Which of The Young DB’s will be invited into the Legion of Boom?

Which of The Young DB’s will be invited into the Legion of Boom?

Today I’ll be looking at the battle for the remaining positions in the Defensive backfield, known to the Seahawks and their fans as the Legion of Boom. The name was reportedly started by 710 ESPN radio show hosts’ Bob and Groz in August of 2012, after guest Kam Chancellor mentioned how the secondary “brings the boom.

The original four starters were strong safety Chancellor, along with free safety Earl Thomas and cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner. The four are indeed back together for the 2016 season, though Browner, it has been said, not a starter now, will spend time at safety and play nickel corner on passing downs. With a new contract in hand; Jeremy Lane is now the presumed starter at the other cornerback, opposite Sherman, though he may rotate with Deshawn Shead, dependent upon receivers on the field.

The other defensive backs currently on the roster are cornerbacks Marcus Burley, Tharold Simon, Tye Smith, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, George Farmer, Trovon Reed and DeAndre Elliot. Safeties include Browner (a backup now) Kelcie McCray, Tyvis Powell and Steven Terrell. The Seahawks also yesterday signed free agent Keenan Lambert, who was cut last year during training camp, and played some games with the Oakland Raiders.

Browner, listed as a backup, is supposedly going to play a sort of hybrid safety with the team, being counted on to help cover tight ends, which the Seahawks had a tough time with during the 2015 year.

With Sherman, Thomas, Chancellor and Shead/Lane in the starting spots and the Seahawks normally carrying 10 DB’s on the roster, that leaves five spots open; not guaranteeing Browner a spot. With Browner, that only leaves four openings from the above eleven (with Lambert). With Burley, Simon, McCray and Terrell having spent time with the team last season, they may have a step up on the others. Burley and Simon have both had problems in the past with the injury bug, so this may be a make or break year for them. McCray sounds like a lock to make the team, and all reports are that Terrell has been having a great camp. Reed and Elliot seem to me, are locks to make the practice squad.

Jean-Baptiste is an interesting look. As a 2^nd round pick in 2014 by the Saints, he never materialized into what they had hoped. With his size, 6-3 218lbs. he fits the mold of Seahawks corners, tall and long. When drafted he was compared to Sherman, now we’ll see if he can learn from him. Farmer may have no chance, as he is a converted receiver with little experience on defense.

Powell may have as good a chance as any to make the roster. A star at Ohio State Univ. he went undrafted, and the Seahawks wasted no time in signing him. From what I’ve read, he has a swagger to go along with his size, 6-3 210.

We’re less than a week into training camp, so it’s very difficult to tell who will have a spot in the Legion of Boom. It should be another interesting position battle to watch as they whittle it down to the 53 man roster. I’m just hoping they can come together as a unit early in the year. So we can have another season like 2013!! 

Until next time………………………Go Hawks!!