Stephan Williams or Chris Harper

[fridayfrenzy]

I actually like Harper more than Williams, Bates and Kearse just based on the fact Carroll and Schneider valued him enough to draft him.

So... Kris Durham or Doug Baldwin?

FYI...Kris Durham made the team after being drafted.

There isn't much point making a draft pick and not giving him a chance. Unless the player is showing absolutely nothing, is a distraction or head case then it would be pointless to cut him right after you drafted him.

 

[Tech Worlds]

Williams seams too skinny to me.

 

[Lieutenant Dan]

Soooo....just to throw this out there.

If Harper doesn't quite make it for the last WR spot and he's pretty solidly built, would you consider adding him as a 'receiving TE'? He could maybe be a third TE, but can also line up at WR?

 

[themunn]

I actually like Harper more than Williams, Bates and Kearse just based on the fact Carroll and Schneider valued him enough to draft him.

So... Kris Durham or Doug Baldwin?

FYI...Kris Durham made the team after being drafted.

There isn't much point making a draft pick and not giving him a chance. Unless the player is showing absolutely nothing, is a distraction or head case then it would be pointless to cut him right after you drafted him.

Yes, he made the team because the receiving corps looked like this at the start of 2011:

Sidney Rice
Mike Williams
Golden Tate
Ben Obomanu
Doug Baldwin
Kris Durham

To make it into the final 6 he had to prove himself better than the likes of Pat Williams, Dominique Byrd, Dorson Boyce and "the other Chris Carter". Remember any of those guys?

Yes you want to give the guys you draft a chance, but had it come down to Doug Baldwin or Kris Durham for the 6th spot there' s not a chance in hell it'd have gone to Durham. Remember, the draft philosophy of JS isn't so much "we like this guy this much so we'll pick him here", it's "we like this guy this much, and we think other teams like him this much, so we'll pick him here".
Maybe they liked Baldwin more than Durham all along (hell, they spent a third of their FA allowance on the signing bonus for Baldwin to make sure they got him), but they knew he'd go undrafted whereas other players they also liked wouldn't last

 

[Recon_Hawk]

Soooo....just to throw this out there.

If Harper doesn't quite make it for the last WR spot and he's pretty solidly built, would you consider adding him as a 'receiving TE'? He could maybe be a third TE, but can also line up at WR?

I wouldn't. Maybe if the #2 TE (Willson) is a more capable blocker, but he's not. He's more a receiving threat at this time which would mean we'd be relying on two receiving type rookie tight ends to backup Miller. Seems a bit too much of a risk considering the importance of the #1 and #2 TE needing to block well in this offense.

 

[gabel]

I was at the game in San Diego and I paid particular attention to Harper when he was on. One thing that did not show up when I watched the game at home is how physically dominating Harper is. On running plays he was driving his man back 5 to 10 yards it reminded me of Joe Jurevicius. I don't think you can cut either of them. I wonder how many chances Phil Bates gets, I bet they would like to hide him on the practice squad.

 

[AF_Hawk]

You are comparing a 3 year player vs a rookie. A rookie WR just doesn't come into the NFL and take it over by storm. You have to be patient.

They do on occasion. See Anquan Boldin.

 

[Laloosh]

I'm guessing if Harper stays around, he'll be the designated receiver that throws the ball fir trick plays since he was a qb out of high school.

Have you seen Tate throw the ball? Guy throws strikes!

 

[Hawkscanner]

Obviously we still have 3 Preseason games to go, so lots of things can change between now and the end of the Preseason. That said, if Williams continues to do what he's done over the next 3 games ... then I don't see how in the world you let a guy like that go. And Pete Carroll obviously was impressed with him after the Chargers game as well ...

After the Seahawks’ 31-10 exhibition win over San Diego on Thursday night, Seattle coach Pete Carroll briefly turned reporter.

He walked to the locker of receiver Stephen Williams, whose two catches for 83 yards sparked Seattle’s second-half offensive onslaught, and asked him the same question local media and fans have been wondering as well — what the heck went wrong during Williams’ three years in Arizona, anyway?

“I was just curious again what happened there because he looks like such a legit player,’’ Carroll said of Williams, whose blend of size (he stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 208 pounds) and speed (Carroll said he runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash) has intrigued the Seahawks since they signed him as a free agent in January.

Source:
Seattle Times -- 8/13/13

Pete has always been enamored with those big WR's (especially those who can run 4.4). That's obviously no secret that he loves size & speed in those guys, so I'd say he forces his way on to the roster if this keeps up. I most certainly envision him as the 4th WR when they go to 4 wides. With Rice and Tate out there as well, there's no doubt he'd have ample opportunities to make plays. Man, he looked like Rice on that TD catch -- very impressive. Bottom line -- if he keeps this up, I don't see any way the Hawks let him walk. They'll find a way to make it happen. Yeah, I'd say right now it's Kearse for the 5th Spot ... Williams for the 6th Spot ... with the coaching staff hoping that they can sneak Harper on to the practice squad.

 

[Recon_Hawk]

^ Who do you have as the 4th receiver? Or do you think they only keep 5?

#1 Rice
#2 Tate
#3 Baldwin

#5 Kearse
#6 Williams

 

[Hawkscanner]

^ Who do you have as the 4th receiver? Or do you think they only keep 5?

