By Jared Stanger

Took my second trip up to VMAC for training camp on Sunday, and I was sort of lucky that it turned out to be the mock game. I was also lucky enough to be granted permission to share pics of the day from Twitter friend Vannessa Kralovic (@vannessa_f  and  http://www.vannessakralovic.com/).

First, let’s talk about the non-competing DL. There were quite a few players out from the jump, and then a couple more left early after drills.

Out all day:

Thomas Rawls
Jimmy Graham
Doug Baldwin
Christine Michael
CJ Prosise
Zac “Panda” Brooks
Antwan Goodley
Kevin Smith
Kasen Williams
Kam Chancellor
Jordan Hill
Sealver Siliga
Pete Robertson
Montese Overton
Brock Coyle
Tavaris Barnes

So that’s an uncomfortable number of players held out. On top of that, at least two went out early in practice: Deshon Foxx (almost assuredly a hamstring) and Frank Clark (still his calf). That’s exactly 20% of the roster some manner of dinged-up.

In place of all those injured RB’s, Alex Collins got the bulk of the workload. He looked okay running, but the pleasant surprise was seeing how well he is catching the ball out of the backfield. AC360 had one of the biggest explosive plays of the day catching a wheel route down the far sideline, and then running for a good 25 yards after the catch, and very nearly into the endzone. If Rawls is brought along slowly, CMike takes the early RB1 role, and Prosise/Brooks aren’t healthy soon…Collins could play the 3rd down back role short term, I think.

The new RB signees made very little impression, other than Cameron Marshall having a truly tough go. One play to Marshall had Kelcie McCray (starting at strong safety in place of Kam) absolutely light up the RB. Another play Marshall struggled in pass pro (more on that later).

The tight end group was very quiet all day. I think Vannett had the only catch I remember. This could have something to do with Brandon Browner being the new designated TE hitter. Which would be a VERY cool development going forward. Especially after last year’s struggles.

Wide Receiver depth was also tested with 5 guys out. Tyler Lockett became the defacto #1 target for Russell Wilson, and he looked fantastic (7 catches, I believe). If Doug misses any length of time, Tyler is fully capable of playing the primary slot WR.

Kearse had a pretty unmemorable day, as did McNeill. Lawler looked inconsistent with one bad drop but one nice sliding grab. PRich made a nice grab of a well-defended play from Tye Smith, but the ball was thrown out of bounds. EZ Nwachukwu had a nice catch finding the gap in the zone defense over the middle. New addition Montario Hunter got WIDE open on a slow developing play…it felt like slow motion as I was literally pointing at him from the berm, “he’s got him” (meaning Russ)…and they made the play, huge gain.

Oh, and McEvoy had a really nice, away-from-the-body catch. It’s going to be tough to pick the WR5/WR6, but if it’s six kept, I’m starting to believe in McEvoy’s chances at the last spot. At the very least, I’m moving him up in my thought process for practice squad. His hands are very real, and he could easily develop nice possession target rapport with his fellow Badger, Russ. Plus, McEvoy could be your emergency QB and/or QB on scout team.

The last of the Irishmen, McCray looked very good today in place of Kam. Having spent most of camp at backup free safety, and now stepping up into starting strong safety, in addition to his special teams play; McCray is a roster lock.

The other really interesting player stepping up in the place of an injured player was Cassius Marsh. I had Marsh on the bubble before camp but, in all honesty, Marsh was the player of the day; playing more DE in place of the injured Frank Clark, while also rotating at SAM1 with the other two candidates. Cash’s hustle was incredible, his speed is better now at his lowered weight, and he just abused Webb for most of the day. Whereas Morgan and Pinkins are held to playing off the ball LB, Marsh actually gives you more of the OTTO (SAM/LEO hybrid) look that we saw Bruce Irvin used in last year. Important versatility.

The linebacker room as a whole was probably the best unit on the field Sunday. Pinkins is looking great as he’s settling in to a full-time LB role, after coming in from the draft as a CB/S. At one point, Pierre-Louis had the hit of the day bull-rushing Marshall flat onto his back. Steve Longa filled in for Coyle at MIKE2. Kyle Coleman is quietly looking very interesting as a practice squad/developmental guy. Wagner is looking very solid, and with his sack today, I’m led to think we might see more blitzing and more linebacker sacks this year.

