The Seahawks quarterback situation cleared up slightly Tuesday with the report that Seattle may look to trade Tarvaris Jackson as early as next week. However, there are plenty of other positions where the pecking order isn’t clear, including wide receiver, where veteran Terrell Owens will be competing with receivers more than a decade his junior for a job.
Other issues the coaching staff will worry about as they look to trim the roster down to 53: Marshawn Lynch’s uncertain status (DUI) and Zach Miller’s health (concussion).
From now until final cuts are made on Aug. 31, we’ll take a once-a-week crack at projecting the Seahawks final 53-man roster.
QB – In (3): Matt Flynn, Russell Wilson, Josh Portis. Out: Tarvaris Jackson. Analysis: If you’re a math person, you may have found the Seahawks quarterback competition kind of confusing: it was a three-way battle that involved only two people. Head coach Pete Carroll’s been complimentary of Jackson in camp, but that may have been to increase his trade value. As many who follow the Seahawks already know, Jason LaConfora let the cat out of the bag Tuesday that the team may look to trade Jackson as early as next week.
RB – In (5): Marshawn Lynch , Leon Washington, Robert Turbin, Kregg Lumpkin, Michael Robinson (FB). Out: Tyrell Sutton, Vai Taua. Analysis: The Seahawks kept four RB’s on the 53-man roster last year, but if there’s any concern that Lynch will be suspended for any time at all this season, then Carroll may go with five backs as he did in 2010. Lumpkin figures to be that fifth guy, so if the Hawks do go with four backs, he’d probably be the odd man out.
WR – In (6): Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate, Terrell Owens , Ben Obomanu, Deon Butler Out: Braylon Edwards, Kris Durham, Ricardo Lockette, Charly Martin, Jermaine Kearse, Lavasier Tuinei, Phil Bates. Analysis: This may be the toughest position to project at this point. Owens is definitely the wild card here, but there is one thing about the divisive wide receiver that can’t be argued: when he’s on the field, he produces. In his 15-year career, Owens has averaged 71.9 catches per season, including 72 with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010.
TE – In (3): Zach Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr., Anthony McCoy. Out: Cameron Morrah, Sean McGrath, Cooper Helfet. Analysis: With Miller suffering his fourth concussion in two years against Tennessee Saturday, Carroll may think about keeping four tight ends. To make the roster numbers work though, Carroll would have to do some quick adjusting, which may involve only keeping two quarterbacks on the active roster. Carrying only two QB’s wouldn’t be an absolute shock, Carroll and the Seahawks did it for the first half of 2010 with Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst. If the team does go with four tight ends, Morrah would be the benefactor.
OL – In (9): Russell Okung, Paul McQuistan, John Moffitt, Max Unger, Breno Giacomini, Deuce Lutui, Frank Omiyale, J.R. Sweezy, Lemuel Jeanpierre Out: Allen Barbre, Alex Barron, Rishaw Johnson, Paul Fanaika, Edawn Coughman. PUP: James Carpenter Analysis: First, a quick PUP tutorial. James Carpenter is currently on the active-PUP list, meaning if he were to cleared to play by the training staff, he could practice right away. If he’s still on the PUP when the season starts, he’ll be moved to the reserved-PUP list and won’t count against the team’s 53-man roster. However, he won’t be eligible to play until after the sixth week of the season. For this projection, we’re assuming Carpenter is on the PUP when the season starts.
DL – In (9): Chris Clemons, Red Bryant, Alan Branch, Brandon Mebane, Clinton McDonald, Bruce Irvin, Gregg Scruggs , Jason Jones, Jaye Howard. Out: Dexter Davis, Pep Livingston, Pierre Allen, Cordarro Law. Analysis: The Seahawks defensive line may be one of the most underappreciated units in the NFC West. Jones and Irvin are two newcomers that are locks for the roster. Scruggs is on the bubble, but his versatility should earn him a roster spot.
LB – In (6): K.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner, Heath Farwell, Leroy Hill, Michael Morgan, Malcolm Smith. Out: Barrett Ruud, Korey Toomer, Jameson Konz, Allen Bradford, Kyle Knox, Matt McCoy. Analysis: The surprise cut here could be free agent signee MLB Barrett Ruud. Wagner held his own against Tennessee in the Seahawks preseason opener Saturday and Farwell capably backed him up. If Carroll is comfortable going forward with Wagner and Farwell, Ruud could be the odd man out.
DB – In (9): Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Marcus Trufant, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Roy Lewis, Phillip Adams, Chris Maragos. Out: Byron Maxwell, Coye Francies, Jeron Johnson, Ron Parker, Jeremy Lane, Winston Guy, DeShawn Shead. PUP: Walter Thurmond. Analysis: The race to make the roster as a defensive back will clear itself up more after the team's preseason game in Denver. Sixth round draft pick Jeremey Lane is currently on the "out" list, but he's one of several guys who could work their way on to the "in" list with strong performances over the next two weeks.
Special teams – In (3): P Jon Ryan, LS Clint Greshman , K Steven Hauschka. Out: Carson Wiggs. Analysis: Wiggs has a big leg – he hit a 67-yard field goal in Purdue’s spring game last year – but the chances of him displacing Hauschka, who nailed 2 of 2 FGA against Tennessee, are slim.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Seahawks blogger John Breech follow @JohnBreech and@CBSSportsNFLSEA.
