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Monday in Hawkville: Russell Wilson picks up far beyond where he left off

Clare Farnsworth — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:30:18 +0000

A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for May 20, as the Seahawks kicked off the OTA portion of their offseason program:

FOCUS ON

Russell Wilson. The Seahawks’ second-year quarterback made it difficult to not watch him, and coach Pete Carroll summed up the situation when asked how much farther along Wilson is this year compared to last year – when he had just been selected in the third round of the NFL Draft and still was competing for the starting job with the since-departed duo of Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson.

“There’s no way of even calculating that,” Carroll said after a crisp, spirited practice on yet another gorgeous day along the shores of Lake Washington. “His awareness and his sense for the finest details, we jumped offside today and he’s working on hard counts on the first play of team (drills).

“He didn’t know what a hard count was last year at this time.”

That might be stretching it just a tad, but saying that Wilson had a very impressive outing in the first of the team’s 10 OTA practices is not.

In that first team segment Carroll mentioned, Wilson completed passes to wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate and also scrambled twice, before throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Anthony McCoy. Wilson remained almost as sharp, and aware, for the rest of the session.

“It’s really hard to equate what it is, because he’s applied himself so much that he’s taken an extraordinary amount of information and he’s processing it,” Carroll said. “He threw a couple of balls today – things that we’ve talked about over the offseason we’d like to take a shot at – and he did it today just to see what would happen. With full awareness of why he was doing it.”

Before the OTA session was over, Wilson had completed passes to 10 receivers – running back Robert Turbin; Baldwin and McCoy; Tate, running back Derrick Coleman, rookie tight end Luke Willson, Percy Harvin, tight end Zach Miller, wide receiver Bryan Walters and wide receiver Jermaine Kearse.

The pass to Kearse was vintage Wilson – and that’s saying something, as well, that a second-year QB already has established trademark nuances to his game. It came on the final play, as Wilson avoided pressure and got off a pass that caught Kearse as much as Kearse caught the pass.

“Russell is the kind of players that will affect other guys,” Carroll said. “He affects everybody around him and hopefully that will help everybody play better.”

Photo gallery

UNIT WATCH

Offensive line. Right tackle Breno Giacomini participated fully, after being limited in Phase 2 of the offseason program following elbow surgery. His returned allowed the No. 1 offense to field the same line that closed last season – Pro Bowl left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Paul McQuistan, All-Pro center Max Unger, right guard J.R. Sweezy and Giacomini.

Comprising the second unit, from left tackle to right: Mike Person, who had been working for Giacomini with the No. 1 line; Rishaw Johnson, Lemuel Jeanpierre, John Moffitt and Michael Bowie. In the third unit: Alvin Bailey, Johnson, Jared Smith, Ryan Seymour and Jordon Roussos.

PLAYER WATCH

Cliff Avril. And that’s what the defensive end who was signed in free agency was doing – watching, because he’s dealing with plantar fascia that he got a month ago.

But with Bruce Irvin facing a four-game suspension to start the regular season and Chris Clemons still recovering from surgery to repair the ligament and meniscus damage in his left knee from the wild-card playoff win over the Redskins in January, Avril is slated to be the starter at the Leo end spot in the Sept. 8 opener against the Panthers in Carolina.

“I like the fact that Cliff is here because he gave us a cushion for Clem,” Carroll said. “That now changes for the first month of the season.”

Today, Irvin continued to work at Leo end in the No. 1 nickel line, with Mike Morgan taking over with the second unit and Ty Powell going with the third unit. In the base defense, Michael Bennett was the Leo end with the No. 1 line.

ROSTER MOVES

Tight end Darren Fells was re-signed this morning, while snapper Adam Steiner was released to clear a spot on the 90-man roster.

Fells, a basketball player in college who also played professionally in Belgium, Ireland and Argentina, was released two weeks ago. But he attended the May 10-12 rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Steiner had been claimed off waivers last week.

Also, running back Christine Michael, who was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft last month, signed his rookie contract.

