Seahawks Insider
Seahawks Insider
where there is no offseason

Eric D. Williams took over the Seahawks beat and Seahawks Insider blog in December. Williams has covered the Seahawks, Sonics and high school sports for The News Tribune since joining the paper in 2006. Eric lives in Tacoma with his wife and two children.

Tacoma News Tribune columnist Dave Boling also contributes to the Seahawks Insider blog.

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Seahawks Insider
Saturday, August 30th, 2008
A look at Seahawks roster
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 05:13:25 pm

The Seahawks really have 55 players on their roster because of the suspensions of Rocky Bernard and Jordan Babineaux. So they will have to make two more roster decisions next Monday, Sept. 8, when those players return to the active roster.

A couple thoughts there: They were able to keep both Baraka Atkins and Jason Babin, giving them 10 defensive linemen. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of them go.

But also, maybe they kept somebody like Brandon Coutu hoping that teams fill out their practice squads and active rosters this week, then they will cut him next week and try to slide them onto their practice squad after everybody else's is full. Or, if they happen to find a punt returner, they do the same thing with Forsett.

[More:]

So here is how the roster shakes out:

Quarterbacks: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye

Running Backs: Leonard Weaver, Owen Schmitt, Julius Jones, Mo Morris, T.J. Duckett, Justin Forsett.

Tight end: John Carlson, Will Heller, Jeb Putzier.

Wide receivers: Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram, Logan Payne, Jordan Kent, Courtney Taylor.

Offensive linemen: Walter Jones, Mike Wahle, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Sean Locklear, Ray Willis, Floyd Womack, Steve Vallos, Mansfield Wrotto.

Offense: They kept 27, including Justin Forsett I have to believe because with Ben Obomanu down they don't have anybody else to return punts. They can't do it with Courtney Taylor, who will start at flanker, and Josh Wilson returns kicks but not punts and Jordan Kent is too lean and long to do the job. I think Mike Holmgren felt his fumble last night was from being overly excited, but overall he made good decisions. Obviously they think Deion Branch is going to be back sooner rather than later.

Defensive linemen: Patrick Kerney, Darryl Tapp, Lawrence Jackson, Baraka Atkins, Jason Babin, Brandon Mebane, Craig Terrill, Howard Green, Red Bryant.

Linebackers: Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis, David Hawthorne.

Defensive backs: Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Josh Wilson, Kevin Hobbs, Deon Grant, Brian Russell, C.J. Wallace.

DEFENSE: 23 -- Interestingly, despite losing Babs for the season opener, they did not try to keep Jamar Adams to replace him for a game. They chose to keep Coutu/Mare, as well as Atkins/Babin. Mare had to be the choice over Coutu or they would have just released Mare. It still will be an interesting decision between Atkins and Babin next week, though I still think Babin has the edge based on his play.

Kickers: Olindo Mare. Brandon Coutu.

Punter: Ryan Plackemeier.

Snapper: Jeff Robinson.

Categories: Roster Analysis • 28 comments

COMMENTS:

PDXCOP80 @ 17:18 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
So did Obamanu get hurt? Does anybody know??
airbags @ 17:22 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email

IR with a broken clavicle.

simbalee @ 17:24 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
pdxcop80
obumano fractured his clavicle in the game last night
Stevo @ 17:31 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
Thanks, Frank. Perfect analysis of the moves. The suspense continues through waivers and up until Sept. 8!
rorygee @ 17:31 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
ok but who the heck kicks next week...mare on kickoffs and coutou on field goals?
and keeping branch for week 2 or 3??????

this is either a really deep team or they have their players valued very highly versus anyone else in the league.....
jrlseattle @ 17:32 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
Frank, Thanks for the info, I would never have thought about the Coutu or Forsett trick, seems someone in that new building is thinking outside the box.
PDXCOP80 @ 17:55 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
Ok thanks guys, That sucks for him, but sure helped Kent and Payne.
earther @ 18:24 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
Frank Hughes: "Obviously they think Deion Branch is going to be back sooner rather than later."

Better hope so. Starting the season with four healthy wide outs is a little thin to say the least.
Oldslow @ 18:45 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
A bit scary with only 7 defensive backs until Babs is back.

