Seahawks 53-man roster prediction 2.0: Preseason Week 2

We're now into Preseason Week 2 and the time is ripe for a series of overreactions to a sloppy exhibition game. For edition 2.0 of my 53-man roster prediction (check out 1.0 from last week if you like), I thought I would shake things up from last week's version, and present a slightly different take at some decisions that could be made.

Like the Seahawks and their decision to move some things around on the offensive line at practice today, I've taken a little bit of information gleaned from Friday's game against the Broncos and made some decisions based on that on-field performance. I have the feeling that this breakdown will cause a bit of an uproar (standard), but let's just get into it.

OFFENSE (25):

QUARTERBACKS (2):

Keep:

QB1 Russell Wilson 5'10, 215
QB2 Tarvaris Jackson 6'2, 215

Cut:

QB R.J. Archer 6'2, 220

Comments: We have to wait to see what happens with T-Jack's ankle, but if it's only a two-week injury, he should still remain the backup. If it's a high-ankle sprain and due to keep him out months, he'll be cut (or kept as 3rd QB until he heals, as his contract is guaranteed, h/t to comments) and my guess is that Seattle will pick up a guy on waivers when teams cut down to 75 or 53.

RUNNING BACKS (5):

Keep:

RB Marshawn Lynch 5'11, 215
RB Robert Turbin 5'11, 220
RB Christine Michael 5'10, 230
RB Thomas Rawls 5'11, 215
FB Derrick Coleman 6'0, 233

Cut:

FB Will Tukuafu 6'4, 285
FB Rod Smith 6'3, 231
FB/TE Brandon Cottom 6'2, 262

Comments: Christine Michael makes the cut once again. It's a tough call, because with another preseason fumble, he continues to struggle earning the trust of the coaching staff, which is a big deal. That said, I thought that there were a few positives from the game worth pointing out. He made something out of nothing on one run, had a pretty nice blitz pickup on another play, and had one big run to the left where he successfully switched the ball to his left hand while running to the left (baby steps!). As exasperated as everyone is with his inconsistency, these three things were enough to keep him in front of Rawls at least for another week. That may change after the trip to Kansas City this Friday, but for now, Michael just beats out his competitors on the depth chart.

While Rawls looked good playing late in the game, there wasn't really anything too mind-blowing about the performance, so I'll be hoping to see him grab a few more carries next week. Overall, there just wasn't a ton of blocking for Seattle's running backs, and Rawls' best run was just about the only good hole any of the Seahawks' backs got all day. He ran through it, which is good.

This is where the changes come in. Last week, I had Will Tukuafu on my final 53, and this week, he's replaced by Derrick Coleman. Coleman returned to practice last week -- a great sign that his hamstring is back to full health -- and should resume his duties as the primary fullback. He's also valuable in the fact that he can remain a backup at the running back position as well.

Some people forget that Coleman was a college running back at UCLA with very good production and measurables -- 4.5 forty with a 36-inch vert at 230 pounds -- and he knows Seattle's system well enough to sub in at that spot if need be (and he lines up there in training camp practices at times as well). He's also one of Seattle's core special teams aces and Pete Carroll has mentioned several times that the Seahawks suffered last year without him on those kickoffs and punts. These things combined make me believe he has a solid shot at the roster.

Rod Smith looked nice catching passes out of the backfield, and could be a potential practice squad candidate, but again failed to crack the 53. I'll be hoping to see some more from Brandon Cottom next week.

WIDE RECEIVERS (6):

Keep:

WR Chris Matthews 6'5, 230
WR Doug Baldwin 5'10, 189
WR Jermaine Kearse 6'1, 215
WR Tyler Lockett 5'10 185
WR Ricardo Lockette 6'2, 211
WR B.J. Daniels 5'11, 218

PUP:

WR Paul Richardson 6'1, 183 [PUP]

Cut:

WR Kevin Smith 5'11, 215
WR Kevin Norwood 6'2, 200
WR Kasen Williams, 6'1, 210

Comments: Made a few changes this week from last week's prediction. Last week, Kevin Norwood and Kasen Williams snuck onto the roster as the fifth and sixth receivers, and this week, it's experience and special teams over upside --  Ricardo Lockette and B.J. Daniels.

Lockette's not really a shocking pick -- he's still a special teams regular (and had a big hit on a punt return on Friday) and the most experienced of the bubble group, so in this iteration, he's in.

As for Daniels, his value comes primarily in his versatility. You can only dress so many players on gameday, and Daniels could add value in this area as a guy that can play receiver, running back, quarterback, and feature heavily on special teams. His ability to contribute in so many areas could be what helps him make this team.

Either way -- this was a tough group to whittle down. Pete Carroll brought up Kevin Smith as having a great game on Friday, and he had two nice catches on poorly-placed passes. Kevin Norwood also caught a low pass, so it's tough to move him to the outside looking in based on that one game. Kasen Williams will probably have to do more going forward to earn himself a spot on the roster.

