Seattle Seahawks Training Camp Report: 8/5/2009

by John Morgan on Aug 5, 2009 12:50 PM PDT

Seattle's starters are mostly settled. So is the greater part of its depth. One of the few positions up for grabs is fifth wide receiver. Danny O'Neil and Eric Williams decided today was the day Ben Obomanu distinguished himself from his competition:

O'Neil:

The stiffest competition for roster space will be for the No. 5 -- and possibly No. 6 -- receivers on the squad. WR Ben Obomanu distinguished himself during the morning practice, which was noteable for cool temperatures and downright tepid passing. During one-on-one drills, Obomanu made a great catch on a ball that CB Josh Wilson got his hands on. Obomanu showed a sure grip to secure the reception. He also made a nice catch during the 11-on-11 team portion of practice.

Williams:

During the practice itself, Ben Obomanu continues to distinguish himself out on the field, and may be creating some separation between himself and the other receivers in the battle for the last two receiving spots on the roster.

Obomanu is a favorite because the competition isn't stiff, he has played with the team in the regular season before, he no longer has practice squad eligibility and did I mention the competition isn't very stiff? No receiver will pull away from the pack until the team has played a preseason game. Making catches in practice, especially in soft shells, says little about a wide receiver's ability to separate and catch in traffic. Those two skills define a pro receiver.

Walter Jones and Marcus Trufant continue to sit out practice. Mora described the origin of Trufant's injury:

"He was backpedaling," Mora said. "He was out working with Josh Wilson, he came out of a break, reached for a ball, got in an awkward position when he reached for the ball and it kind of locked up on him. Just one of those things."

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Just looking at that picture of Red made me fall down for a loss of 7 yards.

by Airborne Hawk Guy on Aug 5, 2009 12:52 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Oh God, I just burst out laughing...

…and I’m at a pubic terminal at work. The chick beside me almost jumped out of her chair.

by djafrot on Aug 5, 2009 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions

damn djafrot, we don't even have "pubic terminals" with chicks in them where I work.

by Stevo's on Aug 5, 2009 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

So who's our #4?

Butler?

Housh/Branch/Burleson make up our first three … who’s #4?

Also, I’ve heard little about Butler. Any reports on him in training camp?

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Aug 5, 2009 1:47 PM PDT reply actions

Bits and pieces but nothing substantial.

Houshmandzadeh likes him. Butler is definitely the #4.

by John Morgan on Aug 5, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm a little confused by how we're going to get Burly/Butler the ball if they're at #3 and #4.

Knapp’s offense isn’t big on 3 and 4 WR sets, right? What if Burly and Butler really start to show that they should be on the field, wouldn’t that make opening up the offense almost a necessity?

by djafrot on Aug 5, 2009 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Nate Burleson is the projected starting split end

So he shouldn’t lack for snaps. The team wills rotate players at multiple positions. Butler could sub in at split end and Branch will sub in at flanker and Houshmandzadeh will sub in at split end. Also, Knapp insisted the team will use more three wide receiver formations.

by John Morgan on Aug 5, 2009 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

More important is the resulting depth.

Say Branch gets injured again, we’ve still got a lineup of: #1 Housh, #2 Burleson, #3,4 Obomanu/Butler. Which still looks pretty good to me, especially “if Burly and Butler show that they should be on the field.”

Glenn Beck likes argument, but has a deap-seated hatred for logic.

by Cheddar28 on Aug 5, 2009 7:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Is it just me, or is training camp more hyped this year than usual?

Maybe it’s just the VMAC.

Also, every year I tell myself I won’t buy Madden or play fantasy sports and every year the hype gets to me and I inevitably give in to temptation. This year looks to be no different.

by LantermanC on Aug 5, 2009 3:02 PM PDT reply actions

I've been thinking the same thing.

With a new staff, certainly fans at VMAC, lots of free agent activity, etc… there seems to be an inordinate amount of hype, excitement, whatever you want to call it. And I don’t even try to kid myself, I’m all in every year, for good or ill.

I'm gonna go calm submissive on your ass.

by Dukeshire on Aug 5, 2009 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions

You get a free copy of Madden with a Sports Illustrated subscription

Just in case anyone’s interested…

by aerozeppelin on Aug 5, 2009 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for the heads-up, my airline's frequent flyer miles things can be applied to magazine subscriptions as well.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Aug 5, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions

How much does the subscription cost?

Glenn Beck likes argument, but has a deap-seated hatred for logic.

by Cheddar28 on Aug 5, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions

You can check the options out

here. However, I see nothing about Madden.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Aug 5, 2009 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Check out...

this.

by cashless on Aug 5, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Now if only

I had a console to play it on…

Glenn Beck likes argument, but has a deap-seated hatred for logic.

by Cheddar28 on Aug 6, 2009 1:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I know, me too.

You could get the PS2 version and try to get a used PS2 for cheap. I’ve thought about that today.

by cashless on Aug 6, 2009 1:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Awesome, thanks.

I was playing the PS3 demo and thought it was absolutely great, probably be the first Madden I’ll get since the one where Sweet Shaun was on the cover (07, I think).

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Aug 6, 2009 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Madden should be good this year

After following the game, reading the producer’s Twitter/ea blog, and playing the demo this year’s Madden looks to be what the first next-gen one could have been. Gameplay has been improved a ton and the cracked out “twitch gameplay” is gone completely.

by Hancock.Brett on Aug 5, 2009 3:52 PM PDT reply actions