3 winners and 2 losers from Seattle Seahawks annual mock game

The Seattle Seahawks annual mock game was a bit different this year. Cell phones and cameras were not allowed and the layout of the practice was different. The scrimmage part was 15 minutes long. To be fair, it did not need to be much longer and risk any player to potential injury.

Quarterback Geno Smith did not play as he was being rested for knee and hip injuries. Had this been a real game, Smith likely would have played. Still, the fact he was not out there certainly affected the efficiency of the offense.

There was a bit of chippiness as well. Recently signed Marquise Blair and receiver Dee Eskridge got into it a bit but were split apart before things got too out of hand. New head coach Mike Macdonald did not see anything wrong with it in his post-practice comments. He might even have liked players having a bit of fire.

Winners and losers from the Seahawks annual mock game

Winner: Byron Murphy II

Murphy was every bit as good as hoped. He powered through linemen, and when he wasn't doing that he was using his speed to go around them. He wasn't a destructive force on every play, but he was in the backfield enough for everyone to see what his potential is and that is extremely high.

After practice, Macdonald did not hold back in his praise of Murphy saying, "He's a force in there, I think the guys see it. I'm pleased with his effort. The guy brings it every day. He's a rookie, there's things that we want to attack, but he's a savvy football player. He knows what he's doing out there, he's not lost, he plays fast, plays rugged. So I think the future is bright for Mr. Murphy."

Loser: Kenny McIntosh

The mock game was not good for any of the running backs. This was likely due to a lack of scheme by the offense and poor blocking by the offensive line (or dominant defensive line play). The good part is that 12s know Kenneth Walker III can be great and Zach Charbonnet flashed a bit in 2023. The battle is for their backup spots.

McIntosh might have saved his worst practice for the mock game. He dropped a pass on a checkdown and did nothing of note otherwise. Worse, he might have lost ground, and eventually reps, to a player he battling for snaps with, George Holani. Holani ran hard and looked like a running back trying to earn a roster spot. McIntosh was none of that.

Winner: Michael Dickson

Having a punter on here might normally be weird except that Dickson is no normal punter. 12s know how good of a player he is and will continue to be. He is still just 28 years old. Somehow during the mock game, though, Dickson seemed to be even better than his usual excellent form.

The 15-minute scrimmage featured opportunities for the punter and Dickson kicked several over 60 yards. He remains the defensive weapon Seattle hoped he would be when he was taken in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. Mike Macdonald might have had the best answer of any player after the practice when he said of Dickson, "(His punting is) impressive. I'm glad he's on our team."

Loser: The offensive line

If the season were starting next week, the Seahawks' offensive line does not look anywhere close to ready. 12s might have hoped that third-round draft pick Christian Haynes could be a Week 1 starter, but at this point, he seems more like a third-stringer. Unlike some of the offensive line, Haynes does not have the excuse of Geno Smith not playing and potentially the cadence being different from the other QBs.

There is no doubt that the defense overall dominated the scrimmage part of the mock game, but does that mean the defense is that much better or the offensive line potentially worse? Unfortunately, we might not know until the season begins. One thing is certain at this point in camp, except for Charles Cross, the rest of the offensive line is a bit of a mess.

Winner: Jake Bobo

Bobo has had a great training camp overall, but he likely cemented his place as WR4 (if there was any doubt) during the mock game. He caught the scrimmage's only touchdown pass on a play in the front corner of the end zone where his incredible body control allowed him to stay inbounds. That has been one of Bobo's most underrated parts of his game; he might not be blazing fast, but he knows his limits.

Just like his impressive training camp last year, Bobo has shown he has better-than-expected athleticism, sure hands, will do anything to help his team win, and normally does so at a high level. Bobo is going to be a long-term Seahawk and that is a great thing.

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