I’m headed home from Oakland, but wanted to offer my projected, 53-man roster before I touched down at Sea-Tac.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh being shopped around the league will have a ripple effect on Seattle’s 53-man roster, but for now here’s my thoughts on how it will shake down on Saturday.
Quarterbacks (3): Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst, J.P. Losman
Comment: Hasselbeck is the unquestioned starter, and the Seahawks can feel good enough about Whitehurst’s performance in the preseason that they at least know he can competently run the offense. The Seahawks could pick up another roster spot by keeping only two quarterbacks, but I think that’s unlikely.
Running backs (5): Tailbacks – Leon Washington, Justin Forsett, Louis Rankin. Fullback – Quinton Ganther, Owen Schmitt.
Comment: I just don’t see Julius Jones sticking as a reserve running back because of the amount of money he makes, plus he does not contribute on special teams. Jones runs hard and his a competitor, but he’s never flashed the type of elusiveness that Forsett and Washington have shown. Seattle likely will fish around the waiver wire to see if they can upgrade the talent here.
Wide receivers (5): Mike Williams, Deion Branch, Deon Butler, Golden Tate, Ben Obomanu.
Comment: If they keep six receivers, then I see Ruvell Martin instead of Brandon Jones sticking here. With Houshmandzadeh now being shopped around the league, I think the damage is done and I would be surprised if he returns, even with the guaranteed $7 million he will make this season.
Tight ends (3): John Carlson, Chris Baker, Cameron Morrah
Comment: I think Anthony McCoy is the wild card here. He has an ankle injury that could keep him out the first week of the season if he remains on the active roster. And along with Chris Baker’s lingering hamstring, it appears Morrah is the healthiest backup right now. But Seattle could just be resting Baker and McCoy for next week.
Offensive line (11): Russell Okung, Chris Spencer, Sean Locklear, Ben Hamilton, Max Unger, Steve Vallos Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto, Mike Gibson, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus.
Comment: You’ve got to keep an extra guy here because of the injuries to Okung, Willis and Pitts. But if you had to part with someone, Hamilton and Vallos could be options. But I think Seattle wants to avoid the lack of depth they had at this position last year.
Total offense: 27
Defensive line (9): Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, Red Bryant, E.J. Wilson, Kevin Vickerson, Dexter Davis, Nick Reed, Craig Terrill.
Comment: Terrill could be the odd man out instead of Quinn Pitcock, but I think Terrill is still a better option as an inside pass rusher, and he also plays on special teams. I thought James Wyche looked solid in his first action with the team and is an intriguing prospect, particularly if Reed is out for an extended period of time. Defensive tackle Amon Gordon also had a sack in the final preseason game. I’m not sure of the severity of Kentwan Balmer’s ankle injury. So I don’t know if he’s headed for the IR of if the team will carve out a roster spot for him.
Linebackers (6): Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, Will Herring, David Hawthorne, Matt McCoy, Tyjuan Hagler.
Comment: Leroy Hill will be suspended for the first game, so he won’t count on the 53-man roster for the first week. That’s one of the reasons I believe they will keep both McCoy and Hagler at least for the first week of the season.
Defensive backs (8): Marcus Trufant, Kelly Jennings, Walter Thurmond, Roy Lewis, Lawyer Milloy, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Jordan Babineaux.
Comment: I think you have to keep Babineaux because of his versatility and potential play-making ability, so Jamar Adams and Kevin Ellison could be the odd men out. Kennard Cox has looked good at times this season, so he could be an option instead of Lewis.
Total defense: 23
Specialty (3): Jon Ryan, Olindo Mare, Clint Gresham
Comment: Gresham needs to prove that he’s the guy over the course of the first part of the regular season, or you might see a move here. His snaps have been inconsistent.
One-game suspension: Leroy Hill
Non-football injured list: Josh Pinkard
Practice squad: LB Joe Pawelek, TE Anthony McCoy, CB Cord Parks, CB Marcus Brown, DE Rob Rose, OG Mitch Erickson, C/OG Jeff Byers.
I wonder if we can get a 5th or 6th round pick for TJ….. unlikely though…..
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I don’t understand why we’d shop TJ.. save money?? It really makes zero sense to me, unless they can get something of supreme need in return.
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we’re not shopping TJ to save money. although we’d save $$ against future salary cap.
