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• Justin Forsett is earning -- and will get -- more touches in the regular offense. My take three weeks ago was that Forsett, primarily a third-down back to this point, had done enough to start getting touches on earlier downs. Seattle left Forsett alone in the backfield six times in the first quarter against the Jaguars, more than he had in the first quarters of the previous four games. Forsett is challenging to become the best pass-blocking back on the team even though Julius Jones and Edgerrin James are strong in that area. He lacks top-end speed, but he's quick and appears trustworthy in key situations. He did a nice job chipping on his way out of the backfield, helping the left tackle substantially on one play.
• For the first time in his career, defensive end Darryl Tapp has sustained the momentum he gathered during training camp. He's no longer just a pass-rusher, either. He's making a difference for this defense. Jaguars tackle Eugene Monroe had trouble with him. Even Will Herring is producing as Leroy Hill's injury replacement. Aaron Curry is developing quickly and I think he's elevating the play of those around him, including Lofa Tatupu. More on Curry later in the day. Lawrence Jackson is another young defensive player making significant contributions. It's striking what good defensive coaching can do for a team (particularly when that team is not facing Peyton Manning).
• Kyle Williams will have problems at left tackle. This isn't his fault. Williams projected as a potential backup right tackle or right guard coming out of USC. He should not be a starting left tackle, but the Seahawks have few choices at this point. The Jaguars pushed back Williams into Matt Hasselbeck's area a couple of times. The Cardinals' Calais Campbell could be a problem for him. Overall, Seattle has weathered injuries to its offensive line better than I would have anticipated. But the bottom line is tough: Seattle will likely start its projected fourth-string left guard (Steve Vallos) and fourth-string left tackle (Williams) in a pivotal division game.
• Seattle used its "11" personnel package (one back, one tight end) 26 times on first and second downs, seven more times than the team used its base "21" personnel in those situations. Forsett gets most of his playing time in 11 personnel, but Jones is still the primary back when the Seahawks use that grouping on early downs.
• The Seahawks are starting to use two tight ends even in passing situations as they look for ways to improve pass protection while playing without both starting tackles. On back-to-back plays against the Jaguars, Seattle used one back with two tight ends on second-and-11 and third-and-11, highly unusual (Hasselbeck found Nate Burleson for a 15-yard gain on the third-and-11 play). Against the Colts, the team used 10 snaps with three receivers and two tight ends, a grouping I had never seen Seattle use (the Cardinals used it some last season).
• The Jaguars were horrible. Rashean Mathis, normally a good corner, almost appeared disinterested. He played two-hand touch instead of tackling on one of Burleson's touchdown plays. Jacksonville's horrible showing was the only thing that should temper Seattle's enthusiasm coming out of this game. If the Seahawks make a statement against Arizona by winning convincingly -- the situation at left tackle provides the greatest obstacle -- enthusiasm will be justified.

• Left tackle: Walter Jones (12), Sean Locklear (4), Brandon Frye (3), Kyle Williams (2)
• Left guard: Mike Wahle (10), Floyd Womack (6), Rob Sims (4), Mansfield Wrotto (1)
• Center: Chris Spencer (14), Steve Vallos (7)
• Right guard: Womack (8), Max Unger (5), Wrotto (4), Willis (3), Sims (1)
• Right tackle: Willis (12), Locklear (9)

