Five players who stood out for Seahawks vs Chargers

In a schematically very vanilla game, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles  Chargers easily 48-17. Several backups for Seattle played very well. These players may have taken a major step towards being on the 53-man roster.

Chris Carson

Carson ran for 19 yards on seven carries. Think about that for a second and then think about what you watched in the game. Carson’s 19 yards may have been the most impactful 19 yards in preseason history. That is hyperbole, of course, but still. Carson ran like the type of running back the Seahawks love. Which is to say, straightforward and strong and confidently.

This is what the Seahawks want it to look like when they have the ball at the one-yard line:

One preseason game does not a roster-spot make. But if the Seahawks were to pick their 53 today, Carson might very well be the fourth and final tailback.

Trevone Boykin

Boykin clearly is the worst practice player in the history of practice. Because in Sunday’s game Boykin was mostly fantastic. He was late on his first throw. His last throw seemed greedy when he threw deep downfield to a double-covered receiver and the pass was intercepted. Inbetween, he looked a lot like Russell Wilson. Boykin was mobile, accurate and made plays with his arm and legs. Boykin finished 12 for 15 for 189 and accounted for two touchdowns.

It should also be noted that Wilson’s other current backup, Austin Davis, looked solid too. But he just did not seem to potentially be as good leading Seattle’s offense as Boykin. But there are three preseason games left, so both Boykin and Davis will need to play well against increasingly less vanilla defenses.

Nazair Jones

Jones pressured the quarterback. He made four tackles, one for a loss. Another tackle that may have been as impressive was when Jones ran 20 yards downfield to make a tackle. Jones was active and powerful. He may not be ready to start in the NFL, but he is not far off.

Blair Walsh

I know, Walsh is a kicker. But 12s all know that a kicker can almost make the difference between home-field advantage in the playoffs and not. Steven Hauschka missed two kicks against the Arizona Cardinals in two games in 2016. If he had made either, Seattle would have been playing at home against the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs. This is why Walsh is with the Seahawks in 2017 and Hauschka is not. (Plus, Walsh is cheaper.) On Sunday, Walsh was perfect on his extra points and field goals. I do not mean he just made them all. He kicked every attempt almost perfectly between the uprights. There was no doubt or hesitation. Hopefully Walsh will continue this for the entire year.

Kasen Williams

Williams looked like he deserves to be on the Seahawks roster. He made catch after contested catch. Sure, he was not going up against the Chargers top corners, but he was playing against other guys trying to make rosters. Williams showed strong hands and strength.

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Williams still has to show he can do in the next three preseason games what he did in the first. The receiver room is pretty crowded at this point. But Williams is a local guy and has size. Both things the Seahawks like.