The Seahawks began a three-day OTA Tuesday that helped kick off phase three of the team's offseason programs. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, offseason activities and practices are much more limited, so players and coaches have to make the most of every second of organized on-field practice that they can. During this third phase, Seahawks' coaches are now allowed to begin installing their offensive and defensive playbooks on the field and not in the classroom, walking through everything with the players and making sure everyone is up to speed before training camp. Once training camp hits, things will move extremely quickly, so days like today set the stage.
Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com shared a few interesting nuggets of information in his column today that give us a glimpse into the Hawks closed practice. Farnsworth noted that Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner ran with the first-team defensive unit - Wagner at the middle linebacker spot, and Irvin filling in for Chris Clemons, who wasn't present today.
He also shared a few anecdotal notes -
On offense, leading rusher Marshawn Lynch broke a nice run on the first play of the first team period. Matt Flynn found wide receiver Charley Martin for a 21-yard gain in a two-minute drill. Russell Wilson dropped a beauty of a pass over a couple of defenders to Martin for another impressive gain. Ben Obomanu made a nice grab of a Wilson pass along the sideline. Right tackle Breno Giacomini supplied the block that allowed Flynn time to roll to his right and find an open receiver.
On defense, Pro Bowl free safety Earl Thomas got his hands on several balls, and was upset on a couple occasions that he didn't make the interception. Hill and rookie cornerback Jeremy Lane had "sacks" during the blitz period. Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Browner broke up a pass and linebacker K.J. Wright almost intercepted the carom. Cornerback Richard Sherman made a lunging deflection of another pass.
Make sure to head over to Seahawks.com for a slew of quotes and notes from the first day of the Seahawks OTAs.
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