Seahawks Armchair GM: Training Camp Offense

by Danny Kelly on May 30, 2011 10:00 AM PDT in Seahawks Player Analysis

A few days ago I asked some of the readers to give me some ideas for a post or a series of posts and one person suggested I do an "ideal roster" post or series of posts in the manner that Dave Cameron of USS Mariner does his. It sounded fun to me so I figured I would give it a shot.

First off, I am going to refrain from 'making trades' and stick to the free agent market and UDFAs so this doesn't become too rosterbatory. I'll try to be realistic in my free agent signings but I'm not going to get into salary cap stuff because frankly that would require hours of research for something that is based on my fantasy here. Instead, I'll just use common sense for the most part while picking my 'ideal' team.

Now, I'm going to do this 'pre-training camp' to start with and then probably try and predict the 53-man roster as we actually get closer to the season. For now, I'll treat this like I'm the GM, and I've got to determine who to bring to camp. Right now, I believe the rules state that you can have 80 players on your training camp roster but for this exercise I've expanded it to 85. Roger Goodell hinted at the possibility of expanded rosters because of the lockout-shortened offseason so teams can get a better look at their young players and rookies so I'm going to go with 85, a number I pulled out of my arse.

The other big assumption I'm going to make is that the new CBA does not include the Final-8 rules. If it does, one of my free-agent signings would possibly not be allowed, but for the most part I've included guys that we could realistically sign even with the Final-8 in place.

To start off I'm going to just give you my list, you can peruse and critique; then I'll go through and explain each of my position groups in more detail down the line, and explain why I kept/cut/signed certain players.

The important thing about this though is that it will give us a good chance to talk about the players that are already on the Seahawks' roster and some guys that I think the Hawks should or could be looking at signing. Overall, it will be more than just me daydreaming about our roster - it will give us a chance to take a look at the big picture of the team and provide a good refresher on the state of the lineup and more specifically each position group.

So here's the brief overview: Because Seattle did such a good job of creating cap space on their payroll last season, I'll take that as an indication that they'll sign two to three high-end free agents. Because in my version of this, the Carson Palmer trade goes through (for a 2012 5th and a 2013 3rd), Matt Hasselbeck will not be re-signed. This leaves room for Robert Gallery to be signed for close to what he'll be hoping for. He is the only high-end FA signing on the offensive side. The other three offensive free-agent signings are G Evan Mathis, TE Daniel Graham, and FB Le'Ron McClain. Mathis could be signed for probably $1.5-2.5M per year, and McClain and Graham would come at a cost of probably about $3.0M per year each, making them exempt from the Final-8 rules,.

Players re-signed include C Chris Spencer, T Ray Willis, and T Tyler Polumbus (if he becomes URFA). I've included 9 undrafted free agent signings, more than a normal year because a) the Hawks have a lot of departing free agents and are apparently really psyched about some of the unsigned rookies per John Schneider, and b) expanded roster limits mean more guys get a tryout. Two other notables: WR Deon Butler will start the year on the PUP list; WR Dwayne Jarrett will be signed for a tryout at training camp.

So here's my offensive roster. It sits at 41 players; the UDFA signings are in italics. What do you think? Who did I leave off that you would have kept on?

Quarterback (3):
Carson Palmer
Charlie Whitehurst
Adam Froman

Running Back/Fullback (5)
Marshawn Lynch
Leon Washington
Justin Forsett
Chris Henry
Mario Fannin

Fullback (2)
--Le'Ron McClain
Matangi Tonga

Wide Receivers (11)
Mike Williams
Ben Obomanu
Kris Durham
Golden Tate
Dominique Edison
Isaiah Stanback
--Dwayne Jarrett
Tori Gurley
Jeff Maehl
Courtney Smith

Deon Butler (PUP)

Tight End (6)
John Carlson
Cameron Morrah
--Daniel Graham
Anthony McCoy
Jameson Konz
Dominique Byrd

Offensive Line (14)
James Carpenter
John Moffitt
Max Unger
--Robert Gallery
Russell Okung

Chris Spencer
--Evan Mathis
Ray Willis
Tyler Polumbus
Mike Gibson
Breno Giacomini
Willie Smith
Justin Boren
Kristopher O'Dowd

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Comments

Why Daniel Graham?

Honestly, we’ve got three quality TE’s on the roster as it is… and that’s not even including Konz’s potential. Where are all these guys going to get the rep’s they need?

Otherwise, yeah, I’ll take it.

by djafrot on May 30, 2011 10:28 AM PDT reply actions

Daniel Graham - I actually thought about that a lot

Mostly as insurance in case McCoy, Konz, or Byrd can’t cut it. Also, veteran on the line – it’s going to be a SUPER young offensive line and having a veteran that’s played under Cable (in this case, two now with Gallery) will be very useful for the younger guys, as they’ll be able to convey to their teammates what he expects and some of the techniques he preaches. I could see Graham getting phased out eventually of most of the snaps but this team needs a few vets for leadership I think.

