Seattle Seahawks: 3 Players to watch vs. Vikings in Preseason Week 2
By Samuel Teets
The Seattle Seahawks are looking for young players to seize their opportunities and carve out roster spots.
Between the last two drafts, the Seattle Seahawks have accumulated a lot of young players. Only a few of those players are walking into situations where they might start right away. Most will have to compete with veterans for snaps and favorable positions on the depth chart.
The following trio of Seahawks players had some success in Week 1, but I’m looking to see how they’ll build on it in Week 2. Performing consistently is a key to earning regular snaps after all.
With that, let’s get into the players that need to make an impact against the Vikings.
3. Jacob Martin, EDGE
Martin flashed signs of potential last season. The 2018 sixth-round pick looks like he could be a diamond in the rough for Seattle if the team finds the right way to utilize him. Despite never starting a game and transitioning from playing on the defensive line in college to linebacker in the NFL, Martin recorded three sacks on his limited snaps.
He’s an odd fit for the team as an edge player considering the Seahawks don’t rely heavily on their outside linebackers for sacks. At 242 lbs., Martin is light compared to Seattle’s other pass rushers, most of whom play on the defensive line and weigh anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds more than Martin.
Against the Denver Broncos in the first week of the Preseason, Martin recorded a sack and two quarterback hits. When he’s in the game, Martin has been able to get after the quarterback. I just wonder how many opportunities he’ll get in the regular season. Even though several Seahawks pass rushers will miss time, Martin’s odd fit on the defense might hold him back. We should still see him taking regular snaps during Preseason games though.
I’m also looking for Rasheem Green to continue to contribute as well. The Seahawks drafted Green in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He contributed less last season than I expected, but injuries and depth issues could open some opportunities for him this year.