The secondary had a quiet day. I don’t recall seeing much in the way of PBU’s or INT’s. I think Tye Smith had one PBU on McNeill, and also held his own against Kearse. I think Deandre Elliott might have been the guy burnt by the long pass to Hunter. Lane gave up a couple plays underneath. But, predominantly, just a businesslike day from the DB’s.

Which, in a sense, is also a tribute to the trio of QB’s not risking dangerous throws. When the passrush was getting home, these quarterbacks are pulling the ball down and running. There was a lot of QB running today. (Quick QB sidenote: the battle between Boykin and Heaps is closer than we think.)

Which brings us to the OL. From my vantage point, the pocket absolutely sucked pretty much all game. There were far too many instances where edge rushers were winning outside with speed, but then the interior OL is also giving up ground to the DT’s, leaving the QB’s with nowhere to throw from. They better clean this shit up faster this year than they did last.

Webb got the start at RT and he surely needs to be the first guy removed from the 1’s. Marsh, who has been primarily training at SAM, absolutely owned Webb all day. I can only imagine what Cliff Avril would have done to him (Cliff looks fantastic vs the 2’s, by the way).

Webb vs Marsh

Sowell split time at 1st-team LT and RT. I’d put him behind Gilliam at LT, but in front of Webb at RT.

I read that Odhiambo had some reps at RT, but I had taken off for the buses before those reps happened.

Poole looks better at RT than Webb.

Glowinski and Ifedi seemed pretty consistently locked in as LG1 and RG1, respectively. I’m sure we’ll see that change eventually as Jahri Evans progresses. Interior OL, in general, didn’t allow “sacks” but they weren’t anchoring well versus power. Ifedi might not be as ready as we, collectively, thought (Hence, Evans).

Sokoli seemed to get many of the RG2 reps after Schwenke was released and Evans wasn’t yet available for scrimmage.

At Center, Britt started but I think Lewis stepped in with the 1’s by the 3rd series. Later, I think I saw Lewis limping a little bit, and trying to stretch his hamstrings on the sideline. Worth monitoring. And worth noting: I didn’t notice Britt much live (kind of a good thing on OL), and scrolling through the photographs, he looks like he’s handling his assignment very well today. Hunt looks decent with the 2nd team, and surprised me with his movement in run game.

Britt anchoring well.

The other issue with the OL today, looking at it from profile on the berm (not the best view for OL), there didn’t seem to be much in the way of running lanes. And I realize we’re down to RB3 or RB4 starting in place of multiple hurt guys, but it still didn’t feel like there was much cohesion or execution in the run game.

We need one aspect of the OL play to start clicking, and tout suite. Usually it’s the run-blocking first, which then opens up the passing game.

On a personal note, thank you to Joe, Jared, Hoa for coming by to talk Hawks. Thank you to Vannessa for the great shots. And thank you to Tye and Kate for the thoughtful gesture. Raincheck?

By Jared Stanger

Welcome to VMAC and the beginning of Seahawks’ training camp 2016. I wasn’t able to attend the very first session on Saturday, but I did get in (after the team released additional tickets on Friday) to the Sunday practice. Here are some of my observations from my vantage on the berm.

Practice pretty much always opens with special teams work. This early in camp, even though Tyler Lockett is presumptive kick/punt returner, the team gives reps catching kickoffs to a wide range of players. I noted Alex Collins, Kenny Lawler, Kevin Smith, Paul Richardson, Antwan Goodley, and Deshon Foxx in addition to Lock.

In the kick coverage half of the field, I thought Montese Overton and Tyvis Powell stood out from their sheer athleticism. This will be a good group this year.

Throughout practice, you can tell this is a relaxed group. The music is constant, guys dance to it in between reps…guys will post each other up in a quick, imaginary game of basketball…and the vets have all kinds of freedom(s). I noted Baldwin working the hand-fighting drill with the DL, while Michael Bennett slipped into the kickoff catch line.

Even though the construction of it has changed, the chemistry of the OG LOB has not. The quartet of Sherman, Browner, Kam, and Earl just naturally flow towards one another. And then, as a group, they lead the defense.

In terms of position work, I was limited in my ability to observe the offensive groups while they worked on the lake-side field. I hope to have better luck at my next couple of camps when I’ll have some binoculars to see the far field.

I enjoyed the look of Stanley Jean-Baptiste, George Farmer, and Tye Smith as the DB’s worked through their press-bail.

Cassius Marsh looks better, and pretty damn natural, dropping in coverage with the LB’s. Great hands, too.

