Will the Seahawks carry 6 WRs?

[kearly]

Something that Hawkblogger mentioned in a recent Softy convo was that (according Eric Williams (?)) in most seasons, Seattle only carries 5 WRs. We did carry six last year (Rice, Tate, Baldwin, Edwards, Obomanu, Martin) and I think six the year before that.

However, I'm looking at the current roster situation and I'm not sure what direction Seattle will go in. Rice, Tate, and Baldwin are locks. Kearse sounds like a lock the way PC/JS talk about him. After that though, you have an inconsistent playmaker in Stephen Williams who figures to be a bit like Braylon Edwards last year, a raw rookie in Chris Harper who's situation compares to a rookie Kris Durham, and then some roster fodder (Bates, etc) who'd need a huge preseason to generate serious roster consideration.

Now, the team did sign Early Doucet for like a day, and had he been healthy he'd be the 7th WR with a realistic shot for the roster. To me that seems to indicate that Seattle is thinking 6 WR spots right now (again). But I look at how crowded Seattle is at RB, OL, CB, DL, LB, etc, and I think they are going to need to find some places to free up spots.

Also, with Harvin likely to return later in the season, a 5 man WR group would eventually becoming a 6 man group anyway. If we opened with 6, that would essentially guarantee that one of them would be cut/traded/IR'd by November anyway.

For me, I think I'd prefer to go with five this year at the start, barring some major surprises in the preseason. Rice and Baldwin are injury risks, but both have never looked healthier than they look right now. Tate and Kearse are good at staying healthy. Williams will most likely be a part time contributor and Harper is likely to be stashed on the roster to protect him from other teams (even Kris Durham wasn't PS safe). I really love some of the talent we have on the fringes at G, CB, RB, and LB. If I had to choose between keeping, say, Chris Harper or Spencer Ware, I'd rather use a spot to protect Ware, for example. That is unless Harper looks damn good in the preseason of course.

 

[sutz]

Since we're likely to keep 5 RB/FB, I think that would be a good way to go.

We've always discussed before about having tough choices come cut down day, but this year feels for real.

 

[Starrman44]

I've been wondering the same thing. I think we gotta keep 6 and I also think we need to find a way to keep Spencer Ware. At this point, I would rather keep Harper than Williams if we have to choose. I also think that Bates is on the outside looking in.

Is there a chance we go with 2 QB's?

There are going to be a lot of cuts that kinda hurt this year. Usually once, their cut the sting goes away. At least we won't be cutting real talent to keep 2 kickers on the roster...

 

[the_12th_man]

Gotta say we're goin with 6. Rice, Tate, Baldwin, Kearse, Williams, & Harper. (Bates on the practice squad). I think we keep Harper just because of future potential. I say that with the indication that we carry 2 Qbs again, (Quinn out) and we drop Ware to the practice squad.

 

[JKent82]

1. Sidney Rice
2. Golden Tate
3. Doug Baldwin
4. Jermaine Kearse
5. Stephen Williams
6. Chris Harper
7. Phil Bates
8. Arceto Clark
9. Bryan Walters
10. Brett Swain

There's the list in some sort of order, so you can think about it more.

I think the 6th spot is more competition between best special teamer from DB's or WR.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

Rice, Tate, Baldwin, Kearse. Harper won't make it through to the practice squad, so he's in. Then, it all comes down to whether or not Williams shows his worthiness during the preseason. I would say it's probably still up in the air depending on how Williams plays. I guess Harper could play himself out of a spot, but he'd have to be really bad, right?

 

[Tech Worlds]

Soapbox.. Me thinks these questions will be answered during these preseason games. With the limited padded practices these games are even more important. You never know who is going to step up, demand a roster spot, and force the coaches to adjust the numbers at certain positions.

 

[Coug_Hawk08]

From what I have read/seen, it seems like Bates would make the team over harper. The preseason games are obviously huge for both fringe guys. I feel that Harper could definitely make it to the practice squad, though I wouldn't be surprised to see him stashed on IR with an extremely minute 'injury'.

