This is a guest post by Curtis Allen
Today’s practice was spirited but flawed. It is the kind of practice that every team eventually has in training camp. It’s good for a team with an all-new coaching staff to experience and react to.
Geno Smith was on the sidelines with an injury we hope is not too bothersome. D.K. Metcalf dropped a few passes. The defensive backs struggled in coverage during drills, not being able to keep up with receivers when they made breaks and got flagged repeatedly for holding and pass interference.
It was not all bad today. There were several things to really like as you will see. But it was not nearly as complete a day as others I had witnessed this camp.
We do have to start with the ever-present elephant in the room.
Geno Smith Is the Seahawks’ Best Hope for Success in 2024
With Smith needing another practice off to recover, Sam Howell drilled and scrimmaged mostly with the starting offense and PJ Walker took over the second-string offense. How did they fare?
They were fine.
In drills without defenders present, both quarterbacks regularly completed their throws. However, there is a difference between making completions and putting your receivers in the best spot to advance the ball up the field and gain yards after the catch.
Howell and Walker often put the ball on their receivers’ back hip, requiring them to slow up a half step. In a game environment, this would give a defender time to either break up the pass or immediately make a tackle. Smith far more regularly hits his receivers in stride.
In drills and scrimmages with defenders, both quarterbacks had better days than they have had in the sessions that I have seen. Both moved the ball well, took what the defense gave them and occasionally took off running when the opportunity presented itself. Both also had the occasional sparkling completion, one that makes you stand up and take notice.
They also took the safe checkdown option much more than Smith ever has. It could be argued that we are in the middle of camp and some progress is good progress. With more work and that edge of confidence being sharpened a bit, they could ascend to a level where Smith is, pushing the ball downfield more. At this moment in time though, neither Howell nor Walker are there.
The good news with Howell is there is more to like from what I saw today than previously. He appears particularly comfortable with crossing routes over the middle, timing up several of them very well and placing the ball accurately on a consistent basis. One of his best throws of the day was about a nine-yard crosser to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had Devon Witherspoon on him stride for stride in tight coverage. Howell put it just out of Witherspoon’s reach, yet comfortably within Smith-Njigba’s for a very snappy throw. The kind of throw you point to in game highlights and say ‘Yep — that’s the throw that converted a tough third down and let the offense run the clock out for a win.’
He also had several nice out-routes. Wide receivers running down the numbers hard, then cutting toward the sideline for a timed catch for about 6-8 yards. Howell caught Metcalf, Noah Fant, Tyler Lockett and Smith-Njigba all on well-placed balls. I would guess that if Metcalf did not have so many drops today, more would be said about Howell’s day.
He struggled a bit on deeper routes down the sidelines that required timing and touch. It’s possible he is still adjusting to working with the top receivers. Knowing receivers’ strides, tendencies and body positioning may come with time and practice. But it was not a particular strength today.
Proficiency in dumpoffs and crossers is good. In certain situations, it can be very good. But they do not provide opportunities for explosive plays, which are the lifeblood of a top-10 NFL offense.
Absent a noticeable jump in effectiveness by Howell, Smith is the Seahawks’ best chance for those explosive plays this year.
Defense Nicely Taking Shape
Padded practices are a far better indicator of where a team is in regards to progressing to game readiness. There were several such indicators today at all levels on the defense.
Firstly, the run defense looked very crisp. I wanted to get an idea of what the linebackers looked like, so I focused on them when the team was doing a full scrimmage that called for mostly all running plays.
I did not get to see much of the linebackers in action. Why not? The defensive line and the ends were so actively involved in containing the run, the linebackers were clean and didn’t get many shots to plug gaps.
It could be argued that the Offensive Line is this team’s weakness and easy to point to as the reason the running game is not up to snuff. I am no scheme expert, but today it felt more like the defensive front had a good day more than the Offensive Line had a bad day if that makes sense.
