As expected, Seattle Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart were the highest-profile players to lose their current spots as NFL teams reduced their rosters to 53 names by 6:00 EDT on Saturday afternoon. Houshmandzadeh was a bad fit with a new Seattle organization, and Leinart simply never lived up to the expectations that go with the top-10 pick status he received in 2006. Rookie free agent Max Hall clearly outplayed Leinart, and reclamation project Mike Williams helped make Houshmandzadeh expendable.

And before you think, "Well, Leinart went to USC and was coached by Pete Carroll, so Leinart will land in Seattle," keep in mind that just-released quarterback Patrick Ramsey, formerly of the Saints, played for the Denver Broncos in 2007 and 2008 when current offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was there. Ramsey seems a more reasonable option. The Seahawks also acquired Eagles lineman Stacy Andrews and lost legendary line coach Alex Gibbs to an apparent retirement.

Here are some other notable cuts:

Arizona Cardinals: We talked about Cody Brown and Monty Beisel in yesterday's blog post about early cuts. Leinart wasn't a surprise at all.

Baltimore Ravens: The release of quarterback Troy Smith was a bit of a surprise, though Smith may get a better shot as an athletic option quarterback on another team.

Buffalo Bills: Wayne State running back Joique Bell lost a numbers game at the position, but I have little doubt that he can help another team. Bell is a big back with agility and ability. Former New England second-round pick Chad Jackson was cut after accomplishing very little in Buffalo - that's one Bill Belichick is going to want to forget. Of course, the Bills also cut receiver James Hardy, their own former second-rounder. As we shall see, it was a very bad day for second-rounders overall.

Carolina Panthers: A bit of a surprise to see defensive tackle Tank Tyler cut; Tyler made some plays with the Chiefs a while back. But the Panthers had the best preseason defense by far, and they obviously feel great about the guys they're keeping.

Chicago Bears: Guard Josh Beekman was a fourth-round pick in 2007, and was thought to be part of the Bears' future. And it won't help his rep that he couldn't stick on the team with the worst pass-blocking line in the NFL. WR Juaquin Iglesias, a third-rounder last year, was Sam Bradford's favorite target at Oklahoma, but never managed to stand out at the NFL level.

Cincinnati Bengals: Former Kansas WR Dez Briscoe was extremely productive in college and may have been lost in the shuffle with all the focus in Chad Ochicinco, Terrell Owens, and rookies Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley. Matt Jones was also cut; it would be a big surprise if the former first-round pick's career isn't over.

Denver Broncos: Denver cut former Pats DE Jarvis Green, leaving them with very little in the way of a front line. They also released Brandon Stokely, who was probably made redundant with the ascent of rookie Eric Decker. And in s stunning move, Denver sent 2009 second-round CB Alfonso Smith to the Lions for TE Dan Gronkowski. You'll remember that Smith was the kid that had Denver sending a 2010 first-round pick to Seattle last year for the right to trade up.

Houston Texans: Some bigger names, but no real surprises. RB Chris Henry, CB Jacques Reeves, and K Kris Brown (the Mike Vanderjagt of the new age) were the notable cuts.

Miami Dolphins: The Tuna-led Fins admitted a mistake by releasing quarterback Pat White, who was neither fish nor fowl in Miami's Wildcat offense. White was a speed option guy in school, and he never caught up to the more complex arrays in Miami. And former USC receiver Patrick Turner, taken in the third round just last year, was also jettisoned.

New England Patriots: Reports have the Pats releasing OLB Derrick Burgess, which could hurt both parties. Burgess isn't what he used to be, but the New England pass rush can't afford any more hits.

New Orleans Saints: Ladell Betts was simply outplayed by undrafted rookie Chris Ivory, and Patrick Ramsey was outclassed by Drew Brees Mini-Me Chase Daniel.

New York Jets: No real shockers among the "Hard Knocks" crew, though LB Brashton Satele seemed to impress in camp, and I think you could have received decent odds on rookie running back Joe McKnight not making the team, though he actually did.

