Seahawks mock game: What we learned from Friday's scrimmage

Seahawks injury news, depth chart updates, rosterization: Seaside Joe 1616

The Seattle Seahawks held their annual mock game on Friday, an opportunity for the outside world to gain a ton of insight on depth charts, competitions, and what individuals need to work on before the season. That was the first thing I hoped Seattle would come away with in my mock game preview on Wednesday.

Here is a report on what we learned.

We already knew going into the game that Evan Brown would get first crack at center, which is what happened. That’s one of the only true starting competitions that we know of at camp, but there’s a lot of depth questions to answer as well as how these parts on offense, defense, and special teams are gelling together.

Devon Witherspoon at nickel

Both Coby Bryant and Witherspoon did share the field in first team dime formation. Bryant was the second team safety. Witherspoon had a pass breakup on the first drive.

DeeJay Dallas is first up at kick returner, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is first punt returner

It’s a little surprising but not too surprising that JSN could be Seattle’s punt returner this year. I was vehemently against Tyler Lockett as a punt returner after several seasons into his career, but if JSN is the best player for the job than it gives him further opportunities to help the Seahawks win. Also, JSN just has less to learn as a receiver than Lockett did early in his career. Maybe that’s not an entirely fair statement, but I think there’s a lot of evidence to support that JSN isn’t the same level of “project” as Lockett, who took four years to become the starter we know him as today.

In the second half, Dallas opened as the punter returner and Dee Eskridge (he is still a part of the team until the season starts) was the first kick returner.

Cody Thompson gets “starting” reps next to DK Metcalf, JSN

Another surprise early in mock game reports had Chris Steele as a second team defense cornerback. Steele was signed last week. To put it in perspective though, everyone gets pushed down on the depth chart when Riq Woolen returns. DK Metcalf for 30:

First team offense got a 90-yard TD drive on opening possession against secon team defense. Thompson had a key 21-yard gain on second possession. Where does this leave Cade Johnson?

Jason Myers made his first field goal, but missed from 52 on his second attempt. He hit a 47-yarder in the second half.

Andrew Whitaker injury

The Seahawks recently signed Whitaker, a college track superstar, as a cornerback. He was carted off on Friday, unfortunately.

“Artie Burns has been a standout so far”

As if I needed to worry even more about which cornerbacks won’t make the final roster.

For the “keep ‘em all!” requests, let’s crunch the numbers: Woolen, Witherspoon, Bryant, Tre Brown, and Burns. That’s six. The Seahawks are testing Bryant at safety, that doesn’t mean he’s going to be able to play safety or that he’ll be ready by this season. Then where does Jerrick Reed II fit in?

Seattle did keep seven cornerbacks to start 2022, but we have to remember that was a different roster. What if the Seahawks want to keep more offensive linemen this year? Or more receivers because of Dee Eskridge’s suspension? Or more linebacker?

Yes, it’s a good problem to have.

2023 is Boye Mafe season

Mafe also forced an offensive holding on the first drive.

Turn of events for RB depth

During third-string vs third-string, Kenny McIntosh fumbles and also gets hurt on the play. The initial reaction to McIntosh’s injury on Twitter from the media was more “He seems okay” but after he went in the blue tent and got a wrap on his knee, it got decidedly more grim.

Afterwards, recently-signed SaRodorick Thompson scores a two-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing drive. McIntosh had to get looked at by trainers. There was no report of Zach Charbonnet actually playing, although Pete Carroll said that he would.

Third-String TD

UDFA QB Holton Ahlers threw a TD pass to UDFA TE Griffin Hebert, giving “green team” a 17-13 lead. Brady Henderson noted that QB3 still looks like a “position to upgrade”.

Two-Minute TD

To end the game, Drew Lock led a 75-yard TD drive that culminated in a 12-yard touchdown to Jake Bobo.

As far as the full breakdown on who played, how much they played, who played well, who didn’t play very much, “did this guy play ahead of that guy? (I’ll give a random example: Did Matt Landers play more than Cade Johnson? Did Joey Blount play more than Jerrick Reed?)…I won’t have that information when this newsletter goes out. I just wanted to make sure that we all got an IMMEDIATE summary of what happened on Friday evening for those who missed it. Share this with Seahawks fans if you like to, and we had a bonus article on Mike Morris on Friday morning.

For more details and Pete Carroll’s post-game comments, be subscribed to get Saturday morning’s edition. It would be very exciting to hit 2,500 subscribers before the Vikings preseason game and we only need 15 more:

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