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What you missed in training camp today

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What you missed in training camp today

Seaside Bonus: "I've never had a problem being a gunslinger" - Drew Lock

Seaside Joe
Aug 2, 2022
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What you missed in training camp today

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Today’s Seaside Joe BONUS is also a free newsletter because I know how much you all liked the last one. I would simply ask that if you do enjoy the content, you take a moment after the read to consider subscribing to premium and sharing Seaside Joe with Seahawks friends.

The bonus email goes over the email length limit, so CLICK THE BANNER to read the full breakdown at Seaside Joe.

Seaside Joe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In case you missed it, here’s what happened on Monday.

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Darrell Taylor wants some of what DK got

There was a “brief kerfuffle” as Bob Condotta put it, with Taylor and DK Metcalf literally throwing some hands after a play.

Twitter avatar for @mattyfbrown
Matty F. Brown @mattyfbrown
DK Metcalf and Darrell Taylor competing (getting heated, nearly fighting) at 2022 #Seahawks Training Camp
11:00 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
814Likes73Retweets

My general take on training camp fights is that they are far less interesting than the attention that they get. But people like talking about them for whatever reason and I won’t infringe on anyone’s right to a good interest.

One looming situation for the Seahawks could be whether or not Darrell Taylor is prepared to hold-in in 2023 if he has the breakout season that everyone is hope-in for this year.

The comparison for Taylor on the high end would be Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby: Las Vegas signed him a to a four-year, $94 million extension with $53 million guaranteed. It’s actually a little less than what Metcalf received. Crosby had seven sacks, 14 TFL, and 13 QB hits in year two, followed by eight sacks, 13 TFL, and 30 QB hits in 2021.

Twitter avatar for @Jonesing4FBall
Jonesing For Football @Jonesing4FBall
Look out for this dude. Darrell Taylor gonna be a nightmare off the edge. Might go for 15+ sacks this season #Seahawks
12:05 AM ∙ Aug 2, 2022

Taylor is behind Crosby’s curve in terms of production, missing his rookie year and then posting 6.5 sacks, 7 TFL, and 13 QB hits in year two. However, it only takes one strong season for Taylor to put himself into position to ask for long-term security. Or at least, longer term.

Twitter avatar for @johnpboyle
John Boyle @johnpboyle
#Seahawks DC Clint Hurt on Darrell Taylor: "He has an edge to him. You come and take the field, you want to have a little piss and vinegar to you. It doesn’t always have to be nice like it’s damn ice cream and strawberries. He brings that to our defense; he has an attitude."
10:57 PM ∙ Jul 30, 2022
235Likes9Retweets

Boye Bonus!!

Twitter avatar for @CorbinSmithNFL
Corbin K. Smith @CorbinSmithNFL
Uchenna Nwosu, Darrell Taylor, and Boye Mafe exploding through speed rush hoop drill. #Seahawks
3:16 AM ∙ Aug 2, 2022
43Likes5Retweets

Drew Lock doesn’t need to advertise his offseason efforts, but he does need to improve

Lock spoke to the media after practice and said that he did some offseason work with DK Metcalf, but isn’t the type to go on social media to advertise it. I respect that.

Twitter avatar for @bcondotta
Bob Condotta @bcondotta
Fun Drew Lock quote from today I couldn't quite fit into story for tomorrow:
Image
2:23 AM ∙ Aug 2, 2022
39Likes2Retweets

On the other hand, words like these mean a lot more when the behind-the-scenes work is paying off on camera. That isn’t the case for either Seahawks quarterback yet.

Twitter avatar for @gbellseattle
Gregg Bell @gbellseattle
Seahawks’ 5th day of training camp done. Defense mostly wins vs Geno Smith and Drew Lock again. Pass-rushing LB Uchenna Nwosu intercepted Smith in 7 on 7. I already documented the red-zone scrimmage. Smith all with the 1s, Lock all with the 2s again. @thenewstribune
10:10 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
78Likes5Retweets

I am going to refrain as much as possible from sharing any “training camp stats” and Gregg Bell posted a few passing completion numbers for Smith and Lock. I would recommend that you avoid reading into those numbers. At all. Hey look, we all want to hear that the quarterback completed every pass, or most of his passes, but practice deserves to stay at practice.

Practice doesn’t just accept that you will fail sometimes, it demands it.

Twitter avatar for @Michael_Fabiano
Michael Fabiano @Michael_Fabiano
"Pete [Carroll] loves Geno Smith, but I think Drew Lock is going to be the Seahawks starting quarterback," @cfrelund on Fantasy Dirt @SiriusXMFantasy.
7:34 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
24Likes2Retweets

That being said, there is no report thus far that suggests that Geno Smith or Drew Lock are doing anything other than try to do a little less bad than the other guy. The theme of Survivor is “Outwit. Outlast. Outplay.” For Smith and Lock, “outplay” is out the window. I’m not sure to what degree “wit” is in the picture.