Philadelphia Eagles: DB Macho Harris was taken by Philly in the fifth round just last season, but he never found a spot at either cornerback or safety, and rookie Trevard Lindley outplayed him this preseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Center Justin Hartwig is a fairly big name; he signed a four-year, $10 million contract with Pittsburgh just last season. But he was overmatched as a run blocker, and rookie Maurkice Pouncey simply beat him out.

San Diego Chargers: The trade for ex-Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton sealed Josh Reed's fate, and former Bears safety Nathan Vasher, who hasn't played a full season since 2005, couldn't make the cut, either.

St. Louis Rams: Linebacker Bobby Carpenter was traded from Dallas in May, but lost time to Larry Grant and never impressed his new coaching staff.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs have already cast RB Derrick Ward aside just one year after signing him to a four-year, $17 million contract. Now, they've added WR Michael Clayton to that big pile of dead cash. Just one year after outbidding the Seahawks for WR Michael Clayton's services and giving him a five-year, $24 million deal, Tampa Bay has cut Clayton as well. It's safe to say that Bucs GM Mark Dominik has had his share of rocky moments early on.

Washington Redskins: The formerly Fast Willie Parker was the big name here.

NFL teams can start adding to their practice squads tomorrow, which is when many of these names will find new roster spots.

So, what's on your to-do list for this holiday weekend? If you're interested in cooking for friends and family, and you're looking for a new recipe of interest, here are five dishes straight from the kitchens of NFL players. From running backs to linebackers; from dinner to dessert, we've got it all. (Thanks to our friends at Octagon Football for their help in setting this up).

Terrell Thomas' Mom's Banana Pudding

New York Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas is a USC alum who was selected in the second round of the 2008 draft. In his NFL career, he has amassed 130 tackles (109 solo), a sack, two forced fumbles, six interceptions, and 17 passes defensed.

Ingredients:

1 big tablespoon of flour
1/2 cup sugar or a little more
2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Vanilla Wafers - Box and a half (Crumble some throughout and on top)
3-4 ripened bananas

Directions: In a saucepan, mix flour & sugar then add eggs and mix well, place on stove and slowly add milk a little at a time -- stirring constantly. Continue stirring until it has thickened, after thickened, add butter and vanilla to your desire. Not too much vanilla -- just a taste of it, as too much will make your pudding look chocolately.

Layer the cookies and bananas, (I crumble some throughout), Refrigerate overnight or to your liking, because some like it cold and some like it a little warm, but you should refrigerate it for a few hours until pudding is solid.

Justin Forsett's Peach Cobbler

Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett was drafted in the seventh round in 2008, and transcended his early status as a practice squad afterthought to compete for starting time with the 2010 team. In his career, he's put up 619 rushing yards on 114 carries and four touchdowns. He's also caught 41 passes for 350 yards and another score.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 teaspoon coconut flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 large cans peaches
1 or 2 cans crushed pineapples

Mix ingredients together and boil for 15 minutes.

In separate bowl, combine ingredients for the batter:

1 cup sugar
4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 cup milk
Dash of salt

Mix well; melt 1 1/2 sticks of butter in deep baking dish, then pour batter into dish. Pour fruit mixture over batter: place in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Serve warm with ice cream if desired.

Erik Coleman's Pasta Carbonara

Atlanta Falcons safety Erik Coleman was taken in the fifth round by the New York Jets in 2004, and he's been with the Falcons since 2008. He's totaled over 100 tackles in four of his six NFL seasons, and he's picked off 10 passes in his career.

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon, cut into small pieces
4 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup heavy cream at room temperature
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 ounces dry fettuccine pasta
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup chopped parsley
ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels.

2. In medium bowl, beat together eggs and cream just until blended. Stir in cheese and set aside.

3. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pan. Toss with butter until it is melted. Add bacon and cheese mixture and toss gently until mixed.

Akin Ayodele's Cuban Ropa Vieja

Taken in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, linebacker Akin Ayodele is currently a free agent after spending time with the Jags, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Broncos.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 pounds beef flank steak
1 cup beef broth
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 small onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Directions

1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.

2. Transfer beef to a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar. Stir until well blended. Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for up to 10 hours. When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.

