In his 10th preseason opener as the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Pete Carroll is taking a slightly different approach to the game. While starters have rarely played extensively in the first preseason game in past years, Carroll has almost always had them at least start the game and play a series or two.
When the Seahawks host the Denver Broncos on Thursday, however, a number of healthy starters will sit out the entire game, including quarterback Russell Wilson, Carroll said following Wednesday's practice. In the case of Wilson not starting, that decision is mostly based on allowing Geno Smith and Paxton Lynch to get the best opportunity to show what they can do in the competition for the backup job. But from a big-picture standpoint, some starters on both sides of the ball will be rested so the Seahawks can focus on giving young players more playing time, particularly a big rookie class that features 11 draft picks and nine undrafted free agents.
"This is an opportunity for the young guys, this is the game that we dedicate to the rooks," Carroll said. "This is their first game in the NFL ever, and we make somewhat of a big deal out of it, kind of share the experience, make sure it's one they remember. We think it's worthwhile to do it that way. And in that also, we're going to play our young guys a ton.
"There will be some mixes in the starting lineup. You'll see right from the get-go some guys won't play in this game. It's really the game to get the season started and get these young guys rolling and give them the opportunity to compete like we want to compete around here. We want to see these guys and see if they can help our football team, and they can't do it by just watching, they need to get out and play."
On not playing Wilson, Carroll said, "We've got a big competition at the quarterback position in particular. We want these guys to play as much as they can and play their way into their spots. I don't want these to be decisions we have to make without a lot of great information, so that's what's most important right now. We have a lot of competition at the receiver spot, we have a lot of competition in the offensive line, and we're going to be able to play a lot of guys in this game and see how they can do."
Carroll also said the decision to rest Wilson "has to do with other guys playing and not playing as well too," which combined with his comment about the competition in the offensive line, is probably fair to assume means that the Seahawks could be resting some offensive line starters as well.
Overall the game won't look much different than past preseason openers—starters rarely play past the first quarter—but as Carroll put it, there is "a little bit of different emphasis," on focusing on young players even more. For example, the Seahawks started pretty much every healthy starter in last year's preseason opener against the Colts, with Wilson and the starting offense playing the entire first series, a drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Nick Vannett.
But the decision to rest more starters doesn't mean the Seahawks are going to have those players less prepared for the regular season. Knowing some starters won't play Thursday, the Seahawks changed their practice schedule this week to increase the workload for the No. 1 offense and defense in Tuesday's practice.
"Yesterday we had a big practice for the ones, they had tons of work out here," Carroll said. "It was a little bit different emphasis for us where they got really almost twice as much work as they would normally get going into a game to compensate for the plays that they don't get, and I think they might have gained ground by doing it that way. We had more competition with the ones against ones out here that they wouldn't get if they were going to play handful of plays in the first game. We've made an effort to get more out of this process by them not playing the game than to get less out of it."
The Seahawks and Broncos will meet on Monday Night Football at Lumen Field. Take a look back at photos from past games played between the two teams.
