What to watch at Seahawks minicamp – runners, receivers and linebackers, oh my!
The Seahawks return to the practice field for their final workouts before they break for summer. There’s a lot to keep an eye on this week.
The Seahawks have a lot going on at VMAC this week. There are several position battles for backup roles as well as a few starters jobs up for grabs. Okay, every starter’s job is always up for grabs, but let’s be realistic. No one is beating out Richard Sherman or Russell Wilson or Earl Thomas III or…yeah. Of course the Seahawks play so many formations, there are several positions that are a blend of starting and backup roles. The strongside linebacker is a standout in this category. Also there are several key players recuperating from injuries. Whew! That is a lot to eyeball. Time to get started.
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Seahawks team health
This covers far too many positions. Luckily the news is mostly good. Both starting safeties, Thomas and Kam Chancellor, are recovering from leg injuries. The first three players at the running back depth chart – that would be Eddie Lacy, C.J. Prosise and Thomas Rawls – all had severe injuries that cut their 2016 seasons short. By the way, I listed the running backs in alphabetical order, in case you thought that was an impromptu depth chart. Uh uh. We handled that here.
Lacy isn’t fully recovered from an ankle injury, but Rawls and Prosise appear to be 100%. Unlike our holdover running backs, offensive lineman Luke Joeckel and receiver Tyler Lockett are still working their way back into playing shape, and won’t be ready to go full speed this week.
About that running back position
Lacy signed a pretty lucrative contract, one that pays him quite well even for just stepping on a scale. Of course he has to make weight, but that’s a smart move as far as I’m concerned. While he isn’t at 100%, all eyes will be on Rawls and Prosise. Rawls had a lot to say about the upcoming season. A healthy C.J. Prosise and Thomas Rawls could conceivably make Eddie Lacy an afterthought. I expect all three will get significant playing time, and certainly no one’s job is at stake this week. That could have made the real battle between Alex Collins and Chris Carson. Collins has shown flashes with the Seahawks, but isn’t a serious threat to break to break into the top three slots. Carson has been sidelined with a hamstring injury so far. With luck he’ll be able to
Wide receivers have their own battle
We already have a brilliant synopsis of the depth chart battle, so go read it. I’ll wait. Hmmm, where’s my fidget spinner? Ahh, you’ve returned. So good of you. In summation, Jermaine Kearse needs to get it back in gear or he’ll lose his spot in the rotation to Amara Darboh. Or possibly even the fast-rising Cyril Grayson.
Seahawks strongside linebacker is wide open
Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are as solid as anyone in the league at the Mike and Will spots. The battle here is for the Sam position. As much as Seattle plays nickel, the strongside backer will take about 40 percent of the defensive snaps at the most. Terence Garvin and Michael Wilhoite are the main competition here, while fellow free agent pickup Arthur Brown will likely be a backup and special teams player. Don’t sleep on Bradley McDougald playing a lot as a third safety, either, with Kam Chancellor playing a hybrid strong safety/strongside linebacker. Would that make him a Sam/Sam? A Sam I Am? Or maybe just a holy terror, as usual.
Backup quarterback is a distinct contrast
And you all thought there wouldn’t be anything to write about when Kaepernick wasn’t signed. Trevone Boykin has the advantage of a year with the Seahawks, and he fits the zone read system. Of course Austin Davis is new to the system, and he’s basically a dropback passer. His advantage is experience in the league, experience in his 10 NFL starts. As we wrote before, he has some talent. The question is, can Davis be a better quarterback than Boykin in the Seahawks system? We certainly won’t get the answer to that this week.
We’ll know much more about all of these positions by the end of minicamp. No one is going to earn a job in these three days, but it’s possible to lose one. A lack of concentration, of focus, on every play could knock a player down a few spots on the depth chart. Yes, Jerome Kearse, I’m thinking of you. The best opportunity for new players (and underperforming vets) to show the coaching staff what they can bring to the Seahawks is now.