• The NFC West featured three of the nine oldest rosters in the league. The Cardinals were third-oldest at 27.7 years old. The 49ers were sixth-oldest (27.5) and the Seahawks were ninth-oldest (27.4). The Rams were 24th-oldest (26.7). Ages are to the day, not rounded down to the nearest year.
• The chart ranks teams oldest to youngest. The Cowboys (26.934), Bills (26.932) and Chargers (26.930) were about the same age, but their rankings differed. The teams that tied -- Cardinals and Patriots, Jets and Broncos -- had the same average ages to at least 13 decimal points.
• NFC West starters tended to be quite a bit younger relative to the rest of the league, ranking between 12th-oldest (Cardinals offense and 49ers defense) to 24th-oldest (Rams offense). The Seahawks ranked 22nd on defense and 23rd on offense. Seattle's offensive age ranking reflected Steve Vallos at center and Sean Locklear at left tackle. The Seahawks' offensive line would be the youngest in the league with those players in those spots.
• The 49ers and Seahawks would lead the division in starters younger than 26, with eight apiece. The Seahawks would lead the division in starters 30 or older with six, right at the league average. The Cardinals and 49ers would have five, the Rams four.
• The Seahawks, with 11 defensive linemen, were the only team in the league with more than 10. The Rams were one of five teams with 10.
• The Cardinals were one of five teams with seven receivers. No other teams had more than six.
• The Rams were one of six teams with 10 offensive linemen, the highest number in the league. The Patriots and all four NFC East teams also had 10.
• Seven teams were carrying only two quarterbacks. All four NFC West teams had three. The Jets and Chiefs had four.
• The Cardinals had 27 offensive players, two more than average and one behind Oakland's league-high 28. The 49ers were tied for the league lead with 27 defensive players, one more than the Rams. The Seahawks balanced at 25 offensive players, 25 defensive players and three specialists -- right on the league averages.
• The 49ers were one of three teams with fewer than seven combined running backs and tight ends. That will change. There's no way a power running team is going to remain light on depth at those positions.
• The 49ers had 33 of their own draft choices on their roster, tied with the Panthers and Colts for second-most in the league behind the Packers (37). The Seahawks (29), Cardinals (27) and Rams (24) had fewer. Every one of the Seahawks' 29 came from BCS-eligible programs. The Jets and Patriots were the only other teams with zero of their own draft choices on the roster from sub-BCS programs. The Cardinals had five, trailing only the Titans (7) and Jaguars (6).

Kenny (Seattle): Mike, with Chris Spencer going down do you think Steve Vallos will be able to hold the interior line together, because he was a late round pick and only has a little experience from last year.

Mike Sando: Steve Vallos has a little Robbie Tobeck in him. I like his chances over the long term even though he'll lose some one-on-one battles physically, as Tobeck also would. Chris Spencer is a different caliber of athlete, but I think Vallos could develop into an effective member of a promising young interior on that line.

James (Kansas): From what you have seen so far ... Was Jason Brown's worth the money that StL gave him in the offseason? His contract is pretty HUGE!!!St

Mike Sando: It's ridiculously early to make a judgment there. The money spent for Brown reflects a broader philosophy. The Rams were very weak at center, affecting investments at both guard spots and at quarterback and at running back. Steve Spagnuolo wanted to get bigger and more physical up the middle on both sides of the ball. Brown is a big part of that philosophy. He might never justify that investment based purely on what he contributes individually as a blocker. The Rams signed him to be more than that. From what I saw at camp, Brown seems to have a winning personality and good leadership potential. Those things also appeal to the Rams as they rebuild.

Scott Allen (raisingzona.com) (Arizona): Sando, do you think the Cardinals struggles in the preseason will carry over any to the regular season, given the coordinator changes?

Mike Sando: The coordinator changes should not be the reason for issues early in the season. Defensive coordinator Bill Davis was on the previous staff. He knows the personnel. There's no excuse for a huge adjustment period there. On offense, Todd Haley will be missed. I think he knew how to challenge players. But Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm were the top two offensive coaches when the Cardinals hired this staff. That means there's no excuse for a huge adjustment period. Whisenhunt even called the plays previously.

Chris (Danville, Ca): Sando--is Shaun Hill just the quarterback passing time while Alex Smith either rises, or Nate Davis rises, oe a quarterback is picked at the beginning of the draft? It seems like Hill has no potential, just will allow the 9ers to give Singletary a decent first full season as head coach.

Mike Sando: I tend to agree with your general take on the situation. The 49ers also tend to agree. Otherwise they would have named Hill their starter right after the season. This is a team that named Mike Singletary its head coach without considering other candidates just because the 49ers felt they knew he was the right guy. They've given Smith every chance to beat out Hill, and Singletary has not seemed overly enthused by the play at QB.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

So much for featuring Deion Branch in the passing game.

The Seahawks went with heavier personnel early in their exhibition game against the Chiefs, giving as many first-quarter snaps to John Owens, the second tight end, as they gave to Branch.

What does it mean? Not necessarily much. As Dave Wyman noted via Seahawks play-by-play man Steve Raible, Branch is expected to be part of the 53-man roster.

