The USA Today released its annual pre-season power rankings today, and Seahawks fans probably won’t be very happy.

The newspaper ranked the Hawks 29th overall, in front of only St. Louis, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay. The entire list can be viewed at USAToday.com.

Although the ranking is low, it is probably where the Seahawks deserve to be after winning only nine games the past two seasons combined. But there is hope, as the newspaper adds, “With a healthy Matt Hasselbeck, playoffs aren’t out of question.”

The top of the list features Green Bay at number one, followed by Indianapolis, Dallas, New Orleans, and Baltimore.

Where would you rank the Seahawks in 2010?

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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It took some time to learn how to correctly spell “Ndamukong Suh” without double-checking a draft preview; there isn’t a default spell check anywhere that will catch a mistake with his name. The pronunciation is somewhat easier, but only after hearing someone else say it first.

The Detroit Lions are betting that Suh, selected second overall in the 2010 draft, will become an impact player sooner than later. If they’re right, pronouncing “Suh” and spelling “Ndamukong” will become easier than ever.

Suh may be a force in the trenches, but he illegally demonstrated his dominating power in an exhibition game against the Cleveland Browns last weekend.

While applying pressure on third-and-long, Suh violently reached forward and latched onto the facemask of Jake Delhomme. Suh then wrapped his arms around Delhomme’s helmet and threw him onto his back after his knee had already touched the ground.

Suh’s mistake drew a 15-yard penalty and gave the Browns a new set of downs. In addition to the in-game penalty, Suh will probably be fined for his aggressive tackle and obvious facemask.

Seneca Wallace, the former Seahawks quarterback, thinks there should be more punishment than just a fine.

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Pete Carroll and John Schneider both addressed the media at the VMAC yesterday. It was a very busy day for the Seattle Seahawks; the team finalized a deal that sent Josh Wilson to Baltimore, acquired an offensive tackle from Detroit, and restructured Leroy Hill’s contract.

The most unexpected move of the day came when Josh Wilson was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional fifth-round pick.

“This is an opportunity for us that came along to us because of our depth,” Pete Carroll said, regarding Wilson. “And our situation at the cornerback position that we’re very happy with, with the play of Tru and Kelly Jennings, Walter Thurmond and Roy Lewis. Josh is a great kid and we love him and all of that. But this is a team that really came after him, and it happened very quickly.”

John Schneider, Seattle’s general manager, mostly agreed with Carroll: “Josh has been a factor here for several years now, and has done a great job in the community and everything. He’s very well respected. This was a team that was very aggressive in coming after Josh. They have a situation where they have a strong need. And as Pete said, it has more to do with the way Walter has stepped up, and the way Tru is playing and some of the younger guys.”

Surprisingly, the front office seems excited about the deal.

“It was one of those deals that comes along,” Schneider told reporters. “We get calls on players and we don’t do everything. But this was one of those deals we felt like we couldn’t pass up.”

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Like most fans in Seattle, I don’t quite understand why the Seahawks traded cornerback Josh Wilson. In my opinion, Josh Wilson has been the team’s most productive and impressive defensive back the past two seasons.

Wilson always seemed to be fighting for a starting job during his time spent in Seattle. Pitted against Kelly Jennings, Ken Lucas, and other defensive backs, he always managed to earn playing time and overcome any competition.

While he certainly isn’t an elite defensive back, Wilson is a very good football player. Not many Seahawks are untouchable, but to dump Wilson for a late-round draft pick seems absurd. No doubt the Baltimore Ravens are happy to acquire him for such a bargain price.

Maybe the team is looking to build a group of larger defensive backs. But Josh Wilson played more physical than most of Seattle’s defenders and overcame his physical limitations on the field. Wilson frequently showed off sub-4.4 speed and playmaking ability to make up for his lack of size.

The emergence of young prospects played a role in Wilson’s departure, but I still don’t like letting him walk for a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick.

Roy Lewis and Walter Thurmond have both looked impressive in training camp and exhibition games, and the team probably won’t carry more than four cornerbacks on the 53-man roster. Marcus Trufant is healthy again, and Kelly Jennings is playing good enough to start on the opposite side.

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The Seattle Seahawks have confirmed they acquired offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus from the Detroit Lions. While the specific compensation is unknown, it is reportedly an undisclosed pick in the 2012 draft.

Polumbus started eight games at right tackle for the Denver Broncos last season and was a hot commodity on the waiver wire last week. The Broncos waived him following Ryan Clady’s return from injury.

The Seahawks, Lions, and Texans all put in waiver claims for Polumbus last week. The Detroit Lions, who had the worst record of the bunch in 2009, were awarded the rights.

