Overall, the defense won the day even with the return of Geno Smith. Smith appeared to play his normal amount of reps and was moving around just fine. In fact, he scrambled on one play with Tyrel Dodson in pursuit and I was cringing at the potential collision. Coach Mike Macdonald seemed to see the same thing and talked about wanting his guys to do better there.
The latest problem for the offense is handling the pressure coming from the secondary. Devon Witherspoon continues to time up his blitzes perfectly and almost has a 100% success rate on disrupting plays when he blitzes. He was not alone. Artie Burns got what would have been a sack. Julian Love created some pressure. Rayshawn Jenkins did as well. Even Marquise Blair flashed back there and nearly picked off a pass as he leapt as the QB threw it. He settled for a batted ball incomplete.
These pressures are not generally the fault of the offensive line. Secondary players coming after the QB are generally the responsibility of the tight ends and running backs. There were some situations where a blocker was defeated, like when Patrick O’Connell blew by AJ Barner for a sack. Most of the cases seemed like the man coming was unaccounted for. That would indicate an error by the quarterback and center in calling protections pre-snap.
Given this was happening with all three quarterbacks, it seems Ryan Grubb has some work to do with his players to recognize these better. This is a speciality of Macdonald’s defense, so it is not likely to be something they solve overnight.
Note that I am not calling these blitzers because they are often not a fifth rusher. Technically, a player is only blitzing if they are bringing an extra rusher. Macdonald is diabolical in finding unique ways to create pressure with only four rushers. That is proving true over the last week.
Mike Morris continues push
Morris stacked a great day on top of his great scrimmage on Saturday. His ability to play outside and inside with leverage and length is becoming a problem for the offense. He has shown the ability to split double teams, knock down passes when he can’t get home, and be equally effective on the edge or inside.
Running back competition is wide open
Macdonald acknowledged after practice that Kenny McIntosh is in a battle with George Holani for the third running back spot. Holani had maybe the play of the practice when he broke through the line around the 15 yard line and then trucked Artie Burns into the ground as he stepped over him for a touchdown.
The sideline went berserk.
McIntosh had one of his more productive practices, catching a number of passes out of the backfield. He just has not shown anything special. In the absence of better elusiveness, speed, or blitz pickup, McIntosh may find himself on the outside looking in when camp concludes. Preseason games will be crucial for the running back room to sort itself out. Do not count out Kobe Lewis.
Better day for Olu
Olu Oluwatimi came into camp as the presumptive started at center. That grip has loosened considerably as camp has progressed. He has not shown the strength to hold up in pass protection or create push in the run game. Macdonald has made it clear that he and Nick Harris are battling. That whole competition could be moot if the rumored deal for Connor Williams comes to pass.
Oluwatimi did a nice job today. He handled his duties in team drills well, but his standout moment came when lining up across from Byron Murphy in 1v1 pass rush drills.
Murphy has been a handful for everyone across from him. He tends to bring the power bull rush on the first rep, and this was no exception. Oluwatimi anchored, though, and was able to keep Murphy from collapsing the pocket the way he has against almost all other linemen. It was easily the most impressive rep I have seen of Oluwatimi’s given strength is the chief concern with him.
They lined up a second time and Murphy got off balance by leaning too far forward. Oluwatimi pulled the chair like a basketball post defender and then pushed Murphy face first into the ground. This is the third or fourth time that has happened to Murphy, which indicates an area of development. Regardless, Oluwatimi escaped the two reps victorious.
Daily Murphy Mayhem
It wouldn’t be a Seahawks practice without Murphy taking someone’s lunch. Today it was McClendon Curtis. Murphy lined up across from the right tackle during team drills and drove Curtis, a massive man, all the way back into the quarterback for a sack. His ability to create quick pressure on bull rushes is wild.
I know people, even in the Seahawks building, compare him to Grady Jarrett. I don’t think that does him justice. I continue to see more Geno Atkins than Jarrett. Murphy is a brute, who is also agile. Every single person I talk to on the team, whether offense or defense, can’t help but bring up Murphy.
This feels a bit like when Frank Clark came in as a rookie and had veterans like Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett talking him up. Murphy is not a normal rookie. Everybody in there sees it.
Best young defensive core?
It is silly to even pose this question at this point in the preseason, but what I am seeing from Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Murphy, Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, and Morris have me wondering which teams in the NFL will have a better young core on defense than the Seahawks when this season is over.
All of these guys are 25 or younger. Murphy is 21. You could even throw 26-year-old Love in the mix. But it really comes down to the ceilings for Woolen, Witherspoon and Murphy. The only reason this question even bubbles up in my mind is they all are looking like future All-Pro players. The future may be very soon.
Stone Forsythe and Hall is popcorn-worthy
Hall and Forsythe got into a tussle on Saturday during 1v1 drills at Lumen Field. Hall took exception to something Forsythe did or said and pushed him the back. After everyone was separated, he launched himself into Forsythe on the next rep and drove the massive man back five feet in a second.
Cue the rematch today. Forsythe drove Hall into the ground on the first rep. You could see that did not sit well with Hall. He again unleashed his power rush, driving Forsythe back, but Forsythe was able to knock Hall down. Hall leapt to his feet and started jawing with Forsythe who gave it right back to him.
This is the point in camp where guys are tired of hitting the same players. The first preseason game and then joint practice with the Titans cannot come soon enough.