Three things: Where the Seahawks stand after the preseason

August is an odd month for a football reporter, and not just because each team plays four practice games whose results have no real bearing on the trajectory of the season.

The guys with the most at stake this month are the ones playing for their very jobs, a process that culminated with Saturday’s roster cuts. Now, those guys go from being the center of attention to being the supporting actors in a drama that will feature stars like Russell Wilson, Michael Bennett and Richard Sherman.

But before we move on to the main course of the regular season, let’s take a look back at both what the past month told us and what we’re still trying to piece together:

Three things we learned:

1. The reports of this draft’s depth were NOT exaggerated.

Of the 10 players Seattle drafted, eight remained with the team after the roster was trimmed to 53 players. That’s the most draft picks kept by the Seahawks since 2010 when eight of the nine players Seattle chose made the cut. Not only that, but Seattle initially kept six undrafted rookie free agents. That’s utterly remarkable. To put that in perspective, Seattle has been lauded for the opportunities afforded undrafted rookies to earn playing time, and deservedly so. In Pete Carroll’s first six seasons, the team kept a total of seven undrafted free agents heading into the regular season. They have almost that many this year alone.

2. There’s a big change up front with Seattle’s offensive line.

The Seahawks kept 10 offensive linemen in 2010, Pete Carroll’s first year as Seahawks coach. Average weight: 305.6 pounds. Stacy Andrews was the only one of those 10 players listed at more than 310 pounds. Six years later, the Seahawks have a starting center who’s 315 pounds in Justin Britt. Of the nine offensive lineman the Seahawks kept this year, five are listed at more than 310 pounds and Seattle’s starting line won’t include anyone who’s lighter than 310.

3. Seattle’s running game is going to look very different this year.

That’s not just because of Marshawn Lynch’s retirement. Last year, Seattle entered the season with two fullbacks on the roster – Will Tukuafu and Derrick Coleman. This year, there are none. Everyone loves the way Thomas Rawls fits into Seattle’s run game, and Christine Michael was the single biggest surprise of any player in training camp for Seattle. Then there’s C.J. Prosise, whose background as a wide receiver at Notre Dame is going to give the Seahawks a unique third-down option now that he’s healthy.

Three things we’re still trying to figure out:

1. What will Seattle’s nickel pass rush look like?

This was the most dynamic unit in 2013 – the year Seattle won the Super Bowl. The Seahawks would insert Cliff Avril at defensive end and slide Michael Bennett to defensive tackle and unleash holy hell. Well, those guys are still in place, but who’s going to round out the group? Jordan Hill was pegged to be a defensive tackle in that package, and his release was the single biggest surprise of the roster cutdown. He had been effective when healthy in his three seasons with Seattle, but a hamstring injury has him on Seattle’s injured reserve after he cleared waivers. Seattle has a couple of options. It could move Frank Clark from defensive end to defensive tackle in the nickel pass rush – playing him alongside Bennett – with Cassius Marsh stepping in at defensive end. Or perhaps this will be an opportunity for Quentin Jefferson, the rookie out of Maryland, to play defensive tackle.

2. Are Seattle’s kick coverage units a concern?

Special teams has been the single most consistent element for Seattle’s franchise since Brian Schneider came to Seattle along with Carroll in 2010. That’s what made some of the preseason results at least a little jarring as Seattle allowed an average of 28.8 yards per kickoff return during the practice games. They were below average with punt-return coverage, too. Throw in the fact that there are 14 rookies on the roster – some of whom will have to be special-teams contributors – and that’s something that bears watching going into the regular season.

3. Are the Seahawks going to have eight offensive linemen active on game days?

Teams usually keep seven, but that requires having at least one backup capable of playing either both guard and tackle or both guard and center. It doesn’t look like Seattle has that. The Seahawks will have either J’Marcus Webb or Garry Gilliam as the backup tackle, rookie Rees Odhiambo at guard and then Joey Hunt at center. Essentially, Seattle could be costing itself a body that could otherwise be used on special teams.

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