The Seahawks literary warmed up to their 3rd and final mock game Sunday afternoon at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. The previous two games were held at CenturyLink Field. Sunday’s afternoon so called mock resembled a typical practice. Individual team stretches, followed by team stretches then positional drills.
Once the stretching phase of practice was completed the offense and defensive players took opposite sidelines.
LIGHT FOOTED CHRIS CARSON
After missing several days of training camp due to family issues running back Chris Carson showed he is ready to play. The Seahawks leading rusher last year with 1,230 yards and seven touchdowns last year had several runs longer than 10 yards. On the long runs, Carson started lateral then cut up the middle to break loose. Carson also had a couple of plays where he started between the tackles then bounced outside and up the sidelines. All of this is good news for the Seahawks coaches because it shows Carson is fully recovered from his week 16 hip injury.
“He looked great today,” Carroll said. “He was flying around, looked really light on his feet. He’s got fresh legs and showed. It was a good day, good hot day for him to work.”
TALENTED ROOKIES
The competition for roster spots and playing has been fierce in this training camp. This year’s Seahawks draft class has the potential to be one of the best in a long time. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks continues to shine. The 1st round draft pick ( 27th overall) from Texas Tech is battling K.J. Wright for the starting position at weakside linebacker.
Brooks made several tackles behind the line of scrimmage during the mock game showing his speed and strength. Seahawks defensive Coordinator raved about Brooks during his press conference with the media on Friday. So, no doubt Brooks delivered on Sunday.
“We’ve been really excited about Jordyn Brooks. He’s a fantastic football player. He looks like a linebacker. He runs like a linebacker. He acts like a guy who’s hungry and wants to play. I’m very pleased with his development so far. He’s physical. You want guys with speed to play fast. And then you want a guy to show up and think on the run. He’s really good in the mind. He’s really good carrying what we teach him in the meeting rooms over to the field.”
STEADY AT GUARD
The other talented rookie battling for a starting position is 3rd round draft pick ( 69th overall) right guard Damien Lewis. The former LSU star has been getting all the first-team reps at right guard the minute the Seahawks started camp. He has not disappointed. On Sunday Lewis had some key blocks in the run and passing game. At 6’2 327pounds Lewis is not only big but agile enough to get downfield and block.
PUSHING TO GET ON THE FIELD
With a crowded backfield that features veterans Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde rookie running back DeeJay Dallas is pushing for playing time anywhere he can. On Sunday Dallas was on several special team units. With Hyde sitting out Sunday’s practice Dallas saw some action at running back and showed his versatility with two catches in the flat when he was line up in the backfield.
OTHER NOTES
Cornerback Tre Flowers sat out the Sunday’s game due to ankle. The injury opened the door for Quinton Dunbar to prove his worth at the right cornerback position.
It’s really important for me to see this this film today. We had some one-on-ones, and he played with the first group—Tre was out today with a slightly sprained ankle. This is this is a really, unique football player in Quinton Dunbar. He’s got terrific awareness—he’s got size and speed and all that kind of stuff, so he can do the things that we need our corners to do—but he has terrific awareness, very good spatial awareness and playmaking ability in a really good challenge attitude
WIDE RECEIVERS RETURN
Wide receivers Phillip Dorsett II, John Ursua, and Cody Thompson are all expected back practicing on Monday after suffering minor injuries. Now it will be a race to see which of the three can be ready for action with the opener at Atlanta less than two weeks away. The Seahawk signed Paul Richardson Saturday afternoon.
