Takeaways, notes, and on-site observations from the Seattle Seahawks practice at Lumen Field

On an exquisite Saturday afternoon at Lumen Discipline, the Seattle Seahawks held their first Lumen Discipline apply beneath Mike Macdonald as a part of the annual Seahawks Soccer Fest. As promised, it was a really relaxed, family-friendly environment with music and leisure, of which I noticed little or no of it as a result of I entered by means of Gate 5 as a substitute of the Muckleshoot Heritage Plaza. Cliff Avril was among the many former Seahawks there to signal autographs contained in the stadium, and the Blue Angels Air Present was seen and heard loud and clear all through the day.

This was a little bit of a particular journey for myself, as I’ve not been again to Seattle since I moved to the East Coast in 2012. Regardless that I’ve been within the Portland space for seven years I hadn’t but made that quick journey from the Rose Metropolis to the Emerald Metropolis. You’re not right here to learn my (detoured) Amtrak journey from Portland right through Chehalis and Tukwila as much as King Road Station, although. You’re right here as a result of the Seahawks had a apply at Lumen Discipline as a part of the festivities. This 12 months didn’t have a fully-fledged “mock sport” in comparison with years previous, however there was sufficient game-like simulation within the back-half of apply to watch.

Regardless that I didn’t have a press credential and as a substitute “labored” from Part 208 close to midfield, this text remains to be going to typically adhere to Seahawks coaching camp media pointers. This implies I cannot reveal any overly intricate particulars from the sport pertaining to play designs, formations, who blitzed from what hole, and many others. If you’d like intricacies of the forms of movement used and any misdirection or protection schemes, you’ll simply have to attend for preseason.

With no mobile phone use permitted throughout apply, I went the old school approach and wrote down notes with a pen and a pocket pocket book. All takeaways shall be divided amongst offense, protection, and particular groups.

Offense

No Geno Smith. Mike Macdonald did say that he’s feeling optimistic that Geno will return to apply subsequent week. That meant an unique afternoon of Sam Howell and P.J. Walker as soon as once more.

Sam Howell was scrambling rather a lot. A good quantity of this was out of necessity, however you may inform that he was bailing for the sake of bailing. PJ Walker didn’t run the ball fairly often, however Howell was seeking to both lengthen performs or break the pocket and get some yards. One holding penalty on Charles Cross was completely as a result of Howell scrambled to his left and Cross grabbed Uchenna Nwosu. I’d say that Howell’s mobility is a web optimistic, however it might probably (and has) additionally get him into hassle in precise video games.

P.J. Walker struggled with a few snaps. There was a botched change which the offense fell again on as he tried to get it to the operating again. Then he had a snap from Jalen Sundell he flat out fumbled in a pink zone drill, taking the Seahawks approach again. I’d say Walker had the higher particular person moments in 11-on-11 than Howell, however that Howell had significantly better throws within the 1-on-1s and go skels. Needless to say Walker went up towards the second-team protection whereas Howell had (largely) the first-teamers. Neither one in all them was constantly correct sufficient, which made for a 15-minute stretch of 11-on-11 the place the offense didn’t file a primary down. Howell had a top quality two-minute drill and commanded the huddle properly, however there weren’t too many different “wow” performs from both QB. There’s a large hole between them and Geno Smith, which shouldn’t shock anybody.

DK Metcalf had one of many highlights of the day. In 1-on-1s, Metcalf was matched up with Devon Witherspoon. He made a double transfer and flipped his hips to the within, dropping Witherspoon to the turf and catching the ball for a landing from Sam Howell. The group was amped up and it was a doozy of a play. DK additionally made a one-handed seize at the back of the tip zone on a scramble drill however he couldn’t get the second foot down. Rayshawn Jenkins was in protection and made certain he couldn’t keep inbounds. Just about all of Metcalf’s reps had been towards Riq Woolen or Devon Witherspoon.

There’s virtually no level in assessing the operating sport. It was largely primary dashing performs and positive aspects had been minimal amongst Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. If I needed to highlight anybody, George Holani is hard-nosed along with his fashion, and he made a third down seize operating throughout the sphere. Kenny McIntosh dropped a checkdown and in any other case didn’t flash something spectacular.

Middle rotation. From my vantage level, Nick Harris and Olu Oluwatimi had been swapping out and in of the first-team lineup. Everybody else is “as you had been” all through coaching camp, which is to say that Christian Haynes has some work to do for the beginning job at both guard place.

The rookie linemen confirmed up later. Sautoa Laumea and Michael Jerrell received their snaps towards the latter phases of apply, which could provide you with a touch by way of what they should do to guarantee themselves of a roster spot.

Extra Bobo. I don’t care if Bobo by no means turns into something above a WR4. He has worth not less than as a red-zone goal. His landing was a back-shoulder throw by P.J. Walker with D.J. James in protection. Bobo did an amazing job dragging his second foot inbounds for the rating.

Cody White is the highest “camp physique” receiver to look at in preseason. Tyler Lockett both didn’t apply or barely practiced, which meant a number of Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jake Bobo. The fifth choice might be Laviska Shenault Jr given how usually he labored with the first-team, second-team, and particular groups. I might control Cody White, who caught an explosive play center of the sphere go in a two-minute drill. He almost made an incredible, twisting downfield seize on Artie Burns however he bobbled it. Noticed some good issues from Hayden Hatten, though there was one drop that was a little bit of a nasty one. He made up for it with a catch from Walker on a scramble drill.

