ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Tom from Menifee, Calif., writes: Mike, What is the latest on the Bobby Engram situation? Am I the only one that feels like Deion Branch has not lived up to the hype and never will? I am worried about our depth and experiewnce at WR...make me feel better about it. Tell me about a trade for someone awesome that I don't know about.
Mike Sando: Branch certainly has not lived up to the hype. He's been hurt, and the offense has fallen off amid changes to the offensive line (to say nothing of Shaun Alexander's sudden decline). I think the Seahawks badly wanted a leader and mentor at that position. They had grown weary of Darrell Jackson, who wasn't happy, and they didn't know how long Engram would be around. Also, Engram has usually been more of a leader by example than as a hands-on mentor. The feeling was that Branch would anchor that position for years to come and that his locker-room contributions and clutch play would offset the fact that he might not put up Pro Bowl numbers every year. They still expect him to do those things.

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Taki from Cleveland writes: Hi Mike, (I'm sure you've gotten a lot of these emails) Loved the excel file with all of the roster information. Any way you or the other conference blog writers can provide the same file for the other conferences. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Mike Sando: We all have our passions and this just happens to be one of mine. I wouldn't wish it on anyone else!

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Mark from Crown Point, Indiana, writes: Mike, great info as always. Two quick comments/questions- a little surprised to see you have David Hawthorne in the "looking safe" category, haven't heard much about him and the last few years I seem to recall Holmgren dropping hints that linebacker is a position where they might keep only six players to free up a spot elsewhere (i.e. WR, DL). Has Hawthorne been a big surprise in camp or is this a guy that has always been in the Hawks plans? I just don't know much about him I guess. Also, would be interested to hear your thoughts on the backup center position now that Chris Gray is gone. Sorry if these questions were already asked/covered, I didn't see them if they were. Thanks as always. Mark W.
Mike Sando: I debated about whether to list the backup linebackers as "looking safe" or "on the bubble" and could have gone either way. Will Herring's health is a bit of a wild card. I think we'll separate some of those guys as we get into the exhibition games. Hawthorne has impressed enough to be a factor. I might have been a little premature in saying he is looking safe, but these analyses aren't hard science.

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Steve from Bellingham, Wash., writes: As always, thanks for all the great info you provide. I'd like to follow up on the subject of how many WRs the Seahawks will keep. In 2003 they had no injury problems at the position, and the fourth receiver caught only three balls. From 2004 through 2007 they had injuries at WR to varying degrees, and the fourth WR caught 24 to 32 balls in those years. The fifth WR caught 6 to 18. The sixth WR caught zero to 7. The point I'm trying to make is that, even in years the Seahawks suffered a rash of injuries at WR, they have no record of getting a sixth receiver much involved in catching passes. I can see no justification at all for keeping a sixth active WR unless he's got strong special teams skills. Even a fifth active WR is questionable IF the team has relatively good luck with injuries and IF Seneca Wallace works out as a receiving threat.
Mike Sando: Steve, I love those breakdowns. My kind of stuff. Mike Holmgren said they generally tie the WR numbers with the RB numbers, and the total is usually 11 (six of one, five of the other). I wonder if Justin Forsett convinces them to keep six running backs, at the expense of one of those receivers. Deion Branch's ability to contribute right away also could influence the thinking. The sixth receiver needs to help on special teams, just as you said (and as Holmgren confirmed yesterday). I would strongly consider keeping Forsett as the sixth running back, then going with five receivers (while having Wallace as a fallback option). And then I would make sure fullback Owen Schmitt contributes in a big way on special teams (we haven't seen much from him as a fullback yet). I like your reasoning and love the thought behind your analysis.

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Webb from Akron, Ohio, writes: Mike - As a CPA who does extensive work with Excel, I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your work with the rosters. It's pretty impressive. Do you or anyone you know make these rosters for all NFL teams? I can only imagine the kind of powerful analysis I could do with this! (The coolest PivotTables ever!) Thanks! Matt
Mike Sando: Sadly, I do maintain these for every team in the league. And I do harness the information in ways that allow for broader analysis. I'll refer to the average age of a team's starters on defense, or the number of third-round draft choices starting for a specific team, etc.

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Dave from Windsor, Ontario, writes: is the receiving core a good one or do you think there are too many 2nd and 3rd receivers on the squad no real go to guy.
Mike Sando: Dave, I'm not sure which team you're talking about. Could it could be the Rams or 49ers? Seattle? Get back to me and we'll take it from there.

