The Seattle Seahawks used a determined second half and overcame a 6-3 deficit to beat the Denver Broncos 22 to 14 in their first preseason game the 2019 season Thursday night at CenturyLink Field.
While one preseason game does not a roster make, a favorable showing in the preseason can move one up in the team’s depth chart. With four preseason games, a player looking to move up on the depth chart or make the team has a limited number of opportunities to separate himself. Here are five takeaways from Thursday’s game.
I. CODY BARTON IS A KEEPER
The 3rd round draft has had a stellar training camp and only increased his chance of seeing some meaningful time during the regular season. With Bobby Wagner on the sideline, the rookie showed his versatility in covering the run and the pass. Barton finished the game with five tackles which tied him for game honors with Marquis Blair and Austin Calitro.
II. PAXTON LYNCH IS NOT READY TO CONCEDE
The former Denver Bronco sat out last year and showed that he has no plans to spend another NFL season on the couch. Lynch is battling Gino Smith for the back quarterback position behind Russell Wilson. With Wilson sitting out the game Lynch and Smith each played a half. Lynch easily won the statistical battle going 11 of 15 for 109 yards one touchdown to Jazz Ferguson while Smith was 3 of 9 for 58 yards with a passer rating of 56.7.
III. THE SEAHAWKS KICKING GAME IS IN GOOD SHAPE
Jason Myers made two of three field goals, connecting on a 55 yarder with 40 seconds left in the first half after missing on a 56 yarder in the first half. Myers second made field goal was a 43 yarder in the third quarter. Punter Michael Dickson booted six punts for 272 yards giving him a 45.3 yard per punt average Dickson had one kick inside the 20-yard line.
IV. JAZZ FERGUSON IS MAKING A CASE FOR MORE PLAYING TIME
With all the attention on DK Metcalf’s potential and abilities undrafted free agent, Jazz Ferguson turned some heads with his four catches for 54 and one touchdown for six yards. The former Northwestern State standout showed his ability to catch the ball in traffic.
V. ROOKIE MARQUIS BLAIR SHOW HE HAS THE RIGHT STUFF
Blair’s performance was similar to that of his former college teammate Cody Barton. Like Barton Blair showed his versatiity in the back end of the Seahawks defense. The Rookie was moved around in the secondary and showed he is a bonafied headhunter when he nearly decapitated the Broncos Nick Williams in the fourth quarter.
Blair was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play and was allowed to stay in the game after an official review of the play did not warrant a game ejection. After the game Blair was asked participating in his first NFL game
“I like playing football, I like competing, even though I didn’t compete.”
As for the hit on Williams Blair was adamant that he did the right thing.
“I felt good, I didn’t put my helmet on helment, I ‘ve beeb working on it since I left Utah, I’ve been working on my shoulder. I mean, I’m going full speed out there, it’s whatever they see.”
