SB Nation - Trae Williams

Arizona Cardinals Fly Around the NFC West: Roster Move Addition

Hawkwind — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:56:31 -0000

about 1 month ago: St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, left, is congratulated by linebackers coach Paul Ferraro after beating the Detroit Lions 17-10 in an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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The Arizona Cardinals weren't the only team in the NFC West that made some roster moves this week, but even mid-season roster moves aren't the lead story this week. First it's worth mentioning that the Cardinals will make one more roster move in the upcoming couple of days because the Bengals have signed fullback Fui Vakanpuna off the Cardinals practice squad. It'll be interesting to see who the Cardinals sign to fill the vacant practice squad spot.

St. Louis Rams: Normally we list the teams in order of division standings but when a team breaks a 17 game losing streak, they deserve some recognition. It had literally been 378 days since the Rams last won a regular season game and Steven Jackson (149 yards rushing) did most of the heavy lifting against the equally hapless Lions. Despite the win the Rams still have major questions at quarterback and some are starting to think that Marc Bulger's career is very near the end. One bright spot, outside of Jackson of course, is the development of the offensive line though, especially first round pick Jason Smith. The Rams also made a roster move, releasing wide receiver Tim Carter and signing cornerback Danny Gorrer.

San Francisco 49ers: The Niners lost a game to the Colts that was closer than just about everyone expected (18-14) but the Niners aren't waving the "moral victory" flag either. Not only does this loss push their current losing streak to three but they also lost three significant starters during the game. Joe Staley (MCL and PCL strain) is expected to miss six weeks, Nate Clements (fractured scapula) is expected to miss six to eight weeks and Demetric Evans (AC sprain) is expected to miss at least three weeks. These injuries forced the Niners to make a couple of moves, signing cornerback Keith Smith (formerly of the Lions) and releasing seldom used wide receiver Michael Spurlock. Their also expected to make at least one more roster move (possibly pulling up an OT from their practice squad). Considering that Sunday's game was Alex Smith's first start since 2007, here's also a complete breakdown of his peformance and Niner's fans have also determined that the NFC West will come down to a dog fight (we can still say "dog fight" right?) between their team and the Cards.

Seattle Seahawks: Following thier second consecutive lopsided loss, which dropped them to 2-5, the Seahawks seem to be cleaining house. In the past two days they've made nine roster moves including the release of veteran running back Edgerrin James. Also included in the released/cut department include Travis Fisher and C.J. Wallace. New to the 53 man roster will be Mike Hass (WR), Roy Lewis (CB) and Jamar Adams (S), all of whom were on their practice squad. Filling thier now vacant practice squad spots will be Trae Williams (CB), DeAngelo Willingham (CB) and Devin Moore (RB). Needless to say roster cleaning like this is indicative of a team that has given up on any hopes of competing this season and moving on with the hopes of allowing younger players to grow during the remaining nine games. One interesting thought is that some Hawks fans are wondering if it's time to pass the torch from Matt Hasselbeck to Seneca Wallace (part I and II). Needless to say we're watching the demise of the Hawks and it could turn into quite a show over the next couple of seasons.

NFC West Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Arizona	4	3	157	143
San Francisco	3	4	147	140
Seattle	2	5	135	147
St. Louis	1	7	77	221

(updated 11.3.2009 at 3:44 AM CST)

The Seattle Seahawks New 53 Man Roster

John Morgan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:43:56 -0000

More photos » by Chris Park - AP

One of these guys is Mike Hass.

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Enough action happens at the fringe of Seattle's roster that I could fill a day's worth of posts just about Louis Rankin and C.J. Wallace. I don't. A time comes when enough moves have piled up that the aggregate is newsworthy. That time is today - so says I.

Seattle released C.J. Wallace and signed Jamar Adams. Wallace has long since expended his practice squad eligibility, and after watching the Hawks return teams get burned again and again, Wallace has finally ended his job as special teams ace. I doubt this move is an indictment of Wallace's special teams play, though he hasn't recorded a tackle since week 3, as much as it's a forced move towards the future. Consider this the Seahawks blowing up their roster with firecrackers. Adams is a far better safety talent than Wallace and with Lawyer Milloy all covered in cobwebs and cast in sepia tones, could see action this season.

I like Adams talent but I haven't liked his play. Louis Rankin played his himself into a Seattle homecoming, but his talent fails to tantalize. Rankin is tall and thin and reportedly was timed at 4.55 in the forty. He underperformed for most of his college career and then broke out as a senior. Rankin fills the Seahawks need for a Husky, but short of a surprising late career break out, and don't be mistaken, as young as he is, Rankin is already late into his professional career, Rankin is little more than roster fodder with hope tagged on like tiny post it notes. "For Sunday: Don't screw up."

Mike Hass is back, entering the gangsta rap phase of his professional career. He wants to taste your nectar, he does.

Seattle also added Roy Lewis. You might be better off reading this. Lewis was a standout at University of Washington when the standards for standout was standing without assistance.

The team filled out its practice squad with tiny, kinda speed back Devin Moore - we all remember him -, a corner named Trae Williams I know little about, and DeAngelo Willingham. Willingham has by the best set of tools of the bunch and may be transitioned to safety.

Vikings Kick Tires on Cornerbacks

Gonzo — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:24:27 -0000

With Antoine Winfield's status for this Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers up in the air at this point, the Vikings have brought in some cornerbacks to potentially sign. It's not a replacement for Winfield, mind you, but more than likely for a spot on the practice squad, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The three players that the Vikings brought in today were DeAndre Wright, who was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2009 draft, Trae Williams, a 2008 fifth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles that spent last season on the Jaguars' practice squad, and Mark Parson, who spend the pre-season with the Houston Texans after going undrafted out of Ohio University.

According to Sean Jensen, the Vikings are expected to sign Wright to the practice squad in the very near future.

If Winfield is out this Sunday, it's likely that third-round pick Asher Allen would see his first NFL action for the Beloved Purple at the House that Ketchup Built this weekend. Or, at least, one would hope so. . .because if I see Karl Paymah out there playing anything but special teams on Sunday, I'm going to be significantly disappointed.