think there's an unspoken competition between Butler and Ricardo Lockette that will yield one of them making this roster, but not both. Speed will be the key here.

Ricardo Lockette - Lockette doesn't come close to possessing the route-running capabilities of a Deon Butler, but he's certainly more physical, is probably more capable of consistently beating a physical press outside, and may even track the ball better vertically. Where Lockette struggles is with his consistency. He has far too many concentration lapses in practice and will drop too many of the easy ones. But speed kills, and he has more of it than anyone on the current roster, which makes him highly appealing in a corps of receivers that for the most part, lacks a consistent deep threat. He has three games (now that he's healthy) to win a spot on the roster, and he'll do it by consistently beating press on the outside, separating and finishing plays down the field.

Other WRs to consider:

Charly Martin - Martin has been around the league for a bit, but has never really had a solid opportunity to contribute as a receiver. He showed on Saturday night that he possesses some awareness and route-savvy in being able recognize zones and sit down in space. He's a solid fundamental hands catcher with good size (6'1), and clearly knows how to block downfield (see Russell Wilson TD run). There's a lot to like about a gutsy, tough receiver who can do some dirty work. But with Baldwin and Obomanu possessing more experience as receivers, Seattle already has a couple of options for this type of role. If nothing else, Martin has a shot of catching on with another team by maintaining his level of play throughout the preseason.

Phil Bates (UDFA) - The former Ohio QB came into OTAs and turned some heads with his ability to separate and play the ball in the air. He's big (6'2, 215), physical and fearless in the heart of the field. He just hasn't gotten a ton of opportunities to show what he can do in a game. Saturday, he was in for several snaps but didn't see a throw; however, as QBs get more comfortable throughout the preseason, look for him to be a target over the middle and from the slot. Chances are slim to none that he actually make the roster, but I could see him sticking on through camp and after cuts, being added to the practice squad for further development.

Lavasier Tuinei (UDFA) - I scouted Tuinei while at Oregon, and I saw a guy that possessed impressive natural burst for his size, and soft hands to pluck the ball. After the catch, he could be tough to bring down, and at 6'5, he's an ideal size-fit for the roster. In camp, however, he has struggled to separate consistently. I could see him being a rotational joker type who can line up close to the tackle and beat linebackers and safeties, but there's been nothing that I've seen so far to indicate he can consistently beat outside NFL corners.

Off the Bubble This Week: Sidney Rice, Braylon Edwards, Doug Baldwin, Terrell Owens, Golden Tate

"What's A Bubble?": Jermaine Kearse

TEs

Cameron Morrah - Morrah's biggest enemy is his health. Here's a guy with better pure athleticism than any other TE on the roster. We've seen it on occasion, but he simply hasn't been healthy enough to generate consistent results. With the number of injuries that Seattle already has to worry about at the position (Zach Miller - concussions, Kellen Winslow - knee), the ‘Hawks simply can't afford to take on a third liability, which is why I think Morrah is in trouble. With Anthony McCoy possessing better blocking skills and guys like Sean McGrath (UDFA) impressing, Morrah has no time to waste in proving that his play on the field is worth the substantial risk of putting a 3rd injury-prone TE on a roster that will carry four, at most.

Anthony McCoy - We saw McCoy drop a huge 3rd down pass from Flynn on Saturday, but there's one thing that McCoy has going for him - he can block. That's not to say he's safe. I think the emergence of Sean McGrath should be sending a clear message to McCoy that his job is by no means safe, and holding on to a 6-yard pass is critically important at this stage. The guy knows how to catch. He did it well at USC and we saw some good things out of him in the passing game last year as well, but he's always had a tendency to lapse in concentration. The competition demands that he improve immediately in this area, but I do think he has a leg up on Morrah at this point.

