hawknation2018
New member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2018
- Messages
- 3,082
- Reaction score
- 0
QB (2) - Russell Wilson, Alex McGough.
The Austin Davis vs. Alex McGough battle should be an interesting one to watching during preseason. McGough is only the 2nd QB drafted in the Carroll/Schneider Era. Reports are that he has impressed during OTAs with arm strength and footwork.
RB (4) - Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, C.J. Prosise, Mike Davis.
Because all four backs are good receivers, that could make J.D. McKissic expendable, as does the addition of Penny on kick returns. This also assumes Prosise is healthy.
FB (1) - Jalston Fowler.
Fowler is a veteran who has shown a knack for devastating lead blocks. Returning FB, Tre Madden, is the more athletic option, but the weaker blocker. Rookie Khalid Hill is sort of a combination of the two, but I haven't heard much about him during OTAs. Going with Fowler would show a true commitment to blocking fundamentals and hard nose football.
WR (6) - Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Brandon Marshall, Jaron Brown, David Moore, Amara Darboh.
I included Marshall because I think he can provide them with a physical, big bodied receiving threat that the roster was missing. Moore has impressed during OTAs with his high wire act. Darboh could use time on the practice squad if they decide to go with five WRs. Several RBs have the ability to shift out wide or run patterns from the backfield, potentially making a 6th WR less of a priority.
TE (3) - Ed Dickson, Nick Vannett, Will Dissly.
Dickson, a sound and veteran route runner, pass catcher, and pass protector, has been taking the early reps in OTAs. Vannett may be the best receiving threat of the three. Dissly is the more physical option and better run blocker. Tyrone Swoopes is probably the most likely 4th TE, but haven't heard his name come up much in OTAs and he still seems a bit raw. Khalid Hill might make the roster as a FB/TE hybrid. Clayton Wilson is an intriguing practice squad candidate.
OL (9) - Duane Brown, Justin Britt, Germain Ifedi, Ethan Pocic, Jordan Roos, D.J. Fluker, George Fant, Jamarco Jones, Skyler Phillips.
I went with just nine linemen; this could easily be 10 with the addition of Rees Odhiambo and/or Isaiah Battle. My impression is they will move on from Odhiambo with the addition of rookies Jones and Phillips. Battle is long, strong, and athletic; he also gives them the versatility to play either left or right tackle. Battle needs to show he has improved as a finisher to make the roster. Odhiambo must prove that he can bounce back from a rough 2017 campaign.
DL (9) - Jarran Reed, Frank Clark, Nazair Jones, Tom Johnson, Rasheem Green, Shamar Stephen, Dion Jordan, Branden Jackson, Marcus Smith II.
Jordan's knee surgery opens up opportunities for Jackson, as well as rookies Green and Jacob Martin. Without Jordan or Clark, Jackson has been taking first team reps during OTAs. I like Poona Ford, but I think his role is already taken up by Stephen. Quinton Jefferson could be on the outside looking in with the addition of Green and rise of Jackson. Barkevious Mingo is expected to take reps at LEO DE, giving them a de facto 10th D-linemen.
LB (6) - Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Barkevious Mingo, Shaquem Griffin, D.J. Alexander, Jacob Pugh.
Wagner and Wright have become the defense's most significant leaders. Mingo gives them length and athleticism at the SLB and LEO positions that they have not had since Bruce Irvin was here. The LB depth is a bit shaky, outside of rookie Shaquem Griffin, but I decided to include Alexander and Pugh. Alexander gives them a veteran backup to Wagner. Pugh was a priority undrafted free agent signing with enough potential to keep around. They can both play special teams.
CB (5) - Shaquill Griffin, Justin Coleman, Byron Maxwell, Dontae Johnson, Tre Flowers.
Griffin is the prohibitive starter at LCB. Coleman is the starter at NCB. I have heard rumblings that Coleman could get a look at RCB, despite his lack of ideal length for a boundary corner. Maxwell is a more than solid RCB in this system. It's just too bad he decided to miss all of OTAs. I'm guessing he is not happy with his one-year deal (and general lack of interest he received on the free agent market). I'm a big DeAndre Elliott fan, both as a boundary and nickel corner. It would be interesting to know where Elliott stands in his return from injury. You could easily put Neiko Thorpe here, in addition to or instead of Johnson. Both Thorpe and Johnson are very good special teamers. But Thorpe's $1.6 million salary seems too rich, unless he shows the potential to meaningfully contribute at CB. I would like to add a 6th corner, but not sure whom I would subtract.
