Seahawks offense position-by-position breakdown to start 2017

The Seahawks finalized their 53-man roster on Saturday. While players might change a bit prior to week one versus the Green Bay Packers, here’s a look at each offensive position as it currently stands. Plus, predictions of what might happen.

The Seahawks made some minor surprise moves on Saturday. Kasen Williams was cut. Tanner McEvoy was kept. Surprise! Other cuts, like Seattle letting running back Alex Collins go, were less surprising. Here is how each position looks and what might happen in 2017.

Quarterback

Starter: Russell Wilson

Backup: Austin Davis

Summary: Seattle decided to keep steady Davis over inconsistent Trevone Boykin. Boykin might still come back to the practice squad, though. The starter, of course, is several-time Pro Bowler Wilson. Wilson is the face of the organization and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Prediction: Behind a slightly better offensive line, Wilson remains healthier in 2017 than in 2016. The Seahawks run more zone-read and the running game bounces back to 2013 and 2014 levels. Wilson’s passing numbers are less than in 2016 because he throws fewer times. He is much more productive overall, however.

Running back

Starter: Thomas Rawls

Backups: Eddie Lacy, C.J. Prosise, Chris Carson and J.D. McKissic

Summary: Gone is Alex Collins because he could not be trusted with ball control. Chris Carson simply looks like a Seahawks running back. McKissic most likely will return kicks to start the season until Tyler Lockett is completely healthy. Rawls and Prosise have proven value in Seattle, if they stay healthy. Lacy is new to the team but has been successful in the NFL.

Prediction: Realistically, I could just say Lacy, Rawls and Prosise get injured and miss significant time. None of the three have proven they can stay healthy for a full season lately. Carson could then be the starter. Carson could be a breakout star in 2017, but I hope not. I want to see the veteran guys do well. The Seahawks need them to. I see Rawls getting the majority of the starts with Lacy getting the rest. Both stay fairly healthy. Rawls gets close to 1,000 yards and Lacy gets 750.

Receiver

Starters: Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett

Backups: Paul Richardson, Amara Darboh and Tanner McEvoy

Summary: Tanner McEvoy over Kasen Williams? Who saw that happening? Now Williams has been claimed by the Cleveland Browns. Sure, Williams dropped a pass in the third preseason game from Wilson. But McEvoy dropped one in the fourth game right in his hands from Boykin. Maybe the Seahawks just love McEvoy’s size. One thing is for sure, he will need to prove his worth early on to Seahawks fans. Baldwin is great. Darboh won’t play much. Richardson and Lockett need to stay healthy. This unit seems very thin, however.

Prediction: Baldwin catches 105 passes. Lockett finally stays healthy and catches 70 and for a good yards-per-reception. Richardson mostly stays healthy but does not put up big numbers. Darboh catches 15 passes. McEvoy produces fairly well, but in limited time.

Tight end/Fullback

Starters: Jimmy Graham (tight end) and Tre Madden (fullback)

Backups: Nick Vannett and Luke Willson

Summary: Just when it looked like Marcel Reece was a lock to make the team in early August, Madden is the Seahawks fullback to start 2017. Maybe Reece comes back in week two when his contract is not guaranteed. Possibly Madden is actually very good blocking and catches some passes.

Graham is one of the three best tight ends in the league, of which there is no doubt. Vannett should slowly become more involved in the offense. Willson is back on a one-year contract.

Prediction: Graham has his best year with the Seahawks. With no more Jermaine Kearse, Wilson looks to the tight end even more. Graham catches 10 touchdown passes. And Madden proves his value and stays with the team the entire year. And actually becomes a Seahawk for the next five seasons.

Offensive line

Starters: Left tackle Rees Odhiambo, left guard Luke Joeckel, center Justin Britt, right guard Oday Aboushi and right guard Germain Ifedi

Backups: Jordan Roos, Ethan Pocic, Mark Glowinski, Isaiah Battle and Matt Tobin

Summary: Tobin and Battle are fairly late arrivals to the Seahawks so it remains to be seen how they fit in with Tom Cable’s wide zone scheme. Aboushi and Glowinski are still battling it out to start at right guard. Roos and Pocic are both rookies who haven’t proven they can do anything yet.

The biggest question marks are Odhiambo and Ifedi, of course. Odhiambo took left tackle spot after George Fant was lost for the year with a torn ACL. Ifedi has been extremely inconsistent in his short career. But at times, he has been great. Maybe he could be very good consistently?

Prediction: Odhiambo plays well enough to make sure there is a battle prior to 2018 for the left tackle position. Ifedi stays maddeningly inconsistent but is better at right tackle than he was at left guard. Joeckel is solid. Aboushi wins the right guard spot over Glowinski but it remains a battle all season. Britt is even better in 2017 than in 2016 and becomes a Pro Bowl center for the next four years.

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