This competition is about three quarterbacks hoping to simply “outlast” the other two.

Lock also admitted to being a “gunslinger,” saying he’s “never had the problem of forcing and making plays happen…” which is definitely part of the “problem” that coaches are trying to solve with him.

Twitter avatar for @bcondotta
Bob Condotta @bcondotta
Fun Drew Lock quote from today I couldn't quite fit into story for tomorrow:
Image
2:23 AM ∙ Aug 2, 2022
41Likes2Retweets

So far, Lock has only been working with the 2s, but Smith hasn’t done enough to keep him there. That’s a good opportunity for Lock, but again, none of it matter if his “independent study” doesn’t lead to any on-the-seahawks success.

Twitter avatar for @MikeDugar
Dugar, Michael-Shawn @MikeDugar
Seahawks just wrapped up a 7-on-7 period (we can’t record video). Defense got busy. A bunch of PBUs, one INT by Uchenna Nwosu (Geno threw it). Geno’s unit was held outta the end zone whole time. Drew Lock scored twice, both in the red zone to TE Will Dissly.
9:51 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
438Likes23Retweets

Geno Smith face

Twitter avatar for @mattyfbrown
Matty F. Brown @mattyfbrown
Geno Smith looking visibly frustrated after that redzone session
Image
10:10 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022

Uchenna Nwosu’s play of the day

Twitter avatar for @BradyHenderson
Brady Henderson @BradyHenderson
Maybe the play of camp so far: Uchenna Nwosu, the Seahawks’ top free-agent addition, made an athletic interception on a bullet from Geno Smith on the first snap of 7 on 7. Seattle may not drop its OLBs in coverage as often this season but its clearly still part of their scheme.
9:38 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
144Likes9Retweets

One of Monday’s big highlights (and reasons for concern) was an interception by Nwosu off of Smith that many reporters called “the play of the day.”

Twitter avatar for @gbellseattle
Gregg Bell @gbellseattle
Seahawks’ 5th day of training camp done. Defense mostly wins vs Geno Smith and Drew Lock again. Pass-rushing LB Uchenna Nwosu intercepted Smith in 7 on 7. I already documented the red-zone scrimmage. Smith all with the 1s, Lock all with the 2s again. @thenewstribune
10:10 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
79Likes6Retweets

I wrote in my 5 training camp predictions last week that “There is going to be a buzz about Uchenna Nwosu” and Monday’s effort really helped my case. (That should help my average after leading off with “Drew Lock will be ahead of schedule.”)

Nwosu is in an ideal situation to thrive and we probably don’t give enough credit to Pete Carroll for what he’s done with edge rushing reclamation projects.

Noah Fant’s drop

One reason I expected coaches to favor Lock is that he has a downfield passing attack, but he wasn’t always given a fair shot by his receivers in Denver. You know what they say about Denver: “It’s colder, higher Seattle.”

Twitter avatar for @Curtis_Crabtree
Curtis Crabtree @Curtis_Crabtree
Practice over for the day for Seahawks. Rough day for the offense and QBs. Uchenna Nwosu had a pick of Geno Smith. Noah Fant dropped the one open downfield throw from Drew Lock.
10:16 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
19Likes2Retweets

This is just one play for Fant and I didn’t see it happen so who knows, but there is a reason that the Broncos were willing to part with a recent first round tight end, a position that often needs three to five years to really develop: It’s a risky proposition to pay his fifth-year option.

The Seahawks will be the ones doing that and they’ll hope for a better result here than with most of their other high-profile tight end acquisitions under Carroll.

Artie Burns relaxing into CB2 role

I’ve said practically nothing of Burns all offseason. From an Arthur to an Artie: I’m sorry.

Twitter avatar for @MikeDugar
Dugar, Michael-Shawn @MikeDugar
The Uchenna Nwosu INT was really good. Geno wanted DK initially (I think) but Artie Burns had it covered. Geno worked back across the field looking for Will Dissly and Uchenna jumped it clean. Really athletic play in coverage.
10:12 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
153Likes6Retweets

Right now the Seahawks seem not only comfortable with Sidney Jones, Burns, and Coby Bryant, they’re very excited about that combo. Where does Justin Coleman fit in there?

