The Seahawks were back in pads on Tuesday for Day 6 of training camp, a practice that featured a couple of new wrinkles (more below), another spectacular catch, and a strong performance from the offense one day after the defense had the better day. More on that and other things we learned from Day 6 of Seahawks camp.
1. The offense won the day, and Charles Cross earned a championship belt.
When the Seahawks practiced in pads Monday for the first time in camp, the defense had a strong day, one that was highlighted by a leaping Julian Love interception. After practice, Love could be seen sporting a large championship belt similar to one you might see awarded to a boxer or professional wrestler. The offense had a better day Tuesday, and it was left tackle Charles Cross carrying the belt after practice, his award, as Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald explained, for helping the offense have a strong day.
"Pads on, ready to roll, good practice," Macdonald said. "We'll check the tape, but the offense won the day. It was good bounce back from yesterday."
While acknowledging that the criteria for handing out the belt are something of a moving target, Macdonald explained, "Shout out to Geno (Smith), the offense won the game, and he said, 'Give it to an O-lineman,' and Charles has been having a great camp. The belt is something that's kind of fun, just mix it up, spice it up throughout camp, who's holding the belt? Then we can change the criteria of how you challenge it. We've got a bunch of them, they're legitimate belts, they're kind of heavy, they're pretty sweet looking. I think the guys get excited about it. It means something to carry that thing around the building for a day or two as you're the 'Through, not around' champion, as the offense is, which is pretty cool."
2. It was DK Metcalf's turn to make a ridiculous touchdown catch.
On a day won by the offense, there were several big plays, but by far the biggest highlight, for the second day in a row, came from a receiver making a high-degree-of-difficulty grab in the end zone. On Monday, Jake Bobo took flight for a full-extension, diving grab, and a day later it was DK Metcalf's turn, with the veteran receiver tracking a pass, adjusting to the throw, then leaping to making a one-handed grab before going to the ground.
3. A couple interesting new wrinkles in practice.
Tuesday's practice included the debut of a couple of interesting new wrinkles that livened things up a bit. First, Macdonald had the entire team gather at midfield to watch a few one-on-one reps between some of the team's younger receivers and defensive backs and then between offensive and defensive linemen. One-on-one reps are a regular occurrence in practice, but doing so with the entire team watching added some excitement to the drill.
"It's just an opportunity to get the young guys a chance to shine in front of their teammates and add a little competition, spice it up a little bit," Macdonald said.
Later in practice, an announcement came over the loudspeaker that the offense and defense were going to face off in what Macdonald later called a mystery situation, which ended up being an end-of-game scenario in which the offense needed a touchdown with 12 second left from the 15-yard line. As Macdonald explained, players, as well the coaching staff were in the dark on the scenario until it was announced, other than assistant head coach Leslie Frazier, who determined the time and distance situation along with research analyst Brian Eayrs.
"It just keeps us on our toes, more reps for myself, (offensive coordinator Ryan) Grubb, just identifying the situation, the guys understanding what they're in, then just applying the tools that we've installed up to this point where everyone's got to stay on their toes," Macdonald said. "It's fun, it's a good situation, and we'll do that probably the rest of camp."
On this day, the defense won that mystery situation, with three straight Geno Smith passes going incomplete. The first pass, intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, was batted away by Artie Burns, and the next was over the outstretched hands of DK Metcalf with Smith firing high to try to beat good coverage from Devon Witherspoon. The final attempt, thrown to the back of the end zone towards Tyler Lockett, looked for a moment to be a chance for another Lockett toe-tap grab, but the long arm of Riq Woolen reached over Lockett at the last moment to swat it away.
4. Byron Murphy II has looked good in two days of padded practices.
As is usually the case, there is a lot of interest in a team's first-round pick when training camp begins, but as is also usually the case, it's hard to get a good handle on how an offensive or defensive lineman is performing early in camp before teams start practicing in pads. And now that the Seahawks have practiced in pads for a couple of days, it's easy to see why the Seahawks are so excited about defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who they selected with the No. 2 overall pick.
Whether in the team portion of practice or in one-on-one drills, Murphy has looked powerful and explosive and showed a very quick get-off at the snap. Tuesday featured a really good one-on-one rep against center Nick Harris on which Murphy used power to drive Harris back, then was able to finish by tossing him to the ground. Like any rookie, Murphy still has plenty to improve upon before the start of the season, but the last two days have featured some very encouraging flashes out of the first-round pick.
That's also true for third-round pick Christian Haynes, who got a lot of first-team reps Tuesday with regular starting left guard Laken Tomlinson getting a veteran rest day.
"Both guys are having a good camp," Macdonald said of Murphy and Haynes. "We're putting them to the test, we're putting them to the fire right now, but they're responding."
5. Kenneth Walker III in the open field is still a sight to behold, and the other backs are pretty good too.
Kenneth Walker III has spent the last two seasons making defenders miss with such frequency that you almost expect to see it whenever he touches the ball, but that elite elusiveness should not be taken for granted. And on Tuesday, Walker was at it again, turning in several impressive runs, including a long run down the left sidelined that was set up by a nasty cutback that left a would-be-tackler grasping at air at the line of scrimmage.
Not to be outdone, Zach Charbonnet had a nice run just a couple of plays later that also featured a nice juke to bust loose, and Kenny McIntosh, whose rookie year was limited by a knee injury, has put together several nice practices as well. It's easy to appreciate big plays in the passing game in a practice setting, but especially with the pads on now, it's clear the Seahawks have the potential to make big plays in the running game as well.
The Seahawks continued their training camp practices with one at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on July 30, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Carlton Johnson (37) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson (30) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Garret Greenfield (76) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) and tight end Tyler Mabry (85) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and tight end AJ Barner (88) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kobe Lewis (44) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) and cornerback Artie Burns (23) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) and Seahawks safety Marquise Blair (13) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks offense at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson (30) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7), quarterback Sam Howell (6) and quarterback PJ Walker (15) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) and wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) and linebacker Nelson Ceaser (46) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard/tackle Sataoa Laumea (63) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and cornerback Artie Burns (23) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23) and cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace (24) and cornerback Michael Jackson (30) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14), safety Julian Love (20) and linebacker Jerome Baker (17) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. (13) and tight end Brady Russell (38) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde with cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20), cornerback Tre Brown (22) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1) and cornerback Tre Brown (22) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) at practice on July 30, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
