kearly
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#1: Benson Mayowa, does he start?
Mayowa dominated against 3rd stringers, and you don't need to be a scout to see his obvious natural talent. The question becomes whether or not he can handle tougher competition. Seattle needs to answer this question as best they can before they can be certain he's worth a precious roster spot, and the only way to do that is to test him against 1st unit offenses. We already know that Mayowa is unblockable against scrubs, so if he has another 1-2 sack night it won't mean that much, unless he can do it against starters.
Unfortunately, Ryan Clady will not be playing tonight and Peyton Manning might be the best QB in NFL history at unloading the football quickly, so tonight won't be an ideal test. Still, I'd love to see the team give him first unit reps over Schofield at least a couple times this preseason to see what he can do.
#2: Jesse Williams, does he improve?
Jesse Williams looked like a poor man's Colin Cole in preseason week 1. And Colin Cole wasn't very good, as you might recall. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Cole dragged down our defense in 2009 and 2010- something the NFL noticed as he hasn't played in a non-preseason NFL game ever since. Williams was regularly destroyed by double teams and even got moved by single blocks. Seattle's run defense was night and day (in a bad way) when Williams was out there.
But the thing is, Williams was a superb run defender with an outstanding anchor and ability to shed and close for the tackle at Alabama. It looks like he got by on raw athleticism at that level and he's got some learning to do, but just the same, there is no way I'm giving up on a talent like him after just one preseason disappointment. Pete repeatedly singled out Williams for praise during the week and while I am 100% sure that is just positive vibes psychology stuff, it does seem to indicate that Pete badly wants Jesse Williams to succeed, (more than most).
Williams had some tactical/technique issues in the first game which might be immediately coachable. I'm not setting high expectations, but I do expect that Williams will look better tonight. If he doesn't, that's probably on the coaching.
This is a pretty big deal as Seattle seems intent on showing mostly 3-4 type looks this season. The starting 3-4ish line of Bryant-Williams-Mebane would be ideal, and we don't really have another "big" 3-tech on the team that can fill for Williams in that lineup, unless you consider Tony McDaniel to be one (who graded higher as a pass rusher than run defender by PFF). The new and improved Jaye Howard, maybe?
#3: Do Alvin Bailey, Michael Bowie, and Rishaw Johnson continue to show signs?
I think it's safe to say that barring a disaster, Alvin Bailey has already earned a roster spot. Will he force the Seahawks to consider him for a starting job ala JR Sweezy last year?
Michael Bowie is looking like a guy that could probably start in the season opener if we needed him to. He can lock down a roster spot by continuing to flash dominance.
Rishaw Johnson might have a chance to steal a backup job from John Moffitt, but to do so he'll need to improve his consistency in pass protection.
#4: Do Jaye Howard, Jordan Hill, and Michael Brooks continue to show signs?
Barring injury, Michael Bennett is going to have a huge season this year. His dominance in the first preseason game was not overly surprising. Jaye Howard was a totally new guy though, Jordan Hill played above expectations, and Michael Brooks came out of nowhere to generate a ton of late game pressures.
I'd like to see Howard step up his effort level, but otherwise, I think he's a lock for the roster, and he might end up playing himself into a major role for the defense.
Hill was a pleasant surprise on my DVR study. "Effort" players tend to do better in the preseason so that tempers my enthusiasm a bit, but Hill was pushing the pocket and was consistently making a difference. I think he has the least to prove of our DTs because he's always been Mr. Consistent at Penn State, the Senior Bowl, etc, but it would be nice to see him keep things up.
It's gone largely unnoticed, but Michael Brooks was creating a lot of late game pressure vs. San Diego. He definitely looks the part size/athleticism/talent wise. Still, I'd love to see him do it again this week and prove that it wasn't a fluke. It's so weird that the Seahawks have a logjam at DT right now, given where the position was at last season.
#5: Phil Bates is playing fullback.
'nuff said.
#6: Robert Turbin vs. Christine Michael vs. Spencer Ware
Against San Diego, Christine Michael was efficient and smart in a game where my expectation level was that he'd look unstoppable. I don't think I've ever felt disappointed from a better performance. I feel as confident in Michael's future now as I did in Alexander's circa 2001, but it would be nice if he dominated a preseason game the way he's dominated some of the practices. If only for a degree of reassurance. I'm not sure if he plays tonight, he was having back spasms five days ago and Pete likes to be ultra cautious with injuries this time of year.
Robert Turbin was a 4th round bargain before he was a quality NFL backup. I don't think his upside is as high as Michael's, but I do think that with a great preseason, he could remain the #2 RB, so he's got a ton to play for. I think Turbin can do anything we ask him to, even if that means giving him 300 carries in a season, but personally, I think he's perfect for a backup RB role. I love his effort as a blocker and he's a better receiver than he showed at times last year.