Sean McGrath (UDFA) - McGrath comes out of Henderson State where he broke a few receiving records. Watching him, there are a few things that are undeniable - 1. he can catch the ball, 2. he runs solid routes; and 3. he's an aggressive blocker. Outside of Zach Miller, I can't say that I am as confident in these three abilities with any of the other TEs on the roster, as I am with McGrath. Now, he's had limited time to show what he can do, so I'm not going to jump the gun and infer that he has already beat out anyone on the roster. After all, training camp, preseason and regular season NFL competition are completely different things. Ask Golden Tate. That being said, McGrath displays consistent fundamentals and impressive awareness which are both key in a player's game translating across various levels of play. He has a legitimate shot at making the roster in the case that the ‘Hawks keep four TEs, and only needs to keep up his current efforts to put his best foot forward.

Others To Consider:

Cooper Helfet (UDFA) - Needs to get more reps, but he's athletic, quick and could be a Practice Squad candidate out of camp. A victim of numbers at this point.

Off The Bubble This Week: Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr.

Alex Barron - Barron brings much needed experience and depth to the right tackle spot, and based on the tape from Saturday, should be safe for at least another week. He mirrored well in pass-pro although he did have 2 notable instances where he stopped moving his feet and surrendered more ground than he should of. However, he corrected course and got more comfortable as the game progressed. There's never been a doubt concerning this guy's tangible, physical abilities. He just hasn't ever shown the ability to consistently anticipate defenders. That said, he's serviceable as a backup at this point, and still gives you a chance if Giacomini goes down. Has also played some left tackle, so his versatility makes him appealing at this stage.

Frank Omiyale - Omiyale blew a lot of assignments in Chicago, and had some underwhelming moments on Saturday as well, at left tackle. Russell Wilson's ability to roll out certainly masked many of the O-line woes at first glance, but that won't work when it's Matt Flynn taking snaps. Omiyale is certainly athletic and rangy enough to hold his own at the tackle spot, but much like Barron, lacks anticipation. As for his run blocking, he got off the line and down field pretty quickly, and possesses the nimble feet to make adjustments on the fly. At this point, there isn't really anything left to develop with this guy. Just keep an eye on him throughout the preseason and see if he displays better consistency in pass protection.

Paul Fanaika - Fanaika possesses a ton of natural power and solid athleticism. He gets off the line quickly, displays good pop with his hands, solid base, good anchor and surprising lateral quickness. I've liked him since last season and think that he certainly has a shot at making the roster again. He's got a bit of a nasty streak and fits the Tom Cable mold of a road-grader type who can move for his size. He's not as good at the 2nd level, and seemed to take a couple of plays off from an energy standpoint on Saturday, which we all know won't fly around here. He needs to dial up the intensity on every play, and be mindful of the veterans around him who all have a legit shot at ousting him.

Allen Barbre - Barbre missed a couple of key cut-blocks and looked pretty pitiful in doing so if I'm going to be honest. That said, the guy does have seven starts under his belt in the NFL (GB), and has some imposing physical tools. I've got him pretty close to the top of the "bubble" list as a guy who may not last another two weeks here if he continues to squander opportunities by missing reads and whiffing on run blocks.

Rishaw Johnson - Johnson got snaps at guard on Saturday and displayed the power and athleticism that earned him a mid-round grade by Seahawks scouts prior to the draft. As a UDFA, Johnson is a potential steal, but he'll need to show rapid improvement each week. There are too many veterans in here now pushing the competition for him to take plays off or have intermittent lapses in effort (which I saw some of on Saturday). On a couple of pass plays, Johnson was knocked off balance relatively easily off the snap, and had some footwork issues when sliding laterally in pass protection. On run plays, he showed a good anchor, capability to drive bigger defenders off the block, and impressive quickness to the second level that could make him ideal for the system. He'll now be taking snaps at center with Jeanpierre suffering an injury, so any versatility Johnson can show will certainly help his cause. Watch him at guard, center and/or both on Saturday.

Others To Consider: Edawn Coughman

Off The Bubble This Week: Russell Okung, Paul McQuistan, Max Unger, John Moffitt, Breno Giacomini, J.R. Sweezy, Deuce Lutui.