Proactive-like-Nonstop

by Danny Kelly on May 30, 2011 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Graham also as an in-line tight end that is used for blocking mostly. Morrah and Carlson will hopefully be catching passes a lot.

Proactive-like-Nonstop

by Danny Kelly on May 30, 2011 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Right, I see that.

But if they sign Graham, they’re probably going to have to cut McCoy or Morrah. Neither could make the practice squad, or pass waivers, and I think they both have long-term value. McCoy, in particular, could easily turn into a good blocker, so to let him go because they want a veteran presence seems like bad, short-term thinking to me.

by djafrot on May 30, 2011 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

This is a pre-training camp roster assembly

If by any chance it worked out this way, they could still cut Graham

by Carl Shinyama on May 30, 2011 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, sure... at what cost?

I’m not sure Graham will be particularly cheap for a TE. If we sign him and then cut him, that’s just lost money.

by djafrot on May 30, 2011 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Not if there weren't any guarantees.

I seriously doubt that Graham, who might command only a veteran minimum, would get a contract in such a fashion that were he cut, would result in a cap penalty towards the Seahawks’ cap.

If that were the case, I imagine the cap penalty would be so small that it’s negligible.

by Carl Shinyama on May 30, 2011 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought that during camp,

They only get training stipends. The big money is for the game weeks.

by bewrong on May 30, 2011 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I still don't like the idea of a veteran TE.

If it were me, I wouldn’t be willing to take the risk of losing a great young player just because we were worried they might not show up this particular season.

by djafrot on May 30, 2011 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Carson Palmer aint coming ya'll

we need to move past it.

Learn JiuJitsu, it's fun.
We can put a man on the moon, build the Great Wall, scale Everest, but we can't fire Cecil Peoples.

by RolloTomasi on May 30, 2011 10:51 AM PDT reply actions

Also I don't understand the trade

A 5th and a 2012 3rd? So, uh, what 5th? A 2011 5th? Retroactively?

I’m not buying most of what Seahawks blog has been selling on the story anyway. He paints way too pretty a picture.

by Thomas Beekers on May 30, 2011 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

That was a typo. I'll fit it.

Yeah, I’m not exactly “buying” it either but I hope it happens for that cost. We’ll see; it seems unlikely but this was a ‘best case scenario’ where I tried to stay realistic.

Proactive-like-Nonstop

by Danny Kelly on May 30, 2011 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Like the idea

Way more excited about the defensive post. I think the offense is really gearing towards the “Run First, QB Manager” prototype…at least until Pete is able to get the QB he wants in there. Looking forward to watching our RB’s have some actual holes this season (or at least hoping to watch).

by NViera on May 30, 2011 11:56 AM PDT reply actions

Palmers contract is WAYY too big!

I hate the idea of Carson Palmer coming here! Have you seen his absurd contract? He is signed through 2014 and is due 11.5 million for 2012 and it only goes up from there. He is scheduled to make 14 million the last year of the contract so no, the Seahawks would never do that. It doesn’t make any sense to dig ourselves into a big financial hole for a 31 year old QB with durability concerns. That’s basically a slightly younger Hasselbeck. Mark this down, Hasselbeck will be back next year and Palmer will not be a Seahawk! The only way I could see him coming here is if he really does retire. Than I’d be down for signing him to a realistic contract.

by jgettman on May 30, 2011 12:51 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

If you believe all the rumors that say he's coming here in the first place

the same rumors say he’s willing to renegotiate his contract to a number below what Hasselbeck would want. Might be overly optimistic, but there you go.

by Clendy on May 30, 2011 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions

But I dont believe the rumors obviously

So I don’t care lol

by jgettman on May 30, 2011 2:03 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I can see Hass returning

If he gets the nod as starter. I can’t see him being happy to sit behind Charlie. Totally agree on Palmer. Though can’t see how a player could ‘retire’ to nullify his existing contract obligations and then sign on for another team.

by JohnnyLondon on May 30, 2011 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

What I'm saying is..

If he ‘retired’ a la Brett Favre, we at least wouldn’t be the ones responsible for paying the contract that he is currently in the middle of. But really, the Palmer trade just doesn’t make too much sense, we need more than just a QB to be a true super bowl contender again.

by jgettman on May 30, 2011 2:09 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

We need more than a QB

But a QB is certainly a big need. There’s no way we’d pay him that contract but I’d imagine any trade deal would be contingent on him restructuring. If he’s actually serious about retiring if he’s not traded then it would suggest money isn’t a huge issue for him

by ciarannh on May 30, 2011 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm not a lawyer, but if Palmer retires and then tries to return...

…the Bengals still own the rights to him, so his only choice would be to play for the Bengals…or convince them to trade him. Pretty much exactly the situation he is in now.

by Hawksince77 on May 30, 2011 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't that an unusually large number of receivers

to have on the final roster? I mean yeah, I’d have been glad to have that many in the ’08 season when they were dropping like flies, but still.

