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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This was an interesting practice, which ended with a two-minute drill in which both the first team and second team offenses scored game-winning touchdowns. Both offenses were bailed out by nice catches by their tight ends right up the middle of the field, John Carlson for the first team and Joe Newton for the second team.
The first team was facing a third and 5 when Matt Hasselbeck made a perfect pass over Carlson shoulder for the first down. Three plays later, Hasselbeck found Leonard Weaver on the left side for an eight-yard TD.
The second team seemed to be stymied, facing a fourth and 9 after Mansfield Wrotto failed to snap the ball for an illegal procedure penalty. (It was his third snapping miscue of the day.) But Seneca Wallace found Newton sprinting down the middle of the field for a first down. One play later, Wallace hit Joel Filani in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
The offense was not all spectacular, though. Holmgren was upset about the snaps, as well as the receivers' sloppiness while going in motion. He jumped on Trent Shelton for that and admonished his players to start figuring out what they need to do correctly.
Jordan Kent made a very nice catch in the corner for a TD, once again teasing with his athletic ability. Seneca just threw the ball up and Kent went and got it. I spoke with Kent afterward, and contrary to what Tim Ruskell told me yesterday Kent said he was not offered a deal by another team last year. He said his agent told him to expect something between Weeks 9-13 but nothing ever transpired. Perhaps Hasselbeck was right and it was Logan Payne who got the offer from another team, the reason the Seahawks signed him off the practice squad.
In any case, we also asked Kent about the upcoming Olympics, for which he may have had an outside shot. He said this is his job and he is completely focused on this career, and he does not spent any time thinking about "what ifs." He said he will watch TV and see those guys running and think, "Hey, I ran against those guys," but he never feels like it should be him competing. Besides, he said, a half second is the difference between the elite and the rest of the world -- There is no middle class in track, he said -- and I think he considers himself the rest of the world when it comes to track.
Forget for now what I said earlier about Chris Cooper and Larry Tripplett getting chances with Red Bryant missing the next four or five weeks following arthroscopic knee surgery. (Bryant already had the surgery, which repaired cartilage damage.) Both were missing for this practice, though their injuries have not yet been disclosed. With Bryant and those players out, the second team defensive line was made up of Craig Terrill, Baraka Atkins, Jason Babin and Howard Green, who had another nice play when he came down the line on one play and munched Maurice Morris.
Speaking of the running backs, they are doing something that I don't really remember them doing when Shaun Alexander was here. Even after they get tackled, they get up and run another 20 or 30 yards down the field. Julius Jones started doing it in mini-camps, and now all the backs are doing it on every play. I sometimes remember Shaun doing that, but not on a consistent basis.
Ben Obomanu continues to work out as the third receiver, alongside Engram and Burleson. To me, Obomanu looks solid and like he is getting more comfortable each day. Obomanu beat Lofa Tatupu on one downfield route, but Hasselbeck underthrew him and 51 was able to knock away the ball. Though he doesn't have much of a shot, Michael Bumpus also continues to make nice plays. Perhaps he is destined for the practice squad.
The officials were back out on the field. We are meeting with them at 1:30. I'll blog something after that about they discussed with us.
Defensive backs Kevin Hobbs and Marcus Trufant made some noticeable plays, including Trufant and Engram both catching a ball at the same time and Trufant winning the wrestling match, ripping it out for a fumble.
I watched John Carlson for a while, mostly running routes during 11-on-11 offense. He doesn't do anything fancy, but somehow gets open. One on route, his jersey was being held by Lance Laury and Matt Hasselbeck still found him for a red zone touchdown. Carlson did drop one ball today, the first I have seen him miss during camp. He gets extra attention from the coaches, as well. After almost every series, when he comes out he is approached by somebody giving him instructions, usually tight ends coach Jim Lind.
COMMENTS:
Good to hear about Obomanu and Carlson
I really like the posts you are making during TC.
How does practice work? Is it mainly on one field and each team takes turns (1st team offense, 2nd team offense) or is it done on multiple fields? Does the 1st team O go against the 1st team D or do they mix it up? When they aren't doing team activities, what do the players do? Just watch or do individual drills? Just curious as I've never been to a TC practice.
and before people start saying "Jeez, it can't be THAT hard...it's just putting your hand between your legs and handing it to the QB...whats up with that???"
let me just tell you, snapping is WAAAY harder than it looks. It looks like a piece of cake, but boy, when you've never done it, it's tricky. I played football and we had an injury to our Center, so they had me try it out in practice....lets just say I snapped the ball probably about 15 times and then they tried someone else. It was dang difficult...especially to do it well, and to do it quickly....yeesh.
Based upon what I've read so far this camp, I can wait to see what the new running back regime has in store for us this year (loving the work ethic Jones is bringing), in addition to the solid play being displayed by the corners.
As far as the snapping is concerned, I sincerely hope they get this figured out. Nothing drives me more nuts than IP penalties on OUR offense.
Hey Chitwick I am not frank hughes but I was football manger for high school and if anything like high school.
They have big pratices field and it usallity 1st team O vs 2nd team Defensive and 1st team D vs 2nd Team O if that how the hawks does it. I know most high school does it like that. That way the 2nd team D can provide the defensive system of the other team and same with 2nd O who will be running another team Offensive.
THey do have invidiual session if holmgren is like most HC they split them up with their coaches and they go off in diffrent part of field to work on stuff.
If player is injured and is rehab he usality on the sideline with trainers working on getting back in shape.
Now frank you can correct me but I been football manager for bethel high school so I know what pratices is like.
Excellent jog summarizing the practices--very comprehensive. I look forward to these posts for real information far more than the regular sports page pieces. Can't wait for tomorrow's report on the live scrimmage. With all the injuries on the D-line, it sounds like Howard Green is making a strong move for playing time, and may be some good news for the Hawks. Can you assess where he might fit into the rotation?
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