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Seahawks Depth Chart Analysis: OL, WR

Danny Kelly — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:18:04 -0000

The offensive line group will be an interesting one to watch this preseason and I get the impression that the overall talent is greatly improved over last season (and exponentially better than the unit John Schneider and Pete Carroll inherited in 2010). The exact depth charts have yet to shake out and the current 'starting' unit may shuffle a bit over the next few weeks, even if they do manage to avoid any injuries. Right now, the presumptive starting five for Week 1 are LT Russell Okung, LG Paul McQuistan, C Max Unger, RG John Moffitt, and RT Breno Giacomini. However, Tom Cable and company have made sure to rotate certain guys up to play with the 'ones' during mini-camps, OTAs and now training camp in an effort to see who fits and how varying units work together.

Rookie G Rishaw Johnson has seen time with the first unit, and this past week, fellow rookie J.R. Sweezy has been slotted for several practices at RG with the starters, as John Moffitt gets reps at center with the 'twos.' There's probably not a whole lot to be read into this shuffling -- Tom Cable has mentioned on several occasions that he wants all of his linemen to be well-versed at at least two positions, because the fact of the matter is that injuries will happen throughout the year.

Still, it will be interesting to see what happens this year on the line - Moffitt is coming off of an MCL tear after a mediocre-to-decent rookie performance. Is he assured a starting spot? Doubtful - though he appears to be the favorite at the moment. If one of the rookies, Johnson or Sweezy, steps up, that spot could be up for grabs. If Deuce Lutui looks good over the next few weeks, he could see time at his familiar right guard position. Same goes for the left side, where journeyman Paul McQuistan held things down last year in relief of Robert Gallery. Does he have a grapple hold on that position? I doubt that too, and I would guess the lead margin between McQuistan and possibly Lemuel Jeanpierre, Lutui, Alan Barbre and Paul Fanaika isn't very wide. This is a good thing.

The depth chart...

Offensive Line
Russell Okung (T)
Paul McQuistan (T/G)
Max Unger (C)
John Moffitt (G/C)
Breno Giacomini (T)
Deuce Lutui (G)
Rishaw Johnson (G)
Frank Omiyale (T/G)
J.R. Sweezy (G)
Edawn Coughman (T/G)
James Carpenter (G)
Lemuel Jeanpierre (C/G)
Allen Barbre (T/G)
Paul Fanaika (T/G)
Alex Barron (T)

The only order you'll see above are the first five as presumptive starters. After that - your guess is as good as mine. From camp reports, Frank Omiyale has looked pretty good and could earn a roster spot as a swing tackle/backup to Breno and Okung. Paul Fanaika shows promise as a G/T, and Alex Barron has all the measureables you'd want at the tackle position. It will be interesting.

On to wide receiver. This is the group that I don't even want to talk about right now because it will be so important to see how things shake out in preseason games. Braylon Edwards and Terrell Owens are the talk of the town and with good right - both have shown elite talent at differing points in their careers and in training camp have flashed their potential as the next great reclamation project(s). That said, their ability to stick with this team is still a big unknown.

Golden Tate is having a really good camp after finishing the year very impressively last season. Kris Durham started slow in camp but has come on strong, from several reports, the last couple of days - making big catches and looking the part. Ben Obomanu is still in the equation, as is Deon Butler. I think that Phil Bates has a real shot to surprise as well. Ricardo Lockette is a possibility. Charly Martin and Jermaine Kearse are still hanging around and you keep hearing the name Lavasier Tuinei in reference to big plays on each day.