Seattle's Louis Clark (84) brings in a pass for a seven yard gain in the fourth quarter of Sunday, Oct. 23, 1989 game against Denver in Seattle. Defending for the Broncos is Steve Atwater. Denver won in overtime 24-21. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Jim Kiick (33) of the Denver Broncos is brought down by Terry Beeson (58) and Dave Brown (22) of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter in Seattle, Wash., Oct. 3, 1977. Denver won 24-13. (AP Photo)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) is caught in a crush between Denver Broncos linebackers Bob Swenson, Joe Rizzo and Randy Gradishar during first half action in Denver, Oct. 1, 1978. (AP Photo)
A swarm of Denver Broncos take down Seattle Seahawk's Dan Doornink in the first quarter of a game in the Kingdome in Seattle on Jan. 2, 1982. Clockwise are Denver Broncos Larry Evans (56), Randy Gradishar, Aaron Kyle, Seattle Seahawk Ron Essink, Broncos' Barney Chavous, Rulon Jones and Tom Jackson. (AP Photo/Dave Ekren)
Seattle Seahawk running back Curt Warner leaps over a pile of players as he gains yardage against the Denver Broncos in the Kingdome at Seattle, on Dec. 25, 1983. Warner gained 99 yards on 23 carries as the Seahawks beat the Broncos in their NFL wildcard game 31-7. (AP Photo/Jeff Larson)
Seattle's Dan Doornink (33) is upended by Denver's Rick Dennison (55) and Jim Ryan, right, after one of Dorrnink's receptions in Seattle on Dec. 15, 1984. Denver won 31-14. (AP Photo/Dave Ekren)
Denver Broncos defensive end Rulon Jones (75) tries to beat a block by Seattle Seahawks tackle Ron Essink (64) during an NFL game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colo., Oct. 20, 1985. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 13-10 in overtime. (AP Photo/Eric Lars Bakke)
The Denver Broncos defense tries to block a field goal by the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL game in Denver, Oct. 26, 1986. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 20-13. (AP Photo/Eric Lars Bakke)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Terry Taylor (20) defends a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Sam Graddy (83) during an NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 13, 1987. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 21-20. (AP Photo/Eric Lars Bakke)
Quarterback John Elway (7) of the Denver Broncos in unable to hold the ball as he is tackled by Rufus Porter of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter of their NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 12, 1988, Seattle, Wash. Porter also recovered the fumble on the play. Seattle beat Denver 42-14. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Derrick Fenner (44) of the Seattle Seahawks is pulled down after a short gain by Steve Atwater (27) of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Dec. 23, 1990. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Denver Broncos running back Gaston Green (28) is stopped by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Rufus Porter (97) during an NFL game in Denver, Sept. 15, 1991. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 16-10. (AP Photo/Eric Lars Bakke)
Kicker John Kasay (4) of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammate and holder Rick Tuten (14) after Kasay's overtime game-winning field goal in Seattle, Dec. 1, 1992. The Seahaeks won against the Denver Broncos 16-13. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Seattle Seahawks kick returner Jon Vaughn (22) returns a kick during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Oct. 31, 1993. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 28-17. (AP Photo/Eric Lars Bakke)
Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (7) drops back to hand the ball to teammate Leonard Russell (42) against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 9, 1994, Seattle, Wash. Elway scored in the closing minute of the first half to lead Denver to a 16-9 win over Seattle. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Denver Broncos Shannon Sharpe (84) comes down with a John Elway pass after being hit by Seattle Seahawks' Carlton Gray (26) in the first quarter of the game in Seattle on Oct. 1, 1995. The pass was complete for a seven-yard gain. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, right, is pulled down from the side by Seattle Seahawks Darryl Williams in the second quarter of the Broncos' 34-7 victory in Denver's Mile High Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 1996. (AP Photo/Bryan Kelsen)
Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis (30) is wrapped up by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown (94) during an NFL game in Seattle, Sept. 7, 1997. The Broncos defeated the Seahawks 35-14. (AP Photo/Eric Lars Bakke)
This is a Oct. 11, 1998 photo of Seattle Seahawks running back Ricky Watters during their game against the Denver Broncos in Seattle. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shawn Springs, right, intercepts a pass in the end zone in front of Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey in the second quarter in Denver's Mile High Stadium Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Seattle Seahawks safety Jay Bellamy (20) is upended as he is tackled by Denver Broncos quarterback Gus Frerotte (12) after Bellamy picked off a Frerotte pass during the first quarter at Mile High Stadium in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2000. (AP Photo/Kevin Higley)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander (37) heads past Denver Broncos' Lee Woodall for a second-quarter touchdown run Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese has a pass blocked by Seattle Seahawks' Chad Eaton during the second quarter in Seattle Sunday Nov. 17, 2002. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) breaks a tackle attempt by Denver Broncos linebacker Ian Gold (52) during a football game in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006. Seattle beat Denver 23-20. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos during a football game in Denver, Sunday, Sep. 19, 2010. Denver beat Seattle 31-14.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette catches pass over a Denver Broncos defender during a football game in Seattle, Sunday, Sep. 21, 2014. Seattle beat Denver 26-20.
Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson hurdles a Denver Broncos defender during a football game in Denver, Sunday, Sep. 9, 2018. Denver beat Seattle 27-24.
