Seahawks report: Strategy and personnel
The Seahawks continue to remake the roster by recently trading cornerback Josh Wilson to Baltimore for a conditional 2011 pick that could potentially turn into a fourth rounder. Seattle also traded a late-round, 2012 pick to Detroit for offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus to add depth at that position.
PLAYER NOTES
--OT Russell Okung did not practice on Monday as he still nurses a high-ankle sprain, and will not play on Sunday against San Francisco.
--OT Chester Pitts fully participated in practice, splitting time with the first unit with Tyler Polumbus.
--LB David Hawthorne (hip) returned to practice for the first time in two weeks, and could be ready for Sunday.
--LB Leroy Hill will start the season on reserve/suspended list. Hill is suspended for the first week of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
--WR Mike Williams changed numbers from No. 1 to No. 17, and said the coaching staff has not told him he will start on Sunday in place of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who was released by Seattle and signed a one-year deal with Baltimore.
DRAFT PICKS TO STICK
Rd. 1/6, OT Russell Okung, Oklahoma State -- Played solid in the first preseason game but suffered a high-ankle sprain on the first play of the team's second preseason game against Green Bay. Okung is questionable for the team's opener against San Francisco.
Rd. 1/14, FS Earl Thomas, Texas -- Flashed his play-making ability with an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown against Minnesota.
Rd. 2/60, WR Golden Tate, Notre Dame -- Tate has shown flashes during camp, but overall is struggling with learning route running and the details of a pro offense.
Rd. 4/111, CB Walter Thurmond, Oregon -- Has made a remarkable recovery after major knee surgery just 11 months ago, and is expected to compete for a starting job opposite Marcus Trufant.
Rd. 4/127, DE E.J. Wilson, North Carolina -- A run-stopping defensive end on the edge of the defense who also has shown some ability as a pass rusher.
Rd. 5/133, S Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech -- The coaching staff likes his athletic ability. He'll be expected to play behind veteran Lawyer Milloy and learn the pro game.
Rd. 6/185, TE Anthony McCoy, USC -- McCoy has all the tools, but consistency has been an issue, with several dropped balls during training camp.
Rd. 7/236, DE Dexter Davis, Arizona State -- Notched two sacks during preseason play and could be a rotational guy as an edge pass rusher. Davis is considered one of the pleasant surprises of training camp.
UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS
QUARTERBACKS
Starter -- Matt Hasselbeck. Backup -- Charlie Whitehurst.
Hasselbeck's performance in the preseason put to rest any talk about a quarterback controversy. And although he has been inconsistent, Whitehurst is the clear No. 2. Carroll firmly believes in Whitehurst as a potential quarterback of the future for this franchise.
RUNNING BACKS
Starters -- RB Leon Washington, FB Quinton Ganther. Backups -- Justin Forsett, Julius Jones, Michael Robinson, Louis Rankin.
All three potential starters in Jones, Forsett and Washington have struggled to gain yards while running behind a make-shift offensive line with the first unit. Because of that, Carroll still has not settled on a starter for the regular season. Jones was in danger of being released until agreeing to accept a paycut. Robinson was signed after being cut by the 49ers in the cut to 53 players. Ganther offers versatility with the ability to play both running back and fullback.
TIGHT ENDS
Starter -- John Carlson. Backups -- Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy, Cameron Morrah.
Carlson has yet to settle into his role as a pass-catching tight end because the team still needs him to stay and help pass protect to keep the quarterback clean. Seattle could keep four tight ends because offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates likes to run two-tight end sets, but that seems unlikely. Morrah has looked better catching the ball, and would be a good fill-in for Carlson if he suffered an injury. McCoy is probably the better overall prospect, but his play has been inconsistent.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters - Mike Williams, Deion Branch. Backups -- Deion Butler, Golden Tate, Ben Obomanu.
Williams has been the best player in camp so far, showing an impressive ability to create plays after the catch. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound receiver also should be an effective target near the end zone. The release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh could make Williams the starter. Butler, in his second season, also has had a good camp and should see more time in the slot this season. Branch remains an effective target that help move the chains.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Starters -- LT Russell Okung, LG Ben Hamilton, C Chris Spencer, RG Max Unger, RT Sean Locklear. Backups -- T Chester Pitts, T Tyler Polumbus, G Mike Gibson, T Stacy Andrews, C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith.
Seattle started six different offensive line combinations last season, so this unit needs to do a better job of staying healthy. After losing his job at the end of the season because of a broken thumb on his snapping hand, Spencer has played better and seemed to benefit from the arrival of veteran offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. However, Gibbs abruptly resigned Saturday, and was hastily replaced by Pat Ruel. Andrews was acquired in a trade from the Eagles.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Starters -- LE Red Bryant, NT Colin Cole, DT Brandon Mebane, RE Chris Clemons. Backups -- DE E.J. Wilson, DE Kentwan Balmer, DE Dexter Davis, DE Raheem Brock, DT Craig Terrill, DT Quinn Pitcock, DT Junior Siavii.
Having a healthy Brandon Mebane in the middle of the line should improve the run defense. But Seattle really needs to get more pressure rushing the passer to help the back end of the defense. Both Clemons and Mebane are expected to carry the load in that regard. Davis could prove to be an effective rusher in third-down situations.
LINEBACKERS
Starters -- WLB David Hawthorne, SLB Aaron Curry, MLB Lofa Tatupu. Backups -- WLB Leroy Hill, SLB Will Herring. MLB Matt McCoy.
The linebackers unit remains the strength of the defense, with veteran Lofa Tatupu the heart of the defense. However, Tatupu has had struggles staying healthy. Curry needs to improve from a disappointing rookie campaign. The Seahawks expect him to rush the passer more this season. Hawthorne should prove to be an able backup with Hill starting out the season unavailable because of a one-game suspension and a sprained knee.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters -- LCB Marcus Trufant, RCB Kelly Jennings, SS Lawyer Milloy, FS Earl Thomas. Backups -- CB Walter Thurmond, CB Roy Lewis, S Kam Chancellor.
This could be the most improved unit on the team. Trufant is back playing at a Pro Bowl level after struggling with a back injury last season. And rookie Walter Thurmond has shown flashes of becoming a physical presence on the perimeter of the defense only 11 months after having major knee surgery. Two issues will be 15-year veteran Milloy staying healthy and rookie Thomas not making too many mistakes.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Olindo Mare, P Jon Ryan, LS Clint Gresham, KOR Leon Washington, PR Golden Tate.
These are probably the most settled positions heading into the regular season, with Ryan and Mare playing at a Pro Bowl level last year. There will be some pressure on new long snapper Gresham to look sharp during the regular season. And Seattle is hoping to get some big plays in the return game from Washington and Tate.
Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
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