Seattle and New England have each gone to two of the last four Super Bowls; both teams seem to do a better job than other teams at scouting and developing talent. It's happening again, with both teams having some good no-name youngsters pushing for roster spots -- and perhaps more.
In last night's Seattle-Minnesota game, two of the more impressive youngsters (along with Dalvin Cook) were seventh-round running back Chris Carson and former undrafted free agent Kasen Williams, for Seattle. Both also stood out in the first exhibition (Carson scored 2 TDs and Williams went over 100 yards), but in that one they were doing it primarily after halftime, with reserves on the field.
Against Minnesota, they were doing it with the starters. Carson alternated first-team series with Eddie Lacy and looked a little better; runs with some power and attitude, just like the veteran (but without the extra weight and mileage). Williams had one of the catches of the preseason on a twisting, one-handed grab on the opening drive, then caught a touchdown on an end-zone fade (one player after Jermaine Kearse couldn't come up with a similar play).
Pretty cool that Williams then went out and blew up the kick returner on the very next play, something that will surely catch the eye of the coaching staff. He later dropped a 45-yard touchdown, but he's going to make the team.
With both these players, they're behind some veterans. Doug Baldwin, Paul Richardson and Tyler Lockett are Seattle's top 3 wideouts, though Richardson (shoulder) and Lockett (coming back from a broken leg) are currently hurt. But Kearse could lose his spot to Williams, and the injury questions with the others could land him in a more significant role.
Thomas Rawls and Lacy are Seattle's top 2 backs, with C.J. Prosise probably the third-down option. But Carson's ahead of Alex Collins, who figures to wind up on another roster, and Rawls (ankle) has the injury history. Unlikely but not out of the question that the team decides Carson would be more effective as a change-of-pace than Lacy (and what are the odds all three of those backs are healthy at the same time anyway?).
Seattle lost projected left tackle George Fant to a torn ACL last night. Maybe they look to flip a receiver or running back to another team in a trade for an offensive line option. That looks like the only obstacle to them making another playoff run.
--Andy Richardson