The fact that Derrick Coleman dominated reps at fullback in training camp seemed to indicate that Seattle viewed Ware as a RB. Now the team is moving Phil Bates to fullback, and I think that pretty much makes things official. Ware has an extremely slim chance to make the roster now, but he can make his case with huge preseason performances and excellent special teams play. I think it's pretty likely that Ware is auditioning for another NFL team right now, unless he's just so amazing that Seattle feels he is worth sacrificing a roster spot to protect. It's kind of a sucky situation in a way- because Ware had a few very nice plays in game one and had excellent game tape from LSU. If we lose him and he becomes a 1000 rusher elsewhere, that's going to suck.
#7: Has Jermaine Kearse truly put the drop problems behind him?
Not counting the deep out where he mistimed his jump, Kearse showed good hands in the first preseason game. Multiple sources have been reporting that Kearse is catching everything thrown at him in practices. He had the Lasik eye surgery and appears to have worked hard on his craft this offseason. I see real hope for him, but he has to continue to prove it's not a fluke. Then again, he's probably a lock for the WR group even with a drop or two. He'll be returning kicks tonight, too.
#8: Is Stephen Williams just another Braylon Edwards / Ricardo Lockette, or is he more?
Stephen Williams had two highly impressive, huge catches. But so did Ricardo Lockette a couple years ago. Braylon Edwards had a deep TD reception in his first preseason game.
I think it's very likely that Stephen Williams is another 1-dimensional player in the same mold as those guys, which isn't terrible and serves a purpose. But it would be really nice to find out he's more than that, and his first game was a nice start.
#9: The LB battle (Lotulelei vs. Bradford vs. Morgan vs. Smith vs. Farwell vs. Wilkins)
I don't think I've ever seen a deeper linebacker group. This is probably the best and most controversial positional battle the Seahawks have this preseason. I've been the "tap the breaks" guy on Lotulelei, but I'll be the first to say that Lotulelei has the most potential to show improvement from week to week. Bradford has looked damn good in two preseason games (including Oakland last year). Morgan and Smith are good backups and known commodities. Farwell is a great special teams player, leader, quality backup, and quietly had a terrific 1st preseason game. Craig Wilkins is a good prospect, but is so buried that he should have a chance to escape the attention of GMs and make our practice squad, should he earn it in practices.
#10: Maxwell vs. Thurmond
Only Jaye Howard made bigger strides this offseason than Maxwell, who was getting rave reviews from Hawkblogger's practice notes before he nearly had a two interception game in the opener. Thurmond didn't look anywhere near midseason form. I think we are actually pretty settled at CB right now (with Simon probably going on PUP or IR, I'd guess), so this isn't a life or death battle between these guys, but rather a chance to earn the right to be a future starter in the event that Browner moves on next offseason.
Mayowa dominated against 3rd stringers, and you don't need to be a scout to see his obvious natural talent. The question becomes whether or not he can handle tougher competition. Seattle needs to answer this question as best they can before they can be certain he's worth a precious roster spot, and the only way to do that is to test him against 1st unit offenses. We already know that Mayowa is unblockable against scrubs, so if he has another 1-2 sack night it won't mean that much, unless he can do it against starters.
Unfortunately, Ryan Clady will not be playing tonight and Peyton Manning might be the best QB in NFL history at unloading the football quickly, so tonight won't be an ideal test. Still, I'd love to see the team give him first unit reps over Schofield at least a couple times this preseason to see what he can do.
#2: Jesse Williams, does he improve?
Jesse Williams looked like a poor man's Colin Cole in preseason week 1. And Colin Cole wasn't very good, as you might recall. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Cole dragged down our defense in 2009 and 2010- something the NFL noticed as he hasn't played in a non-preseason NFL game ever since. Williams was regularly destroyed by double teams and even got moved by single blocks. Seattle's run defense was night and day (in a bad way) when Williams was out there.
But the thing is, Williams was a superb run defender with an outstanding anchor and ability to shed and close for the tackle at Alabama. It looks like he got by on raw athleticism at that level and he's got some learning to do, but just the same, there is no way I'm giving up on a talent like him after just one preseason disappointment. Pete repeatedly singled out Williams for praise during the week and while I am 100% sure that is just positive vibes psychology stuff, it does seem to indicate that Pete badly wants Jesse Williams to succeed, (more than most).
Williams had some tactical/technique issues in the first game which might be immediately coachable. I'm not setting high expectations, but I do expect that Williams will look better tonight. If he doesn't, that's probably on the coaching.
This is a pretty big deal as Seattle seems intent on showing mostly 3-4 type looks this season. The starting 3-4ish line of Bryant-Williams-Mebane would be ideal, and we don't really have another "big" 3-tech on the team that can fill for Williams in that lineup, unless you consider Tony McDaniel to be one (who graded higher as a pass rusher than run defender by PFF). The new and improved Jaye Howard, maybe?
#3: Do Alvin Bailey, Michael Bowie, and Rishaw Johnson continue to show signs?
I think it's safe to say that barring a disaster, Alvin Bailey has already earned a roster spot. Will he force the Seahawks to consider him for a starting job ala JR Sweezy last year?
Michael Bowie is looking like a guy that could probably start in the season opener if we needed him to. He can lock down a roster spot by continuing to flash dominance.
