By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Seahawks Rookie Mini-Camp Highlights: Key Performers & Insights

The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up the second day of their two-day mini-camp on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

“Then, just a great rookie camp. There’s a lot of work that goes into making this thing come to life. I think we brought in, I don’t know the exact number, but it’s a lot of tryout guys, it’s a chasing edges thing that we believe in here. We found some really great players to be on our kind of 120 idea over the years. Logistically, between EK (Erik Kennedy) and travel folks, Jeremy (Young) and his team, getting everybody here on time, it’s a pretty big undertaking for some edges that we’re trying to find,” Macdonald said.

“So I appreciate those people. Coaches did a great job. We had great spirit. Players did a great job. Really took a jump this second practice, and it started to look like professional football out there, which is exciting. We’ll move on. Guys will come back in a week, and then Phase 2 starts on Monday. Really exciting time of the year.”

PLAYERS  FOCUSED AND DETERMINED

As expected, there was a distinct difference in the players’ performance between day one and day two. On Saturday, the players showed more focus and less thinking when executing drills and plays.   Running back Jadarian Price led the charge for the Seahawks, having another stellar day.  He executed the drills with precision and, when in team formations, showed his pass-catching ability.  In his three years at Notre Dame, Price caught just 16 total passes. During his press conference on Monday, Price revealed that he has been working on his pass-catching skills.

“ It really started in the spring, just jumping in line with the receivers and seeing how they really break down, how they keep their arms pumping, the little things that I didn’t really notice, Price said. “I didn’t have as many reps in game this past season, but just doing a lot of that in practice and watching so many films of receivers and stuff and continuing to learn this past offseason because it’s been a while since I played a football game.”

HARD WORK IS PAYING OFF

Price’s commitment to improving his pass-catching skills has paid off and caught the eye of his head coach.

“ It’s not like an extra point of emphasis. I think because of camp, probably more space plays rather than keeping him in traffic,” Macdonald said when asked about the high number of passes  Price has caught in the last two days of rookie mini camp. “Just trying to be smart on how we utilize him in this camp. Getting off, but getting off to the right start. Did a good job. It’s definitely part of our offense.”

Another rookie who has impressed in the last two days is fifth-round draft pick, Beau Stephens from Iowa. The former Hawkeye started 35 games, 25 at left guard and 10 at right guard in 2022.   During mini camp, Stephens has been practicing at right guard.

Beau (Stephens) is on the right side, but we’ll train him at both spots. We’ll see how it goes inside. You need flexibility across, on the interior part of your line,’ Macdonald said. He’s played both in his career. Right now he’s playing right guard, but we’ll be training him right and left.”

NEXT STEPS

With the two-day rookie mini camp complete, the drafted players and invitees who impressed will have the week off and return the following week for Phase Two of the Seahawks offseason program.

“It’s kind of like a new day, one starting on Monday when we start Phase 2. So it’s going to be a lot of fun. There’s a sense of urgency, too,’ Macdonald said. “ We have six weeks left in our offseason program. I think that’s about 20, 24 workdays, and we want to make the best out of each one of those days.

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