Just as confidence in a team can grow or wane over the course of a season, so too are old questions answered and others spring anew. Six months ago we weren’t wondering what Sam Darnold would look like for the Seattle Seahawks because, by all outward appearances, Geno Smith was expected to be the starter.
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Who replaces Geno Smith?
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Who’s the new OC?
All were massive questions facing this team that have since been answered (Sam Darnold; yes; Klint Kubiak). And as of today, Aug. 13, there are a few new questions we’ve got about this Seahawks team (and one old one that has yet to be figured out):
Is Tory Horton playing himself into the No. 3 receiver spot?
Before the start of training camp I wrote up a preview about the toughest position battles and described it as a fight for the final few spots behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Marquez Valdez-Scantling.
MVS isn’t going anywhere for now — he’s at least got the benefit of veteran experience and a familiarity with Klint Kubiak’s scheme — but now about a month removed from that preview, we’re talking about a rookie receiver who’s making a pretty loud case for more playing time.
Brock: Seattle Seahawks rookie Horton looked like 1st-round talent
Horton was always going to make this roster (the fifth-round pick out of Colorado State would’ve gone earlier were it not for a knee injury that led him to slide), but was he penned in as the third, even fourth, target back in May? Absolutely not. Considering the Seahawks already have a young, talented group, count this one as a fun new question.
Is Charbonnet pushing for more starting snaps than we thought?
Kenneth Walker III is an incredibly dynamic player and he’s got a chance to take off this year. Let’s make that clear first. But during a Bump and Stacy interview with Klint Kubiak last week, we asked Seattle’s OC about what makes an ideal running back. His answer mentioned both backs, but heaped praise on Charbonnet in particular.
“Number one is intelligence,” Kubiak said when listing his running back qualities. “Number two is longevity or just availability. We got our top two guys doing some really good things, but Charbonnet, the way that he is, a mental approach to the game, is extremely impressive. He does not flinch. If he ever has a question, you know you didn’t coach it good enough because he’s on that. So I’ve been really impressed with him.”
Charbonnet had a breakout game last season against the Cardinals while getting the start for an injured Walker. Walker has struggled staying healthy, though don’t confuse him with the even more limited availability of oft-injured former Seahawk CJ Prosise. Walker has still started 11 games a season. That said, might a new offensive coaching staff lean more into Charbonnet this year?
Will Nwosu play in Week 1? If not, will that mean adding?
Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu is on the preseason physically unable to perform (PUP) list and reporters haven’t had much of an update since the first day of camp when head coach Mike Macdonald said only that Nwosu wasn’t close to returning.
“I think it’s still very, very questionable as to whether he’s going to be ready for the start of the season,” ESPN’s Brady Henderson told us Monday. “You’ve got to wonder if, okay, are they going to put him on or keep him on PUP? Which would mean missing the first four games. That is, I think, still a very real concern. (And) that makes me wonder about whether they add someone to that outside linebacker room.”
Are we back on Jadeveon Clowney watch?
Who’s your right guard?
An oldie but a… well, it’s not a goodie. But it’s still here.
Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes are still in an open competition (with some push from Jalen Sundell). Every other position is settled, assuming Olu Oluwatimi is the starting center. Like last year, right guard remains a question between the same two players. Like last year, it remains unanswered late into the preseason. It’s a good thing if you assume both have improved so much that the battle is hard to settle; it’s less stellar if you see it as neither player having separated himself that.
For more from Stacy Rost, click here. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. on 710 AM Seattle Sports or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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