The snaps at fullback seemed telling. Owen Schmitt has been listed as the starter, but veteran Justin Griffith drew three times as many snaps in the first half (9 to 3). That included an 8-0 snaps advantage in the second quarter.

I thought the running game was better with Griffith, although three snaps for Schmitt was hardly enough for definitive analysis.

Also worth noting: Courtney Taylor, not Ben Obomanu, was one of five receivers to work with the starters in the first half. Fourth receiver Deon Butler played only two first-half snaps, a reflection of the Seahawks' run-oriented personnel groupings. That is also how the second tight end, Owens, pulled only four fewer snaps than the third receiver.

Mike Holmgren is no longer running the offense, in other words. This is Greg Knapp's show.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Spencer

The injury Spencer suffered Saturday night -- a muscle tear in his left thigh that could sideline him for the first couple regular-season games, coach Jim Mora told KJR radio in Seattle -- comes at a critical time for Spencer. Every game he misses sets up Max Unger or Steve Vallos to step into the lineup and take firm grasp of the job for this season and years to come.

Injuries are the fastest way out of a job in the NFL. Spencer has missed only five games over the last three seasons, but he has battled injuries regularly. A sprained ankle sidelined him through part of this camp. Back and shoulder injuries have sidelined him for long stretches in previous offseasons.

Spencer has generally played well enough to start, but Unger's selection in the second round and his quick development put pressure on Spencer this season. Unger has a good chance to start at center or right guard early in his career, if not right away.

Update: Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times calls the injury a second-degree tear of the left quadriceps, noting that Spencer could miss 4-6 weeks.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

SEATTLE -- Thoughts and observations at halftime of the Seahawks' exhibition game against the Broncos on Saturday night:

• Matt Hasselbeck survived his first hit. And a few more after that. Seattle's quarterback hadn't taken punishment since suffering back trouble last season. The Broncos hit him in the back more than once. Hasselbeck appeared to be OK and he finished the half with a 120.0 rating despite three sacks.
• Walter Jones is badly missed. The Broncos aren't the most dynamic pass rushing team around, but they're getting to Hasselbeck. Left tackle Sean Locklear, subbing for the injured Jones, has had significant problems so far. Kenny Peterson drove Locklear into Hasselbeck for one sack. Locklear has a penalty for a false start. He got away with holding on a screen pass. Elvis Dumervil also got pressure on Hasselbeck through Locklear.
• Deon Butler looks good. There has never been doubt about the rookie's status as one of the Seahawks' top four receivers this season. The team thinks the third-round choice from Penn State can provide a speed element that has been lacking on the outside. Butler showed that speed on the Seahawks' first drive, catching a 34-yard touchdown pass from Hasselbeck. Butler made another catch over the middle to convert on third down.
• Hasselbeck, 'Housh' warming up: Hasselbeck just missed connecting with T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the end zone on a long pass. He found Houshmandzadeh for a short touchdown pass right before halftime. Houshmandzadeh averaged only 8.2 yards per catch in the half, but his catches were important ones.
• Screen game revived. The Seahawks' long-lost screen game is showing signs of life. Hasselbeck found running back Justin Forsett for a 30-yard gain on a screen.
• Chris Spencer still is not durable. The Seahawks' center left the game after suffering an injury to his left quadriceps. No word yet on severity, but Spencer's health remains a big question mark. With Max Unger and Steve Vallos around, the Seahawks have other options at the position.
• Pass rush non-existent. Denver's Kyle Orton dropped back 23 times without taking a sack against the Seahawks' first-team defense. Patrick Kerney had no tackles and his name did not appear on the defensive stat sheet.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks have a few tough decisions to make before reducing their roster to 53 players in less than three weeks.

The final spot or two at receiver remain unsettled. I see at least 10 defensive linemen worth keeping, but perhaps no more than eight offensive linemen. The final spots at all three general positions on defense -- line, linebackers and secondary -- could spur debate.

• Earlier: Rams, Cardinals, 49ers
  

The Seahawks aren't even certain which kicker will earn a roster spot, opening possible trade scenarios for teams with needs at the position.

The chart provides a framework for how many players the Seahawks might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the Rams.

Here's a quick look at which Seahawks players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:

(Read full post)