Seattle Seahawks Notes: Roundup After A Busy Weekend

If you don't recognize your Seattle Seahawks after a long and incredibly active holiday weekend, that's OK. A flurry of moves saw the team's roster rebuild continue in a major way.  Let's take a look at some of the biggest repercussions.

Earlier we noted that the Seahawks led the league in roster turnover.  Today, Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times writes that more than half of the team's 53 man roster are new faces.

Of the 53 players on Seattle's active roster, 27 have been acquired since coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider took over. Seven players have been added in the last seven days alone, including three offensive linemen.

"It was literally like draft weekend for us," Schneider said.

 Speaking of the offensive line, O'Neil also notes that one projected starter will not be ready for week one.

Rookie left tackle Russell Okung has not recovered from his high ankle sprain and will not play this week, Carroll said. Ray Willis is on injured reserve.

That leaves Seattle to choose between Chester Pitts, who is recovering from knee surgery and did not play in an exhibition game, and Tyler Polumbus, a former Bronco acquired by Seattle on Aug. 31.

Another position that is up in the air is running back, where Pete Carroll has named Justin Forsett as the starter but doesn't sound like he's all that certain about it, writes the Seattle PI's Greg Johns.

[Julius] Jones started two of the preseason game and Forsett and [Leon] Washington each got one start, but the running game wasn't particularly effective with anyone in the backfield. None of the backs got much room to run behind a retooling line, but Carroll opted for the third-year back out of Cal.

"I thought about it through the weekend," Carroll said. "That's the way we'll go for right now. He may not even carry the ball more than the other guys. But that's just the guy who is going out first. This is a competition that is still open. This is not set in stone. Somebody has to go out first and I want Justin to go out first.

Not only is Julius Jones not the starter, he's not making as much money as he was previously. Johns reports that the pay cut came amid false reports that Jones had been released by the team.

Schneider said he apologized to Jones for the reports getting out, even though he said he didn't know where they originated from. For Jones, that was all he needed to hear.

"Yeah, we talked and he apologized for everything that happened," Jones said. "It's water under the bridge. Done."

Add it all up, and Seattle Times columnist Jerry Brewer sees trouble coming.

This team doesn't want to win now. It wants to build now. Instead of having an awkward transition year, the Seahawks prefer to move on with players who have an upside. But they can't admit it because they have a season to play and an "Always Compete" mantra to fulfill.

"I think we're a more talented football team," Schneider said. "We're bigger. We're faster. We're absolutely a more talented football team."

In terms of raw talent, maybe. In terms of talent that will translate to victories this season, no way.

Meanwhile, John Morgan of SB Nation's FieldGulls.com calls the roster move parade what it is: "unprecedented".

I can not remember an off-season in recent memory where Seattle has dropped so many players that signed with and became starters or major contributors on other teams. Perhaps the first big Holmgren purge in which Seattle moved Ahman Green, Pete Kendall, Joey Galloway and Sam Adams. That was spread over a couple years. This off-season is unprecedented in Seahawks history.

For everything Seattle Seahawks, check out SB Nation's FieldGulls.com.

Seattle Seahawks Lead The NFL In Roster Turnover

It’s no secret that the Seattle Seahawks are in the middle of a rebuilding process. But Mike Sando of ESPN.com notes that the team had the most dramatic roster restructuring in the NFL this offsesason.

This team is still in the early stages of rebuilding: Deep into camp, the Seahawks had fewer players back from Week 17 last season than any team in the league. They have churned the roster, culled the waiver wire, worked multiple trades and picked through talent scrap heaps (think Mike Williams) in an effort to improve the roster. It’s a start, but only a start. The team lacks much in the way of a pass rush, the offensive line still has issues and the team still cannot be sure it has its long-term quarterback. It’s a great season in Seattle if the Seahawks approach 8-8.

For everything Seahawks, head over to SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

Seattle Seahawks Notes: Kam Chancellor Gets A Shot Tonight

The fight for the last safety spot on the roster is a highly contested battle for the Seahawks as they head into tonight’s final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. Greg Johns from the Seattle PI reports one of those looking to earn a spot on the roster is rookie fifth-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech, Kam Chancellor.

Chancellor finds himself in an interesting roster battle, with veterans Jordan Babineaux and Jamar Adams also competing for backup jobs behind starting safeties Lawyer Milloy and Earl Thomas.

Teams normally keep just four safeties, which would mean only two of those three will make the 53-man roster when cuts are made Saturday, though the Seahawks might be able to keep an extra safety after trading cornerback Josh Wilson earlier this week to alleviate another logjam.

Chancellor gets a chance to prove himself tonight and should see extensive time in the defensive backfield against the Raiders.

The Seahawks take the field tonight at 7 p.m.

For more on the Hawks, check out SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

Seahawks Notes: Jerry Rice Was In The House

Oh, that Pete Carroll. He’s always pulling tricks out of the hat to make the mood at Seahawks camp light. First it was putting a snake in a cooler and now it’s bringing in NFL legend Jerry Rice.

The Seahawks head coach finished a team meeting by sneaking Jerry Rice in after playing a tribute to the former Seattle wide receiver.

Initially, Carroll showed a glowing seven-minute ESPN feature on Rice’s legacy and then said to his players, "If you could ask Jerry anything, what would you ask him?" After a few moments of pensive silence, Carroll burst forth with, "Well, ask him! Here he is!"

Rice walked in through the back door as the surprised players rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation. Rice and Carroll, sitting on bar stools at the front of the ballroom-turned-meeting room, had a dialogue about competition and hard work to start it off.

What the article doesn’t say is that Marcus Trufant was just perking up to ask “Why’d you trade Josh Wilson and leave me starting opposite Kelly Jennings?" Maybe a little inspirational visit from Rice was just what the team needed before taking the field for the biggest game of the year final preseason game.