Tight ends aplenty. I noticed all of Seattle’s tight ends break up out within the slot or out vast not less than as soon as in 11-on-11. The ultimate play of apply was a “gimme that” contested catch by Jack Westover with D.J. James unable to tear the ball away.

Protection

The defensive position clearly received the 11-on-11. Actually, the protection undeniably received the day. Boye Mafe was excellent on the sting, Leonard Williams had a pleasant rep lined up on the surface, even Mike Morris caught my eye with a number of go rush wins. Uchenna Nwosu recorded a run cease on a deal with for loss on the left facet of the sphere. I didn’t see a ton from Derick Corridor, though Michael-Shawn Dugar clarified to me that the skirmish throughout 1-on-1s was after Corridor and Stone Forsythe had a rep. I missed what occurred and solely noticed the aftermath.

Byron Murphy II is powerful as hell. I noticed him swiftly break up a right-sided double workforce and drive Sam Howell to scramble out of his personal finish zone on third down. In a 1-on-1 drill he drove middle Jalen Sundell again with ease. I can not wait to see him in preseason.

Not a lot to report from the linebackers. Jerome Baker didn’t apply attributable to a hamstring problem, so we noticed Tyrel Dodson, Jon Rhattigan, Tyrice Knight, Patrick O’Connell, and Devin Richardson. Didn’t see something notable from Knight, however I did discover O’Connell working with the deep reserves.

The cornerbacks received a heavy exercise and largely seemed spectacular. Maintaining in thoughts that Mike Jackson Sr stays out with harm, the cornerback room is so thrilling. Devon Witherspoon received again at DK (I suppose) by shutting off a Sam Howell pink zone throw into the tip zone. Metcalf by no means had positioning and Witherspoon had it lined. Riq Woolen had a near-pick of Howell, whereas rookie D.J. James had an precise choose of P.J. Walker in a 1-on-1.

D.J. James was focused closely, much more than fellow rookie Nehemiah Pritchett. He took his lumps, together with a DPI on a deep shot to Jake Bobo through Sam Howell in a 1-on-1 rep, however had some strong moments as properly. If I needed to choose one of many two rookies to be extra more likely to make his approach up the depth chart, it’s James. There was a fast out to Eskridge that James instantly zoomed in on for what would’ve hypothetically been a deal with for no achieve. The instincts look sound, however it’s nonetheless simply apply with a restricted playbook.

Marquise Blair had an eventful day. There was one 1-on-1 interception he made on a PJ Walker throw meant for Noah Fant, after which I had my head down for one second after Walker discovered Dee Eskridge for a pleasant catch-and-run. Seems he gave just a little further after the play and that set off a scuffle, which positively had a Blair shove someplace in there. It simmered down shortly thereafter.

Ok’Von Wallace seems just like the third security. He rotated in for Rayshawn Jenkins alongside Julian Love, and in any other case featured greater than another reserve security. There’s one play the place he flew in from the road of scrimmage to stymie Kenny McIntosh within the backfield for a TFL. Wallace is 27 however he’s solely been within the NFL since 2020, and I believe there’s some untapped potential to his sport.

Particular Groups

After warmups, apply started with a number of drills of the modified kickoff rule. I counted six returners used, all completely both receivers or cornerbacks: Laviska Shenault Jr, Dareke Younger, Easop Winston Jr, Dee Eskridge, Dee Williams (who stays a cornerback in camp), and Tre Brown. This seems very very similar to an open competitors with no clear frontrunner.

The one slight eyebrow raiser on punt returns was Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I believe he had a take a look at punt returns final 12 months, in order that was solely to see if JSN would nonetheless be an choice. I solely noticed him discipline one punt and never even faux to go upfield. Dees Williams and Eskridge had a number of reps, as did Easop Winston Jr.

There have been situational punt protection drills, with Michael Dickson taking kicks from totally different components of the sphere. Coby Bryant tried to save lots of one punt from rolling into the tip zone for a touchback however couldn’t (and doubtless didn’t have an opportunity), whereas Artie Burns executed to perfection and downed the ball on the 1. Dickson is booming the ball higher than ever.

Jason Myers made a 38-yard discipline objective in a two-minute drill. I wasn’t completely being attentive to his apply kicks on the other facet of the sphere. It’s even-numbered 12 months Myers so I assumed he didn’t miss any kicks.

Afterward, there was an autographed soccer toss. I used to be too excessive as much as be focused but additionally I’d reasonably not be in a sea of humanity after I’d reasonably simply have the youngsters and their mother and father get these souvenirs.

And that’s my report from Lumen Discipline! Effectively, an preliminary one not less than, as a result of I nonetheless left some stuff on the reducing room ground. Let’s do a mailbag this week and I’ll reply some extra questions from apply. Don’t overlook that our on-site journeys to Seahawks coaching camp aren’t performed but! New workers author Geoff Leediker (one other PDX resident) goes to Renton for the ultimate public apply on Aug. 8.