Rookie Marsh may be a match for Bennett’s versatility

By Danny O’Neil

RENTON – The Seahawks don’t know exactly where they’ll use rookie Cassius Marsh the most.

At least not yet.

They don’t have to look far to find out how to use him, though. There’s an example already on the roster in Michael Bennett, whose versatility proved so valuable in 2013 that Seattle re-signed him to a four-year deal.

Sounds good to Marsh.

“I love his game,” Marsh said of Bennett. “It’s an advanced version of mine, I like to think.”

The Seahawks drafted Marsh in the fourth round out of UCLA. He began his college career at 300 pounds while playing defensive tackle and he arrived in Seattle at 254 pounds as a defensive end.

So what are the plans for him in Seattle?

“They just want me to come in here and compete,” Marsh said after Saturday’s practice. “They know that I’m a versatile player and I can play a multitude of positions … That’s what they expect of me to come in here and just compete. Wherever I can.”

Bennett’s an instructive example in this regard. He played three different positions for Seattle’s defense last season, seeing time at both of the defensive end positions – which are distinct spots in the Seahawks’ defense – as well as defensive tackle in the nickel pass-rush package.

Will Marsh be used similarly? Well, that’s what Seattle is just starting to figure out with Marsh at this three-day rookie minicamp.

“He has great stuff already,” coach Pete Carroll said after the rookies’ first practice on Friday. “You can see he has really good hands and has a good feel for it. What will be important as we moved on is to figure out where he could best fit in.”

Receiving so many opportunities

Wide receiver is one of the more crowded positions on Seattle’s roster. You just wouldn’t know it judging by Saturday’s rookie minicamp, as the team had four receivers participating in practice.

Paul Richardson, the team’s second-round pick, did not practice, held out of the workout after a collision at the end of Friday’s workout. There was no indication from the Seahawks that there’s concern over a serious injury, however.

Chris Matthews, the receiver Seattle signed out of the CFL, was still out with a hamstring, and receiver Lance Ray – who is on a three-day rookie tryout – was not practicing.

That left fourth-round pick Kevin Norwood as well as Arceto Clark of the practice squad getting plenty of opportunities.

“It was busy,” said Norwood, who was drafted out of Alabama. “Everybody is out here just trying to get better, including me. It was a long one. At the same time, it was good for us because we got more work. We’ve got a lot of reps, and it allows us to come out and stay focused on what we have to do to get better.”