Seattle Seahawks Offseason: Top 7 Position Battles to Watch in Training Camp

Pete Carroll and his Seattle Seahawks are making more waves across the NFL with his recent declaration that Russell Wilson will be given a chance to compete for a starting spot in 2012.

Whether hyperbole or sincere, quarterback will certainly be a position battle that draws attention from Seahawks fans and NFL analysts. The most important position on the field is also the most unsettled for a team with an emerging defense and a lot of potential at most every offensive spot.

Seattle has several position battles that will be worth following this season. Following are five competitions that will shape the franchise in the seasons to come, along with two more that will just be interesting to watch unfold.

7. 'Big Nickel' or Third Safety

Options

Jeron Johnson, Winston Guy

Overview

Kam Chancellor began earning his stripes in the Seahawks secondary playing the "Big Nickel" role. It is a position that offers solid run support and pass defense and is a blitz threat.

Last season, Atari Bigby stepped in and filled the role, but perhaps without the zest and zeal shown by Chancellor. Guy, on the other hand, has been repeatedly compared to Chancellor in pre-draft breakdowns.

Jeron Johnson should find a roster spot and a role this season, even if it is only as a backup to Earl Thomas and as a situational player in Seattle's max-protect Bandit package.

Prediction

It is tough to pick against Guy at this point. As much as I've liked Johnson as a target for the Seahawks since before the 2011 draft, Guy has the size and impact to take over the role.

6. Second Tight End

Options

Cameron Morrah, Anthony McCoy, John Nalbone, potential free-agent signing

Overview

Zach Miller will take the field for his second season as a Seahawk in 2012.

He won't be challenged as the starter but will likely challenge himself to be a threat in Seattle's passing game.

Improved play from the offensive line and at quarterback should allow him to open up in passing routes.

As it currently stands, the Seahawks appear comfortable with Cameron Morrah and Anthony McCoy competing for the second tight end position. There were some expectations that Seattle would be active in free agency or the draft.

They have been silent on both fronts, making the position battle for the No. 2 spot that much more intriguing.

There is still time for the Seahawks to add a free agent. Visanthe Shiancoe is the most likely option, and he did visit the Seahawks earlier in free agency.

Dallas Clark is also on the market, but he did very little in his one season without Manning to attract much attention from the other 31 teams.

With organized team activities and additional minicamps forthcoming, look for Seattle to make a move soon if they are going to expand the competition at tight end.

The biggest thing to watch for with this battle will be dropped balls. This issue has plagued the tight end position in recent seasons. John Carlson and Morrah made big catches to help lead the team to a big playoff win over the New Orleans Saints in 2010.

Both had dropped passes the following week in Chicago that could have changed the direction of the game. 

One of these players needs to step up and show they can be relied on to make a big catch.

Prediction

Shy of a quick free-agent signing, expect Morrah and McCoy to share time opposite Miller next season. Morrah is the most athletic of the three and will likely work more on passing downs.

McCoy will get more attention in blocking situations as the third tight end on the roster.

5. Offensive Guard

Options

John Moffitt, Paul McQuistan, Deuce Lutui, James Carpenter, Paul Fanaika, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Frank Omiyale, Rishaw Johnson, Brent Osborne, J.R. Sweezy

Overview

Yes, this is a boring position. But it is also an important hole to fill for Tom Cable.

Robert Gallery was brought in to add stability to the interior of the Seahawks offensive line. He struggled through injuries and penalties all season, though, arguably being outplayed by McQuistan.

Seattle showed as much, opting to release Gallery after they were able to sign McQuistan to a new contract in the offseason.

Seattle wasn't done at the guard position, though. They also signed Lutui, a talented blocker who has been hampered by excess weight and conditioning issues.

He's adjusted his diet to a vegan regimen and reported to camp under 340 lbs. He is reportedly in the best shape he's been in for years and could be a major free-agent addition that helps the team win in 2012.

