Seahawks Training Camp Report: 7/26
by John Morgan on Jul 26, 2008 1:28 PM PDT
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PrintMike Sando is first in with the goods. Scroll down and you'll see some quick hits on John Carlson. Impressive work by Sando, proving if ever it needed to be, Mike Sando is a tough act to follow.
Starting center Chris Spencer isn't working. Coach Mike Holmgren lumped Spencer into a group of players taking things easier following offseason surgeries. Unlike the other guys who passed physicals, Spencer hasn't practiced since early in the first session Friday. His injury situation is definitely worth monitoring.
That's a foreboding first line if I've ever read one. Spencer's shoulders are now not just endangering his potential, but also his career. It's bad enough that he's clearly lost strength, but if he can't get reps in at practice, I don't think Holmgren will hesitate to begin auditioning replacements. Spencer has too much learn to be taking snaps off.
The Seahawks have not yet committed to Julius Jones as their starting running back, but if he is indeed the favorite, Maurice Morris can't afford to make the decision easier. That thought came to mind as Morris dropped an easy pass roughly 10 yards downfield. A short time later, Jones made a catch over his left shoulder despite tight coverage from linebacker David Hawthorne.
Jones is not only the favorite, Jones starting is a fait accompli. I wouldn't give anymore credence to Holmgren's "two starters" than I would Kelly Jennings' job being endangered. It's a motivational tool, and when all is said and done, I'd be surprised if Morris matches his carries from last season. In fact, I wouldn't be too surprised if Seattle doesn't shop him before the season starts.
Rookie running back Justin Forsett, 5-foot-8 and 194 pounds, can be hard to find out there -- for defenders as well as spectators. He's got some fight, too, at one point winning a tug-of-war for the ball with Lofa Tatupu on the other end. It looked as though Forsett surprised Tatupu with his strength.
It's notable that Forsett continues to impress. Seattle didn't draft the tiny powerback to be cute, or because "his talent was just too good not to". Forsett is the type of hard working overachiever Tim Ruskell favors, and if Morris ends up in another jersey, Forsett will be part of the reason why.
Here are a couple quick takes on Carlson.
Carlson beat safety Deon Grant for an intermediate gain late in practice. Carlson caught the ball away from his body without losing control. Very nice.
The overall feel is that Carlson showed up, stepped up and showcased the skills and polish that made Seattle confident he could contribute this season. As for the headfakes...
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Le Charles Bentley (sp?)
John,
Any thoughts on a center (read: Mr. Bentley) that may allow us to simply put Spencer on the PUP… or perhaps even better, IR or cut? I’m not sure we wouldn’t be better off with Vallos in there. Maybe I’ve just grown tired in waiting for a fourth year 1st round pick to “find” his game.
I think Vallos has a real shot.
Bentley, unfortunately, would be subbing in a more accomplished but equally questionable center. It’s very hard to know at what level Bentley can play or if he’ll stay healthy. Spencer, though frustrating, has better upside and lower downside than Bentley.
Bentley is done.
Those injuries and the infection are something you just can’t come back to 100% with.
against Vegas reliever Casey Hoorelbeke, whose ancestors clearly couldn't spell Hurlbeck properly.
That'll probably have to wait until the preseason..
when I can see him play center. He played T at Wake Forest, and it’s a stretch to conflate the skills of the two positions. I did think he’d end up a center as soon as he was drafted, though.
by John Morgan on Jul 27, 2008 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions
So Jones scorched the Hawks in ‘06
1) So did a lot of other RBs that year – including Gore twice – which was the biggest rap on the ’06 defense
2) Besides, that was 2 years ago and 2 years can be a career for an NFL RB
If Jones is such a threat:
1) Why was he on the market?
a. Are we to believe it’s because the "boys" are poor talent evaluators (certainly goes against the label best franchise in modern NFL – See recent article from Football Outsiders)
b. Are we to believe it’s because the "boys" had too many quality backs (then why draft one in the 1st round?)
2) Why can’t Jones beat out perennial journeyman Morris for the starting nod – Morris ain’t no Marion Barber.
Not much reported by the local press is the consensus from the Dallas fans that Jones was their mini-Alexander. His career was a mini snapshot of SA’s in that he was first good then declined rapidly. His decline was characterized by his seemingly reluctance to hit the hole hard (sound familiar) – hence the emergence of Barbour – Dallas’ version of Stephen Jackson.
Then there’s Duckett. Are we to believe that when Holmgren says he doesn’t have any specific plans for Duckett, this is some sort of motivational tool. If there is a “tool” to be found it’s the reader that buys this stuff.
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