Jimmy Graham: Connection with Russell Wilson has "been pretty instant"

Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham spoke to reporters on Monday afternoon following practice. Here's what he had to say.

Link: Jimmy Graham Training Camp Day 4 Press Conference

TE Jimmy Graham

August 3, 2015

(On how the first week of camp) "It feels incredible. To be here, to be a part of something special like this, and to work on this connection with Russ [Wilson], and to build this bond with my tight ends, it's been truly amazing so far."

(On his connection with Russell Wilson) "It's been pretty instant. I think with Russ it's bigger than the game, it's bigger than football, and that's how you know something special is going to happen, when it extends off the field. So far so good, I mean it's been amazing. Him learning me, and what some of my hints are when I'm going to break, and me understanding him, where he's going to place the ball, and what he likes in the routes. It's been great so far, and we haven't even run the red zone yet."

(On Russell Wilson being there for him in the offseason) "That was a big deal. Not only for me but really for my family and friends. To see just how real it is here, how immediately everyone is just accepting as a brother, and really kind of ran for my help with they didn't even have to."

(On Wilson's ability to scramble and improvise on the field) "Obviously in New Orleans, Drew [Brees] doesn't really scramble ever. This offense, from what I've seen on film, when they're special, obviously it's when they're running the ball. But number two it's when he's [Russell Wilson] extending plays like that. And for me, I love it, because normally I'm the biggest guy on the field so hopefully I draw the most attention from him."

(On the differences between Russell Wilson and Drew Brees) "Russ [Wilson] has obviously a great arm, he can really flip the ball, especially on those outside routes. Truly his ability to extend the play, it's truly never over. A lot of the routes, for me out there in New Orleans, once I planted, if I wasn't getting the ball then it was over. Over here, sometimes the play just begins."

(On differences blocking in Seattle versus New Orleans) "Yeah, I'm blocking here. Out there the last few I was pretty banged up so midway through the year I kind of stopped blocking, and I just routed people up. Now here, I'm blocking quite a bit and I love it. It's very important for me to be a part of that here because that's about 75 percent of the offense here, and when you have a back like that you want to be in there on those explosive runs, and you want to be a part of that."

(On facing the Seahawks defense in practice) "Oh yeah, every route, every moment I know I need to be at my best. Because if not, he's [Pete Carroll] going to show a highlight in the team meeting room of somebody grabbing the ball away, and that just doesn't happen to me. So it's been demanding of me, everything every play."

(On any basketball challenges in the team meeting room) "Yeah, I lost today. You know what it is, I'm 6'7" and the roof, they don't let me get my arch on my shot, I felt like Shaq shooting. So yeah I actually lost today. Hopefully one day we can get a dunk contest in there, and I can guarantee I won't lose that one."

(On Graham's role on the team) "Right now it's pretty early. I'm not give any secrets right here, obviously. Third and 10 is when I'm going to make my money and that's when I'm going to have to be special for this team. Down there in the red zone. That's just what I've always done. I'm doing the most down there. There's a lot of matchup problems and with Marshawn in the backfield and their safeties play too flat and I just see a ton of opportunities there."

(On the Seahawks' defensive speed) "What they do well is everyone swarms to the ball. It's not just the safeties and the linebackers. It's the d-linemen are making tackles 20 yards down the field. Corners are coming up and smacking you. So here it's everyone swarming."

(On how many points the offense can score a game) "That's a good question. I have no idea. I'm just trying to get wins, not points. So I have no idea."

(On Graham and Luke Willson playing together) "We've been talking about that. We keep calling ourselves the bash brothers. He's a tremendous tight end, obviously. He's done some special things for this team. I think a lot of double and triple tight end sets for us are really going to start to come out this year. Really give defenses a fit, because we are going to be able to run the ball so effectively because of all the tight ends in the game. Also in the pass, play action is going to be amazing."

(On padding up for practice) "Yeah, I love to practice with pads. I can use my body a little bit more. For me that is real football. Running around in shorts and a t-shirt isn't really my forte."

(On Graham's flying) "The flying has been amazing. I've been to the San Juan Islands, the Hood Canal, all the good stuff - the Olympic Mountains. Really everywhere you can possibly go. It's been a good time in the Beaver (sea plane) and it has been great with John Nordstrom. He has been big there showing me around."

(On what happens when Wilson scrambles) "It's controlled chaos. There are some rules. Everyone has rules, it's just, you can really adlib, but there are rules. I'm not going to tell you what they are."