Polumbus does have starting experience, but he was noticeably worse than Ryan Harris, who started the first eight games of 2009 for Denver. Polumbus stepped in for Harris following an injury that kept him out for the second half of the season.

The Broncos obviously considered Polumbus expendable, so I wouldn’t get too excited about the acquisition. He does, however, offer Seattle something they don’t currently have: depth on the offensive line.

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More breaking news from today: the Seahawks have traded cornerback Josh Wilson to the Baltimore Ravens for an undisclosed pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Wilson has started 24 games for the Seahawks since they selected him in the second round of the 2007 draft. Since Seattle traded its 2007 first-round pick to New England for Deion Branch, Wilson was the first player the Seahawks selected that year.

In three seasons, Wilson has recorded 130 tackles, 2 sacks, and 6 interceptions. Despite his lack of size – he is only 5-feet-9 and 192 pounds – Wilson developed into one of Seattle’s only playmakers on defense last season. Two of his six interceptions were returned for touchdowns.

Only 25 years old, Wilson will likely have an opportunity to compete for a starting job with the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were reportedly very interested in acquiring Wilson, who played at the University of Maryland in college.

One can only hope Baltimore’s interest means a fourth- or maybe third-round pick for the Seahawks. Anything less seems like a bargain; Wilson is a capable starting cornerback and occasional playmaker at the professional level.

UPDATE: The Seahawks will reportedly receive a fifth-round pick from Baltimore in exchange for Josh Wilson. The pick could become a fourth rounder, depending on how many games Wilson starts.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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The Seahawks have not released Leroy Hill, but they did restructure his contract.

The new contract will reportedly lower Hill’s 2010 salary from $6 million to $2.125 million and remove the remaining four years. With the new deal, Leroy Hill will be a free agent after the season.

For those of you hoping the Seahawks would dump Hill during the offseason, this could be the next best thing.

The restructured deal will give Hill an opportunity to prove his worth both on and off the field. The Seahawks no longer have a long-term commitment with the troubled linebacker.

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The Seahawks have reportedly acquired offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus from the Detroit Lions. No word on compensation yet.

Following injuries to Russell Okung and Ray Willis, Seattle has obviously been desperate for tackle depth. Mansfield Wrotto has been starting at left tackle after making the switch from guard, and Chester Pitts is still a few weeks away from playing.

The deal makes sense for Seattle, assuming compensation is minimal. And it isn’t a complete shock that the Detroit Lions are, once again, Seattle’s trading partner.

More will be posted regarding this trade as it develops.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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The Seahawks cut their roster down to 75 today, announcing five players have been waived.

The most notable of the group is defensive end Rickey Foley, whose hopes of sticking on an NFL roster have come to an end – for now, at least. Foley signed with Seattle after recording 20 sacks in four seasons in the Canadian Football League.

Following a 12-sack season in 2009, Foley was pursued by several teams in the NFL, including Seattle. Foley was regularly outplayed, however, and seemed overmatched in the preseason during meaningless minutes against other fringe talent. He wasn’t terrible, but probably isn’t worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster anyway. With players like Dexter Davis and Chris Clemons exceeding expectations, chances were slim.

The other players include wide receiver Kole Heckendorf, guard Gregg Peat, and kicker Clint Stitser. The Seahawks also waived defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis, who suffered a broken thumb against the Minnesota Vikings.

Seattle’s final preseason game is on Thursday against the Oakland Raiders; the next round of cuts will come this Saturday when the 53-man roster must be finalized.

Shaun Dolence: dolencesm@gmail.com
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Earl Thomas made an outstanding play on a deflected pass against the Vikings, intercepting the ball and returning it 86 yards for a touchdown.

Thomas is very instinctive and make a great jump on a ball that could have easily fallen incomplete. More than anything, however, Thomas demonstrated just how fast he really is.

If you haven’t watched the replay, it is a must. The amount of field Thomas covers without running in a straight line is almost unbelievable – especially for a defensive back.

Brett Favre took a three-step drop and fired a pass to Bernard Berrian, who was running a quick slant. To be fair – despite good defense by Josh Willson – the ball probably should have been caught. But Berrian, under heavy duress from Wilson, was unable to secure the football and it bounced into the hands of Thomas. Thomas proceeded to return the ball 86 yards in about nine seconds for the score.

Nine seconds.

Thomas wasn’t running a straight line, he was slightly weaving to avoid offensive players attempting to tackle him. Near the end of his sprint, with the closest opponent over five yards back, he slowed his pace and jogged past the goal line.

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