Travis LaBoy's Mom's Lasagna

The Tennessee Titans took linebacker Travis LaBoy in the second round of the 2004 draft. Currently signed with the San Francisco 49ers, LaBoy may have enjoyed his best season in 2008, when he came very close to winning a Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals.

1 box of lasagna noodles
1 large jar of Prego Mushroom spaghetti sauce
1 small tub of ricotta cheese
1 bag of shredded mozzarella
1 small shaker of parmesan
1 box of frozen Cream of Spinach
1lb of hamburger or turkey meat

1. Follow directions on the box for cooking noodles but keep them a bit firm so they don't tear

2. Microwave for 1 min the frozen spinach; mix with the entire tub of ricotta cheese

3. Cook meat and pour in the sauce

Layer

1 layer of noodles
1 layer of ricotta spinach mix
1 layer of mozzarella
Sprinkle with parmesan; do again
Top with noodles enough sauce to cover the top and sprinkle entire thing with paremsian chees
Bake for 1 hour at 350 to 400 degrees; cool before cutting.

Through Friday night, as NFL teams work to carve their final rosters, two potential cuts loomed large, and they both came from the NFC West. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, that former 10th overall pick in 2006, has been busy playing his way out a roster spot, has been quoted as saying that he's outplayed all comers on the roster, and doesn't understand the prospect of languishing behind Derek Anderson on the depth chart as surprising rookie Max Hall pokes him with a stick.

Underperforming and failing to understand your role? That's a common thread among high-profile cuts, and Seattle Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh finds himself in similarly choppy waters. I happened to attend several Seahawks preseason practices, and it was pretty obvious that the new regime wasn't going out of its way to feature Chad Ochocinco's former bestest buddy. In Cincy, Housh got a lot of good looks from Carson Palmer as Ocho received the Bengal's share of A-level coverage, but former Seahawks GM Tim Ruskell once again displayed his catastrophic inability to evaluate receivers by paying Housh like a #1 receiver just last year. Seattle signed him to a five-year, $40 million deal in March of 2009, and now are apparently ready to take 2010's $7 million in guaranteed salary as sunk cost just to move on.

While Leinart and Housh await their collective fates, here are a few surprise guys who got the axe on Friday:

New Orleans Saints DE Bobby McCray: The Saints have a better sense of how to use undrafted rookies than just about any other team, so it's not too shocking that as Junior Galette has outplayed McCray, the veteran found himself on the bubble. Still, seeing one of the rotational guys from a Super Bowl championship defense of just a year ago is always a bit jarring.

Chicago Bears S Al Afalava: This was the shocker to me. Afalava was a low-round pick out of Oregon State just last year, and started 13 games in Chicago's depleted defensive backfield. Waiving him seems like a weird move -- the kid's only making $395,000 this season - but the Bears have seen their share of unusual transactions in the last few seasons. Afalava will be a bargain for a team looking to bolster its depth at safety.

New Orleans Saints RB Ladell Betts: A surprise to a point if you didn't see undrafted rookie Chris Ivory run the ball; it seems that Ivory impressed the Saints' coaching staff enough that he will take Mike Bell's place on the roster.

San Francisco 49ers WR Jason Hill: The 49ers have drafted a great many athletic receivers with nebulous NFL-level abilities in the last few seasons, and Hill - a former burner from Washington State -- never really caught on and missed an ideal opportunity when he failed to stand out after Isaac Bruce's motor finally died out.

Arizona Cardinals ILB Monty Beisel: While fellow ILB Gerald Hayes has been moved to the PUP list, the removal of Beisel is as much about the play of rookie Daryl Washington of TCU. Washington has blown up in the preseason and lived to what the Cards hoped when they selected him in the second round to be Karlos Dansby's replacement.

Arizona Cardinals OLB/DE Cody Brown: Then again, being a recent Cards high draft pick is no reason to assume roster security. If Leinart can't testify to that just yet, Brown certainly can. Just one season ago, Arizona selected Brown in the second round as a defensive end and tried to convert him to 3-4 outside linebacker. But he missed his entire rookie season with a dislocated wrist and failed to impress in 2010.

NFL teams have until Saturday at 6:00 PM EDT to get their rosters down to 53 players. Expect more surprise cuts along the way...

