Seahawks vs Cowboys: 5 battles to watch
By Nick Drage
The Wide Receiver Battle
As with the Running Backs I think the first four spots on the squad are “locks”, with Baldwin, Lockett, Kearse, and a healthy Paul Richardson all making the 53 man roster. However, the fifth, and possibly sixth, spots are still up for grabs. Special Teams play here will be crucial, in contention are:
Kenny Lawler – consistently described as undersized but with a spectacular catch radius – has impressed so far on offense. He’ll need to make the most of his “String-bean body type” and 203 lbs on special teams or will be heading for the practice squad.
At the other end of the scale is Tanner McEvoy – six-foot six and 230 pounds – he reminds you of Chris Matthews, one of the happier memories from SuperBowl 49. As with Troymaine Pope, while his notable performances have come against third string defenders, he is one player who’s stood out from the pack, and offers something different to the starting four. McEvoy has versatility that other players do not.
McEvoy played at quarterback, wide receiver, and safety at Wisconsin, he originally joined the Seahawks at the overloaded safety position. With his experience on defense McEvoy has an all important advantage over his rivals on special teams. Adding to this versatility is that he’s reported to have played Tight End in practice on Monday, while a little light for that position at 230 pounds this shows the kind of adaptability that the Seahawks love.
Those are my two personal favourites. There are many other players to look out for, but none seem to have generated the excitement and interest of those two. Maybe Antwan Goodley stands above the others who’ve been lost in the mix: Deshon Foxx, Douglas McNeil, and E.Z. Nwachukwu. Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith have both suffered hamstring injuries and been unable to stake a claim to that fifth spot. The one thing that stands out for Kevin Smith is his ability to fill in at any of the WR positions, the Seahawks staff like backups they can use in many different types of emergency.
Montario Hunter stood out in training camp, particularly with his speed. But with Lockett a starter, and Richardson healthy, there’s unlikely to be room for him on the squad, and he’s leading the team in preseason fumbles.
Next: Issues at tackle