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Don from Illinois writes: Mike, a number of Seahawks fans are very concerned about the state of Seattle's OL, especially at center. Ruskell brought in Claxton who admits that blocking may not be his strength. Is it reasonable to assume that the Seahawks front office is working diligently to address this glaring need, especially in light of Gray's retirement?, or do you sense that they are satisfied with experimenting with their existing personnel?
Mike Sando: They would like to add a quality offensive lineman, but they are tough to find on the streets when each team is carrying 80 players. Teams are carrying 438 offensive linemen on their active rosters (by my count). Do you want the 439th-best offensive lineman providing depth? Just a thought. LeCharles Bentley is out there, but his injury situation will scare off teams. Seattle might find a better fit once teams cut down their rosters. Right now it's tough to envision the Seahawks finding a legitimate player to fill that spot. Robbie Tobeck is down to about a buck-eighty these days and they couldn't pay him enough to come off his fishing boat (well, they probably could, but it's not going to happen).

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Bspeakman from Chillicothe, Ohio, writes: Should FF owners of SJax be concerned?
Mike Sando: I would be mildly concerned about Steven Jackson suffering an injury upon his return, but I would still want him on my team. The upside is definitely there. Most players don't hold out deep into the season. The minute Jackson reports, he becomes the focal point of Al Saunders' offense. The stats will flow his way.

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Bob from Greeley, Colo., writes: Help me out out here Mike, I know you've opined in the past that Cortez Kennedy should be in the Hall of Fame, but how in the world do the Football Gods put a guy like Fred Dean in ahead of Tez? I almost got mad watching Dean's induction. I always liked him but couldn't help thinking: "only 2 years All Pro?" (as opposed to Kennedy's 5 (3 first team, 2 second)) ... "only 4 Pro Bowls?!" (as opposed to Kennedy's 8) ... "and
NO NFL Defensive Player of the Year award?!?" ... Tez has him beat by double OR BETTER on all counts!!" Besides all numbers, for at least 3 years Tez was completely unblockable and unquestionably the best DT in the league while I can't remember a single season that Fred Dean was considered the best DE in the league, can you? It seems so terribly unfair, even considering the fact that Dean played on 2 Super Bowl winning teams ... and Kennedy wasn't even a finalist? Help me make some sense of this, please.
Mike Sando: The HOF voters recognized the undeniable impact Dean made in turning the 49ers into a championship team. Dean has been out of the game longer than Kennedy. The voters haven't seriously considered Kennedy but they probably will at some point. Clare Farnsworth and John Clayton are voters. Both covered Kennedy when Kennedy was the best defensive player in football.

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Bryan from Houston writes: It sure is hard to get much information on the cards since relocating to Houston. I haven't seen anything on Ali Highsmith. What do you know about his performace though camp thus far? What are his chances of making the squad?
Mike Sando: I listed Highsmith as "on the bubble" in our Cardinals roster analysis. This team generally keeps seven linebackers on its opening-day roster. Chike Okeafor, Bert Berry, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes and Clark Haggans will make the team unless injured. Highsmith is part of a group fighting for what could be two spots. Monty Beisel is a "name" guy but he needs to win a spot. Matt Stewart and Highsmith are in the mix. David Holloway and Chris Harrington are there as well. The exhibition games will be huge for Highsmith and the others fighting for spots. I definitely give him a chance. Be on the lookout for injuries at this position. Okeafor and Berry are coming off extensive rehabs.

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Bucs205590 from St. Augustine, Fla., writes: Who do you think will win the nfc west this season?
Mike Sando: Seattle, out of habit, followed by Arizona, St. Louis and San Francisco. That's how I'm leaning right now. But by all means, change my mind. It's open.

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Tim from Arizona writes: concern the release of marcell shipp - -what if any other available running backs out there would fit with the cardinals? (shaun alexander; najeh davenport; etc.)
Mike Sando: Shaun Alexander doesn't fit unless he is the starter, in my view. He doesn't play special teams and he isn't a third-down guy, so how do you justify carrying him in a backup role? It's tough. The Cardinals released Shipp because they felt good enough about other players. I don't see the move creating a bigger void than what already existed behind Edgerrin James. Shipp was already on the bubble, and the bubble burst.