As most people expected, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the decision today to reduce the six-game suspension he levied against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to four games. Roethlisberger, who was allowed to practice with the team and play in the preseason, will not be allowed to visit the team facility, interact with Steelers coaches or football operations personnel during his suspension, or even talk with his teammates about league or football matters. He will not be able to practice with the team, attend games, or represent the organization in any way. Reports indicate that Roethlisberger will work with an independent quarterbacks coach and throw to free-agent receivers. The four-week ban is good news in a way for the Steelers, who lost quarterback Byron Leftwich to a torn left MCL in the preseason finale.

Yahoo! Sports has learned from Bob McLaughlin of Steelers flagship station www.fox970.com that Roethlisberger broke down as he talked with teammates in the locker room after the Steelers' Thursday night 19-3 win over the Carolina Panthers. "Between the finality of the suspension, and the knowledge that the team will be down another quarterback with Leftwich's injury, there were a lot of emotional guys in that locker room," McLaughlin said.

Roethlisberger was originally suspended by the NFL for a violation of the league's personal conduct policy as the result of events that allegedly took place in a Milledgeville, Ga. bar on March 5. Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night of drinking in the bar, though he was not charged, Goodell made the call to suspend Roethlisberger after charges were dropped. The quarterback and the Commissioner met at the league's New York offices on Friday morning, and Goodell reduced the suspension based on Roethlisberger's behavior after the alleged incident.

[Photos: More images of the Steelers quarterback]

"I'm very encouraged by what he's doing," Goodell said at Steelers training camp on Aug. 5. "He hasn't just done what he's been told to do, I think he's worked hard to really try to improve and focus on himself and understand what he's been through and what he's going to do differently going forward. I think that's a very positive thing ... He's got to work through the program that's designed for him to help him. A lot of that is confidential, but he's done it and he's done it with enthusiasm. I think that's a good thing."

"Ben has done a good job this summer of growing as the person that he needs to be, both on and off the field," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a team-released statement. "I am confident that Ben is committed to continuing in this positive direction. As a team, our focus is now on preparing for the regular season and getting off to a good start on opening weekend."

"I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person," Roethlisberger added in his own statement. "I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be, and exceeding what is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers."

The league will obviously be watching Roethlisberger through those four games, and any slip-up would put the reduction in jeopardy.

Pittsburgh faces the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens in their first four games. Roethlisberger will rejoin the team for their week 5 bye, and the Steelers will begin their season with their franchise quarterback at home against the Cleveland Browns on October 17.

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A few random thoughts from Week 4 of the preseason:

-- St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is going to do some special things in the NFL because of his ability to hit small targets downfield, even when he's throwing across his body or on the move. There are those who were justifiably concerned about Bradford's ability to take hits and still make plays at the next level. After all, in his one great season (2008) at Oklahoma, he was basically taking target practice behind the best offensive line in college football. But when he has a clean pocket, and even when he has to roll out, he really impresses with the way he throws into tight windows. It's a bit early to compare, but I feel comfortable saying that embryonic versions of Tom Brady and Matt Ryan come to mind.

-- The Redskins' 3-4 defense is going to work for two reasons: First, the front office went about putting the right personnel on the roster to fit when new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett wants to do (the Haynesworth debacle aside, and they inherited that). Second, Haslett's multiple fronts and different secondary looks will allow defenders who are better when they're allowed to be aggressive - like endbacker Brian Orakpo and cornerback DeAngelo Hall - do what comes naturally. The unsung players here might be nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu, who excelled for the Carolina Panthers when he was healthy, and rookie ILB Perry Riley, who's just the kind of downhill thumper the ‘Skins will need. This was the defense I took in the Football Outsiders staff fantasy draft, and I don't think I'll regret the move.

-- If Byron Leftwich's knee injury is as bad as expected, and Ben Roethlisberger winds up with a four-game suspension, I think the Steelers would be smarter to find a way to make Dennis Dixon their full-time starter as opposed to having Charlie Batch in there and bringing in Dixon for specific option packages. In my opinion, a Batch/Dixon switchoff would mirror the way the Philadelphia Eagles have mishandled the Michael Vick situation. If you only ever use one quarterback in option packages, you are absolutely giving the opposing defense an advantage when you bring him into the game. The Dolphins are able to run the Wildcat so effectively because it doesn't require special personnel, and there are multiple options. If Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians can put together some pseudo-spread stuff that works for Dixon, I don't think it would be too much of a transition for the team. Pittsburgh already runs a lot of heavy shotgun sets with short cluster clearing routes, often out of trips and bunch formations.