 

[NoChops]

I think it all comes down to miller and how he looks in the next month. If he can run, I could see them starting with five and hoping nobody else gets hurt.

 

[NorthDallas40oz]

Not only do I think the Hawks will definitely carry 6 WR's to begin the season, I wouldn't be absolutely and completely floored if they carried 7.

 

[emurri]

I think we could see the 6th or 7th on the depth chart coming down with an injury so we could IR him.

 

[gargantual]

I can see kearly's point and wouldn't be surprised if we only go with 5, but I think it'll end up as 6, and would be surprised to see seven, especially since Harvin will be back later in the season (he better be....grrrrr...damn injuries!).

I don't think Ware will last for any time on the practice squad.

Thankfully we don't have any cavemen our GM is insistent on keeping this time around....

 

[Seahawk Sailor]

With our less than stellar TE position, I can't see how in the world they wouldn't carry an extra WR to make up for it. I don't think WR competes as much with RB as it does with TE, and as that's an area of some need, it's an area that needs to be adjusted for with an extra player of a similar skill set.

 

[gargantual]

With our less than stellar TE position, I can't see how in the world they wouldn't carry an extra WR to make up for it. I don't think WR competes as much with RB as it does with TE, and as that's an area of some need, it's an area that needs to be adjusted for with an extra player of a similar skill set.

Excellent points. It wouldn't be the first time the team used the "scatter-shot" approach in a player position to see if someone rises up. Hasn't worked so great in the past at times, but then again, sometimes a few gems rise to the surface like BMW for example.

 

[gargantual]

We're (fairly) set at WR barring any surprising injury, so I'd rather see us hold onto extra Tight Ends until we see how they look in the actual season.

 

[dontbelikethat]

If it is indeed 6, it's goona suck to release/trade/IR a guy that late in the season that's occupying the spot for Harvin.

Rice, Tate, Baldwin are locks.

Kearse is highly probable to make the squad.

Leaves Williams, Harper and Bates as realistic options after that(not counting Doucet). I feel like any of the three cut will get looks from other teams, only one I question that may not get a look is Bates and he still probably will. There's no way that at least one other team won't try and kick the tires with a 4th round rookie WR and Stephen Williams' size should definitely find him another opportunity.

 

[DJrmb]

Good topic.

I feel those that are thinking we keep 5 WR's as it really looks like they want to keep 5 RB/FB's. It's tough because it feels like there is so much talent at WR, and there are a lot of guys the coaches have spoken highly of. You never like giving up talent but this year it may be inevitable. If you keep 6 WR's where do you make up for the extra spot and what talent are you giving up at that position?

What a dilemma. Wouldn't it make it a little easier if one or two of the bubble guys just happened to come up with a "season ending injury" to their pinky finger, and got put on IR?
:mrgreen: :stirthepot: :snack:

Obviously I am totally kidding and wish all these guys well, but I will not be able to deny my skepticism if one of the bubble guys is on IR before a major cut down...

 

[gargantual]

What a dilemma. Wouldn't it make it a little easier if one or two of the bubble guys just happened to come up with a "season ending injury" to their pinky finger, and got put on IR?
:mrgreen: :stirthepot: :snack:

Obviously I am totally kidding and wish all these guys well, but I will not be able to deny my skepticism if one of the bubble guys is on IR before a major cut down...

Well, opposing fans DO call him Cheaty Petey after all
It certainly wouldn't hurt my feelings if a few mysterious "injuries" cropped up.

I would not in any way be shocked if some (or a lot) of the WRs we drop are immediately picked up by SanFran....fast enough to make their heads spin.

 

[Natethegreat]

I am no expert but I fail to see why some here seem so worried about keeping Ware. I would bet we keep 6 wide receivers and keep Harper over Ware. I also think its far more probable we could stash Ware on a practice squad than Harper.

 

[gargantual]

With the rash of WR ACLs throughout the league right now, that's a real good point. Receivers are prob the most likely snagged off PS after preseason.

I just wanna keep Ware. Have a feeling about the kid. But definitely one of our lowest priorities depth-wise right now.