In reality though, I think it comes down to this, and I'm sure you'll disagree vehemently with me - Sidney Rice, fully healthy or not, is a lock. Doug Baldwin is a lock. Golden Tate is, in my mind, a lock. This is the group with whom I think the Seahawks will start the season - with Rice at Z, Doug in the slot, and Golden as their X. Past that, it's a matter of quality depth and varying looks in the redzone. Kris Durham will have to prove his worth to beat out Edwards and Owens, and right now it's not really looking that good for him, though it pains me to write that. Lockette started camp out strong but from everything I hear over the last week, he's fallen back to earth - particularly with drops. The same regression to ... competence ... could be said about Ben Obomanu and Deon Butler. Phil Bates has been steady and consistent, and as I said above, might be the darkhorse to slingshot himself in front of some guys. He's looked that good in camp, though admittedly it's pretty tough to predict much from camp performances a lot of the time.

Overall though - this nebulous group of Edwards, Owens, Lockette, Obomanu, Butler, Durham and Bates will be interesting to watch. There's always the outside shot that Edwards or Owens could return to elite form and not only make the team but start for the Seahawks, but right now I'm viewing their additions closer to extended tryouts for depth spots on the roster. At worst, they're good competition for Seattle's young group of receivers and a new, big and physical matchup for their cornerbacks and safeties. At best, - well - we can always dream I guess.

Wide Receiver
Sidney Rice
Doug Baldwin
Golden Tate
Kris Durham
Ricardo Lockette
Terrell Owens
Braylon Edwards
Phil Bates
Lavasier Tuinei
Jermaine Kearse
Charly Martin
Deon Butler
Ben Obomanu

Hit me with your thoughts.

Seahawks Roster Analysis: Depth on the Offensive Line

Danny Kelly — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:49:07 -0000

With Seahawks' training camp set to start this weekend, I figure I should finally stop procrastinating and start putting together a series highlighting the depth at each position: the bubble players, likely locks, and possible surprise roster additions that we could see once it's all said and done. I talked about running back last week, so as a natural progression, let's talk about is the offensive line.

The presumptive starters for 2012, as it stands right now in my mind, are LT Russell Okung, LG Paul McQuistan, C Max Unger, RG John Moffitt, and RT Breno Giacomini. That said, I think that the two guard positions are still up for grabs more or less with Moffitt returning from a torn MCL and McQuistan ... well, he's just not a lock, I don't think. He played well enough last season at several positions on the line -- with Marshawn Lynch once saying that he was Seattle's offensive MVP -- for the team to bring him back for an encore, but I'm not sure if the front office and coaching staff see his value as more of a utility backup that can play tackle or guard, or rather as a regular starter. As with several other groups on this roster, the offensive line shakeout should be pretty interesting.

Here's the current 15-man group at OL. If you look at the last several years for the Seahawks, you could guess they'll keep either nine or ten for their final 53-man roster...

Russell Okung
Paul McQuistan
Max Unger
John Moffitt
Breno Giacomini
Deuce Lutui
Lemuel Jeanpierre
Rishaw Johnson
Alex Barron
J.R. Sweezy
Edawn Coughman
James Carpenter
Allen Barbre
Paul Fanaika
Frank Omiyale

Locks: the five I mentioned above, Okung, McQuistan, Unger, Moffit and Giacomini, are the closest things to locks in this offensive line group, I would think (with McQuistan a shaky 'lock'). Past those five, I guess you could call James Carpenter a lock in that the Seahawks will not cut him, but there's still a good chance that Carpenter will go on PUP to start the year and thus will not count towards the initial 53-man roster. So, let's assume there's going to be four or five roster spots up for grabs for Lutui, Jeanpierre, Johnson, Barron, Sweezy, Coughman, Barbre, Fanaika, and Omiyale to fight for. Those four/five spots are very, very important because it's very, very likely that several of Seattle's backups will see game snaps during the season. It's just the nature of football.

"One of the things that you got to witness last year," Tom Cable recently noted, "that was kind of a philosophical thing, was to prepare [each guy on the line] to play a couple spots. I could take Max Unger and put him at either guard spot, it wouldn't make a difference to us. I could probably take Russell Okung and move him from left tackle over to right, and it wouldn't matter to us. Most of the group - I'd say probably 90% of it, they're all going to learn two positions, so if you get into that situation that we got into last year, you can plug those holes and not have it be detrimental."

