The Seahawks were back in action Monday following a day off, and while players weren't in pads, it was a very spirited session, especially on the defensive side of the ball where there was plenty of trash talking going on, and playmaking to back it up. Here are five observations from Monday's practice:

1. The defense has some serious swagger.

Saturday's mock game unquestionably belonged to the offense, with Russell Wilson and Geno Smith both leading their respective offenses to touchdown drives, followed by a Smith-led long field goal drive before the day was cut short by a scary injury to Branden Jackson.

But prior to Saturday, the defense had been performing very well in practice, and that unit got its swagger back in a hurry on Monday. Defensive backs were breaking up passes like crazy—more on this in a second—the pass rush recorded multiple "sacks," and every big play just seemed to increase the energy level.

Obviously the defense will have to prove it in regular season games for this level of August excitement to really make a difference, but for a unit looking to make big improvements after a subpar 2019, days like Monday are encouraging.

2. Shaquill Griffin and the defensive backs got their hands on the ball a lot.

DK Metcalf has been one of the stars of camp, so when a Wilson deep ball was launched in his direction during 7-on-7 drills, it almost seemed like a touchdown was a forgone conclusion. Shaquill Griffin, however, had other ideas, running stride for stride with Metcalf before reaching up to knock the ball down in the end zone. That was one of multiple pass breakups for Griffin, who was hardly alone in getting his hands on the ball. Tre Flowers followed that Griffin PBU with a nice pass breakup on the next play, and had at least one other, Ugo Amadi jumped a route and nearly had an interception, Jamal Adams punched a ball out for a forced fumble after a catch, and Marquise Blair had a leaping pass deflection near the line of scrimmage.

3. Bobby Wagner & Jamal Adams seem to feed off each other.

Bobby Wagner noted after the Seahawks acquired Jamal Adams in a trade that the two first-team All-Pros had an existing relationship having interacted at Pro Bowls and at Jordan Brand events, as both are Jordan sponsored athletes.

And whether it's that limited history together or just that their personalities match up well, the two seem to already be forming some serious chemistry together on the field. Wagner has never been shy on the field or afraid to talk a little smack, but Adams seems to bring even more of that out of Wagner, while Adams goes through each practice talking, dancing and celebrating between plays with seemingly endless energy. When Wagner broke up a pass over the middle intended for a tight end, it was Adams who came flying into Wagner with a leap to celebrate, and few plays later when Adams punched a ball out for a forced fumble, Wagner came running over to congratulate his new teammate.

It's going to be a lot of fun to watch those two on the field together come September. 

4. Year 6 and still putting in extra work.

Tyler Lockett has been an All-Pro and Pro-Bowler as a returner, and over the past couple of years he has also established himself as one of the NFL's elite receivers, but he knows there are no short cuts even after all he has accomplished.

That's been on display a few times in camp when Lockett, while most of his teammates are going through warmups early in practice, puts in some extra work on the berm next to the practice field, sprinting up and down the hill or using cones for agility drills.

5. Poona Ford and Bruce Irvin return.

Bruce Irvin told reporters earlier in the day that he was good after missing Saturday's mock game with a minor hip flexor injury, and indeed he was on the field, recording one of several sacks for the defense. Also back was defensive tackle Poona Ford, who missed multiple days last week with a calf injury.

In addition to defensive end Branden Jackson and receiver Phillip Dorsett II, whose injuries Pete Carroll addressed earlier Monday, the Seahawks were also without running back Chris Carson, who went home last week for a funeral following a death in the family. 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier was also sidelined for Monday's practice, though Carroll did not mention him when asked about injuries.