-- There are a lot of people who desperately want Tim Tebow to be a successful NFL quarterback, but from what I have seen, it's going to take a good long while before that happens. I'm willing to overlook his problems under center - those are common to shotgun quarterbacks. But his mechanics are still extremely jittery, he lacks a feel for play action, that hitch in his throw is still there, and he often looks as if he's pushing the ball deep. That said, he does make some excellent downfield completions, and he's a real threat to take off and run. I've already seen defenses cheat up in intermediate zones to account for that. Tebow can be a credible player and a productive option soon - even this season - but it will be in other ways. There's a reason the Broncos signed Kyle Orton to an extension.

-- I think the Oakland Raiders will surprise a lot of people this year for a number of reasons, and Jason Campbell is one of them. That said, if Campbell can't go in Week 1 for any reason, Oakland is in pretty good hands with backup Bruce Gradkowski. I really like how Gradkowski (who reminds me a lot of Jeff Garcia) understands the timing of shorter passes, runs effectively out of trouble by keeping his eyes forward and on any open receiver, and keeps the game controlled. Gradkowski succeeded last year when the Raiders finally pulled the trigger on JaMarcus Russell, and I think he can be a good fringe/emergency starter in the NFL.

-- Opposing offensive lines are already double-teaming Detroit rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, which is no surprise. So far, Suh has looked every bit the player the Lions hope he will be. But another first-year tackle to watch is Cincinnati's Geno Atkins, a fourth-round pick out of Georgia. Atkins led the NFL in sacks this preseason with 4.5, and he's attracting extra blockers like a first-rounder. At 6-1 and 290 pounds, Atkins can play the one-technique, the three-technique, and he can go face up with a guard in a base front. Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has been doing some really interesting things with personnel this preseason - switching tackles and ends based on opponent and situation - and Atkins should benefit from that flexibility.

-- The Seattle Seahawks traded Josh Wilson to the Baltimore Ravens because they have a great deal of faith in rookie cornerback Walter Thurmond, but the Raiders took Thurmond to school on Thursday.

-- The best quarterback in Arizona right now might be rookie Max Hall. Has one team ever plummeted so far after the retirement of a franchise quarterback?

-- The 49ers have been looking for a handcuff for Frank Gore for years, and they might have finally found one in Anthony Dixon. The rookie from Mississippi State is the kind of big power back that Mike Singletary likes, but like Gore, he matches that power with the ability to break runs downfield.

The final week of the 2010 preseason is upon us, though this will be to football what John Beck is to Rex Grossman (or something like that). We've seen most of what we're going to see from the starters, and now it's time for the low-round rookies and other fringe players to try desperately to work their way onto the final 53. Here are five questions this preseason has brought up in this particular mind:

1. Will the Carolina Panthers ever score an offensive touchdown?

Through three preseason games, the Panthers have run 199 plays from scrimmage and scored a grand total of zero offensive touchdowns. The only Panthers offensive player to get in the end zone under any circumstances is running back Mike Goodson, and he did that on a kick return. The problems are all over the place - receiver Steve Smith is still out after breaking his arm playing flag football in the offseason, quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen have looked sub-decent at best, and that renowned Panthers power running game has gone "Pffft" as opposing defenses are able to put their focus there. The good news for the Panthers is that their defense is playing at a ridiculous pace right now - first in the NFL in total defense, second in points allowed, and first with 18 sacks. That's pretty impressive for a team with several new defensive starters. The Panthers might be able to eke out a few ugly wins early on, and Smith is expected back for the first regular-season game, but concerns have to be mounting.