The Seahawks were hit hard with the injury bug last year -- losing Carpenter, Moffitt and Russell Okung on season ending injuries and multiple others along the line were dinged up throughout -- and though I doubt we can expect to see anything that major this season (fingers crossed), it's almost inevitable that starters will go down for a game or two her and there, and shuffling will have to be done. The good news is that, in that case, said shuffling becomes less stressful to me with improved depth at every position. I think the Seahawks have actually put together a fairly underrated unit -- though it may be unproven at this point -- and at the moment I actually feel pretty good about the guys they're going to be trotting out there on any given day.

Adding Deuce Lutui, Alex Barron, and Frank Omiyale is a smart move to provide some veteran depth -- and I could see one or two of those three emerge with a roster spot in a similar role that McQuistan took on last season. Guys that have been in the league, know how to play multiple spots, and can step in when someone goes down. The idea is, of course, that you lose nothing in terms of effectiveness, as Cable mentions above, and though that might not be completely based in reality, having capable and experienced backups on the line is much more important than most people may realize.

When formulating my 'ideal' starting line over the last few weeks, it just has kind of dawned on me that in the real world, it's probably more important to formulate your 'ideal' seven or so offensive linemen that should and probably will be used in rotation, as players get dinged up throughout the season.

Ideally, you'd like to maintain one starting lineup of five guys, to improve the teamwork and coordination, familiarity and continuity; but, throwing Lutui, Barron, or Omiyale out there with the youngsters has the potential to be, shall we say, more seamless than if you were to throw a youngster out into the fire.

Barron is a former first-round pick, so you know he's athletic and at one point had the measurables and attributes that you look for in a franchise LT. He's 6'7, 318 pounds, and has absurdly ridiculous 37.75" arms. He ran a 4.87 40 coming out of Florida State, with a 35" vert and a 9'4" broadjump - meaning he's got agility and explosiveness, and from my point of view, if you put him in a position where he can succeed as a cog in the wheel - possibly at backup right tackle or emergency guard - and you could get some value for him. Barron was the 19th overall pick in the 2005 Draft but has busted because of his penchant for false starts and holding penalties (also, apparently, for his indifference at getting better). If he can get those penalties under control - a big if - but if he can rein those in, he could provide nice depth as a swing tackle or emergency guard in this Seahawks zone blocking scheme. Those long arms, movement ability, and what I can assume is a desire to prove himself a success in the league (doubt the Seahawks would have signed him if he hadn't displayed competitiveness), could pay dividends for the Seahawks this season. Reports said he played pretty well in mini-camps.

Lutui is another under-the-radar signing that I liked and in my opinion, the former USC Trojan has an outside chance to break into the starting lineup initially, especially if John Moffitt struggles in training camp and the preseason. Lutui is probably most famous for his weight -- he's a big dude that failed his physical in Cincinnati last year because of weight, and most of you now have heard the 'he became a vegan to lose weight' stories from Seahawks mini-camps and whatnot. I wrote about the Lutui signing a few months ago to piggyback off of a Mike Sando article, but, from what I can tell, Lutui didn't really appreciate the gravity of his weight (pun?) situation until failing his physical in Cincinnati, after signing a two-year deal there. He's played heavy his whole life - as Sando put it, "Lutui said he weighed 396 pounds upon reporting to USC, where his line coach, Tim Davis, encouraged personal growth with a saying Lutui ate up: "Mass moves ass." Lutui sometimes played at 370 pounds in college, dropping into the 330s for the scouting combine."