Good to see that Howard Green made the team, as he seems to bring some toughness to the DL. And I am excited by the improvement of Jordan Kent, who seemed such a long shot before camp.
Hawk Blogger @ 19:12 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
http://hawkblogger.blogspot.com/
Interesting outcome. Good analysis.
tribfan1 @ 19:18 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
We are week too early to start congratulating some of these guys for making the roster. Two more moves on Monday, the 8th.
BobbyK @ 19:29 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
It would seem logical to have Mare kick-off and Coutu for FGs... but it would also seem more logical to only keep one K active against Buffalo so we'd have one extra special teams player... It will be interesting.
badcat63 @ 20:11 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
Heck, I believe Coutu made the most ST tackles last night, so maybe he can be the ST man we need! ; )

I like the Mare/Coutu trick. Did you see our ST groups in pre-season? Heck, Mare neutralize the runbacks (Hester, et. al) and Coutu with a few game winners from decent distance, not bad. I know when the rosters are fully set we may only keep one kicker and the ST groups SHOULD do better but I like the ability to kick-off deep and still make some longer fg's (hopefully) with the kid. With the WR's shallow till week 5 - 6 I LIKE having strength on ST kickers, play great D and run the potato!

Glad Forsett made it for now.

Hass is a pro-bowl QB with an improved line this year. He will use many receivers and find whomever is open till the older experienced guys recover. Heck, if we could possibly win in Buffalo and win the next two (divisional) games and be 3 - 0 into the bye then as the WR's come back - game 4 - 5 then we can start well.

I suspect we may try to be a balanced team with more runs at least in the first few weeks. Solari, better O' line, young receivers, it makes sense. I look for Jordon Kent to do well and Jeb P. at TE to be big in the first weeks. Give Hass time and he will find the open guy. The D also has to be BIG in 08, very BIG.

We kept a VERY STRONG team and injuries to WR's we could not avoid but are dealing with it as best as can. It should be a great season.

BTW - is OT Willie Anderson better than any of our back-up OL's? Just a thought. If Walt is dinged or Lock is slow to recover then Willie, all 12 years of his career, might be nice insurance - for at least 5 - 8 games if need be. Wrotto to PS and Willie to help as back-up (BU) T. That makes Womak a B.U. G or last resort T.

GO SEAHAWKS!
hick @ 21:12 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
I like the idea of keeping the less used leg of Coutu over Mare, let him do all the kicking for the Bills game. If does well cut Mare, if he struggles cut him then try to sign him to the practice squad. We've had luck at developing young kickers, we struggle at re-signing them.
bruzyb @ 22:05 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
One of the things that has impressed me most so far this year, and has seemed too little mentioned by anyone, is the more cool and dependable capability of Seneca Wallace in running the offense. He seems to have finally mastered the offense more, and his passing also seems more certain and precise, along with an occasional reminder that he's still able at any moment to outrun almost anyone else on the field if he sees he has to.

So if Hasselbeck goes down, it seems more likely than ever that they really can probably win with him too now. Yet the big test, like almost every year for the Seahawks, will still be how many of their six road games back east they can win. And, if they somehow manage to win four of them, in my view they might just find themselves in the Superbowl again. But it's a long, long road ahead and a lot can, and probably will, happen by late December. But Wallace too has also looked surer and better this year, and deserves some mention.
bruzyb @ 22:05 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
One of the things that has impressed me most so far this year, and has seemed too little mentioned by anyone, is the more cool and dependable capability of Seneca Wallace in running the offense. He seems to have finally mastered the offense more, and his passing also seems more certain and precise, along with an occasional reminder that he's still able at any moment outrun almost anyone else on the field if he sees he has to.

So if Hasslebeck goes down, it seems more likely than ever that they really can probably win with him too now. Yet the big test, like almost every year for the Seahawks, will still ultimately be how many of their six road games back east they can win. And, if they can somehow manage to win four of those games, in my view they just might find themselves in the Superbowl again. But it's a long road ahead and a lot can, and probably will, happen by late December.
swab @ 22:33 - Saturday, August 30th, 2008 Email
I dont understand the love affair with Braka Atkins.
earther @ 00:04 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
bruzyb: "One of the things that has impressed me most so far this year, and has seemed too little mentioned by anyone, is the more cool and dependable capability of Seneca Wallace in running the offense."

Oh, I don't know. Every time I watch Wallace play a whole game I start off by saying, "Hey, he's really looking sharp tonight". Then by the end of the game he's gotten sloppy and starts running around in the backfield and things. I think when he gets tired he loses his focus and just starts winging it. I thought that was true last night as well, even against Oakland's third string defense.

"So if Hasslebeck goes down, it seems more likely than ever that they really can probably win with him too now."

I'll probably have to duck after I say this but I think Charlie Frye is better than Seneca Wallace and would be more likely to keep the team winning. Probably not right off the bat if Hasselbeck went down. Wallace has been doing it longer and would be more comfortable stepping in on a moments notice. However, in a couple of games he would find his rhythm and, I think, outperform Wallace.

RichmondHawk @ 01:26 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
"But also, maybe they kept somebody like Brandon Coutu hoping that teams fill out their practice squads and active rosters this week, then they will cut him next week and try to slide them onto their practice squad after everybody else's is full."