UP NEXT

The players also have OTA sessions Tuesday and Thursday this week. Next week, they’ll go Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

YOU DON’T SAY, PLAYER EDITION

“We really don’t care. Coach said we’ve got a lot of hype, but he also said let’s make it natural. Everybody around here expects us to win, but we expect ourselves to win, too. We don’t come out here saying we hope to lose. With a good team comes a lot of talk, but we put all that behind us. We’re out here having fun, we’re competing and that’s how it’s going to be.” – Harvin, when asked how the players were handling the heightened expectations that have come from being regarded among the “favorites” in the league this offseason by the national media

YOU DON’T SAY, COACH EDITION

“It was a very, very good first day for us.” – Carroll

Seahawks well represented in Top 100 Plays of 2012

Tony Drovetto — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:18:11 +0000

NFL Network’s NFL AM has been counting down the Top 100 Plays of 2012, and 46 plays into the countdown, the Seahawks are well represented on their list.

We take timeout to pay homage to the seven plays on the list that feature some of Seattle’s very own.

No. 96 - Golden Tate’s 14-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown that gave the Seahawks a three-point lead with 32 seconds left in the game against the Chicago Bears in Week 13. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler would connect with wide receiver Brandon Marshall on the ensuing drive to set up a field goal that would tie the game at 17, but Russell Wilson led an 80-yard touchdown drive in the opening possession of overtime to give Seattle a 23-17 victory with a play that we’re sure will show up later on this list.

No. 89 – It’s only appropriate that play No. 89 on their countdown goes to the Seahawks’ No. 89 – wide receiver Doug Baldwin. His 43-yard juggling catch against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16 made the cut on the countdown. Baldwin was the club’s leading receiver that day, hauling in four catches for 53 yards and two scores, as Seattle topped the division rival Niners, 42-13, on Sunday Night Football.

No. 88 - Eighty-eight goes to Golden Tate, who shows up for the second time in the countdown’s first 12 plays. Tate’s acrobatics are on display again in this one, as he takes a quick pass from Russell Wilson and dodges defenders for 11 yards before diving into the end zone for a touchdown in Week 9 against the Minnesota Vikings. The play gave the Seahawks a 20-17 lead they would not surrender, as they bested the Vikings 30-20 at CenturyLink Field.

No. 77 – Russell Wilson checks in at No. 77 on the countdown, but not for one of the many plays he made with his arm last season. It’s Wilson’s feet that get the recognition here, as he practically out-maneuvers the entire New England Patriots defense on a 3rd-and-4 play to pick up nine yards and a first down. No offense to CBS Sports play-by-play man Ian Eagle, but this play gets much more entertaining (and equally more appropriate) when the slapstick comedy “Yakety Sax” tune is played over the top of Wilson’s scramble. Mute the video of the play below and queue up “Yakety Sax” on YouTube, try to start both videos at nearly the same time, and enjoy.

No. 69 – The Legion of Boom makes their presence known for the first (and we’re pretty sure it won’t be the last) time on the Top 100 plays of 2012, as free safety Earl Thomas snagged a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to cap off a 50-17 win over the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. Aided by Thomas’ effort, the Seahawks became the third team in NFL history and first since 1950 to score 50 points or more in back-to-back games, after posting 58 in a shutout of the Arizona Cardinals the week prior.

No. 61 – Tight end Zach Miller makes the list for his tremendous one-handed touchdown grab in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Miller hauled in a 16-yard pass from quarterback Russell Wilson for his first touchdown as a Seahawk.

No. 59 – Golden Tate shows up for the third time on this list, this time when he connects with fellow wide receiver Sidney Rice on a 23-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of a Week 10 game against the New York Jets at CenturyLink Field. Quarterback Russell Wilson fakes a hand-off to running back Robert Turbin and then pitches the ball back to Tate, who acts like a runner before winding up his left arm and delivering a strike to Rice in the back of the end zone.

That’s it for now. The Top 100 Plays of 2012 continue this week, as plays No. 51-55 are unveiled throughout the week on NFL Network’s NFL AM.

