First a brief (non) update on Marshawn Lynch, who reportedly plans to skip next week’s mandatory minicamp because he is seeking a new contract. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was not available to the media, so there’s no update from the team’s side of things.
Max Unger was asked about Lynch, and after feigning surprise that Lynch might not be around next week, the center said he has no issues with Lynch missing offseason workouts: “He’s got his own thing going on. We’d love to have him, but by no means will it change my view of him.”
Asked if it would bother him if Lynch no-shows next week, Unger said, “Not at all. Obviously he’s staying in shape. The guy’s done more than prove himself that he’s capable of coming into training camp in shape. He’s got his own regime going on. As long as he does his thing on Sunday, I’ve got no problems with him at all.”
As for the action on the field Thursday, here’s a bit of what stood out:
—Second-year CB Tharold Simon stood out while getting a lot of work with the first team—Richard Sherman sat out the OTA session. Simon had a pair of interceptions, and after missing all of last year with foot injuries, looks like somebody who could be a factor this season.
And speaking of Sherman, he spent the entire practice intensely coaching Simon and the rest of the young DBs, as did Earl Thomas, who didn’t take part in the latter portion of practice. As often as Sherman was able to call out plays before they happened, it’s easy to see how his mental preparation helps make him one of the best corners in the game.
—Kevin Norwood had a long TD catch when a coverage breakdown left him wide open. Akeem Auguste initially covered Norwood, then let him go thinking he had help, only to watch Norwood run free down the field. If the breakdown was Auguste’s fault—and there’s no way to know if it was without knowing the call on that play—he made up for it on the next play, intercepting a deep pass in the end zone intended for Jermaine Kearse.
—Speaking of Kearse, he had a pair of nice touchdown catches towards the end of practice, including a leaping grab in traffic on a perfect touch throw from Russell Wilson.
—It might not even be worth mentioning at this point because it’s so commonplace, but Doug Baldwin had another strong showing, making a bunch of nice catches, including one of his signature to-tapping sideline grabs.
—A couple of notes on the defensive line… The Seahawks used a new “heavy” look at times with the No. 1 defense (or at least I hadn’t noticed it in the past), using Tony McDaniel as a defensive end and Jesse Williams at defensive tackle.
In nickel packages, Jordan Hill got a lot of work with the No. 1 D.
—When QB Terrell Pryor kept the ball on read option play and took off down field, there was an audible reaction from the sideline watching Pryor show off his speed.
The Seahawks are back at it next week with a minicamp, at which point we’ll know if Lynch is indeed skipping the mandatory workouts.
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