S (5) - Earl Thomas, Bradley McDougald, Tedric Thompson, Maurice Alexander, Delano Hill.
Keeping five safeties is good for special teams purposes. McDougald is the likely starter at SS and can also move to FS if Thomas is absent. Still very excited about Thompson's play making potential at FS; he is also one of the better special teamers on the roster. M. Alexander is a veteran SS and solid special teamer. Hill is a developmental prospect at SS that they won't want to lose just yet.
ST (3) - Michael Dickson, Tyler Ott, Jason Myers.
I might be overreacting to Sebastian Janikowski's absence from OTAs due to a nagging hip injury; would love to type his name here, instead of Myers'. Age and injuries remain concerns for the 40-year-old Janikowski. Dickson has been taking reps at holder during OTAs, which is further indication that he will beat out Seahawks legend Jon Ryan for the punting job. I decided to go with Ott, instead of rookie Tanner Carew, at long snapper because of his experience and coverage ability. Ott has been a steady presence, and I don't know why they would mess with that, unless Carew proves to be outright better.
To help people make their own predictions, here's a look at the breakdown by position of the first 53-man rosters in previous years.
First 53-man roster of 2017 (breakdown by position):
QB (2)
RB (5)
FB (1)
WR (5)
TE (3)
OL (10)
DL (7)
LB (7)
CB (5)
S (5)
ST (3)
2016:
QB (2)
RB (4)
FB (0)
WR (5)
TE (4)
OL (9)
DL (8)
LB (6)
CB (5)
S (7)
ST (3)
2015:
QB (2)
RB (3)
FB (2)
WR (6)
TE (3)
OL (9)
DL (9)
LB (6)
CB (5)
S (5)
ST (3)
2014:
QB (2)
RB (3)
FB (1)
WR (7)
TE (3)
OL (9)
DL (9)
LB (7)
CB (5)
S (4)
ST (3)
2013:
QB (2)
RB (5)
FB (1)
WR (5)
TE (2)
OL (10)
DL (10)
LB (7)
CB (5)
S (4)
ST (3)
The Austin Davis vs. Alex McGough battle should be an interesting one to watching during preseason. McGough is only the 2nd QB drafted in the Carroll/Schneider Era. Reports are that he has impressed during OTAs with arm strength and footwork.
RB (4) - Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, C.J. Prosise, Mike Davis.
Because all four backs are good receivers, that could make J.D. McKissic expendable, as does the addition of Penny on kick returns. This also assumes Prosise is healthy.
FB (1) - Jalston Fowler.
Fowler is a veteran who has shown a knack for devastating lead blocks. Returning FB, Tre Madden, is the more athletic option, but the weaker blocker. Rookie Khalid Hill is sort of a combination of the two, but I haven't heard much about him during OTAs. Going with Fowler would show a true commitment to blocking fundamentals and hard nose football.
WR (6) - Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Brandon Marshall, Jaron Brown, David Moore, Amara Darboh.
I included Marshall because I think he can provide them with a physical, big bodied receiving threat that the roster was missing. Moore has impressed during OTAs with his high wire act. Darboh could use time on the practice squad if they decide to go with five WRs. Several RBs have the ability to shift out wide or run patterns from the backfield, potentially making a 6th WR less of a priority.
TE (3) - Ed Dickson, Nick Vannett, Will Dissly.
Dickson, a sound and veteran route runner, pass catcher, and pass protector, has been taking the early reps in OTAs. Vannett may be the best receiving threat of the three. Dissly is the more physical option and better run blocker. Tyrone Swoopes is probably the most likely 4th TE, but haven't heard his name come up much in OTAs and he still seems a bit raw. Khalid Hill might make the roster as a FB/TE hybrid. Clayton Wilson is an intriguing practice squad candidate.
OL (9) - Duane Brown, Justin Britt, Germain Ifedi, Ethan Pocic, Jordan Roos, D.J. Fluker, George Fant, Jamarco Jones, Skyler Phillips.
