The Camp Battles In Seattle

(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Position Battles to watch for in the 2009 Seattle Seahawks Camp

Center

Chris Spencer vs. Max Unger

Who will start at Center? Is the question most Seahawks will ask this preseason, with former first round pick Chris Spencer yet to solidify himself as the team center in four years?  Last year Spencer started 11 games, for a team whose 274.1 yards per game ranked offensively 28 out of 32 teams, prompting many draft experts to predict the Hawks draft of one of the elite Offensive Tackles. Instead the Hawks took OLB Aaron Curry in the first round and moved up in the second round to take University of Oregon’s G/C Max Unger. Unger started 51 games at Oregon with no injury history or character red flags. In new offensive coordinator Gregg Knapp's zone blocking scheme, Unger is a natural fit for a scheme that emphasizes decision making and movement over brute force and dominance at the point of attack. With Chris Spencer being the latter of the two type of players it looks like the starting center spot is Unger’s to lose.

Weak Side Cornerback

Ken Lucas vs. Kelly Jennings vs. Josh Wilson

With All-Pro Marcus Trufant solidifying his position as the strong side cornerback, the Seahawks are still knee deep in what seems to be a decade long search to find a weak side cornerback. Prompting management to turn to a familiar face in Ken Lucas, yes the same Ken Lucas the Hawks let walk in the 2005 offseason. That same offseason the Hawks used a first round pick to draft under-achieving Cornerback Kelly Jennings. With Last year’s starter (by defect) Josh Wilson emerging in his second season creating seven turnovers, showing the knack to provide the big play, and the Hawks not yet ready to write of Jennings, this battle should be as intense as they come. Lucas at 6’0 feet and 205 pounds brings the size the Seahawks covet. Playing against the likes of the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and now the 49ers’ Micheal Crabtree twice a year, size is as important as anything in determining the winner of this battle giving the preseason edge to Lucas. 

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