I do like the Adam Froman signing for our third stringer. I’m surprised nobody took a 7th round flier on him with his numbers, though with so many teams looking for starting quarterbacks, drafting a reserve might have seemed redundant.

Dwayne Jarrett seems like a good choice for a flier. Wouldn’t lose much if he didn’t work out, though I wouldn’t give him as much of a chance as Mike Williams. A series of DUI’s are harder to come back from than a hefty McDonald’s habit. Gallery might be our biggest free agent signing, and strangely enough, the most realistic one we have, given our emphasis on the line. I also like O’Dowd for the same reason; again, I’m surprised nobody thought enough of him to spend a 6th or 7th round choice on him. He’d be a good pickup for depth at center.

by Clendy on May 30, 2011 12:58 PM PDT reply actions

This isn't a final roster

I think two of the receivers would be cut by week 1

by Flamefox111 on May 30, 2011 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, they'd pare that down to probably 6-8 guys most likely at WR.

Proactive-like-Nonstop

by Danny Kelly on May 31, 2011 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions

Not bringing back Ruvell?

Come on man, you gotta give him a shot at the Training Camp/Pre-season. You never know, this could be his break-out year. He is a late bloomer, an Obomanu in the making.

by goatweed on May 30, 2011 2:45 PM PDT reply actions

We have an Obomanu already though.

Cake for me too, please.

by shams on Jun 1, 2011 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Like it or not Matt Hasselbeck will be back.

Either that or some players are in deep dookie for giving Hass that playbook.

by Richard fg7 on May 30, 2011 6:19 PM PDT reply actions

Psshhh.

I bet every player in the league has at least five different teams’ playbook.

by bewrong on May 30, 2011 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I like it for the most part

But, just can’t see Spencer coming back to be a backup. I’d rather get a starting WR in free agency, rather than Graham.
I’d also like to see UDFA’s WR Ricardo Lockette and OT/OG Michael Huey

by parkinglotj on May 30, 2011 7:34 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

How about Malcolm Floyd from San Diego?

I haven’t watched San Diego much, but this guy sounds like what we want. 6-5, with sprinters speed.
San Diego has franchised Vincent Jackson and we could sell Floyd that he’d be a #1 WR here.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/493614/malcom-floyd

by parkinglotj on May 30, 2011 8:11 PM PDT up reply actions

a little clarification?

first, i think you meant Offensive Guard EVAN MATHIS from the Bengals, not ROBERT MATHIS, DE from the Colts.

I, too, am not in favor of the Daniel Thomas/Veteran TE acquisition for some of the same reasons mentioned above.

Why bring in LeRon McClain instead of keeping Michael Robinson? Mike Rob DID have a few dropped swing passes, but how would you rate his fullback run blocking? His post-QB history and excellent Special Teams abilities also gave an added dimension to his play.

i like the Dwayne Jarrett trial.

IF Hasselbeck returns, it’s almost a requirement to sign his BFF Brandon Stokley.

I like your Offensive Line re-signs, and I of course would be happy if we won the Gallery Sweepstakes with our Tom Cable trump card.

by puaahunter on May 30, 2011 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, thanks I did mean Evan Mathis. I'll change that.

I like Mike Rob a lot but I just think the Hawks need a real, big fullback for goal line and short yardage situations, where they sucked last season. Robinson is great on special teams but I’m not sure he’s big enough to be an every-down fullback.
I like McClain because he’s 260 and has a nose for the endzone. He could leadblock for Lynch or whoever in short yardage and would be a beast against the mike linebacker on opposing defenses.

Proactive-like-Nonstop

by Danny Kelly on May 31, 2011 8:50 AM PDT up reply actions

Who has two thumbs and reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaallly hopes that Tonga becomes a Seahawk?

This guy!

by Johnny Slick on May 31, 2011 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I am with you man. I will talk about it more in my roster eval series coming up

But yeah – a guy that’s 6’2, 290, can put up 225 29 times, runs a 4.7 40 and has soft hands to catch passes can do some things for you on offense. Guarantee he’d be a fan favorite from day one.

Proactive-like-Nonstop

by Danny Kelly on Jun 1, 2011 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Whoever said that Palmer is a younger Hasselbeck

Really needs to take a look at their stats side by side. It’s not even close, Palmer is a level above Matt and is only 31 which is prime age for a lot of QBs. They talk a lot about him being banged up but other than 2008 when he missed 12 games, he’s played every game since 2005. Matt misses games every year.

I don’t really think it’s going to happen but I do really hope that we get him and figure out a way to make the numbers work.

by Billy Showbiz on Jun 1, 2011 11:03 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs

And Le'Ron McClain is a beast

We score on the goal line and convert short yardage plays with him in our backfield. Robinson is a talented guy but probably not best suited as a fullback.

by Billy Showbiz on Jun 1, 2011 11:05 AM PDT reply actions