I went with just nine linemen; this could easily be 10 with the addition of Rees Odhiambo and/or Isaiah Battle. My impression is they will move on from Odhiambo with the addition of rookies Jones and Phillips. Battle is long, strong, and athletic; he also gives them the versatility to play either left or right tackle. Battle needs to show he has improved as a finisher to make the roster. Odhiambo must prove that he can bounce back from a rough 2017 campaign.
DL (9) - Jarran Reed, Frank Clark, Nazair Jones, Tom Johnson, Rasheem Green, Shamar Stephen, Dion Jordan, Branden Jackson, Marcus Smith II.
Jordan's knee surgery opens up opportunities for Jackson, as well as rookies Green and Jacob Martin. Without Jordan or Clark, Jackson has been taking first team reps during OTAs. I like Poona Ford, but I think his role is already taken up by Stephen. Quinton Jefferson could be on the outside looking in with the addition of Green and rise of Jackson. Barkevious Mingo is expected to take reps at LEO DE, giving them a de facto 10th D-linemen.
LB (6) - Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Barkevious Mingo, Shaquem Griffin, D.J. Alexander, Jacob Pugh.
Wagner and Wright have become the defense's most significant leaders. Mingo gives them length and athleticism at the SLB and LEO positions that they have not had since Bruce Irvin was here. The LB depth is a bit shaky, outside of rookie Shaquem Griffin, but I decided to include Alexander and Pugh. Alexander gives them a veteran backup to Wagner. Pugh was a priority undrafted free agent signing with enough potential to keep around. They can both play special teams.
CB (5) - Shaquill Griffin, Justin Coleman, Byron Maxwell, Dontae Johnson, Tre Flowers.
Griffin is the prohibitive starter at LCB. Coleman is the starter at NCB. I have heard rumblings that Coleman could get a look at RCB, despite his lack of ideal length for a boundary corner. Maxwell is a more than solid RCB in this system. It's just too bad he decided to miss all of OTAs. I'm guessing he is not happy with his one-year deal (and general lack of interest he received on the free agent market). I'm a big DeAndre Elliott fan, both as a boundary and nickel corner. It would be interesting to know where Elliott stands in his return from injury. You could easily put Neiko Thorpe here, in addition to or instead of Johnson. Both Thorpe and Johnson are very good special teamers. But Thorpe's $1.6 million salary seems too rich, unless he shows the potential to meaningfully contribute at CB. I would like to add a 6th corner, but not sure whom I would subtract.
S (5) - Earl Thomas, Bradley McDougald, Tedric Thompson, Maurice Alexander, Delano Hill.
Keeping five safeties is good for special teams purposes. McDougald is the likely starter at SS and can also move to FS if Thomas is absent. Still very excited about Thompson's play making potential at FS; he is also one of the better special teamers on the roster. M. Alexander is a veteran SS and solid special teamer. Hill is a developmental prospect at SS that they won't want to lose just yet.
ST (3) - Michael Dickson, Tyler Ott, Jason Myers.
I might be overreacting to Sebastian Janikowski's absence from OTAs due to a nagging hip injury; would love to type his name here, instead of Myers'. Age and injuries remain concerns for the 40-year-old Janikowski. Dickson has been taking reps at holder during OTAs, which is further indication that he will beat out Seahawks legend Jon Ryan for the punting job. I decided to go with Ott, instead of rookie Tanner Carew, at long snapper because of his experience and coverage ability. Ott has been a steady presence, and I don't know why they would mess with that, unless Carew proves to be outright better.
To help people make their own predictions, here's a look at the breakdown by position of the first 53-man rosters in previous years.
First 53-man roster of 2017 (breakdown by position):
QB (2)
RB (5)
FB (1)
WR (5)
TE (3)
OL (10)
DL (7)
LB (7)
CB (5)
S (5)
ST (3)
2016:
QB (2)
RB (4)
FB (0)
WR (5)
TE (4)
OL (9)
DL (8)
LB (6)
CB (5)
S (7)
ST (3)
2015:
QB (2)
RB (3)
FB (2)
WR (6)
TE (3)
OL (9)
DL (9)
LB (6)
CB (5)
S (5)
ST (3)
2014:
QB (2)
RB (3)
FB (1)
WR (7)
TE (3)
OL (9)
DL (9)
LB (7)
CB (5)
S (4)
ST (3)
2013:
QB (2)
RB (5)
FB (1)
WR (5)
TE (2)
OL (10)
DL (10)
LB (7)
CB (5)
S (4)
ST (3)