#1 Rice
#2 Tate
#3 Baldwin

#5 Kearse
#6 Williams

I guess I'm projecting more in the future when Percy Harvin returns (hopefully in November). Looking at the depth chart, I'd project that I think Chris Harper makes this team coming out of the Preseason, just from the standpoint that he's definitely got talent and that they invested a 4th round pick in him. Now, what happens after Harvin returns? Good question -- that's when things could get interesting for him and where I could see the Hawks release him (in order to activate Harvin) and try to sneak him on to the practice squad. I could certainly see that happening. Coming out of Spring Training, I could certainly envision ...

#1 Rice
#2 Tate
#3 Baldwin
#4 Williams
#5 Kearse
#6 Harper

... but could also envision a scenario in which Harper doesn't make the cut as well. This roster is absolutely stacked and the coaching staff might decide in the end that (for example) keeping both Lane and Maxwell might be a prudent move, given the fact that Winfield is 36 years old [I'd probably go that route personally, thinking that in that scenario that Lane would be a much better gunner than Harper.] Harper also might lose his spot to any number of the young guys that could force their way on to this team (Mayowa, Lotulelei, Bailey, etc.)

So, bottom line in the end I really think Williams forces his way on to this team, as he gives them something at WR that (outside of Rice) they really don't have. Given Rice's knee concerns, I'd almost bank on him making it IF he continues to impress throughout the Preseason. Couple that with the real lack of standout/proven talent at TE behind Miller at this point and I think it becomes even more likely Williams makes the 53 man roster. Kearse has become the Baldwin of this camp and can play special teams, so I'd say he's undoubtedly on this roster as well. That's why I'm saying 6 WR's tentatively, but again as I said above, can also see them just going with 5 as well.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

I was at the game in San Diego and I paid particular attention to Harper when he was on. One thing that did not show up when I watched the game at home is how physically dominating Harper is. On running plays he was driving his man back 5 to 10 yards it reminded me of Joe Jurevicius. I don't think you can cut either of them. I wonder how many chances Phil Bates gets, I bet they would like to hide him on the practice squad.

This. I specifically saw blocking nearly as well as Tate especially on running plays. Dude has attitude. He is a Seahawk and that's not because I got to watch him rock the house at K-State despite horrible quarterback play. He's special and willing to play a complete WR game. That means run blocking.

 

[Hawkscanner]

I was at the game in San Diego and I paid particular attention to Harper when he was on. One thing that did not show up when I watched the game at home is how physically dominating Harper is. On running plays he was driving his man back 5 to 10 yards it reminded me of Joe Jurevicius. I don't think you can cut either of them. I wonder how many chances Phil Bates gets, I bet they would like to hide him on the practice squad.

That's actually a very good point that needs to be emphasized. As everyone knows, this is a run dominated team and as such, one of the more important (and often overlooked) elements of the run blocking game is the blocking of the WR's -- an absolute necessity. If WR's aren't able to hold their blocks, those corners have the potential to blow up a running play real quick. Absolutely. I agree 100% ... which is another reason why I could easily see 6 WR's make this team. Now will it stay that way throughout the entire season? Who knows.

 

[Lynch Mob]

I think they both make the team but if i had to pick one it would be Williams no doubt with his ability to go up and get the ball that the WR's need to be able to do if they wanna play with Wilson.


but Right now i'd say Chris Harper makes the the team for his physical style and blocking in the run game imagine a crack block with Harper.

 

[kearly]

I think Seattle has some tough choices. Barring a TO type dropfest in future preseason games, Williams is probably a lock. He doesn't have any true competition for the role he's on the team for. Harper was nearly invisible in the first game, but when I noticed him he looked like an NFL player for sure. I was also highly impressed by Perez Ashford- he was awesome on special teams (both as a KR and coverage) and looked very quick as a WR. Unlike other preseason darlings from past years (Bumpis, etc), Ashford has legit NFL tools. He definitely did not look like a guy who should be on the bubble during that game. I hope he survives waivers and makes our PS if they cut him.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

Guess I was wrong, the blood starts flowing this year. I thought it would start in 2014 after our victory February 2nd. What a weird position to be in. I have seen it, read about it, been jealous about it, but to BE it?

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

I watched that game 3 times on NFLN and still can't explain without laughing maniacally to my Kansas City friends why we won and why we are New York bound. It's just too subtle for people that don't care about us to actually watch how we break the spirit of our opponents. It's not fun to explain and quite boring to watch in fact. If you're not a Seahawk fan.

WE PLAYED HORRIBLY, yet still made the game a joke. That isn't supposed to happen in the modern NFL except obviously Pete seems to have never read the memo?

He seems to think he can build a 1970-80's Pittsburgh dynasty despite the salary cap. He's totally insane but it actually seems to be possible, straight nuts but I am willing to let him try.

 

[EastCoastHawksFan]

We have some good problems , anybody else wondering why we overpaid a injury prone wide receiver? I wasn't upset about the draft capitol we gave up in the trade but the money is a lot. That's potential Sherman money right there.

 

[Jerhawk]

Williams by far had the best game Thursday, but I'd really like to see them inserted in the starting lineup against the Broncos and/or Packers to see who can make an impact against a starting defense.

Williams burned the Chargers 2nd string corner. Harper was overshadowed by Williams and Michael.

Time will obviously tell like Largent80 said, but I'd like to see how they do against starting corners.

Williams has great size, but Harper was the 4th round pick. Should be a great battle between those two!

 

[CrimsonWazzu]

Harper has been unimpressive so far today. Williams looks more impressive in person than on TV.