I don't think I ever heard of a kicker being put on the practice squad.

The more likely scenario is Seattle intended to keep Coutu over Mare a long time ago. Having two players suspended gave the Hawks the opportunity to have Mare another week to rest Coutu and a level of insurance.
nighthawk2 @ 02:24 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
Hmmm, they like the kicker they used a draft pick on so much they keep two kickers along with a 35 year old has-been because Timmay! alienated the excellent kicker we had so he left after Ruskell franchised for the 07 season but just couldn't re-sign. But they waive Bumpus on the hopes he'll clear waivers (while Branch will probably never play a down this year and Engram will miss at least a quarter of the season) and keep Atkins as well who's done zilch this pre-season. Smooth. I mean really, stroke of genius to keep two kickers and Atkins.
CHOXN08 @ 09:15 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
Were there any WR's/PR's cut yesterday that the Hawks are taking a look at to fill their void at WR or are they optimistic by the rehab progress of Engram and Branch? Also, could you see the Hawks picking up a Simms or Harrington and moving Seneca over to WR/PR?
Stevo @ 09:51 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
The Mare/Coutu saga is interesting. The one angle that seems most unlikely to me is the idea of keeping both. The roster has too many worthy players who they want to keep, no way they spend two on two kickers.

I thought from the beginning that no rookie would beat out Mare if he was healthy and got his leg back this year. Remember that Ruskell's mark on this team is rebuilding the defense. Deep kickoffs are a big part of setting up field position to win games with defense. Coutu has an accurate but weak leg. There is no way Ruskell would prefer that over the canon leg Mare brings to his kickoffs. Especially with the sub-par coverage we have had on special teams, we need Mare's strength.

The reason Coutu is still around is because of Mare's age. The Seahawks would love to stash Coutu on PS until next year. Good luck, since he made all his FGs in preseason games, I'm sure he's on some other teams list.

Best scenario is we keep Coutu on PS, but in any case, Mare is our K. I'm sure we all miss Josh Brown, but his kickoffs were often short and I think our defense will benefit this year from Mare making the other team start every drive at their own 20.
reshumate @ 10:13 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
You can't be serious about Harrington/Simms. These guys are horrible NFL QBs. Frye gives us a better chance to be a decent #2.

And Seneca won't be moved to WR, at least not as more than a decooy in a 5 wide. He's a QB already. Do you ever hear about him practicing at WR? In 2005 for a couple weeks he filled in, that was it.

I hope Coutu lasts the year on the PS. Mare may have a great KO leg, but he will miss most of the 50 yarders.
sscotchman @ 11:24 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
That's to bad about Bumpus, might as well say goodbye, as another team is going to scoop him up quickly.

I really like the mix at DL, keep them fresh and rotate regularly during the games might help in the end, which helped the Giants...That is my take.
Just me @ 12:54 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008
How often do teams grab players from other teams for practice squad players.

There were a LOT of WR waived this weekend so numbers might be favorable!
slacktied @ 14:48 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
my opinion on the kicker situation is this: to use an old baseball analogy...if you have two players that run to first base in the EXACT SAME TIME, one is a thirteen year veteran with perfect technique, the other is a raw rookie with a lot to learn and lacking in polish...the obvious choice is to go with the rookie. The thought being that with more polish and technique he'll surpass the veteran. That being said two things keep coming to my mind...1st) this is Holmgren's last year and he's gonna want the veteran. 2) (and this is the interesting one) the fact that Coutu can make tackles on kickoff's and there's no way that Mare would be able to... I still have a little bit of nostalgia to Brown's ST tackle's and Coutu reminds me of that...but the fact is the reason Brown made so many of those is because he couldn't boot the ball deep enough to force touchbacks expecially in cold-weather stadiums. Mare, I don't think can tackle worth a darn, but the fact is he kicks it so deep he doesn't have to...having opposing offenses starting at the 20 instead of the 30: priceless.
Very slick move I think by Ruskell and co. to use the suspensions to try and hide players on the practice squads...if Mare struggles we'll can him and bring up Coutu...if he doesn't than odds are Coutu sticks on the PS and beats Mare out next year. I would imagine that one of these three Forsett/Atkins/Babin join Coutu on the PS after Bernard, and Babs come off suspension.
fmartin @ 15:18 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008 Email
8/31/2008 Signed to practice squad: S Jamar Adams, DT Kevin Brown, WR Michael Bumpus, CB Marquis Floyd, G Pat Murray, TE Joe Newton and T Kyle Williams.
Just me @ 20:01 - Sunday, August 31st, 2008
I can see Atkins just going Bye bye!! Maybe just maybe they want Mare for kick-offs ONLY!
It is not a new idea!

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