Rishaw Johnson might have a chance to steal a backup job from John Moffitt, but to do so he'll need to improve his consistency in pass protection.
#4: Do Jaye Howard, Jordan Hill, and Michael Brooks continue to show signs?
Barring injury, Michael Bennett is going to have a huge season this year. His dominance in the first preseason game was not overly surprising. Jaye Howard was a totally new guy though, Jordan Hill played above expectations, and Michael Brooks came out of nowhere to generate a ton of late game pressures.
I'd like to see Howard step up his effort level, but otherwise, I think he's a lock for the roster, and he might end up playing himself into a major role for the defense.
Hill was a pleasant surprise on my DVR study. "Effort" players tend to do better in the preseason so that tempers my enthusiasm a bit, but Hill was pushing the pocket and was consistently making a difference. I think he has the least to prove of our DTs because he's always been Mr. Consistent at Penn State, the Senior Bowl, etc, but it would be nice to see him keep things up.
It's gone largely unnoticed, but Michael Brooks was creating a lot of late game pressure vs. San Diego. He definitely looks the part size/athleticism/talent wise. Still, I'd love to see him do it again this week and prove that it wasn't a fluke. It's so weird that the Seahawks have a logjam at DT right now, given where the position was at last season.
#5: Phil Bates is playing fullback.
'nuff said.
#6: Robert Turbin vs. Christine Michael vs. Spencer Ware
Against San Diego, Christine Michael was efficient and smart in a game where my expectation level was that he'd look unstoppable. I don't think I've ever felt disappointed from a better performance. I feel as confident in Michael's future now as I did in Alexander's circa 2001, but it would be nice if he dominated a preseason game the way he's dominated some of the practices. If only for a degree of reassurance. I'm not sure if he plays tonight, he was having back spasms five days ago and Pete likes to be ultra cautious with injuries this time of year.
Robert Turbin was a 4th round bargain before he was a quality NFL backup. I don't think his upside is as high as Michael's, but I do think that with a great preseason, he could remain the #2 RB, so he's got a ton to play for. I think Turbin can do anything we ask him to, even if that means giving him 300 carries in a season, but personally, I think he's perfect for a backup RB role. I love his effort as a blocker and he's a better receiver than he showed at times last year.
The fact that Derrick Coleman dominated reps at fullback in training camp seemed to indicate that Seattle viewed Ware as a RB. Now the team is moving Phil Bates to fullback, and I think that pretty much makes things official. Ware has an extremely slim chance to make the roster now, but he can make his case with huge preseason performances and excellent special teams play. I think it's pretty likely that Ware is auditioning for another NFL team right now, unless he's just so amazing that Seattle feels he is worth sacrificing a roster spot to protect. It's kind of a sucky situation in a way- because Ware had a few very nice plays in game one and had excellent game tape from LSU. If we lose him and he becomes a 1000 rusher elsewhere, that's going to suck.
#7: Has Jermaine Kearse truly put the drop problems behind him?
Not counting the deep out where he mistimed his jump, Kearse showed good hands in the first preseason game. Multiple sources have been reporting that Kearse is catching everything thrown at him in practices. He had the Lasik eye surgery and appears to have worked hard on his craft this offseason. I see real hope for him, but he has to continue to prove it's not a fluke. Then again, he's probably a lock for the WR group even with a drop or two. He'll be returning kicks tonight, too.
#8: Is Stephen Williams just another Braylon Edwards / Ricardo Lockette, or is he more?
Stephen Williams had two highly impressive, huge catches. But so did Ricardo Lockette a couple years ago. Braylon Edwards had a deep TD reception in his first preseason game.
I think it's very likely that Stephen Williams is another 1-dimensional player in the same mold as those guys, which isn't terrible and serves a purpose. But it would be really nice to find out he's more than that, and his first game was a nice start.
#9: The LB battle (Lotulelei vs. Bradford vs. Morgan vs. Smith vs. Farwell vs. Wilkins)
I don't think I've ever seen a deeper linebacker group. This is probably the best and most controversial positional battle the Seahawks have this preseason. I've been the "tap the breaks" guy on Lotulelei, but I'll be the first to say that Lotulelei has the most potential to show improvement from week to week. Bradford has looked damn good in two preseason games (including Oakland last year). Morgan and Smith are good backups and known commodities. Farwell is a great special teams player, leader, quality backup, and quietly had a terrific 1st preseason game. Craig Wilkins is a good prospect, but is so buried that he should have a chance to escape the attention of GMs and make our practice squad, should he earn it in practices.
#10: Maxwell vs. Thurmond
Only Jaye Howard made bigger strides this offseason than Maxwell, who was getting rave reviews from Hawkblogger's practice notes before he nearly had a two interception game in the opener. Thurmond didn't look anywhere near midseason form. I think we are actually pretty settled at CB right now (with Simon probably going on PUP or IR, I'd guess), so this isn't a life or death battle between these guys, but rather a chance to earn the right to be a future starter in the event that Browner moves on next offseason.
