Another Seahawks 53-man roster misprojection

This is serious business and no time to be clever. We, as Seahawks fans, are about to find out if the Blair Switch Project is for real or the defense will continue under its current Ugo Amadification.

This is serious business. It’s a 53-man roster projection, and careers are on the line. If I get a name wrong, Mookie will have to let me go. It’s harsh, but fair. Everybody say goodbye to John P. Gilbert, who failed to predict Colby Parkinson would sustain a small fracture in his foot. Nice knowing you, John.

Offense

QB (2)

Russell Wilson, Geno Smith. Last cut: Sean Mannion.

There’s definitely an argument for Mannion, but he’s also easy to get onto the PS where he can serve as the emergency quarterback. Plus the Seahawks like to treat their hardworking vets right, so Smith earns another round as the backup. Notice I didn’t even have to bring up his elite coinflip-calling skills. Didn’t even have to at all.

RB/FB (5)

Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer, Nick Bellore. Last cut: Alex Collins

Nick Bellore? The linebacker? Yes, that Nick Bellore.

He is the only fullback.

As much sense as it would make to cut Penny, who doesn’t yet have his speed or cutting prowess back, Collins loses this round of musical chairs. He shouldn’t, but he will. DeeJay Dallas makes the team for his return game contributions, and really not for his pass protection — that’s Travis Homer you’re thinking of. Ideally, Penny gets all the way healthy, starts to plant his foot with decisiveness, and we all rue the Collins cut until he returns in Week 13 to save the day and beat the 49ers almost single-handedly.

WR (5)

DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Dee Eskridge, Freddie Swain, Penny Hart. Last cut: Aaron Fuller

Only five? As many as the running backs, who supposedly don’t matter? The Seahawks usually keep six receivers. Has Shane Waldron succumbed to the oldfashionery of Pete Carroll and pledged to run the ball 60 percent of the time? No. There just isn’t enough talent beyond Swain to justify five. Hart’s here for special teams, which matter, at least to Carroll.

TE (3)

Gerald Everett, Will Dissly, Tyler Mabry, Luke Willson. Last cut: Cam Sutton

Luke, you big tease. Best of wishes in retirement, or feel free to give it another shot in 2022. The depth here is a little frightening, but I’m pretty sure Bellore could rough some defenders up at TE, so keep that in mind.

Let’s put Parkinson on the practice squad, since he’s banged up. And hope the maneuver works. Or on IR. Maybe that’s what you do with Mabry.

OL (10)

Duane Brown, Gabe Jackson, Ethan Pocic, Damien Lewis, Brandon Shell PLUS backups Stone Forsythe, Phil Haynes, Kyle Fuller, Jake Curhan, Cedric Ogbuehi. Last cut: Jamarco Jones

Excuse us, can I interrupt me here and say something? (Sure. Go right ahead.)

The Seahawks offensive line is going to be fine. And by fine, I mean better than league average, in pass protection. They already were last year, and they don’t look to have taken a step back at all by subbing Jordan Simmons/Mike Iupati for Gabe Jackson.

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That’s 25 on offense. Add the specialists, which we know are Jason Myers, Michael Dickson and Tyler Ott, and there are 25 slots open for defense. So symmetrical! (That should be your first clue that I’m wrong somewhere.)

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Defense

DL (10)

Carlos Dunlap, Kerry Hyder Jr., Benson Mayowa, Rasheem Green, L.J. Collier, Poona Ford, Al Woods, Bryan Mone, Robert Nkemdiche, Alton Robinson. Last cut: Myles Adams

Ten is a large amount of large D-linemen, but there is a large premium on edge rushers and players who can provide interior pressure. Largely, Nkemdiche is the large wild card on the line, a former first-rounder who flamed out in a large way with the Cardinals but is only 26 and could reap a large benefit from a change of scenery.

Besides, Nkemdiche’s recent groin injury may work in his favor. How so? It’s considered minor and that may push Carroll to keep him on the 53 without making him active until, say, Week 3 when he’s much closer to 100 percent.

The other nine are making the team regardless. Players like Woods are glue guys for a championship-contending team. Oh, and Poona is making the Pro Bowl. Feel free to screenshot that.

LB (5)

Bobby Wagner, Jordyn “K.J.” Brooks, Cody Barton, Darrell Taylor, Nick Bellore. Last cut: Jon Rhattigan.

Wait. Wait. Waitwaitwaitwaitwait. Bellore got listed earlier! Yep. Which magically gives me an extra roster spot. Imma use it on DBs because I there are some very intriguing names there. Also, Carroll spoke thusly:

Or the Seahawks could sign K.J. Wright. They won’t. But they could. And should. And won’t. You all know the reasons. The reasons suck.

Rhattigan is the guy who benefits from Bellore being listed as a fullback, or malefits from him being listed as a linebacker (don’t look that word up). Truthfully, you can easily talk me into Rhattigan and out of one of the other defenders. Week 3 of the preseason could also change my mind.

Aaron Donkor, the German, sits in a peculiar situation, where his International Pathways player status allows the Seahawks to carry 17 on the practice squad instead of 16, so that’s where he’ll end up, for now.

DB (10 but Bellore doubling up gives me 11)

Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Ryan Neal, Marquise Blair, Ugo Amadi, Ahkello Witherspoon, Tre Flowers, D.J. Reed, Tre Brown, John Reid, Gavin Heslop. Last cut: Damarious Randall.

(Editor’s note: Reed was left off by mistake. Obviously he’s earned his roster spot. We regret the error, which means the writer must resign. But we all saw that coming anyway.)

John Reid is gonna be Tre Brown until Tre Brown is Tre Brown again. Reports have Carroll expressing concern that the rookie will be unavailable into the regular season after tweaking his knee this week. Just like with Nkemdiche, it makes too much sense to carry Brown on the 53 until he gets over this little setback. But then you need the extra corner. Which you have. Because of Bellore.

The whole group is a little banged up. Blair and Reed didn’t see the field at all the first two weeks of preseason. Neal came out of the Week 2 game for health concerns.

I was heavily aboard the Heslop Locomotive until listening to the coaches talk about Reid. In a 10-DB situation instead of 11, I still believe Heslop has a chance to make the team, and if not, that he’ll spend two weeks on the PS before earning a call-up. Don’t call it an infatuation, call it a gut feeling. Heslop and Damarious Randall can fight it out until the final preseason snap, or Geno Smith can always flip a coin.