Takeaways, notes, and on-site observations from the Seattle Seahawks apply at Lumen Area

On an attractive Saturday afternoon at Lumen Area, the Seattle Seahawks held their first Lumen Area apply beneath Mike Macdonald as a part of the annual Seahawks Soccer Fest. As promised, it was a really relaxed, family-friendly ambiance with music and leisure, of which I noticed little or no of it as a result of I entered via 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. Though I’ve been within the Portland space for seven years I hadn’t but made that brief journey from the Rose Metropolis to the Emerald Metropolis. You’re not right here to learn my (detoured) Amtrak journey from Portland during Chehalis and Tukwila as much as King Avenue Station, although. You’re right here as a result of the Seahawks had a apply at Lumen Area as a part of the festivities. This yr didn’t have a fully-fledged “mock recreation” in comparison with years previous, however there was sufficient game-like simulation within the back-half of apply to watch.

Though 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 usually adhere to Seahawks coaching camp media tips. This implies I can’t reveal any overly intricate particulars from the sport pertaining to play designs, formations, who blitzed from what hole, and so on. If you need intricacies of the forms of movement used and any misdirection or protection schemes, you’ll simply have to attend for preseason.

With no cellular phone use permitted throughout apply, I went the old school means and wrote down notes with a pen and a pocket pocket book. All takeaways will likely 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 trying to both prolong 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 internet optimistic, however it may (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 working again. Then he had a snap from Jalen Sundell he flat out fumbled in a purple zone drill, taking the Seahawks means 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 cross 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 persistently correct sufficient, which made for a 15-minute stretch of 11-on-11 the place the offense didn’t document a primary down. Howell had a high 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 gang was amped up and it was a doozy of a play. DK additionally made a one-handed seize at the back of the top zone on a scramble drill however he couldn’t get the second foot down. Rayshawn Jenkins was in protection and made positive he couldn’t keep inbounds. Just about all of Metcalf’s reps had been towards Riq Woolen or Devon Witherspoon.

There’s nearly no level in assessing the working recreation. It was largely primary speeding performs and beneficial properties had been minimal amongst Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. If I needed to highlight anybody, George Holani is hard-nosed along with his type, and he made a third down seize working throughout the sector. 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 acquired their snaps towards the latter levels of apply, which could offer you a touch when it comes to 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 observe in preseason. Tyler Lockett both didn’t apply or barely practiced, which meant plenty of Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jake Bobo. The fifth possibility might be Laviska Shenault Jr given how usually he labored with the first-team, second-team, and particular groups. I’d keep watch over Cody White, who caught an explosive play center of the sector cross in a two-minute drill. He almost made an awesome, 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 foul 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 cut up out within the slot or out large 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 line of defense clearly received the 11-on-11. In truth, 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 cross rush wins. Uchenna Nwosu recorded a run cease on a sort out for loss on the left aspect of the sector. 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 robust as hell. I noticed him swiftly cut up a right-sided double group and pressure 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’t wait to see him in preseason.

Not a lot to report from the linebackers. Jerome Baker didn’t apply as a consequence of a hamstring concern, 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 acquired a heavy exercise and largely regarded spectacular. Holding in thoughts that Mike Jackson Sr stays out with damage, the cornerback room is so thrilling. Devon Witherspoon acquired again at DK (I suppose) by shutting off a Sam Howell purple zone throw into the top 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 stable moments as properly. If I needed to choose one of many two rookies to be extra more likely to make his means 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 sort out 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 supposed 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 a little bit additional 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 to be just like the third security. He rotated in for Rayshawn Jenkins alongside Julian Love, and in any other case featured greater than every other 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 recreation.

Particular Groups

After warmups, apply started with a number of drills of the modified kickoff rule. I counted six returners used, all solely 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 to be 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 yr, in order that was solely to see if JSN would nonetheless be an possibility. I solely noticed him area 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 completely different components of the sector. Coby Bryant tried to save lots of one punt from rolling into the top 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 area objective in a two-minute drill. I wasn’t completely taking note of his apply kicks on the other aspect of the sector. It’s even-numbered yr 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 in addition I’d reasonably not be in a sea of humanity after I’d reasonably simply have the children and their mother and father get these souvenirs.

And that’s my report from Lumen Area! Properly, 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 employees author Geoff Leediker (one other PDX resident) goes to Renton for the ultimate public apply on Aug. 8.