Update II:

Talkin' Hawks

This merits mentioning...

INJURY REPORT
The training staff is shutting down Pro Bowl defensive end Patrick Kerney until his strained left calf heels. The calf has bothered Kerney since the first practice Friday morning, and it acted up again at the start of the Sunday morning practice.

because fans should expect nagging injuries and a decline in play from Patrick Kerney in 2008. That doesn't mean he won't be good. That doesn't mean he can't be great. Kerney defied expectations last season. It means we shouldn't let one great season create a new baseline for expectations going forward. Kerney is 31, and even before tearing his pectoral in 2006, had recorded just 11 sacks in his previous 25 games. At that rate, that's about 7 sacks over 16 games. I'd be satisfied if Kerney can do that in 2008.

. . .

Update: The rest of the reports roll in with smidgen left to be said.

Seahawks Blog:

Courtney Taylor's hamstring is not pulled. It's not tweaked. It's not dinged or any of those other words that football coaches throw around to imprecisely diagnose an injury.

Taylor's hamstring is tight, however, which is why coach Mike Holmgren said the receiver was taking it easy toward the end of Monday's morning practice.

Meh. This will be the story with Taylor, unfortunately; he's talented and skilled but takes more than his share of bumps. And suffers. Hopefully his game won't suffer when it matters. This sounds precautionary and I expect Taylor back tomorrow.

Seahawks Insider:

Newly signed Bryan Gilmore also had a tough day, dropping a few passes, including one on a deep flag pattern.

Methinks it's his hands.

Owen Schmitt's feistiness came out on one play when he continued to block Brian Russell and the two got into a minor scuffle, slapping each other in the helmet a few times before separating. This is what Schmitt is going to make his name doing, antagonistic toughness. He also caught a swing pass and lumbered through the secondary, David Hawthorne bouncing off him when they made contact.

This stinks of perfunctory Owen Schmitt coverage. Well, you asked for it. He got into a fight with Brian Russell and "lumbered" into z-string linebacker David Hawthorne. We all want Schmitt to be great because he's a Hawk and because he does stupid thing like thrash his head with his helmet, but let's let Schmitt be great before we call for reports of his greatness.

. . .

To be updated as reports roll in.

Dave Bolling is first in with a look at one-on-one blocking drills.

In the past, only Mack Strong had much luck. The drill this year was a real eye-opener. Leonard Weaver stonewalled Lofa Tatupu, and then absolutely flat-backed Leroy Hill. I know, I know ... you don't believe it. Brothers and sisters, I saw it with my own eyes.

Everybody knows Weaver has some rushing and receiving talents, but the challenge for Weaver was to block. And if he didn't learn how, he wasn't going to get much time on the field. It's obvious he's taken this challenge head on. Julius Jones then did a great job against Julian Peterson.

Unfortunately, pass blocking wasn't really Weaver's weakness and he displayed significant prowess last season. Weaver's weakness is run blocking, specifically squaring up and exploding into a block while on the move. So, while it's good to see Weaver kicking ass pass blocking, that's not the stride he needs to take.

The guy who really showed up was back T.J. Duckett, who may have had his best practice as a Seahawk. He looked very strong up the middle...

As I've said, as long as Duckett does enough in training camp and in the preseason to be trusted with carries, he'll produce. After all the brouhaha about Justin Forsett looking better than Duckett in mini-camps, it's encouraging to see someone recognize that a quick, scatback out of pads is probably going to outperform a bruising interior rusher in non-contact drills, but it doesn't mean Duckett is slow or destined to be cut.

Logan Payne continues to be a real training camp star.

Payne is undoubtedly an excellent practicer, but the fawning over his play is betrayed by some simple facts. Whenever questioned about Seattle's four young wide receivers and who will emerge, the answer is almost always Courtney Taylor. Then Ben Obomanu. Then mention of Jordan Kent's athleticism/pedigree/growth as a wide receiver. Then praise about Payne. Not Payne will produce, just praise.

Payne didn't produce last preseason. If we look at all passes targeting Payne, 8, and then apply "The Hidden Game of Football" adjusted yards per attempt  (pass yards + 10*(pass TD) - 45*(interceptions thrown))/(passing attempts) formula, Payne tallied -1.25 yards per target. Payne wasn't targeted in Seattle's final two preseason games.

Despite being highly polished, Payne spent all of 2007 on the practice squad. Before the playoffs, Seattle signed him off the practice squad, but despite Payne suffering no injuries and the Seahawks suffering many, was never targeted or even activated.

Payne is your classic hard working, humble, white guy overachiever that gets mad pub around practice time but struggles to make the club. I wish him all the luck in the world, hope he proves me wrong-wrong, but for those expecting Payne to explode on the NFL this season, you're probably deluding yourselves.