Twitter avatar for @mattyfbrown
Matty F. Brown @mattyfbrown
Artie Burns looks really fast
11:09 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022

He could still be the starting nickel, but there’s got to be an added level of relief there knowing that Seattle likely did quite well with their fourth and fifth round picks at corner.

Twitter avatar for @MazvitaMaraire
MazvitaMaraire @MazvitaMaraire
Seahawks DC Clint Hurtt on Artie Burns and Cody Bryant performance so far. #Seahawks
10:24 PM ∙ Jul 30, 2022
9Likes2Retweets

Burns also noted that the team is calling Tariq Woolen “Avatar” based on his physical appearance.

Twitter avatar for @CorbinSmithNFL
Corbin K. Smith @CorbinSmithNFL
New nickname alert for Tariq Woolen: According to teammate Artie Burns, the #Seahawks are calling him "Avatar" for his freakish size/athleticism.
7:12 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
657Likes56Retweets

Coby Bryant could be the steal

Twitter avatar for @BradyHenderson
Brady Henderson @BradyHenderson
Coby Bryant's ball skills continue to show up now that DBs can actually defend throws. He had another PBU today, on a wobbly Drew Lock deep ball into the wind. Bryant is still the No. 2 LCB behind Sidney Jones. Geno Smith: "Coby has just been making plays all over the place."
11:42 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
78Likes6Retweets

He was the 109th overall pick and no we haven’t even seen a preseason game yet, but it’s not like success would be “surprising” for Bryant. He was named college football’s “best cornerback” a year ago. He most likely would not start this season unless there was an injury and the best thing for him could be a year on the bench. But the Seahawks must feel so good about their draft class and I don’t think this was a feeling in camp in any of the last few years.

On the flip side, I have no idea how different it is to play cornerback in a game vs NFL receivers vs playing in practice against the 1s vs playing in practice against Drew Lock and Cody Thompson.

I’ll take positive reports when I can get them though.

Jamal Adams is back

Twitter avatar for @mattyfbrown
Matty F. Brown @mattyfbrown
Adams looking fluid in a deep 1/2
Image
9:46 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022

We can relax about that.

Rashaad Penny and Ken Walker III packages

Matty F Brown caught Penny and Walker getting some plays on the field together.

Twitter avatar for @mattyfbrown
Matty F. Brown @mattyfbrown
Oooo, Kenneth Walker and Rashaad Penny out on the field together!
Image
10:27 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
55Likes6Retweets

I expect Walker to do a few things this season:

  • He had 13 catches at MSU last season, but I would look for him to get at least twice that many as a rookie

  • He might play a tiny bit in the slot

  • He might get some wildcat direct snaps

Twitter avatar for @bcondotta
Bob Condotta @bcondotta
Ken Walker III had two nice catches in team periods today. Here he is catching one from Drew Lock in early work.
1:54 AM ∙ Jul 31, 2022
181Likes8Retweets

Ken Walker’s going to be a great read option (or even a triple-option if you call McCall) running back in the NFL, great for play action, I believe he will be able to do it all.

Jake Curhan still leading RT

Twitter avatar for @bcondotta
Bob Condotta @bcondotta
We are back to Jake Curhan getting the snaps with first team at RT. A true rotation there so far.
9:05 PM ∙ Aug 1, 2022
59Likes4Retweets

Stone Forsythe had some reps with the 1st on Saturday, with Curhan moved to guard.

Will Dissly red zone

Dissly seemed a popular red zone target on Monday. Seems rational, right? Dissly had only three red zone targets in 2021, catching two passes, one for a touchdown. He had more red zone touchdowns on Monday than he had last season.

I’ve literally never talked to Boye Mafe in my life but imagine if he was my best friend he might say a little something like this: “Please consider sharing Seaside Joe, your help is immensely important. Poll results coming soon this week!”

Twitter avatar for @Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks @Seahawks
.@boye_mafe, meet the @12s ✍️ #SeahawksCamp x @Boeing
1:19 AM ∙ Aug 2, 2022
167Likes13Retweets

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What you missed in training camp today

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What you missed in training camp today

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JohnnyLondon
Aug 2, 2022

Thanks for these camp digests, I’m loving the insights. All it takes is for one of the QBs to start performing at a level that doesn’t invoke unease and things couldn’t have gone much better (one broken finger notwithstanding)

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Dale Roberts
Aug 2, 2022

Dear Joe, what are your impressions of the leadership abilities of our QBs? I get that it's hard to lead when you're not very good but Wilson's (we can stop calling him Russ or Russell now that he's forced his way out) greatest strength was the effort that was on display on and off the field. Everyone on the team saw that commitment and knew where the bar was set. Wagner did the same for the defense. What have you seen in terms of player leadership?

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