Moffitt was solid later in his rookie season. He was making solid progression when he was lost for the season to a knee injury. With a full offseason, he figures to be a solid blocker in 2012.

Carpenter will be a wild card this season. His knee injury has left him a presumptive candidate to start the season on the PUP list. If he is able to start the season on the active roster, John Schneider has indicated it could be at left guard.

Carpenter needs to be on the field offering proof that he was drafted where he should have been last season. Be it at tackle or guard, he showed definite signs of meeting the requirements of the NFL last season.

Johnson is another wild card in the position battle. He was a bit under the radar coming from a small school (California, PA), and he showed during the Sr. Bowl week that he has some work to do on his technique.

He was playing for Ole Miss and was a decent producer there before being dismissed for a violation of team rules. He didn't have a reputation as a hard worker—he'll need to turn over a new leaf if he's going to challenge for a roster spot with the Seahawks.

Prediction

Moffitt will be the Week 1 starter at right guard with Lutui moving over to the left side. Carpenter will likely start the season on the PUP and challenge at right tackle and left guard when he returns. 

Hopefully Carpenter won't be used to replace an injured starter.

4. Weakside Linebacker

Options

Leroy Hill, Korey Toomer, Malcolm Smith, Barrett Ruud, Matt McCoy, Mike Morgan

Overview

The presumptive starter here is Leroy Hill, who was re-signed to another one-year contract despite another off-field incident during the offseason.

He is coming off one of his best seasons and showed he can be reliable over a 16-game season.

However, there are contenders.

Korey Toomer is currently backing up K.J. Wright at the strongside backer spot. Wright impressed the coaches while filling in for an injured David Hawthorne in Week 1 and eventually snagged the starting gig from Aaron Curry.

Toomer could do enough over the summer behind Wright to have his name thrown into the mix as a weakside starter.

Malcolm Smith is another option to keep in mind. He showed some promise last season, and the former USC linebacker is quite familiar with the demands of Carroll and Gus Bradley's defense.

He's fast and a good tackler, which should at least garner consideration as an option in nickel formations.

Ruud was apparently brought in to play in the middle, but he is an option on the outside. If rookie Bobby Wagner grabs control of the middle linebacker role, Bradley and Ken Norton Jr. will be looking for opportunities to get Ruud on the field once he is healthy.

Prediction

Hill will be the starter in 2012 but will give way to Smith and Toomer in passing situations.

3. Wide Receiver

Options

Sidney Rice, Mike Williams, Doug Baldwin, Ben Obomanu, Golden Tate, Ricardo Lockette, Kris Durham, Deon Butler, Jermaine Kearse, Lavasier Tuinei, Phil Bates

Overview

There is little doubt that Rice is the class of the Seahawks receiving corps.

He is a name fans and analysts know, and his play is certainly Pro Bowl caliber—when he is actually playing.

In five NFL seasons, Rice has managed to play all 16 games in just one. His lack of dependability pressed analysts to project the position as one of need for Seattle.

However, there is a lot of depth behind Rice. While they are mostly unproven players who aren't exactly household names, competition for the No. 2 and slot positions will be heavy.

Mike Williams showed in 2010 that he can be a viable target for a quarterback that is willing to throw the ball his way. He rarely looks open by college standards, but he can use his big body to block out defenders, and his strong hands will bring down passes.

Williams could be used a bit differently in 2012. Seattle has depth issues at tight end, and Williams could end up running passing routes from the inside.

Lockette and Durham didn't have many opportunities last season, but they certainly showed their potential when given an opportunity.

Lockette caught two long passes (105 total yards) with a touchdown. He will give Seattle an option to stretch the field and make big plays.

Durham also offers size and good speed but ended up on injured reserve last season to make room for Deon Butler on the active roster when he came off the PUP. 

While Durham did have some shoulder concerns, he still could have finished the season on the 53-man roster. The Seahawks saw enough potential in him to pay his salary so they can bring him back in 2013. 