Why? The Defensive Line went through multiple alignments and setups and against the same offensive line, executed them all with success. You can see the offseason work that Mike Macdonald and Aden Durde have put in bearing fruit. Linemen are not pigeonholed into one specific assignment anymore. On any given snap, offenses are going to have to completely reset and grasp what their assignments are. The versatility the coaches are working into their system makes this defense hard to read and skilled players like Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams and Johnathan Hankins have enough experience to effectively implement what they are being asked to do on any given play. I imagine it is a fun defense to play in as well.
What about Byron Murphy? He worked with the second unit defense most of the day today.
It feels like he is coming along nicely. The skill set, body type and attitude are there. Today I noticed that when Murphy gets into a three-point stance with his line-mates, he has the size and athleticism to get lower than anyone on else on the line. When he fires off, he just naturally can get under the pads easier than others. At one point he was lined up between the center and the left guard. They both tried collapsing in on Murphy and he anchored and they did not move him one single inch. It busted up the run play and they had a minimal gain.
On the next snap, Murphy switched spots and moved between the center and the right guard. It did not provide as spectacular play as the last one but he was effective and did his assignment. Once again, proving that he is learning versatility like his teammates and with time, he will figure out ways to take best advantage of it.
My early guess is that Murphy may not have some crazy 10-sack rookie season that splashes him all over social media and the highlight reels. But NFL talent evaluators and coaches will know his name and by season’s end, will have a headache trying to figure out how to game plan for him, Williams, Reed, the edge rushers and a chess piece like Witherspoon all at the same time.
Back to the linebackers. Today, Dodson was shouting adjustments pre-snap and was very active behind the line. Knight was again very fast and was occasionally used in a variety of ways, from blitzing to coverage.
I generally liked what I saw but this unit is still a work in progress. It will take the full camp, all three preseason games and probably the first quarter of the season to properly evaluate what the Seahawks have there.
A note about blitzing. The defense is truly preparing for every single member to have opportunities to blitz. Corners blitzed today. Safeties. Inside Linebackers.
Get ready for a lot of misdirection and unpredictability when watching this defense.
On that, the Running Backs did a drill today with the Inside Linebackers that was particularly interesting. The linebackers blitzed and the backs had to pick them up and keep the passer clean. Kenneth Walker was effective — not great but definitely improved. Zach Charbonnet was an animal though. Nobody got by him and most ended up on the ground. Even with three full steps to wind up their punch. The other running backs struggled with their pickups though. Speedy players like Knight and Dodson were a handful for them.
There is still a lot of work to be done with this defense but the green shoots are showing and this season should be a welcome respite from the Seahawks’ annual place in the bottom half of the league.
Practice Notes
— Michael Dickson is amazing. One of the best in the NFL at his job. The team opened with punting drills and he was kicking extremely effectively. At one point, they put a garbage can in the ‘coffin corner’ and Dickson hit it.
— Dee Eskridge had a good day in practice, running routes and catching the ball. It is early but it would appear the Seahawks may have another player who, when utilized properly (running good routes, catching passes down the field and making more yards out of them rather than being used as a line of scrimmage gadget player) can provide a spark.
— Marcus Simms, Easop Winston and Brady Russell are making the team have to really think about their Wide Receiver and Tight End group. They may not make the final squad but it would not surprise me if they are immediately signed to the Practice Squad and find ways to get some game snaps during the season. Cody White has had moments as well. Dareke Young also won a rep against Tariq Woolen with his size and speed, drawing a flag. This group is deep.
— I really have no idea what to make of Darrell Taylor. They have him at his usual Outside Linebacker/Defensive End spot and I have yet to see anything from him that indicates his clearly natural talent for pass rushing. That does not mean he will be cut or traded but he is not getting much press and I have not seen much to write about.
— If you ever can find a way to come out for a practice day, you should. I cannot recommend the setting the Seahawks have at the VMAC enough. A beautiful sunny day with Lake Washington in the background, you are closer to your favorite players and coaches than you get in game situations, bald eagles are regularly flying around the facility and today the Blue Angels treated us to several flyovers while practicing their maneuvers. The team has thought of everything — they have mister fans, bottle refilling stations, interns handing out popsicles and little bottles of sunscreen. It is quite an experience.