2. Will Jay Cutler survive the regular season?

Last season, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler suffered a career-high 35 sacks (555 passing attempts). He was also hurried a league-leading 141 times by enemy defenders, according to Football Outsiders. That was the result of a subpar and injury-plagued offensive line. With most of that same line in place for 2010, and the addition of offensive coordinator Mike Martz (who provides higher offensive totals and larger sack percentages to every team he coaches), Cutler's already been taken down 10 times alongside just 37 passing attempts this preseason. Perhaps most disturbing was that after Cutler was sacked five times against the Oakland Raiders (including four from Kamerion Wimbley, who beat left tackle Chris Williams like one of Keith Moon's old drum kits), Chicago didn't really alter their protection concepts for the next game versus the Arizona Cardinals. And that's why Cutler was sacked four more times against the Cards. It doesn't matter how talented Cutler is at this point, because if the Bears don't do something about this (Hint: LET YOUR TIGHT ENDS BLOCK), he's going to be on IR by Week 5.

3. Which rookie outlier stat represents a real breakthrough?

Every preseason, a few rookies find favorable circumstances and blow up in exhibition games. Sometimes, that's a precursor to an All-Pro career (as it was when Chris Johnson averaged 5.5 yards per carry in 2008), and sometimes, it's a very short flash in a very big pan (as it was in 2006, when Sam Hurd, Taye Biddle, and Willie Reid were the NFL's most prolific preseason rookie receivers). Through Week 3 In 2010, we already have Cincinnati defensive tackle Geno Atkins with 4.5 sacks, Buffalo running back Joique Bell's 142 yards on 22 carries, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz's 12 catches for 251 yards, Jacksonville's ridiculous kick return team of Deji Karim and Scotty McGee (18 returns, 566 yards, 31.4 per return, six returns longer than 40 yards), Indianapolis Colts linebacker Pat Angerer's 24 tackles, and Green Bay Packers defensive back Sam Shields' two interceptions and seven passes defensed. How many of these unexpected preseason stars will take their performances into the regular season?

4. Are the Jets a paper tiger?

We've already asked if it's time to worry about Mark Sanchez, and the answer is very clearly, "Yes" -- at least in the short term. And everybody's favorite non-Colts/Ravens/Pats AFC Super Bowl pick is showing some other blemishes these days. Not only is Sanchez's efficiency and productivity a real concern (just two touchdowns and three plays of 20 yards or more in the team's passing game), but the smashmouth rushing attack Rex Ryan prefers is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry through the first three games, and left guard Vlad Ducasse's pass protection issues were well-documented on the most recent episode of "Hard Knocks." The defense has been okay with Darrelle Revis holding out and Calvin Pace hurt, but as Rex said, "Okay isn't a position." Some preseason hangovers dissipate as the games start to matter (advocates for ignoring this time of year altogether will remind us that the 0-16 Detroit Lions of 2008 went undefeated in the preseason), but there seems to be a bit more worry around this one.

5. Is Kurt Warner a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, or what?

Well, that's not really an unanswerable question; of course he is. But what Warner left in his wake after his retirement ... hoo boy. In a weak year for quarterbacks both in the draft and in free agency, Ken Whisenhunt thought that the duo of Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson could keep Arizona's frenetic offensive pace, which reminds me of the time Seattle Mariners team president Chuck Armstrong tried to convince an enraged fanbase that if you combined Dan Wilson and Ben Davis, you'd wind up with Pudge Rodriguez. So far, Leinart has played his way on to the trading block, and Anderson is nobody's idea of a top 10 starter. It just goes to show ... no matter how the game may change, quarterback is almost always the most important position.

Through the Seattle Seahawks' 2010 training camp and preseason, we're following running back Justin Forsett as he tries to take that next step from offensive cog to feature back in his third NFL season. In this fifth installment (you can read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 here), the Seahawks try to get their run game going before it's too late.

SEATTLE -- Through their first three preseason games, the Seattle Seahawks have rushed for just 207 yards and one touchdown on 61 carries. That adds up to a 3.4-yards-per-carry average, which puts the team in the league's bottom third. It's a disconcerting notion for a new front office trying to improve on a 2009 run game that averaged just 4.0 YPC (tied with the Detroit Lions). And Justin Forsett, the third-year back who came into the preseason as the projected lead dog in a new running-back rotation, has gained just 50 yards on 18 carries (2.8) as his quick-zone runs have been frequently bottled up behind an injury-plagued offensive line. For the Seahawks, it's been same stuff, different day.

