Seahawks Insider
Seahawks Insider
where there is no offseason

Eric D. Williams took over the Seahawks beat and Seahawks Insider blog in December. Williams has covered the Seahawks, Sonics and high school sports for The News Tribune since joining the paper in 2006. Eric lives in Tacoma with his wife and two children.

Tacoma News Tribune columnist Dave Boling also contributes to the Seahawks Insider blog.

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Seahawks Insider
Monday, July 28th, 2008
Pads poppin'
Posted by Dave Boling @ 11:39:06 am

Man, I wish you could have been here this morning. The second morning in pads featured some great contact. Traditionally one of the best ... and often most lopisded ... drills of training camp is when the running backs are asked to go one-on-one blocking against the linebackers.

In the past, only Mack Strong had much luck. The drill this year was a real eye-opener. Leonard Weaver stonewalled Lofa Tatupu, and then absolutely flat-backed Leroy Hill. I know, I know ... you don't believe it. Brothers and sisters, I saw it with my own eyes.

[More:]

Everybody knows Weaver has some rushing and receiving talents, but the challenge for Weaver was to block. And if he didn't learn how, he wasn't going to get much time on the field. It's obvious he's taken this challenge head on. Julius Jones then did a great job against Julian Peterson.

Another great drill is when they go 9-on-9 in the run game. Since the defense knows it's all running plays, they stack up pretty tightly and it gets very intense in the middle. The guy who really showed up was back T.J. Duckett, who may have had his best practice as a Seahawk. He looked very strong up the middle, and later in team drills had some good runs and blocks as well.

Other standouts? John Carlson again made some nice catches. Logan Payne continues to be a real training camp star. My column for tomorrow is going to be on Payne.

Whereas Sunday's practice in pads looked a little tentative, Monday's was very aggressive and crisp. And great fun to watch.

Categories: Notes from practice • 17 comments

COMMENTS:

moo @ 11:40 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
I take it Matt's ok??
c_hawkbob @ 11:53 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
Thanks Dave, sounds like a fun practice to be at! Love hearing that Weaver is bringing his blocking skills up to match his ball handling skills. I hope to see Weaver and Duckett as a power backfield on more than a few occasions this year : )
Joe C @ 12:01 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
Owen Schmitt?
bruzyb @ 12:13 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
Oh, Dave, that's the best news--if Weaver has finally figured out how to pancake good people, and the OL is better organized and nastier, we are definitely going somewhere worth going this year! And if we'd had a bruiser back like Duckett running downhill in the snow at Greenbay last year that game may have turned out differently. Bring it all on again!
kurtisballard @ 12:13 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
love good news like this.
bassnw @ 12:23 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
Weaver is going to the pro-bowl this year if he can keep up that effort - IMHO he is the "fan favorite" and this Owen Schmitt hype is quite a bit overdone. Let Schmitt prove it in the NFL before people start anointing him.

Speaking of anointing, has Leonard "Baptized" anyone yet this camp? Yowwwww,

Thanks Dave - pearls before swine.
bigsmooth @ 12:24 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
If nothing else, Schmitt's arrival will force Weaver to really step it up. It sounds like he is prepared for the challenge.
Dukeshire @ 12:26 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
Wow, love to hear that about Weaver. Curious how Owen Schmitt has looked as well. Red Bryant on other side of ball?
rittem1 @ 12:28 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
bassnw,

you just get done calling Weaver a pro bowler then you call the Schmitt hype overdone? That is funny stuff. Let's go ahead and call Logan Payne a pro bowler, too. Mansfield Wrotto looks like a HOFer after a couple practices. Gotta love training camp.
bassnw @ 12:34 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
uh, if u followed the hawks you'd know this is Weavers third year and second as a starter - Schmitt has yet to play a down. Get real
bassnw @ 12:39 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
FYI, the TNT editors email is

david.seago@thenewstribune.com

Let him know if you appreciate the blog as it is without "he should not be named" coming back and posting links and press releases......
am_misfit @ 13:09 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
Sweet news. Weaver: Pro-bowler! Mark it down! Put it on the board! What? Just one practice in pads? Oh. Check that.

Exciting, nonetheless.... :)

Just let me know if I need to pick up Logan Payne on my fantasy team, ok?

Great work, Dave! Loving this blog lately between you and Eric. Thanks.
watsoni @ 16:20 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
good news. I have loved Weaver since 3 years ago in preseason when he just loved stiff arming dbs to their backs. good stuff keep it up.
Iknownothing @ 17:30 - Monday, July 28th, 2008 Email
I always appreciate the concept of a two headed RB. However, it seems strange that no one has pointed out (or have they?) that a Duckett and Morris or Jones 1-2 punch might make a lot of sense. I love Mo, have since day 1, always liked his "look" even in '05 I wanted to know what Mo could do behind that line, but I'm in danger of digressing here, so back to the point at hand. Mo and JJ are similar (obviously) so the contrast between TJ and either of the "twins" would be substantial, and force defenses to think about HOW to TACKLE each back, and as we all know, the more time D spends thinking, the slower they react. The problem with this is my head says trade/release Mo ($ reasons why him and not JJ, obviously Mo knows the system better) and use Duckett and JJ as complimentary backs. My heart says I feel like our team is a great bunch, and Mo has been so loyal, I would probably get choked up if he left...anyway my melodramtic attachment to Mo aside, I wonder if Coach is fueling a competition and being vague on TJ just to set up this scenario? Or am I simply reflecting my name here? Thanks for your time. Oh and bloggers, I'm new to on-line, but I love what you do. Please proof read more often :) (Who am I to talk?)
thedude @ 09:28 - Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
easy on the proof reading call, it's just a blog...about football.
UT Hawk @ 13:27 - Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 Email
KnowNothing,

I think you're right about the TJ & MM/JJ combo. I assume they've thought of that,a s Coach has already said that MM/JJ will be splitting time. What I like about having both of them is that if one does go down, the game plan doesn't change. They both run similarly, both catch, both block. With them playing together they won't get fatigued. Which should come in very handing later in the season and into the playoffs. It decreases the chances of injury, too.

I'm really looking forward to this season!
Iknownothing @ 19:13 - Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 Email
relax dude have a roach and a white russian(great name btw) I was trying to be facetious, but failed, that being said most journalists/authors like having their work critiqued anyway, but I really meant nothing by it.

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