At one point in position work, I did glance up and see Brandon Cottom running free on the far field. He is exceptionally smooth for his size.

It is important to note that when the teams finally co-mingle that 1st team, 2nd team, 3rd team is extremely fluid. A guy that is 1st team in 7v7 will be 2nd team in 11v11. So many combinations are examined. You try to get a sense of who is working where, but really, even that isn’t conclusive.

The team could be pushing younger guys to earn their way up in the ranks, the team could be giving primary reps to a guy that they are considering going forward without, the team could have confidence that player X is pretty much a lock for a backup role and instead want to see extra reps from the potential practice squad guys. It’s a strange dance…one that I don’t always take at face value.

Notable first team reps for Sunday:
CMike at RB, Eric Pinkins at SAM, Jordan Hill at DT. Garry Gilliam and Bradley Sowell pretty much split time at LT as the team adds Garry back in gradually.

Notable positive impressions:
Zac Brooks was both the most consistent RB, in my opinion, and I think made the most splash plays.
Of the bubble WR, I noticed Douglas McNeill most often. I also liked Tanner McEvoy in his couple targets. Doug Baldwin looked really impressive running after the catch.
Frank Clark seemed the most disruptive player on the DL.
Eric Pinkins showed some of the relentlessness Doug talked about in his presser…always hustling to the ball.
Brandon Cottom showed impressive athleticism and really unique versatility. He is what I hoped he’d be.

Notable negative impressions:
Both watching practice live, and then watching the webstream footage, Antwan Goodley looked like a guy that could be cut tomorrow. Muffed kickoff, running wrong routes, dropped balls. With so many WR, he could be the guy cut to add another OT.
The CB depth. I had higher hopes coming in that this group would be really good, but no one is standing out. I noted one play where Tye Smith was running Foxx’s route for him.
It was a similar story for the UDFA. As a draft guy, I get so partial to the rookies, but outside of Brooks none really stood out. In part from lack of reps.

After today’s practice, I think our DL is better than our OL (everyone could guess at this), but surprisingly, I think our WR are better than our DB’s currently. The length and size of our CB has trouble with the quickness of our small WR. The LB’s probably trump the RB and TE. But this is just day #2.

It will be interesting to see how things evolve over this week, and then where we stand when I return to camp next.

By Jared Stanger

Seahawks’ training camp is now less than a week away, so let’s take a look at some of the interesting storylines to watch in the first installment of ‘Seahawk Superlatives’.

2nd-year Player Most Likely to take Huge Step Forward?

I’ll give you one on offense and one on defense.

Mark Glowinski. The physically-strongest OL on the team, whose lone start last year yielded a blowout win over Arizona, and whom the team believes so strongly in they are not only giving him a shot at starting, but they’re bumping him up from RG to LG. Mark could be the (G)lowkey single-most revelatory and difference-making change from the 2015 roster to now.

Tye Smith. I believed in his college tape. I believed in his 2015 preseason tape. I believe Pete and John when they rave about how Tye has improved his body since the 2015 season ended. I believe Tye will become our nickel package boundary corner opposite Sherm before week 6, and not look back.

I think these two will take the biggest step(s) forward as they’ve started further back. Tyler Lockett and Frank Clark can take steps forward, but just smaller relative to where they finished last year.

UDFA Most Likely to Win a Roster Spot?

In 2015, it was Thomas Rawls. In 2014, Garry Gilliam and Brock Coyle. In 2013, Alvin Bailey. In 2012, it was Jermaine Kearse and Deshawn Shead. And in 2011, Seattle signed 19 UDFA which eventually filtered down to Doug Baldwin, Jeron Johnson, Mike Morgan, and Ricardo Lockette.

(Technically, Trevone Boykin is pretty much on the roster as things stand today. So let’s take a second, and maybe a third name.)

I suspect that David Perkins makes it. He’s just too interesting a skillset at such a commodity position. You cut him to try to get him to the practice squad and you all but guarantee he’s gone. If teams wanted Benson Mayowa, they will certainly want Perkins.

If there is a third name, I wouldn’t be shocked if it turns out to be Montese Overton. Nor would I be surprised if Overton becomes a starter from this UDFA class before any of the others. Boykin is blocked by Russell. Perkins would be maybe 4th-5th DE on the roster with top 3 all returning in 2017. But Overton could make the team now as a backup SAM/OTTO with special teams duties…play that role for a year…and then in 2017 (as Mike Morgan hits UFA) Montese becomes the starter.