For more on the Seahawks, check out SB Nation’s Field Gulls.

Seahawks Postgame Video: Earl Thomas 86-Yard Interception Return

The highlight of the night in last night's Seahawks-Vikings game in Minnesota was Earl Thomas intercepting Brett Favre and outrunning the defense for an 86-yard touchdown.

You can check out the video on the official Seahawks site here. (H/T to Vasilii at FieldGulls)

Thomas showed flashes of why he was the Seahawks 14th pick in the 2010 draft. The rookie out of Texas took the tipped ball on a slant route with a head of steam, leaving the defense with no chance to catch him.

The Seahawks will cut their roster down to the NFL-mandated 75 by tomorrow before taking the field for their final preaseason game Thursday at the Oakland Raiders. Then they'll cut down to 53 for the regular season.

For more on the Seahawks, visit SBNation’s FieldGulls.

Seahawks Gameday Notes: Lofa Tatupu Ready To Make A Comeback

After sitting out most of the 2009 season with a torn pectoral muscle, Lofa Tatupu is back in action and ready to take the field for the 2010 campaign. The Seahawks middle linebacker will play in today’s preseason game against the Vikings.

Tatupu brings a strong presence up the middle and the leadership the Seattle defense so desperately needs.

“You’re not much of a competitor if you sit there and think that you’re not going to win your division,” he said. “But that’s where it starts. You’ve got to win your division games. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. I’m getting ready for this preseason game right in front of us against the Vikings and looking forward to it.”

Tatupu and the rest of the starters will play at least one half against Minnesota tonight, though Seahawks coach Pete Carroll still wants to take it slow with Tatupu, easing him into action before the regular season.

The Hawks kickoff tonight against the Minnesota Vikings at 5 PM.

Report: Matt Hasselbeck To Play Three Quarters Against Vikings

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will play three quarters in Seattle’s preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings Saturday. Playing behind a makeshift line formed after various injuries, Hasselbeck is preparing to ramp up his playing time as the Hawks inch closer to the regular season.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll isn’t worried about about the health of his line heading into the third preseason game, saying he’s prepared to play his starters into the second half.

“Matt Hasselbeck is going to play into the second half, so that’s what the plan is,” Pete Carroll said after Thursday’s practice. “I’m not sure, other than that, that’s what we have to do this week. Everybody is getting ready to play three quarters of football as far as our starters, well see what happens.”

Keeping Hasselbeck healthy is paramount to the Seahawks success this weekend. While the line injuries are concerning, the backups need to step up and keep the Hawks quarterback upright and injury-free to finish out the preseason.

For everything Seattle Seahawks, check out SBNation’s FieldGulls.

Leon Washington Healthy, Ready To Return To 2009 Form

Poised for a breakout season in 2009, former New York Jets running back Leon Washington suffered a gruesome injury in week 6, compound fracturing his leg against the Buffalo Bills. A year later, Washington is back in action, moving from the Jets to the Seahawks in a draft day trade.

According to the Seattle PI, the speedster is back at full strength again, looking to make an impression while competing for the Seahawks’ starting running back job.

“It was good to go out in a game and get tackled,” he said. "I hadn’t been tackled in a while, so it was nice to get those jitters out and think, ‘OK, I’m fine. I can do this thing again.’

“I got tackled, I was jumping over guys, I felt sore after the game. So that’s a good feeling. All those things and just getting back on the field really, really made me appreciate how much I love this job.”

Washington will get the start this week, and with it a chance to earn more carries as the Seahawks head toward the regular season. With three running backs vying for the bulk of the carries, the opportunity for Washington is ripe for the taking.

For everything Seattle Seahawks, check out SBNation’s FieldGulls.

Seahawks Preseason Notes: Pete Carroll Plays Prank With A Snake

NFL training camp can seem like it drags on forever, with grueling practices taking a toll on players and coaches alike. Head coach Pete Carroll, known for his light-hearted ways, found another way to break the monotony this week, playing a practical joke on his players. Carroll's always entertaining youtube channel has the video.

Carroll's always had a reputation as a players coach, often playing pranks and keeping the mood light at USC. Nice to see that's continued in his short tenure as Seahawks' head coach.

Seahawks Preseason Notes: Saturday Starters Almost Set

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is shuffling the lineup this week, looking to get different players time in Saturday's preseason matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. With starting left tackle Russell Okung out with an ankle injury, some of the backups on the offensive line are getting a chance to shine and make a preseason start. Carroll also plans to continue rotating his cast of running backs, starting a different back for the third straight game.

The official Seahawks blog breaks it down.

Leon Washington. The running back who was acquired in a draft day trade with the New York Jets is scheduled to start in Saturday night’s third preseason game against the Vikings in Minnesota – after Julius Jones and Justin Forsett got the starts in the first two games.

[...]

Offensive line. Mike Gibson getting the start at left guard, a possibility coach Pete Carroll mentioned Tuesday, moved closer to reality today when Ben Hamilton sat out to rest a sore knee. That left Gibson to take all the snaps with the No. 1 line.

Preseason games are a time to try different things and look for combination that may carry over to the regular season. With Leon Washington, Justin Forsett, and Julius Jones all vying for a starting spot in the backfield, the coaching staff is looking to see how each does carrying the load in the exhibitions. While optimistic that prized left tackle Okung will be ready to go when the season kicks off, Carroll needs to find depth and prepare for Okung's absence.

The players have a light walkthrough Friday morning before flying out to Minnesota to take on the Vikings on Saturday night.

For everything Seattle Seahawks, check out SB Nation's Field Gulls and the SBNation Seattle Training Camp storystream.