We’re shopping TJ to let younger receivers get more playing time to see what we really have. We’re rebuilding…..
I wonder if we release him and eat the $7 mil, and if another team picks him up, will they help pay for the $7 Mil? or will he still get the $7 Mil from us + additional $$ from his new team??
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28 yo ex-Stanford DT, Amon Gordon 6-2/305, had 3 tackles vs OAK. One was the Hawks only sack of the game, one was a tackle for loss, and one was a QB hit. If he doesn’t make the team he could end up being another M.Bennet for another team.
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Eric, I’d argue if I could but I think you’re on it. The only area I would flip would be McCoy and Morrah (but you acknowledge it’s a wild card situation, so…)
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Eric,
You did not use the PUP.
PUP-Willis,Pitts,Reed and Balmer!
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Most of those guys will be ready long before week #7….no need (wouldn’t be wise) to PUP.
Derrick Ward, recently released by Tampa Bay, is out there. That has to be a step up from Jones….can run a bit, catch, and block. Good depth, if nothing else.
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The rules for PUP are odd. I don’t think all four of those guys are eligible.
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They have all been on the active roster / participated in practice, so cannot be placed on the PUP list.
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There is no active list until 4pm EST tommorow!
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The active PUP list is for the start of camp. The Reserve list if for the first 6 regular season games. Players can come off the active list anytime during camp. But if a player doesn’t start on the active PUP they cannot later be placed on the reserve list. That rules out Willis, Reed, Pitts (who was taken off the active list week before last) and Blamer.
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I think Housh is gone. Especially with the play of Butler last night, and the whole preseason. I truly believe that they will use Golden Tate in a Wes Welker sort of way, and use Butler to chase down those deep balls or vice versa. Nothing against Housh, I do like him a lot, but the writing is on the wall for him and has been all pre-season. It’s obvious the front office wants youth and speed, and if the route running is crisp and the hands are good, then Housh serves no purpose to them anymore. Then you have to factor in the fact that after this season is over the Hawks are going to definitely HAVE TO show Mike Williams the money, so that just leaves Housh out altogether. I hope that they can pull the trigger on a trade for him so they can at least get something in return. Also, rumor has it that Housh and Hass don’t really like each other, and at the end of the day you always need team chemistry.
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lendale white tore his ach. tendon…out for season.
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Duke,
Camp is over!
The club can put any player on any list to get to the 53 man Season Roster!
NOTE: The cuts are coming fast see, http://www.theredzone.org.
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Duke is right and osbrey is incorrect. The PUP rule is confusing. Here’s the break down.
There are actually TWO PUP lists: Active PUP and Inactive PUP.
ACTIVE PUP
If a player reports to Training Camp but is injured and can’t pass the physical he can be put on the ACTIVE PUP list. He counts toward the 80 man traning camp roster but he can’t take part in any team activities. A player can come off the ACTIVE PUP list at any time during camp and join the practices.
INACTIVE PUP
ONLY PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN ON ACTIVE PUP FOR THE ENTIRE TRAINING CAMP ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE PLACED ON INACTIVE PUP!
If a Player is put on Inactive PUP to start the regular season he must sit out the first 6 weeks of the season. He does not count towards the 53 man roster. He can begin practicing with the team after 6 weeks. The team then has up to 3 weeks to decide if they want to move him on to the 53 man roster.
The only players that Seattle had on the ACTIVE PUP this season were/are Chester Pitts and Josh Pinkard.
Pitts was taken off ACTIVE PUP last week so he is now part of the active roster. Pinkard is still on the ACTIVE PUP so he is the only Seahawk player that is eligible to be put on the INACTIVE PUP to start the season.
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Exactly yankinta, this team is in rebuild mode. Doubt we should really expect more then 5 wins this season and I am all for that. This roster was garbage when Schneider took over and is a couple of drafts away from taking the next step. The Niners will impose their will on this Division for the foreseeable future. Their defense is scary.
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I apoligize, I was wrong about PUP list Requirements.
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Housh is being marketed for the same reason as Josh Wilson, he is a talented enough to be useful to another team, and he doesn’t fit into the FO’s longer term plans. They are looking for a draft pick, or a young player with promise, in trade. The trick is, the Hawks need to find a good team in need of a receiver. The worse teams can wait until he is waived, and claim him, so it has to be a team with a good record from last year that needs some receiving talent. Vikings are the team that jumps to mind – they could use receiving help, and are down the list as far as claiming from the waiver wire. The Rams can just wait until next week when he is waived and have 1st dibs.