Most Likely to Succeed at Frustrating Us/Me All Camp?

Queso.

Most Likely to Earn his Rightful Starting Job Back in Week 4?

Patrick Lewis. I have such high optimism for this entire team heading into this season. I’m even more-optimistic about the OL than many. But it is my firm belief that, as of the close of mini-camp, the team is wasting time and delaying the inevitable by their choice of starting center. And the only reason I currently see why they are doing it is because Lewis is UFA after this year, and they may want to try to find a Center with more club control.

Lewis deserves a shot at keeping the job he solidified midseason last year, which helped turn the season from a .500 record to a playoff team.

Most Likely to be a Surprise Cut/Keep?

I think these are two questions, and they will be related…the surprise keep will beget the surprise cut (and vice versa). I think both will come from the same position group. And I think it will be the position that may be the deepest on the team this year: Cornerback.

When you have great depth at a position, someone talented is going to be cut. So it becomes a question of whom?

Tharold Simon would be a possibility due to his injury history. Plus, the team has a similar body type with better athleticism in Stanley Jean-Baptiste. Simon will be UFA after this year…SJB will be ERFA. That may factor in.

Or, converse to “two guys on the team that are too similar”, if you believe in strict roster mirroring, the cut could be the guy on the roster at CB that DOESN’T have a “twin”: Marcus Burley.

Assuming Lane is CB2 and he moves inside to slot for nickel, and the other boundary corner in nickel is long like Sherm, then Burley is currently on the bench. Do they want the backup to the 6’0″/190 lb Jeremy Lane to be the 5’11″/185 lb Burley? Or do they like the idea of, say, a Trovon Reed at 6’0″/191 lbs? The other strike going against Burley are his short, sub-32″ arms (which has historically been a very firm benchmark for all PCJS corner draftpicks).

I have a weird hunch about Trovon. As former college WR’s, both Reed and George Farmer share that commonality with Sherman. Might be a thing.

Most Likely to look REALLY Good in Preseason, but Still be On the Bench All Year?

(It’s the de facto Tye Smith award…)

Rees Odhiambo. Rees kinda stands as an odd draftpick at this point. They pick him pretty high (3rd round…and often you’re looking for immediate starters in the first 3 rounds), but then bury him behind two vet free agent OT’s, two 3rd-year incumbent starters, a first round pick, and the O-lineman that the team might see most upside with for this year.

My guess is Rees gets an active redshirt for a year, and then they reassess in 2017. By then, Webb may be relegated to bench/swing OL, Ifedi kicks out to RT, Rees plugs in at RG. Or, the more interesting idea, they spend Rees’ redshirt year teaching him to play Center.

Pretty much all last year I was looking for Seattle to draft a college tackle and convert him to Center (maybe Joe Dahl, maybe Cody Whitehair, maybe Connor McGovern, etc). At one point pre-draft Josh Norris suggested to me Odhiambo. I still think that idea holds some intrigue.

Most Likely to ‘Wally Pipp’ an Increased Role?

It has to come from one of the two positions where the incumbent starter may not be ready until preseason games or even week 1 regular season: Tightend/Running Back.

Running back will be missing Rawls for some time, but with 3 new RB just drafted (plus returner Christine Michael), the RB spot has more competition and more ability to split reps.

I think I’m going with TE Nick Vannett. Not only is Jimmy going to need time to make it back, but Luke Willson is also an impending free agent. It behooves the team to see what they have in Vannett. And what they have is a pretty well-rounded player at the position.

Whether Vannett becomes the Y opposite of Jimmy (if healthy) or Luke (if Jimmy not healthy), or whether Nick earns the right to some reps as 1st-team TE on his own; I think Vannett could be this year’s Lockett.

Most Likely to be Given an “Injury” Redshirt?

Kenny Lawler. I mean, it’s kinda already started. He’s missed some time in rookie and/or mini-camp. And the WR room is very solid, and has no turnover coming. Literally no UFA or RFA from WR group in 2017 (there are 6 WR that will be ERFA, but those are easy to keep, if desired), so Lawler could potentially not be needed until 2018.

Percy Harvin Memorial Hip Dysplasia Player of the Year 2016 (& 2017)?

CJ Prosise. It pains me to say, but…I worry about Prosise’s durability. Fortunately, I think we’ll get a healthy season from 2014-2015 PHMHDPOTY winner Paul Richardson this year.