Said Lutui in that article, "It has always been a part of me to play big. I had to humble myself to see what coaches are seeing out there." So, it would appear he finally came to the realization that teams needed him lighter, once he was cut by Cincy. It's important to note that the Seahawks were actually interested in Lutui last year but with the lockout and the schenanigans there, they opted to go with Robert Gallery instead because he knew Tom Cable and his system. Lutui went back to Arizona and sat on the bench, mostly. He's now got something to prove - that his career isn't over and that he's still capable of being a dominant guard in the NFL.

When you hear about a guy failing a physical for being overweight, the knee-jerk reaction is typically something akin to "what a lazy-ass." Visions of Bryant McKinnie come to mind - indifference, complacency, whatever it is. I really don't get the impression that this is what happened with Lutui. He simply thought, for a long time, that he was best suited to play at 370+ pounds. It took the Cincinnati situation for him to wake up to the fact that he might be wrong on that. -- Again -- "I had to humble myself to see what coaches are seeing out there."

Keep in mind, as Sando points out - Lutui is an Eagle Scout and former finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He was voted most inspirational by his college teammates at USC. This isn't a guy that 'doesn't give a crap.'

Said Lutui: "My strength on the field speaks for itself, but being born 13 pounds, coming from an ancestry of big men, it is definitely -- I have changed my whole life. I come from the land of kings that eat like kings. The first king of Tonga was a 7-footer. My best game weight is 340 and that is still big for a lineman, but for a Tongan, it's pretty small. You check out my other brothers on the field, Haloti Ngata and these guys. They are playing at 350-plus and they're pretty good."

It's worth noting that the Seahawks have a clause in Lutui's contract that stipulates he stay under 350 pounds, so if he didn't already have the internal motivation to stay at weight, his job depends on it. I have to think he'll maintain, and Carroll has given him a new lease on his career. Said Deuce, "He is the only coach in the NFL who really knows who Deuce Lutui is. I came at him at 396 (in college), but he has really honored me for my strengths and I'm going to honor him by playing at a weight that is under the radar. I am stepping into my prime. I haven't even yet scratched he surface of that. I am so optimistic about this year as far as my training has been. I can't wait to prove to this organization who I am and who they are getting."

Lutui is no given - but he's intriguing, has played well in the past when healthy, is a vet, is hungry (in a good way), knows and appreciates Pete Carroll, and that's about the best you can ask for in a probable backup free agent signing.

Past that, I honestly don't know enough about Frank Omiyale to comment on his prospects. I know that Tom Cable coached him in Atlanta and that familiarity is what most likely prompted his signing here. He earned a reputation in Chicago as a poor pass blocker (Gate-68 was his nickname) but to be honest, that whole O-Line was so bad in pass pro I'm not sure how much blame to assign. Suffice to say, I'll keep an open mind for Omiyale's prospects and I think his upside is as a veteran swing tackle that can bump in to play guard in a pinch, somewhere near Paul McQuistan's ceiling.

Now, past that, the Seahawks have youth -- Lemuel Jeanpierre, Edawn Coughman, J.R. Sweezy, Rishaw Johnson, and Paul Fanaika offer upside and intrigue but little else to go on. Jeanpierre saw a good amount of snaps last year and from what I perceived, and from everything I've read, acquitted himself nicely. Now, does that mean he's a potential starter or best as quality depth, I do not know. Fanaika is another depth guy that we have little to go off of, but he's stuck around on the practice squad and active roster enough to think he's got some potential.

Rishaw Johnson is a real wild-card. Originally thought to be a mid-round talent, but fell out of the Draft because of character concerns. He's been touted by Pete Carroll a lot over the last few months and even saw some time with the first-team unit in mini-camps and OTAs, but I'd still classify him as a project at this point. A lot of upside, but faces a steep learning curve after playing at small-school California PA last season after being dismissed from Ole Miss the prior year. I sort of see him in the same light as a lot of us saw Jarriel King last year -- big upside, as long as he can stay out of trouble. King couldn't, so hopefully Johnson can.