TIGHT END (3):

Keep:

TE Jimmy Graham 6'7, 265
TE Luke Willson 6'5, 260
TE Rashaun Allen 6'5, 250

Cut:

TE Anthony McCoy 6'5, 275
TE Cooper Helfet 6'4, 240

Comments: No big surprises here, and no changes from last week either. While he led the way in snaps last week (31), Anthony McCoy's two drops did not help his cause. Rashaun Allen got 16 snaps, followed by Cooper Helfet's 10.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9):

Keep:

LT1 Russell Okung 6'5, 315
LG1 Justin Britt 6'6, 325
C1 Lemuel Jeanpierre 6'3 300
RG1 J.R. Sweezy 6'5, 320
RT1 Gary Gilliam 6'6, 306
ST1 Alvin Bailey 6'3, 335
G/T Mark Glowinski 6'4, 307
G/C Drew Nowak 6'4, 300
T/G Terry Poole 6'5, 315

Cut:

OT Jesse Davis 6'6, 309
OL Kona Schwenke, 6'4, 300
G/C Kristjan Sokoli 6'5, 300
OG Keavon Milton 6'4, 324
OL Will Pericak 6'4, 296
OC Patrick Lewis 6'1, 305

Comments: The main change this week over last week is: Terry Poole is in, Kristjan Sokoli is out. Why? Well, I think the Seahawks need an offensive tackle more than another guard/center, simply. With Justin Britt moving inside to guard and Garry Gilliam taking over as the starter at right tackle (for a week, anyway, maybe), Seattle needs an additional swing tackle to back up Gilliam and that falls to Poole. Poole looked good in the game on Friday and has been running with the 2's in practice, so it makes some sense to keep the 4th round pick.

Sokoli's raw enough that he'd likely pass through waivers untouched, and he's a perfect practice squad type of guy that could get a year's worth of experience there.

The three players to watch this week, in my mind, are Keavon Milton, Patrick Lewis, and Kona Schwenke. Will they make a push for the roster?

DEFENSE (25)

DEFENSIVE LINE INTERIOR (4)

Keep:

NT1b Brandon Mebane 6'1, 305
NT1n Ahtyba Rubin 6'2, 325
3T1n Jordan Hill 6'1, 305
NT/3T T.Y. McGill 6'0, 300

Cut:

3T D'Anthony Smith 6'2, 300
3T/NT Jesse Williams 6'3, 320

Comments: There's a little more clarity here with the release of Jimmy Staten today, but there's still a nice competition going on at the interior defensive line group. I went with McGill as the surprise fourth member of this group -- he had a strong game on Friday and looked the part -- he's athletic, stout (enough -- though we need to see more), and played with a fiery intensity. Smith and Williams looked fine, but I thought that McGill stood out the most. The one question we have to ask is whether or not McGill can play both interior spots (nose tackle and 3-technique). Watch for that this week.

DEFENSIVE LINE EDGE (4):

Keep:

LEO Cliff Avril 6'3, 260
5T/3T Michael Bennett 6'4, 275
5T/3T Frank Clark 6'3, 271
LEO Cassius Marsh 6'4, 255

Cut:

3T/5T Greg Scruggs 6'3, 275
LEO Obum Gwacham 6'5, 245
5T/DE David King 6'4, 270
5T/3T Demarcus Dobbs 6'2, 280
5T/DE Julius Warmsley 6'2, 285

Comments: There were no changes at this group. I will say that Greg Scruggs stood out to me on Friday, so he may be putting himself in a position to crack the roster here (there would be five here and a subtraction elsewhere - I don't think he's going to overtake Marsh or Clark). Remember that Bruce Irvin factors into this group as well.

LINEBACKERS (7):

Keep:

OLB1 K.J.Wright 6'4, 246
MLB1 Bobby Wagner 6'0, 241
LEO/DE Bruce Irvin 6'3, 263
OLB2 Kevin Pierre-Louis 6'0, 232
MLB2 Brock Coyle 6'1, 235
SLB Mike Morgan 6'3, 226
OLB Eric Pinkins 6'3, 230

Cut:

LB Alex Singleton 6'2, 242
LB Quayshawn Nealy 6'0, 236
LB Tyrell Adams, 6'2, 228

Comments: No changes here from last week.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (10)

Keep:

CB1 Richard Sherman 6'3, 195
CB2 Cary Williams 6'1, 190
FS1 Earl Thomas 5'10, 202
SS1 Kam Chancellor 6'3, 232
NB1 Marcus Burley 5'10, 189
SS Dion Bailey 6'0, 215
SS/FS DeShawn Shead 6'1, 225
FS/NB Steven Terrell 5'10, 197
CB Tharold Simon 6'2, 205
CB/NB Tye Smith, 6'0, 190

PUP:

CB Jeremy Lane 6'0, 190 [PUP]

Cut:

NB Will Blackmon 6'0, 204
FS Ronald Martin 6'2, 220
SS Ryan Murphy, 6'3, 214
CB Douglas McNeil 6'3, 212
CB Mohammed Seisay 6'1, 202
FS Triston Wade 5'11, 185
SS Keenan Lambert 6'0, 209
SS Tyrequek Zimmerman 5'11, 213
CB Jeremy Crayton 6'0, 190
SS Keelan Johnson 5'11, 210

Comments: This is tough. So, so tough. The change this week sees Will Blackmon missing the cut, paving the way for Tharold Simon to return to the roster.

With Simon returning to practice today, it's pretty clear that he won't be starting the year on the PUP list with Jeremy Lane. I still think that the team has high hopes for Simon -- he played well during the season last year before getting torched in the playoffs -- but I think they may believe that was more injury related than talent related, and thus something he can bounce back from. I think it will come down to Simon and Seisay, so that's an interesting battle to watch. Right now, I have Simon with the edge.

With Marcus Burley still taking reps on the outside and in the slot, he has some value to the team, and in this edition, beats out Will Blackmon for the job. With Steven Terrell able to play the backup role as a slot corner, and with Tye Smith also getting some reps there, Blackmon may see himself on the outside looking in because of the numbers game.

I think the team likes what it sees from Dion Bailey and he may earn himself a roster spot, and DeShawn Shead's versatility and value on special teams earns him a nod.

I think that Martin, Seisay, Murphy, and McNeil all make sense for practice squad types.

SPEC (3):

Keep:

P Jon Ryan 6'0, 217
LS Clint Gresham 6'3, 240
K Steven Hauschka 6'4, 210

Cut:

LS Nate Boyer, 5'10 215

Comments: No surprises here, no changes here.

--------

Ok, so 2.0 is in the books.