The Fresh Files: Doug Baldwin hanging around the facility

Tony Drovetto — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:04:25 +0000

After a two-week hiatus, wide receiver Doug Baldwin has the highly anticipated return of “The Fresh Files” from the team’s offseason workouts at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

Wide receivers Golden Tate, Jermaine Kearse, Charly Martin and Matt Austin make an appearance, as does guard John Moffitt, quarterback Russell Wilson, and cornerback Will Blackmon. Seahawks director of player health and performance Sam Ramsden, who Baldwin dubs the “Reassuring White Guy,” gets his first camera time of 2013 and offers some wellness tips for all the viewers out there.

You can stay up to date on everything from Baldwin by following him on Twitter @DougBaldwinJr, liking his page on Facebook, and subscribing to “The Fresh Files” on YouTube.

Until next time – stay fresh.

Saturday cyber surfing: 2013 NFL Draft 2nd & 3rd round roundup

Tony Drovetto — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:30:10 +0000

Good morning, Seahawks fans, and welcome to day three of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Yesterday, the Seahawks took Texas A&M running back Christine Michael with the 62nd overall pick in round two and added Penn State defensive lineman Jordan Hill with the 87th overall pick in round three.

Heading into today, the Seahawks hold 10 draft picks – No. 123 (4th round), No. 138 (5th round), No. 158 (5th round), No. 165 (5th round), No. 194 (6th round), No. 199 (6th round), No. 220 (7th round), No. 231 (7th round), No. 241 (7th round) and No. 242 (7th round).

We’ll get started with all of that beginning at 9 a.m. PT, but in the meantime here’s a look at what’s “out there” about the Seahawks after day one and two of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times has a look at the Seahawks’ unconventional approach to draft day.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune details the Seahawks’ selection of Michael in round two.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald recaps day two of the Seahawks’ draft.

Danny O’Neil of 710Sports.com rehashes the Seahawks’ selections of Michael and Hill in the draft’s second and third rounds.

ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando has his story on the Seahawks’ moves from day two of the draft at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has his list of the 10 best remaining players in the 2013 draft.

Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com’s Around the League has his take on winners and losers from day two of the draft.

NFL.com has an updated look at every pick made so far in the 2013 draft.

Once again, we’ll be streaming live coverage of rounds 4-7 with Seahawks Insider Tony Ventrella here at Seahawks.com, which is where you can also find Clare Farnsworth’s recap of what transpired on day two of the draft for Seattle.

You can stay connected and up to date with all of the Seahawks’ draft picks by tuning in to our Draft Central page.

And like yesterday’s cyber surfing post, we leave you with several reactions from Seahawks players and coaches as they watched the day’s picks pour in.

Awesome work today by John Schneider & his guys! Pumped for tomorrow! #GoHawks [@rodmarphoto] http://t.co/Ia6mMHciWW—
Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) April 27, 2013

@Cmike33 congrats bro! Glad to have u join the family! #GoHawks—
Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 27, 2013

Great pick!!!! Another guy from the golden triangle…. #seahawks !!—
Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) April 27, 2013

Who would've thought.. lolRT @Cmike33: Me and Earl Thomas 409 bmt golden triangle … http://t.co/jGIQbEgPqE—
Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) April 27, 2013

@Cmike33 welcome to the fam young buck. Get ya mind right!—
Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) April 27, 2013

Congrats to the young fellow, let's go to work.—
Kameron (@Kam_Chancellor) April 27, 2013

That's a nice smart pick. I'm sure he was the best available player in the 2nd round.—
Winston Guy Jr. (@WinstonGuyJr27) April 27, 2013

@Cmike33 calm down young buck! You'll get your opportunity! Welcome to the squad.—
Christopher Clemons (@chrisclemons91) April 27, 2013

Met and spoke to Christine Michael when he came for a visit. GREAT DUDE! #12thman #seahawks—
William (@willblackmon) April 27, 2013

SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!—
Christine Michael (@Cmike33) April 15, 2013

Huge congrats to fellow @PSU alum @J_Hill_47 on becoming a new @Seahawks #WeAre…PennState—
Michael Robinson (@RealMikeRob) April 27, 2013

Friday cyber surfing: 2013 NFL Draft first-round roundup

Tony Drovetto — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:00:46 +0000

Good morning, Seahawks fans, and welcome to day two of the 2013 NFL Draft. After not selecting in yesterday’s first round, the Seahawks hold two picks today (Round 2, No. 56 overall and Round 3, No. 87 overall). The action revs back up at 3:30 p.m. PT.