Also filed under projects would be Edawn Coughman and J.R. Sweezy, a couple of interior linemen with the size, athleticism and 'nasty' that you love to have in the trenches, but raw raw raw and should need some development. As with anything, I could be wrong, but I wouldn't count on seeing either of these guys in 2012, barring catastrophic injuries and depletion of depth.

Finally, Allen Barbre. He was recently suspended for the first four games of the season for PED violations, and with such a tough competition for roster spots, this cannot help his cause. I know little about him, but from what I gather, he's a big, nasty lineman. I'd think he has some nice upside as a swing tackle/guard, but again, not sure if he'll survive cuts with that four-game suspension hanging over his head.

My prediction:

If you're asking me to guess, and this is just that -- a pure guess -- I'd say the Seahawks will go with nine offensive linemen -- Russell Okung, Paul McQuistan, Max Unger, John Moffitt, Breno Giacomini, Deuce Lutui, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Rishaw Johnson, and Alex Barron. Right now, I've projected J.R. Sweezy and Edawn Coughman to the Practice Squad and James Carpenter to the PUP.

St. Louis Rams - Ramdude's RAMblings

Douglas M — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 10:00:14 -0000

Editor's Note: You know him from the comment threads. Yes, he's a couple puppies shy of a pet shop, but that doesn't mean he isn't funny, now does it? Please welcome ramdude to today's front page - Southern drawl n' all... Douglas M

Happy week-end everybody.

... if you're a quarterback. This vintage article from Bleacher Report proves it and does so without saying one disparaging thing about the Rams.

So basically, this guy collected a bunch of data and then used math stuff to prove what he already believed in the first place. (That's a lot of what math is used for these days.) While he didn't show his work, he mentioned Highschol (sic) trigonometry. You can't argue with High schol trigonometry whether you are a Republican OR a Democrat, so let's just accept this as factish.

I've been sitting on the sidelines watching the couple of debates about Russell Wilson and his chance for future success with the Seasquirts. These factoids are enough to support my own personal feelings that, at 5'11", he will not have his own brand of corn flakes (a la Flutie Flakes) in the future.

I like the guy a lot even though he held my school (NCSU) hostage while he debated about whether to play pro baseball or come back for his last year as QB, and then ultimately went off to U of Cheddah. So it is NOT personal - very talented and classy guy.

However, he was fragile - got hurt fairly easily. He was elusive in his first year, but once teams caught onto him, he was not nearly as effective. (For State, he was still a god, but the luster was not as bright as it appeared it was going to be.) Wisconsin was perfect for him - good line and supporting cast which made him shine. But I don't think Seattle is equivalent to a pro version of Wisconsin. [Wisconsin / NCAA > Seattle / NFL]. There's some more indisputable math for yo ass. To make things worse, the boys is bigger in the Pros and he's the same size.

The icing on the cake is Alex Barron is in the neighborhood. That dude is like a cat - always lands on his feet offsides...

Tom Cruise not paying attention in class - knows it all
already... Anthony Edwards checks the script to see how
many more days he's got left.

Got a little sadness to report...

Just as Rams fans were starting to recover from the Katy Perry/Russell Brand lesbian experiment and break-up, we now have to deal with the fact Katie Holmes and Maverick are no longer pilot and navigator.

While Katie may be jumping for joy on Oprah's furniture for the moment - knowing that her life will probably not end in a massive fire in Waco, Texas - she needs to keep one thing in mind:

The last dude that bailed on Tommy Boy ain't with us no more. That's right, Mother Goose was dead before he hit the water just for saying, "Mav, we ain't got the gas for this and I think Scientology is crap!" Let's all say a little prayer.

In other news, another one bites the dust. And this guy never even got a chance to get drafted by the Lions and get his serious DUI on. Georgia tailback Isaiah Crowell goes from AP's Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year to "You want fries with that?". Crowell announced he would attend Georgia by pulling out and lighting a bulldog puppy-shaped blunt at his signing day presser - sadly, a foreshadowing of things to come. 3K, your job just got a little easier when you get to the SEC breakdown.

