Training camp: Seahawks run final practice before preseason opener

The Seattle Seahawks practice on Thursday will be their final one before playing the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday at 1:30 PM at Arrowhead Stadium. Head coach Pete Carroll will need to meet with his position coaches over the next day to determine a pecking order for his starters and backups on Saturday, and that should also reveal a bit more where he head’s at right now on a few positions. What to look for:

• The first string offensive line. The first five guys to be the line for the snaps on offense on Saturday will be the first to get a chance to prove they’re worthy of the job. The leaders going into camp were Garry Gilliam, Mark Glowinski, Justin Britt, Germain Ifedi, and J’Marcus Webb. Those five players have combined to make one career start at their current position, with the Seahawks. (Glowinski getting one start against the Cards last year. Gilliam got all his starts at RT, Britt at RT, RG, and Webb with other teams.) Seattle will need to take every opportunity to get their starting five working together as soon as possible, so the order does matter. That being said, Jahri Evans is still new to the team and could work his way in there. Will Ifedi stay at right guard? Why is Bradley Sowell stealing first string LT snaps away from Gilliam? Is Britt really the person who has the most job security at his current position? Is Rees Odhiambo out of the running to start? We’ll start to find out this weekend.
• The injuries at RB have piled up to the point of cornerback George Farmer becoming a third down back who may pick up some carries on Saturday. Will the team be so cautious with Alex Collins now as to hold him out of the game this weekend? In which case, we might be seeing a heavy dose of Cameron Marshall. (Yay, preseason Week 1.)
• Jimmy Graham returned from injury on Wednesday but how many tight ends will the Seahawks keep now that Brandon Williams has made a name for himself?
• How many snaps will Eric Pinkins and Cassius Marsh get on Saturday at the SAM linebacking position?
• We’ll also be keeping an eye on the battle for outside CB between DeShawn Shead, Jeremy Lane, and Tharold Simon. You may see a lot of snaps from Tye Smith and Stanley Jean-Baptiste at that position as well, among others. It’s a deep position.