Seahawks Blog
Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.
August 17, 2008 9:50 PM
Thunder and lightning...and a roster analysis
Posted by Jose Romero
As I write this the lightining has begun out my window. Nice show. So was the Seahawks game from Saturday, part of which I just finished watching on replay.
A couple of things I noticed that I didn't in person: Justin Forsett got congrats from Bears players too, after his big effort. And Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill were looking across the field just before Brandon Coutu's winning field goal at the Bears sideline. Tatupu raised his arms and signaled "Good" before the ball was kicked.
So the Seahawks are 2-0 in the preseason. Let's take a look at the roster -- keep in mind these are just projections and I wrote them to provoke further discussion. There's more games to play and more to observe and more could happen between now and the first roster cuts Aug. 26.
Quarterback
On the team: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye.
Longshot: Dalton Bell. He hasn’t even played in a game yet.
Running back
On the team: Julius Jones, Maurice Morris, Leonard Weaver, Owen Schmitt, T.J. Duckett, Justin Forsett.
On the bubble: David Kirtman. He had a decent game, but Forsett went crazy, and the fact that he can be a return man makes him more of an asset. You know how the political analysts project a state for a presidential candidate based on early returns? I'm going to go ahead and project that Forsett makes the team. He just has to stay healthy and be productive when he gets his chance over the next two exhibition games. Duckett stays, too, because he is a weapon in short-yardage situations.
Wide receiver
On the team: Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, Courtney Taylor.
On the bubble: Jordan Kent, Ben Obomanu, Michael Bumpus, Logan Payne, Bryan Gilmore.
Longshots: Trent Shelton, Joel Filani. The injuries have allowed young players to step forward and show what they have. Payne made a key catch and got yards after the catch that really put the Seahawks in position to win Saturday. Bumpus leads the team with 80 receiving yards in two games, and is outplaying Obomanu, an experienced player, in games. Kent is almost a lock at this point, and if he has at least one more good game should be on the final roster.
Tight end
On the team: John Carlson, Jeb Putzier.
On the bubble: Will Heller, Joe Newton. Heller has experience in his favor and the Seahawks often keep three tight ends.
Offensive line:
On the team: Walter Jones, Rob Sims, Sean Locklear, Mike Wahle, Chris Spencer, Steve Vallos, Mansfield Wrotto, Ray Willis.
On the bubble: Floyd Womack, Kyle Williams, Pat Murray.
Longshots: Ben Claxton, WIlliam Robinson, Nick Jones, Samuel Gutekunst. Maybe room for only one "bubble" guy here. Womack has the experience but keeps getting hurt. Still, he might be the best option with Locklear hurting. Murray threw a nice block on a long Forsett run Saturday. Vallos might have not been a lock had the Seahawks not lost Chris Gray to retirement and Chris Spencer for most of camp.
Defensive line
On the team: DE Patrick Kerney, DE Darryl Tapp, DE Lawrence Jackson, DT Brandon Mebane, DT Red Bryant, DT Craig Terrill, DT Rocky Bernard.
On the bubble: DT Howard Green, DE Jason Babin, DE Baraka Atkins, DT Larry Tripplett.
Longshots: DE Nu'u Tafisi, DE Chris Cooper. DT Kevin Brown. Green is very close to a lock to make the team. Babin and Atkins are the prime contenders for what could be the last roster spot at this position. Tripplett and Cooper, a pair of veterans, have been hurt and thus far have missed their chance to compete for a job.
Linebacker
On the team: Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill, Julian Peterson, D.D. Lewis, Lance Laury.
On the bubble: David Hawthorne.
Longshots: Will Herring, Dallas Sartz. Hawthorne made three nice solo tackles Saturday and is closer to making the team. Herring has been injured and that could cost him, if he doesn't go on injured reserve.
Defensive backs
On the team: Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Josh Wilson, Brian Russell, Deon Grant, Jordan Babineaux, Kevin Hobbs.
On the bubble: Jamar Adams, C.J. Wallace.
Longshots: Omare Lowe, Kelin Johnson, Marquis Floyd. Babineaux has been injured but is too versatile and talented a player to cut. Hobbs really helped his chances Saturday and has game experience. Adams and Wallace might be battliog for the last spot.
Punter
On the bubble: Ryan Plackemeier, Reggie Hodges.
Placekemeier needs to kick well in the last two exhibition games and in practice, because Hodges has impressed.
Long snapper
On the bubble: Tyler Schmitt, Tim Lindsey. Schmitt seemed a lock until a back injury sidelined him last week and brought on Lindsey, who snapped well on Saturday.
Kicker
On the bubble: Olindo Mare, Brandon Coutu. This is going to be a dogfight. Coutu's five field goals Saturday really helped his cause, but Mare kicked off well and has experience going for him.

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