In the meantime, here’s what’s “out there” about the Seahawks and around the League for Friday, April 26.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks trading their first-round draft pick to acquire wide receiver Percy Harvin was the right move.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune recaps the Seahawks’ quiet first day and offers up some second-round targets for Seattle.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald details the moves made around the active NFC West on the draft’s first day.

ESPN.com NFC West blogger Mike Sando was hard at work while the rest of us in the Seahawks media room were spectating yesterday’s first round (kidding, kind of), and he shares his thoughts on the Rams, 49ers, and Cardinals first-round selections.

Grantland.com’s Bill Barnwell tries to make sense of the draft’s first day, noting surprises, trade winners and losers, and what to watch for on day two.

Former University of Washington Husky standout cornerback Desmond Trufant – the younger brother of longtime Seahawk Marcus Trufant – went to the Atlanta Falcons, who traded up with the Rams to grab him at No. 22.

A 49-year-old NFL Draft streak was snapped yesterday when a running back was not taken in the first round for the first time since 1963.

NFL.com has a round-by-round look at the 2013 NFL Draft order after last night’s picks and draft-day trades.

NFL.com Around the League editor Gregg Rosenthal breaks down what he believes to be the draft’s top 20 remaining players.

Seahawks.com’s live coverage of the draft will continue later this afternoon, but you can read Clare Farnsworth’s recap of day one here.

Stay plugged in to our draft central for all the latest news surrounding your Seahawks and the rest of today’s draft.

We leave you with the reactions from several Seahawks players via Twitter as they followed last night’s first round:

Congrats to @percy_harvin for being our first round pick…we do a great job of drafting every year…#seahawks—
Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) April 25, 2013

…. And with the Seahawks First pick in the NFL draft they select @Percy_Harvin

#GoHawks—
Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) April 25, 2013

I'm excited about all the new competition that's coming to the NFC WEST!!!—
Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) April 26, 2013

NFC West best division hands down. #NFLDraft—
Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) April 26, 2013

Congrats to @Ky1eLong and @Dionj96 for getting selected in the first round! #goducks—
Max Unger (@MaxUnger60) April 26, 2013

Congrats to Desmond Trufant, it runs in the family @ExperienceTru—
Kameron (@Kam_Chancellor) April 26, 2013

You got the whole state of WV behind you nobody else matters! #WVU #GenoSmith—
Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) April 26, 2013

Still say we had the best first round pick of the draft……—
Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) April 26, 2013

Don't worry draft-able dudes, I wasn't drafted and I'm sitting in a suite at the Mariners game with @JonRyan9 . Everything will be ok.—
Carson Wiggs (@Wiggy_Bank) April 26, 2013

The Fresh Files: Doug Baldwin’s Life Lessons

Tony Drovetto — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:46:03 +0000

One day after Monday’s press conference announcing the four-year contract extension for strong safety Kam Chancellor, wide receiver Doug Baldwin caught up with the hard-hitting, fourth-year pro while he was sitting in his locker at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

“To be in a different tax bracket, it feels great,” Chancellor joked to Baldwin on Baldwin’s latest episode of The Fresh Files. “Everybody else is going to be blessed one day. Everybody gets their turn – mine was yesterday. I want to thank the Seahawks organization, I want to thank the 12s, Paul Allen, everybody – my teammates and everybody supporting me. It feels good, man.”

That feeling was reciprocated by Chancellor’s teammates and throughout the organization yesterday, as they watched one of the team’s core players get rewarded for their tireless effort.

“Everybody was excited for the man,” Baldwin said of Chancellor’s extension. “The reason why is because he’s a good dude. You want to see good guys be rewarded for all their hard work.”

The Real Rob Report: Offseason workout in Hermosa Beach, California

Tony Drovetto — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 21:59:56 +0000

This is what you’ve all been waiting for, right?

