ESPN NFL

We wouldn't dare call this the "final" roster for the 2008 Seahawks. The team kept two kickers -- for now. The team kept six running backs -- for now. The team kept defensive ends Baraka Atkins and Jason Babin -- for now. The team will be without Jordan Babineaux and Rocky Bernard -- for now.

Justin Forsett hung around as the sixth running back presumably because the team has no one else to return punts following Ben Obomanu's season-ending injury. Getting Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Frye healthy might -- might -- allow the Seahawks to consider using No. 2 quarterback Seneca Wallace to return punts, or at least field them.

The team has only seven defensive backs on its roster while Babineaux serves a one-game suspension. Jamar Adams, considered on the bubble, didn't make the initial 53-man roster.

I've got a full position-by-position look at the Seahawks below. First, I'll make available updated 25-category roided-out rosters for each team in the division after the 53-man cutdown. The positional comparisons against league averages will remain a bit skewed until I can input roster cuts for all teams. I have about 10 teams to go.

Quarterbacks

• Keepers (3) -- Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye
• Missed cut (1) -- Dalton Bell
• Key issue -- Will Hasselbeck's sore back hold up once he gets hit?

Running backs

• Keepers (6) -- Maurice Morris, Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett, Owen Schmitt, Justin Forsett, Leonard Weaver
• Missed cut (1) -- David Kirtman
• Key issue -- Morris and Jones appear destined to split carries. Forsett might be able to help as a punt returner if he fields the ball consistently and shows better judgment.

Receivers

• Keepers (6) -- Deion Branch, Bobby Engram, Courtney Taylor, Jordan Kent, Logan Payne, Nate Burleson
• Missed cut (4) -- Ben Obomanu (injured reserve), Bryan Gilmore, Michael Bumpus, Trent Shelton
• Key issue -- How quickly can Engram and Branch return to health? What can Taylor, Kent and Payne do?

Tight ends

• Keepers (3) -- John Carlson, Will Heller, Jeb Putzier
• Missed cut (1) -- Joe Newton
• Key issue -- Carlson has upgraded the position significantly. Putzier appeared to make it through the preseason relatively healthy. He's a threat in the passing game if injuries don't drag him down.
  

Offensive line

• Keepers (9) -- Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Rob Sims, Chris Spencer, Steve Vallos, Mike Wahle, Ray Willis, Floyd Womack, Mansfield Wrotto
• Projected to miss cut (4) -- Ben Claxton, Nick Jones, Pat Murray, Kyle Williams
• Key issue -- Will Spencer's health hold up after he missed most of training camp? Will Locklear's knee let him play effectively in the opener? Williams looks like a candidate for the practice squad.
  

Defensive line

• Keepers (9) -- Jason Babin, Red Bryant, Howard Green, Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Brandon Mebane, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill, Baraka Atkins
  
• Missed cut (4) -- Kevin Brown, Chris Cooper, Nu'u Tafisi, Larry Tripplett
• Suspended (1) -- Rocky Bernard
• Key issue -- The Seahawks might eventually have to choose between Atkins and Babin, but both stick around for now after Bernard's one-game suspension. Keeping Babin makes the Michael Boulware trade look like a winner. Atkins was a fourth-round choice in 2007. He's stronger than Babin at the point.

Linebackers

• Keepers (6) -- Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, Leroy Hill, David Hawthorne, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis
• Missed cut (1) -- Dallas Sartz
• Key issue -- Tatupu's bruised knee should not sideline him for the opener. Hawthorne looks like an upgrade at backup middle linebacker after the Seahawks let Niko Koutouvides leave in free agency. His value spikes if Hawthorne can become an effective player on special teams.

Defensive backs

• Keepers (7) -- Deon Grant, Kevin Hobbs, Kelly Jennings, Brian Russell, Marcus Trufant, C.J. Wallace, Josh Wilson
• Missed cut (3) -- Jamar Adams, Marquis Floyd, Kelin Johnson
• Suspended (1) -- Jordan Babineaux
• Key issue -- Babineaux is a valuable backup, but the Seahawks can survive without him for a week. Wilson's improvement has been significant.

Specialists

• Keepers (4) -- Brandon Coutu, Olindo Mare, Ryan Plackemeier, Jeff Robinson
• Missed cut (0) -- Reggie Hodges
• Key issue -- Who returns punts? Which kicker prevails?