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Good roster. On the D line, I don’t think Quinn Pitcock makes it over Terrill. Terrill looked very strong and versatile this preseason. I think they will find a way to keep Kentwan Balmer over Pitcock too. Balmer flashed more ability in his first series as a Seahawk (against Green Bay) than Pitcock showed all preseason. Also, Dexter Davis can be counted either in the D line corps or in the LB corps.
Defensive line (10): Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane, Colin Cole, Red Bryant, E.J. Wilson, Kevin Vickerson, Dexter Davis, Nick Reed, Craig Terrill, Kentwan Balmer.
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“I just don’t see Julius Jones sticking as a reserve running back because of the amount of money he makes, plus he does not contribute on special teams.”
Music to my ears. And getting rid Mr. Me-First Houshmandzadeh makes keeping Branch more palatable.
After Roy Lewis cost us 30 yards with two stupid penalties on one series late in last night’s game, I wouldn’t mind at all seeing his ass shipped out of here either. BTW, I read that safety Al Afalava was released by the Bears, wonder if we’d be interested in picking him up. Seattle was interested in him before the draft last year enough to bring him up for a private work out, but that was the old regime.
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Oakland should pick up Joe Jon Finley, released by the Niners, so they could team him with Swayze Waters and Johnnie Lee Higgins to form the ultimate Mississippi blues trio..
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Chargers trade for Cowboys WR Crayton over Housh!
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Crayton is a much cheaper option
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We’re down two two options:
1: cut him, pay the 7 mill and let some other team pick him up on the cheap.
2: keep him and deal with the drama
It’s a no win either way
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Actually releasing him may be a win.
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Addition by subtraction.
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I think this is a pretty good breakdown. Of course, who knows what John and PC will do in the next day or so regarding trades and waivers but with the info we have, the only changes i would make would be: I don’t think Schmitt (FB) makes the team, in lieu of both McCoy and Morrah making it. And I don’t think Vallos makes the team. Babineaux is the wild card to me, he hasn’t seemed to play that well this preseason but Ellison and Adams (to an extent) haven’t shown much either, I think it would be a mild upset if he makes the team though (babs that is).
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Someone mentioned Minnesota possibly being interested, with the injury to Rice. He’d slide right into their offense. If they’ll pay Favre $16 million for this season, what’s $7 million for Housmandzadeh?
Hey, don’t forget McKenna “Bear” Pascoe for that Mississippi Blues bland. Reminds me of Bob “Bear” Hite from Canned Heat. And Pascoe was born in Porterville (great Creedence blues/rock song) California.
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the 49ers released Michael Robinson. I bet he could be a legitimate option here as he is very versatile. Maybe at the expense of Louis Rankin?
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But Minnesota traded for Camarillo, who is pretty much Housh.
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The rest of the league is just as aware of Housh’s declining skills as we are.
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Apparently Robinson wasn’t a special teams player, and was considered expendable even with Coffee’s recent retirement.
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I don’t think Housh’s skills are declining at all. If Bates or Hass or whoever is making the decision, wants to target Housh, he will end up with around 90 receptions and 8 or 10 TD’s. But i think the hawks think that they can get that production from the other guys on the roster at a better cost and hopefully get a draft pick in the process.
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nighthawk, i think he was considered expendable because of brian westbrooks recent signing. he has been a kick returner and a gunner for a long time for the niners. the report i read said he is also capable of playing fullback. thats why i thought he could possibly take Rankins spot on the roster (assuming Jones is let go of course)
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I think Housh is a cancer and they would be better off without him. Last year he looked slow, and I would say his skills have diminished.
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Yeah, I misread Sando’s blog article on Robinson. He’s saying Robinson did well on special teams and “wasn’t a factor on offense”. I had it the other way around.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/22611/thoughts-on-michael-robinsons-release
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I’m not sure I’d call him a cancer, but since he’s been here he’s given me the impression that he puts himself ahead of the team.