Obomanu has been a talented receiver for the Seahawks, but he has also been inconsistent. He's a precise route runner, which has helped him maintain a roster spot, but he could get pinched on this roster.

His seven years of experience offer advantages, but they could be overtaken by the promise of youth.

Prediction

Rice, Williams and Baldwin will be the starting three receivers. Lockette and Durham will push for targets, and Tate will be the backup for Baldwin.

2. Middle Linebacker

Options

Bobby Wagner, Barrett Ruud, Matt McCoy

Overview

Perhaps a battle between Wagner and Ruud shouldn't be quite this high on the list.

But this isn't just a battle between the two likely options at middle linebacker. This could be a preview of the new heart of the Seahawks defense.

McCoy is returning from an injury that cut his 2011 season short. He worked into a nickel linebacker and special teams standout and will be pressing to show the coaching staff he needs a spot on the final roster.

While unlikely to make a press to be the starter in the middle, his efforts will determine if he returns as a reserve linebacker and special teams ace.

Bradley is quite familiar with Ruud's potential, as he was his linebackers coach in Tampa Bay. He will have an edge so long as he is healthy enough to play at 100 percent by the start of training camp.

Wagner made a career of exploiting opportunities in college and will do the same in the NFL. He'll gladly start by taking the starting gig from Ruud.

Prediction

Look for Ruud to give way to Wagner over the course of the summer. Wagner will get a jump-start with the defense while Ruud continues to heal.

This will give him the advantage he needs and introduce fans and opposing offenses to the kind of defense the Seahawks will be playing over the coming seasons.

1. Quarterback

Options

Matt Flynn, Tarvaris Jackson, Russell Wilson, Josh Portis

Overview

After a year of anticipating that Matt Flynn was going to be the Seahawks' new starting quarterback, Flynn is finally being given every opportunity to earn the starting role. 

Jackson isn't likely to relinquish his starting job without a fight, but it could be a rookie that ends up running the show for Seattle in 2012.

With just two NFL starts, it is hard to consider Flynn an experienced quarterback. However, he has spent four seasons watching one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

Flynn has undoubtedly learned how to prepare for big games and has made the most of the opportunities provided.

But the starting job won't be based on experience. It will be based on the quarterback that gives the team the best chance to win in 2012.

While Jackson is a better quarterback than most fans give him credit for being, he has his shortcomings. He doesn't have the anticipation needed to compete at the highest level in the NFL and lacks the confidence to make adequate pre-snap adjustments.

Late in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, Jackson recognized a pending blitz at the line of scrimmage. However, he didn't make an adequate adjustment and proceeded into a seven-step drop. 

He was sacked.

The Seahawks will be looking for more of a field general at quarterback, making Wilson an intriguing option.

Many analysts and fans ignored Wilson as a viable NFL quarterback because he's three inches too short. 

However, Wilson has elite arm strength and makes solid decisions with the ball. He can throw on the run and is a tremendous athlete. 

Wilson has adjusted his throwing motion to come over the top. It gives him a little more height at the release point, placing him on par with an average 6'2" quarterback. 

Wilson has a lot of work to do to secure the backup role, let alone a starting one. But he showed command of the huddle and the playbook over the weekend while working with the other rookies. 

Carroll didn't offer blanket approval of Wilson, but he did comment on Wilson's status. "Here’s what I’m going to say about it: He’s going to be in the competition." 

Portis is a favorite topic of discussion among the fanbase. He had a solid showing in the 2011 preseason, blending athleticism and a solid arm. Many believe he is the future at the quarterback position, and that is certainly possible.

I believe he is the current version of Mike Teel.

Prediction

Matt Flynn will win the starting job with Russell Wilson as his backup.

The Seahawks will need to decide if they are comfortable entering the season without an experienced quarterback and attempt to move Jackson.

There currently doesn't figure to be a market to trade Jackson, but a solid showing over the summer coupled with a key injury to another team could open up the possibility of trading him.