As a result, head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday that the in-game running-back situation hadn't provided a star just yet. "I'll say what we've said all along -- it'd be nice if it did. But it doesn't matter to me that it hasn't. I don't think we've had enough success running the football for these guys to distinguish themselves. They've all run hard -- I've looked at all their runs in groups to make sure I can see them and the styles they run to see if they're anything going on, and right now, they're all battling out there. They're all really good football players ... they're all going to play, and we'll see how we do."

If Forsett was worried about the team's rushing performance, and his place in it, he certainly didn't let on when I talked to him after Tuesday's practice. "We're good," he said. "I think we're just like one block away, or one cut away, from making a big play happen, And that's what we want, is for those explosive runs to come now. We were making the right reads and the right cuts, and we want to make sure that we get to that second level and make some big yards happen."

Last week's game was a particularly interesting challenge, as Seattle traveled to Minnesota to face the Vikings' dominant front four. The Seahawks lost the game, 24-13, and Forsett got 20 yards on six carries. Leon Washington, the guy expected to compete most with Forsett for regular-season reps, amassed just 16 rushing yards on the same number of carries. I asked Forsett if there are any specific adjustments when going from Green Bay's variable-front 3-4 defense to Minnesota's 4-3 base.

"We didn't have any changes, but what we wanted to do was to make sure that we got those guys cut down," he said. "They're all tall guys who play with a lot of motor, especially [Jared] Allen -- they're great off the edge. So we had to get them cut down and get upfield on them, because we wanted to control the clock. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do it as well as we wanted, but you've got to hold on to the ball so their offense stays off the field.

"They usually do a nose tackle and a three-technique tackle [inside], but they'll switch it up on you and do a true 40 front with the two guards covered. But those guys are ... that's a great defense."

And with all their talent, facing an ineffective running game, Minnesota didn't switch things up too often -- fewer over or under fronts; no crazy blitzes. "It's usually just a straight 40 stack [with the tackles covering the guards]. But they're a great defense, and it was good for us to play with them. We had an opportunity to win the game -- I think we're doing better and getting more productive every week. Just learning and growing with the new [offensive] scheme. And the only way up is up."

For the preseason finale, the Seahawks travel to Oakland, where they'll face a Raiders team with a surprisingly good defense. Established stars like tackle Richard Seymour mixed in with esteemed rookies such as linebacker Rolando McClain and tackle Lamarr Houston, and young up-and-comers like end Matt Shaughnessy. The Raiders have personnel that fit three- and four-man fronts, which presents another type of challenge.

"Well, it's good because we already had Green Bay, and then Minnesota, and of course Tennessee -- we got those guys already. So, we got the 4-3 and the 3-4; we're pretty much prepared right now. We've just got to be patient with the run game, and just make sure we're not rushing anything. We need to hit those creases and get to the second level -- that's what we want to do as running backs, get in the secondary and make big plays."

Perhaps it's time to get the backs more involved in the passing game -- Forsett has displayed an ability to not only get to the seam from the backfield, but to line up wide and get downfield. "That's the thing with this offense," he said. "Coach Carroll -- you remember Reggie Bush and those guys [at USC]. He likes to spread the running backs out, and I'm excited about doing things like that during the season. It's definitely an option there.

"I like the post," he added, when I asked him what his best route is. "It allows me to get up on the defender and stick him really hard. Plus, I'm going at an angle toward the end zone. So, I can usually catch the ball going in."

That's a nice concept for Forsett and the Seahawks, but the running game is still in flux and time is running short before all the games matter more. There's the Thursday game at Oakland, and then, the hay's in the barn. Forsett, as is his style, sees the positives. It has to be this way for a seventh-round pick, who has been overlooked since his days at Cal, and keeps finding ways to make a difference for his team.

"I just think I'm more confident this year. Just comfortable in the system, and I've been doing it for a while -- since college. Getting that experience last year was key for me. I'm ready to go -- I'm excited about the season and I'm ready to get some yards."