O’Neil: What we’re still trying to figure out about the Seahawks

The Seahawks are two preseason games away from making their final evaluations on the 53-man roster, and there are lots of questions left to answer.

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None are more puzzling than Seattle’s situation at wide receiver where David Moore – a seventh-round pick last season – has taken a huge step forward, making two of the team’s four longest receptions through two preseason games. Hard to imagine him not making the team.

Where does that leave Amara Darboh, a third-round choice in the same draft that Moore was taken? That leads off the list of three things we’re still trying to figure out about this team.

Is Amara Darboh going to make the team?

His rookie season was entirely forgettable, and he hasn’t suited up for either preseason game, which is hardly a good sign especially given the way Moore has played. And while the fact that Darboh was a third-round pick doesn’t entitle him to a roster spot, cutting him could be a really rash decision. After all, he plays receiver, a position where players can take some time to acclimate. Remember Golden Tate? He was inactive for the first game of his NFL career after being chosen in the second round, and throughout August of his second season there was speculation he might get cut. There was never really that much of a chance of him being released, and good thing, because Tate began to blossom at the end of his second season. And while that’s not saying that Darboh’s spot is safe, he’s not necessarily on the brink of being cut, either.

Do the Seahawks have other options at right tackle?

Germain Ifedi’s hold on the starting job has been strengthened over the past two weeks, but not due to anything he has done. First, Isaiah Battle suffered a sprained knee and then rookie Jamarco Jones suffered a high ankle sprain. That leaves Ifedi the starter by default even though he was pulled from Seattle’s practice game because of multiple penalties and he was deposited on his tookus by Chargers’ defensive end Melvin Ingram during the first half on Saturday. The left side of Seattle’s line seems set, and D.J. Fluker has gone from a question mark when training camp began to a potential strength at right guard.

Are the Seahawks going to use a fullback this season?

Sure didn’t look like it during the first series of Saturday’s game in Los Angeles when the Seahawks used a fullback on one of the six plays from scrimmage. Then came the second series and Tre Madden was involved for the majority of the plays. If the Seahawks do carry a fullback, that might force a roster decision between J.D. McKissic and C.J. Prosise. And as much as people may complain about Prosise’s durability, he is absolutely not someone this team should (or would) release at this point.

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