Seahawks Position Previews: Wide Receivers

Starting WR: Mike Williams 6’5”, 235

Wide Receiver 2: Sidney Rice 6’4, 202

Slot Receiver: Golden Tate 5’10”, 202

Fourth Receiver: Deon Butler 5’10” 182

Fighting for spots: Ben Obamanu, Isaiah Stanback

The Seahawks come into this season with Mike Williams and Golden Tate once again, but have also brought in Pro Bowler Sidney Rice to help their cause.

Wide Receivers on the Seahawks have long had a stigma of being very injury prone. It seems every year, the ‘Hawks are searching free-agency or deep into their backups to find receivers capable of filling in for their injured starters. The key to this season is going to be staying healthy on the Seahawks end, and Tarvaris Jackson giving the passing game time to develop before breaking off the play. That being said, here's a look at each of the Seahawks receivers and how they can help.

If not for Michael Vick, Seahawks receiver Mike Williams probably would have won comeback player of the year honors in 2010. Despite a few injuries, Williams still managed to catch 65 passes for 751 yards. He also added two touchdowns. Whenever he was in for the Seahawks, Williams used his huge hands to grab passes that seemingly were “throw aways” and “bad passes”. This offseason and preseason, Williams is again battling an injury, this time a toe injury sustained in practice last Monday. He didn’t play in their first preseason game against the Chargers, and is still questionable for their next preseason game versus the Minnesota Vikings.

Williams will pair up nicely on the outside at wide out with Sidney Rice, another big receiver for the Seahawks. With two 6’4” + receivers on the outside for Tarvaris Jackson to throw to, the Seahawks are assured to have a nice deep threat on every play if they so choose. However, with their big receivers on the outside, the Seahawks do give up some speed. Deon Butler and Golden Tate will bring the speed from the inside, so expect a lot of out routes from the slot receivers to open up the middle for Sidney Rice and Mike Williams on slants and drags.

Sidney Rice comes to the Seahawks from the Minnesota Vikings, and should have immediate chemistry and success with QB Tarvaris Jackson, who also came from Minnesota. The two both know the offense, as the Seahawks Offensive Coordinator, Darrell Bevell, comes with from Minnesota as well. Expect Rice to get the most receptions of anyone this year, provided he stays healthy.

Golden Tate has been moved to slot receiver this year in hopes that he can make a greater impact and have a better season overall. Tate, a 5’10”, 202 lb receiver, could end up a prototypical slot receiver. With his quickness and good hands, Tate is built for short passes over the middle. Now, with his role in the slot, he should expect to get roughed up a little bit, just as any slot receiver does (Austin Collie?). Last year, Tate only caught 21 passes for 227 yards. Expect his numbers to increase a lot this year, at least into the 60 reception range.

With the addition of Sidney Rice, Deon Butler automatically moves from being the Seahawks #2 receiver to a slot receiver. Don’t expect him to make as many receptions as last year (36 for 385, 4 TD), unless someone like Mike Williams is still struggling with injuries. In that case, expect Butler to take over as the wide out. Butler’s speed and quickness on the edge are going to give the Seahawks a matchup on the outside that could produce a deep threat similar to Santonio Holmes, provided he gets a chance to showcase his skills on an efficient level.

Isaiah Stanback comes to the Seahawks from Dallas, where he failed to make it as a receiver. Stanback, former QB at the University of Washington, is being given a second chance to try and make it with Seattle. He started Thursday’s preseason game, but only caught two passes for 12 yards.
If the Seahawks can stay healthy at receiver, they have a good inside and out combo, with two big, tall receivers on the outside and two shifty receivers who use good technique to their advantage on the inside.

Now if Tarvaris Jackson will ever let go of the ball, maybe the Seahawks have something to look forward to in the passing game this year.