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Seattle Seahawks Training Camp Report: 8/8/2009

T.J. Houshmandzadeh was a late bloomer, but even as a rookie he produced. Jordan Kent hasn't. Hasn't given Seahawks fans significant evidence he ever will. But his talent is hard to cut and his talent might ensure a roster spot no matter his production.

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

T.J. Houshmandzadeh was a late bloomer, but even as a rookie he produced. Jordan Kent hasn't. Hasn't given Seahawks fans significant evidence he ever will. But his talent is hard to cut and his talent might ensure a roster spot no matter his production.

Greetings from Seattle. Let's quickly catch up with yesterday's news.

Chris Spencer was carted off the field. That hurts. That hurts until fate screams "Psyche!" and we learn Spencer's ankle is probably not seriously damaged and that Spencer suffered a common ankle sprain and not a high ankle sprain. A common ankle sprain occurs when one or more ligaments of the ankle is hyperextended inward. Try turning your ankle inward and you'll notice you have some small range of motion. A high ankle sprain involves a hyperextension outward. It involves the syndesmotic ligament and is typically more severe. This should not be a major injury.

Clare Farnsworth covered Seattle's scrimmage at Husky Stadium. He reports Nate Burleson was the star, but Jordan Kent had the shining moment.

In a practice laced with big catches, Jordan Kent saved the best for last. On the final play of the evening, Kent used his body to shield cornerback Marquis Floyd and then made a one-handed grab in the left side of the end zone of a pass that No. 3 QB Mike Teel put where only Kent had a chance at it.

"I knew he was going to throw a jump ball to the outside," Kent said. "Mike put a great ball up there and I was able to get good position and jump up and make a good play."

I can group both players into the same analysis, with a little extra on Kent. Receivers making great catches in practice, scrimmage, and for some, the preseason, is the equivalent of a great batting practice bat. Receivers are supposed to catch passes when they are uncovered or laxly covered, or for a player like Kent, unlikely to be run over by a screaming Donte Whitner with bad intentions. So, grain of salt, Merkers mine of salt, Pacific Ocean of salt.

Thinking of Kent sparked a brief internal debate. Seattle drafted Jordan Kent in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Tim Ruskell knew Kent was not likely to contribute that season. Given his inexperience, succeeding as a role player in his second season would have been encouraging progress. Kent didn't do that, but he has shown flashes and he has shown steady progress. The talent is and always will be amazing. Kent is 6'4" and change, claims a 4.4 forty and long jumped 25' 1 ¼" as a high school junior. That bested Mel Renfro's 41-year old record by a full foot. You know, Mel Renfro, 10 time Pro Bowl pick, five time All-Pro and Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined cornerback Mel Renfro. That one. By a foot. As a junior. Standing 6'4".

So if Kent is on his way, and he's only a shade over two years into his pro football career and has shown incremental if not sufficient progress, can you seriously cut him? Maybe. But, if Seattle keeps him and he does nothing more than fill a spot and suck on special teams, as Chris Rock once said: I understand.

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6 YEAR 60 MILLION (34 GUARANTEED)

Good enough and I’m pumped it’s six years instead of five.

by Hawkhammer19 on Aug 8, 2009 4:27 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

understated.

Kent is yet to catch a regular season pass. That is beyond green. We were looking for him to be a bright spot last year- he had the opportunity. Coming into year 3 without having caught a pass… he should probably be cut. Measurables be damned, Obomanu, Taylor, Payne, Hass, Bumpus are all more likely to actually help us at some point.

by michaelfox99 on Aug 8, 2009 7:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He may not have caught any regular season passes

But he’s dropped a few, if I remember correctly, and that has to count for experience on some level. Hey, he’d probably rate a solid “B” in Fooch’s grading scale on “potential” at least.

by ninjasocks on Aug 8, 2009 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Somethings not right about Farnesworth's account:

That anecdote he relays about Kent’s great catch is pictured in the “Leading Off” section of the August 10th (not a typo) issue of Sports Illustrated. Every detail is exact: Kent, number 82, making a great play on a ball thrown by Teel, inside the left end-zone, with Floyd defending. Only, this is at the practice facilities at VMAC and not Husky Stadium. Strange…

by Anticitizen_One on Aug 8, 2009 7:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The practice I was at...

Floyd was the RCB, Kent was the left WR(I think he was split end) and they matched up every time, with Teel throwing the ball. Kent caught a lot of balls against him…he has it easy against Floyd. That was Monday…he’s probably been doing it all week. Floyd is not much of a CB.

by cashless on Aug 8, 2009 11:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

key factor

making great catches in practice, scrimmage, and for some, the preseason, is the equivalent of a great batting practice bat. Receivers are supposed to catch passes when they are uncovered or laxly covered

This is what I noticed, as well. It was much like watching a basketball player or players working out for teams in the pros. Thy pretty much make every shot automatically absent a defender.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevon Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Aug 9, 2009 12:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I completely feel the same way as John.

His lack of sufficient progress isn’t the same as a Troy Williamson, Reggie Williams, Mike WIlliams, Courtney Taylor, not putting it together. His starting point is completely different than those guys. That’s not an excuse; insufficient progress is insufficient. But it’s not a telltale indication of his chances of putting it together, compared to them. Their starting point is different, and there was sufficient time for sufficient progress. Kent’s on a different timetable. Would you wait three years for Randy Moss? I would. And we easily can.

by jacobstevens on Aug 9, 2009 12:59 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I forgot about the different timetable, and although it may have been mentioned as such last year,

I think it’s a valid statement, and makes sense. He looked as impressive as anyone in team scrimmages that I witnessed on the 4th. He looked good, catching in traffic up high w/ his hands, and gliding under a deep-ball with defenders left in the dust.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevon Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Aug 9, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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