The Seahawks' three-day rookie minicamp continued on Saturday afternoon, with 66 players taking to the field at Renton's Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Here's five things we learned from day two of the team's workouts, a day that saw Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett and tryout wide receiver Kasen Williams meet with the media.
1. You Have To Earn Your Spot
Lockett, who the Seahawks traded up to select in the third round (No. 69 overall) of last weekend's draft, expects to factor into the team's punt- and kick-return game immediately. That was the word from head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider in the days that followed the selection of the Kansas State product.
But through two days of rookie minicamp, Lockett said he isn't taking his high-draft stock and endorsement from upper management as a sure-sign he'll make the 53-man roster. He knows he has to come in and earn his spot.
"I always wanted to go to a team who believed in me, a team that wanted me and just didn't want to get me because I was the next best on the board," said Lockett, wearing No. 16 - the same number he donned in college. "Obviously, they said they've had plans for me, but I have to be able to live up to that. No spot is given to you. That's why I try to come in here with the mentality just to fight for whatever you can get, always compete, and at the end of the day, whatever happens is going to happen."
Lockett has looked exceptional as a receiver this weekend. His play has stood out among the 66 individuals at rookie minicamp, 39 of which are working on a tryout basis. Lockett said he's managed to stay confident by taking pre-camp advice he received from his mother in stride: Relax, stay comfortable, and do what you do.
"I think the biggest thing is just being able to win mentally each and every day," Lockett said. "That's what I've been trying to do. I know that everybody out here are great players and each and every one of them have a chance to make the team.
"In order to make the team I've got to put myself in a position to do something different."
2. Returning Isn't Scary ... As Long As You Make The Right Decision
Lockett isn't a large man. He's listed at 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds.
Given his small stature, he was asked if he ever gets scared when fielding punts, fully knowing 11 defenders are racing down field in an attempt to level him as soon as he touches the football.
"It's not scary as long as you make the right decision," Lockett said.
He didn't take over punt-return duties until his senior season for the Wildcats, but Lockett said he's learned to focus on the things he can control: Catch the ball cleanly, field it after the first bounce or let it go if it bounces more than once, and if it's too high or he feels defenders in his face, call for a fair catch.
"It's all mental," Lockett said. "At the end of the day, you've got to be able to have confidence in yourself to be able to go back there, to be able to catch the ball, have faith in the other 10 players out there that they're going to block for you. As long as you have that, everything else is in your hands."
Seahawks rookies gather for the second day of Seahawks Rookie Minicamp
3. The Best Is Yet To Come
Sammamish, Wash. native and former Skyline High School star wide receiver Kasen Williams is participating in this weekend's rookie minicamp on a tryout basis after not being selected in the draft.
He was one of the most productive wideouts ever for the Washington Huskies, making 77 grabs for 878 yards and six touchdowns in 2012. But he suffered a broken left fibula and had a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot in October 2013, leading to a less productive senior season for the purple-and-gold.
"I've gone through a lot, but I feel great," Williams said. "I feel ready. I just want to compete every single day. I've worked so hard to get here and to go through what I went through the last year it puts a lot of anger in me. I just want to use that toward my advantage and display that on the field."
The 6-foot-1, 219-pound Williams made an impressive leaping one-handed grab on Saturday that looked like former Husky Jermaine Kearse's juggling catch in Super Bowl XLIX.
"Just competing for the ball, that's all that is," said Williams. "Every ball that's in the air I think is mine and I have to compete to get it."
Williams expressed surprise a team didn't take him in last week's draft, but stated he's focused on the opportunity he has with the Seahawks.
"I feel the best is yet to come," said Williams. "I feel 100 percent, back to myself. But the best is yet to come."
4. Who's Out
Running backs Demitrius Bronson and Rod Smith were held from today's work, as was defensive end Tory Slater. The three were still on site, though, taking in Saturday's session from the sideline.
5. What's Next
Rookie minicamp concludes on Sunday - Mother's Day, with practice kicking off at 10:30 a.m. PT.