Most Likely to be the End of an Era?

Chris Clemons. My sense is that Clem was brought in as a player-coach kinda vibe to help mentor Clark and the other young DE’s, but that he won’t make it to the 53 (similar to Antoine Winfield a few years back). On Schneider’s ever-updating 3-year plan, it’s tough to picture keeping a 34-year-old Clem on a 1-year deal over a 23-year-old Perkins with 3 years of team control. Especially when Clem probably can’t play special teams.

Best Fullback?

Brandon Cottom. It is my understanding that Cottom has already been informed the starting FB job is his. And I’m VERY happy about the choice.

Whereas Derrick Coleman was 5’11″/230 with 4.50 speed, and Will Tukuafu tested out of Oregon at 6’3″/266 with 5.00 speed (later to play listed at 280 lbs); Cottom is kind of the “just right” middle ground between last year’s FB platoon; coming in at 6’2″/262 lbs, with a 4.62 forty time. As another reference point, the top FB at this year’s combine, Dan Vitale, ran a 4.60 forty at 239 lbs, and NONE of this year’s TE’s ran under 4.64.

Best Rookie?

I think this is easily Jarran Reed out of the gate.

• He’s got a direct path to snaps playing in Brandon Mebane’s vacated spot
• He’s an early-round pick from one of the best schools, with THEE best run defense
• He’s already shown pretty remarkable talent in mini-camp

Best Defender?

(This may be less a training camp prediction than it is a regular season prediction, but…)

Richard Sherman. With improved depth at CB in 2016, QB’s will be forced more often into testing Sherman’s side of the field…and they will fail that test. Sherm’s INT numbers spike back up, and he will again be statistically-provable best CB in the league.

Most Valuable Camper?

I mean, it’s Russell. And it may not be the last time this year “most” and “valuable” are used in the same sentence with his name. All of the reports from pretty much everyone that has been at VMAC this year are that Russell is taking a step forward. With no more Beastmode this is his team, and he’s risen to that challenge.

(Welp…here goes nothing.)

Welcome to Seattle SeaMocks. I’m Stanger. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you found me through Twitter (@JaredStanger) or the writing I’ve done at Fieldgulls.com. Speaking of which…a very fond and appreciative’thank you’ to all of the contributors over at Fieldgulls, but especially Danny Kelly for giving me my first opportunity to write about the Seahawks and the draft years ago. Danny you’re a mensch and I congratulate you on The Ringer. Well deserved…kill it, man!

My first real memory of getting interested in the NFL draft was in 2011. I can remember stumbling around youtube a month or two before the draft, looking for video of players, and specifically discovering this one guy who would go out to radio stations or do press conferences, and he was a wildly entertaining personality. Turned out Seattle ended up drafting that guy. It was John Moffitt.

The next year I spent far more time before the draft trying to study up on players. I was able to find more and more actual game tape. I think this was the first year I discovered Draftbreakdown.com (a site that I still visit pretty much daily…an invaluable tool for the amateur draft hound). My big draft crush that year was this unbelievably fast edge rusher that was only getting 3rd round projection by the draft outlets. Seemed like such a sleeper/steal.

2012 was the first year I attempted to create a mock draft for Seattle. I wasn’t on Fieldgulls yet, so I simply posted it on my Facebook account. Years later (and years after I had deactivated my Facebook page) I re-opened it for one day so that I could screen-cap that first mock to share:

I remember, pretty vividly, how national media HATED that draft class directly after, but I was kicking back and LOVING it. I had a feeling they had done something special that year. That was also the year I became categorically hooked on scouting and the draft. It became a year-round passion of mine. And at the end of 2012, beginning of 2013 I posted my first mock on Fieldgulls. Everything since then has been one hell of a surreal ride.

From the time Coach Pete linked my piece on his 2014 draft clues on his twitter:

To the draft when Pete actually gave me a shoutout:

And then the Seahawks beat writers asked him about that sign in the post-draft presser, which was even more surreal.

The draft, the Seahawks, and the 12’s have contributed to same truly unbelievable moments in my life, and I look forward to those continuing and deepening as I take toward this new endeavor of managing my own site. It won’t always be right, it won’t always be pretty (especially all the technical aspects), but it will always be true.

I pledge to be true to myself, and then to give as much of that truth to you, the readers, as I can.

Now, with all this said…thanks for joining me. Let’s mock’n’roll.