Since it's hot as Kate Upton's shorts, I'm not going to keep you. But remember, if you stock up on explosives for Wednesday's festivities; LIGHT AND GET AWAY. Some of the instructions on these things may be poorly translated from Chinese to Spanish to Gibberish to American. LIGHT AND GET AWAY! If you get away first, you have nothing to light. If you light and don't get away, parts of you go missing. And that's bad with or without Obamacare!

Feel free to tawk amongst ya'selves. Good day.

Seahawks Sign G/T Edawn Coughman, Release TE John Nalbone

Danny Kelly — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:29:31 -0000

The Seahawks have signed Edawn Coughman, a 6'4, 305 pound offensive guard/tackle to their 90-man roster, and released TE John Nalbone. Coughman was draft eligible in the 2011 Draft out of Shaw University, went undrafted and played in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts last season. He was released May 14 following gun possession charges in Montreal. According to the different reports I've read, SWAT teams stormed into his room after a maid reported seeing his gun on a table; the gun was bought legally in Georgia but Coughman claims he wasn't aware of the strength of gun laws in Quebec.

Coughman fits the bill as a Seahawks' style lineman. He ran a 5.07 40-yard dash at his 2011 Pro Day, including a 1.73 10-yard split, indicating for his size, he's got nice speed and explosiveness off the snap, useful for pulling downfield. He ran a 4.76 in the short shuttle, a 7.86 in the 3-cone, put up 31 reps on the bench, and possesses 10 3/8" hands.

According to a scouting report by Tabor J. Shaw, the Director of Player Personnel for the HBCU All-Star Bowl Game, Coughtman "anchored a Shaw offensive line that led the CIAA football conference in scoring offense (42.1 points per game) and total offense (387.4 yards a game). Coughman is a solid pass protecting offensive lineman with a nice degree of upside potential. Moves well on his feet, displays solid footwork sliding out to protect the edge and blocks with good fundamentals."

Shaw continued, noting Coughman "fights with his hands throughout the action, makes effective use of body positioning and seals defenders from the action. He's a versatile lineman spending time between guard, right and left tackle in his career. Coughman battled a right ankle injury during his senior season but did not miss a game showing his toughness. During the HBCU Bowl All-Star week, Coughman impressed NFL scouts with his quick feet, arm strength and overall pass protection ability."

More: "Coughman is not a natural knee bender especially on running plays and struggles to adjust at times which limits him to confined quarters. He also needs to consistently show more explosion and power at the point of attack. Coughman fits best in a run zone blocking scheme where he can reach, get out on the perimeter and cut block. He has the skill set to be a good rotation lineman at the next level but he is a prospect that will need sometime to develop on the practice squad."

Overall, he sounds like an interesting lineman prospect and one that possesses a nice amount of versatility. He tried out for the Seahawks during last week's mini-camp and apparently looked good enough to warrant a roster spot. It's also notable that he took the spot of TE John Nalbone on the 90-man roster, a player that Pete Carroll raved about just after the end of last year and whom I'd heard solid reports on the last couple of weeks. Coughman is now the 15th offensive lineman on the roster, joining Russell Okungl, Paul McQuistan, Max Unger, John Moffitt, Breno Giacomini, Deuce Lutui, Lemuel Jeanpierre, J.R. Sweezy, Rishaw Johnson, Allen Barbre, Paul Fanaika, Frank Omiyale, James Carpenter, and Alex Barron. The Seahawks now carry five tight ends - Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow, Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy, and Sean McGrath.

Coffee and Cigarettes: Seahawks Links for Sunday

Danny Kelly — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 11:00:22 -0000

Happy Sunday, y'all. Thank you for coming to our website, called Field Gulls.

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Seahawks still have high hopes for Walter Thurmond - Blog - MyNorthwest.com
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Saturday notes around the NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
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Fantasy Football 2012 Rankings: Wide Receiver Part II - Fake Teams
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