Day 2 training camp notes: sloppy Seahawks practice on both sides
By Aaron Thomas
Every team looks sloppy at the start of training camp. Unfortunately the Seahawks practice proved that rule today at VMAC.
It was my first of four training camps I am going to this offseason. Here are my quick notes for the limited actionable items I saw at Seahawks practice today. Yes, I’m sure that every team (even Cleveland) looks sloppy at the beginning of training camp. But even by that low standard, it wasn’t our best performance today.
Both sides of the ball seemed very sloppy today. I couldn’t put a finger on it, but it felt that for the most part the guys were out there just going through the motions. Of course, we heard the great news from day one of training camp that Russell looked very accurate—well, today, not so much. Only a few of his downfield passes turned into explosive plays. Most of his out-routes fell flat or he led the receiver too much to the outside.
Some assorted not-so-highlights of the day
You can either say rookie linebacker Otha Peters (#53) did a fantastic job covering the tight end by stepping in front of the receiver, or that Wilson stared down the target and forced it into him. Either way, it turned into a virtual Peters pick six as the coaches blew the play dead a few yards from the interception. He would’ve clearly got into the end zone.
There was a string of plays, maybe five or six, where the referees were tossing so much laundry they could’ve hung them out to dry in the hot sun. There were three or four plays where the offense either held or jumped the snap.
On defense, there were a few plays where they didn’t read where the running back was going or that they just didn’t execute. There were more explosive plays made by the offense on the ground than through the air.
As for the offensive line, there were too many snaps where the defensive backs got into the backfield to disrupt the trio of quarterbacks that were trying to throw downfield. Perhaps that is why there weren’t a lot of explosive plays in the air. They just didn’t have enough time to throw. The run protection looked pretty solid and consistent for the most part.
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Seahawks practice did provide plenty of individual highlights
Doug Baldwin looked like Doug Baldwin—slashing upfield for solid gains.
Jimmy Graham looked like Jimmy Graham. Although he dropped one pass after trying to zig in and then zag out and took his eye off the ball.
Eddie Lacy is a sight for sore eyes. He looks every bit as beastly as he did for the first part of his career in Green Bay.
Thomas Rawls looked his speedy self, but Mike Davis may make people turn their heads a bit this preseason.
Backup quarterbacks Trevone Boykin and Austin Davis did okay. I’d give the nod to Boykin if the season was to start today for the backup job. His use of the read-option looks a bit more stealthy and “Russell-like”.
Rookie wide receiver Amara Darboh was featured early in the passing game. But like most rookies he became a ghost through the rest of today’s practice. He did have a nice 20+ yard catch in the glaring sun on a pass thrown by Russell Wilson.
Marcel Reese also looked like he will give coaches a bit of confusion on what to do with him. There are some decent, younger players ahead of him (as the coaches like to go younger where they can) but he looked very speedy and like his normal ‘Reece’ self today.
A few notes on the special teams and defense
On special teams, the trio of guys they had back there fielding and returning punts was disastrous. First Jerome Kearse (I was shocked they had him returning punts) dropped several balls. Then rookie Cyril Grayson dropped a few punts as well.
New kicker Blair Walsh did well, nailing the 3 field goal tries he was given during the Seahawks practice. On a side note: kudos to fans who were lucky enough to get an autograph, as no one ‘thanked’ him for shanking the game-winning field goal during the playoff game versus the Vikings two postseasons ago.
Bradley McDougald looked very solid out there today. I didn’t get any signs that he was lost or didn’t have focus on his assignments. He batted down a pass that was thrown in the middle of the field that could’ve given the offense good momentum going forward.
It wasn’t just the players who needed more energy
As I’ve written, I think the players were a bit sloppy, but we were too as fans. I didn’t think we brought a lot of energy to the field for the Seahawks practice. I hope we realize we play a huge role in whether or not we win or lose. If we come to the games or practices and just expect our guys to do well, and not do our part to be the loudest fans in the NFL, then we will not be helping them to win on the field.
Michael Bennett had to come over to us a few times to wake us up! Even though it is in his nature to do that, it’s up to all of us to bring our A game and help our guys to victory. So let’s all clap, chant, and show our appreciation for the guys every single time they are out there and we’ll be just fine.