Fullback Michael Robinson brings an inside look at the Seahawks’ offseason workout rallied late last week by quarterback Russell Wilson at “The Yard” Fitness Center in Hermosa Beach, California.

Robinson’s latest “Real Rob Report” rendition features face time with Wilson, wide receivers Doug Baldwin, Sidney Rice, and Jermaine Kearse, running back Robert Turbin, and new 6-foot-7, 281-pound former professional basketball-playing tight end Darren Fells.

With most of the club back at Virginia Mason Athletic Center this week and for the foreseeable future participating in the team’s Offseason Program, we can only expect more from the Real Mike Rob. Stay tuned.

Seahawks sign WR Brett Swain

Clare Farnsworth — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:18:33 +0000

Wide receiver Brett Swain was signed to a two-year contract by the Seahawks today after going through a tryout with the team.

Swain, 27, entered the league in 2008, when the Packers drafted the San Diego State wide-out in the seventh round. He caught six passes for the Packers in 2010. Swain also played with the 49ers in 2011, catching two passes, but he was released during last August’s roster cut to 53 players.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Swain joins a receiving corps with the Seahawks that already includes Sidney Rice, who led the team last year with 50 receptions; Percy Harvin, who was acquired last month in a trade with the Vikings; Golden Tate, who caught 45 passes last season while starting opposite Rice; and Doug Baldwin, the team’s leading receiver in 2011.

The Fresh Files: Family Edition

Tony Drovetto — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:08:30 +0000

Wide receiver Doug Baldwin comes at us with a family edition of “The Fresh Files” this week after his Easter holiday weekend travels back to his hometown of Gulf Breeze, Florida.

Baldwin pays a visit to S.L. Jones Christian Academy – a nonprofit school in nearby Pensacola, Florida that provides education to inner-city youth.

Some of the school’s funding failed to come through and as a result several of the school’s computer resources were taken away. Baldwin takes matters into his own hands and delivers six computers to the school himself, on what the school had dubbed, “Doug Baldwin Day.”

“God blessed me with an opportunity to play football,” Baldwin said to the students of S.L. Jones Christian Academy. “But that’s not what I’m here about. They asked me to wear my jersey – I’m not going to wear my jersey because it’s not about football, it’s about you all sitting in these chairs.

“Whatever you want to be in life – football, be a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, a policeman, anything. Whatever you want to be, you can’t do it without education.”

Russell Wilson: “It’s so exciting to see what we have on the table”

Clare Farnsworth — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:30:56 +0000

Russell Wilson was in a corporate meeting at Virginia Mason Athletic Center last week, but John Schneider felt compelled to interrupt the session. And who could blame him? The Seahawks had just completed a trade to acquire Percy Harvin and the team’s general manager figured the team’s quarterback should be among the first to know.

“John Schneider knocks on the window and pulls me aside,” Wilson recalled today during a promotional event for the Verizon Wireless “Save it Seattle: Pledge to Stop Texting & Driving” program. “He said, ‘Hey, come in. I need to talk to you real quick.’ He tells me we added Percy Harvin to the football team.”

That’s Percy Harvin the versatile and productive receiver/returner/runner from the Vikings who fills several needs for a Seahawks offense that only got better as last season progressed with Wilson as the rookie QB.

Wilson’s reaction? As understandable as it was predictable.

“He’s a guy that’s very, very competitive. A guy who’s been one of the top receivers in the National Football League. He’s very, very explosive. He’s a great kick returner. He’s going to help our football team,” Wilson said.

Wilson looks at Harvin as a complement to the receivers already on the roster who can enhance what Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin bring to the passing game.

“It’s so exciting to see what we have on the table,” Wilson said. “I know that feeling of losing last year (to the Falcons in the divisional round of the playoffs), and it doesn’t feel good. So we have to do whatever it takes to win. And I definitely believe our football team is mentally and physically ready, and spiritually as well.

“It’s a battle and we can’t wait to get out there and add Percy and the rest of the guys that we have added as well.”

That would be Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, the defensive linemen who were signed in free agency last week – after Harvin was acquired in the trade.