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Schefter reports that Housh is gone.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5529209
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I says release or trade him. Didn’t we already know that? Maybe the news is that if they are unable to trade him, he is saying that they are certain to cut him. That doesn’t sound too groundbreaking based on what we already knew.
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“it” says…
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Duke, but it is a little more substantial report than the rumors and hearsay.
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I think the hawks should keep 4 TE’s-Carlson, Baker, Morrah, McCoy and only keep 1 fullback-(either Ganther or Schmitt)
As far as housh, I would like to see him stay and the hawks release Branch but I know that’s not going to happen. Although, Housh is not the player I thought he would be for the hawks I can’t see him being let go to keep a injury prone guy like branch on the roster.
On babs, I think the hawks should consider cutting him in favor of Adams or Ellison. I know babs has experience but he makes to much to be a back up on this team. Milloy is the a starter and he makes less than half of babs. So let the young guys get the back up position
On Defense line, I would keep Pitcock and go young Sorry Terrill but he’s younger. As far As Balmer goes, If he is not ready to sart season then keep Gordon.
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This move just highlights how bad Tim Ruskell really was in his time. He created one of the least talented teams in Seahawks history and paid the players handsomely for doing so. Kind of like a Dan Snyder – West Coast Style!
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On the QB note in Schefter’s article, I’d rather grab Joe Webb if Minn tries to sneak him on to their practice squad….
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Regarding the QB note, this is the one position I think the front office has failed miserably in. They have done great everywhere else this year.
Patrick Ramsey? That has to be a smokescreen. Memo to the front office: Your number 3 QB should be an up and coming youngster like Max Hall with big upside. Not yet another failed, aging 1st round draft pick!
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Well, anytime you get something according to “two league sources”, it’s exactly rumor and hearsay. And as I said, I thought it was information we already had. Perhaps not. Like I said, it might be the cutting him part that is newsworthy. We’ll know for sure very soon but to quote Eric in his above piece,
“With Houshmandzadeh now being shopped around the league, I think the damage is done and I would be surprised if he returns, even with the guaranteed $7 million he will make this season.”
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And by the way, I’m not knocking you for posting the link. But rather moron Schefter for stating the obvious (or at least the presumed).
I would love it if the Cards cut Hall and the ‘Hawks jumped on him. I don’t see it happening but he looked good this summer.
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Houshmandzadeh done in Seattle
T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been told he will be released if the Seahawks can’t trade him, reports Jason La Canfora
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Since we are removing ALL things Ruskell can you get rid of his name on the right side under TAG CLOUD.
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Carroll has balls, you’ve got to give him that. no way mora would’ve cut housh. as i as with the josh wilson move, i’m ok with this, b/c i’m still in the mode of trusting carroll’s judgement – until things prove otherwise.
i thought housh was a solid pro, and something of a tough guy for a wr, but i like what i’ve seen from the young wideouts, and now we’ll see, it’s their time
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We like our wr’s, and we don’t like Housh in the locker room.
People who know think Housh is a cancer. Enough of a cancer that we will pay 7 million to not have him around.
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Here’s that LaCanfora link. It’s a brave new world, everyone.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81a414ff/article/seahawks-expected-to-part-ways-with-wr-houshmandzadeh?module=breaking_news
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I’m ok with hawks saying Bye Bye Housh. This is a move for the future not for this years team. I would have like to see branch go but honestly I’m ok with because we had 2 WR- Branch & Housh who would be playing the same position. One of them had to go. This just validates my dislike for the ruskell teams bad personnel decisions
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Someday we will find a decent long snapper & actually sign him to a long term contract. Someday we will win more games then we lose. Someday politicians will be honest & moral.
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Adios mr all world (in your mind) Housh. Frankly i got tired of seeing him make a catch an laying down instead of fighting even for a extra foot. So many times instead of trying a move or trying to fight he just lays down. Lets hope this lights a fire under Branch. Kinda doubt it though I think he is another “NFL” wide reciever “( not for long) for sure.
Sucks this guy walks with 7 mil!!
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Love what team is doing. This team is not strong right now but, we are working on getting bigger faster players that create macth up problems . VINCENT JACKSON AND MIKE WILLIAMS IS MORE LIKE IT, Looking forward to throwing the ball on 3rd and 12 instead of some lame screen or draw play . go hawks
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I respect what this team is trying to do (minus the Wilson “trade”).
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