第一个问题：

第二句的时态应该与第一句呼应，都是现在时间范畴才对。第二句用一般过去时，与第一句的现在进行时在意义上脱节。第二句改为一般现在时：have got，口语等于 have。

We are making progress. We've got a bunch of people out looking.

我们正在取得进步。我们有一群人在围观。

out 和 looking 分别定语，修饰 people。

第二个问题：

seem 是感官意义的系动词。为了整齐划一，其后的所有成分，一律划为 seem 的表语。去掉半助动词的说法，纯属人为制造的概念。即：

seem + adj./noun

seem + like（介词）

seem  to be

seem to do

seem that

seem as if/as though

seem like（连词）

网友的例句，划线部分都是表语：

There seems to be a storm tonight.

It seems to be true.

I cannot seem to do that.

The dog seems to like that bone.