Mike Macdonald's long pause spoke louder than the words he was saying about Riq Woolen.
So far in his first training camp as the Seahawks head coach, Macdonald has been measured in his responses, not wanting to overhype players after just a few practices, but the topic of Woolen came up on Tuesday, Macdonald started off by saying, "I see iron sharpening iron out there when he is going against the wideouts, especially DK (Metcalf). Just someone that's on a mission. He's responding to the coaching and he's bought in and I think the players are excited about him."
Macdonald then paused for several seconds before finally adding, "I don't want to oversell it right now, but I think you can sense our excitement about him."
To Macdonald's point, there's not much to be gained by heaping excessive amounts of praise on a player in July when the real proof won't come until September, but the fact that he had to catch himself to avoid doing just that when it comes to Woolen helps sum up the type of camp it has been so far for Seattle's third-year cornerback.
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A fifth-round pick out of UTSA who was a former receiver with limited experience at cornerback, Woolen was a breakout star in 2022. He not only won a starting job out of camp, which would have been quite a feat in and of itself, Woolen then went on to record a league-high six interceptions and earn Pro-Bowl honors.
That led to big expectations in Year 2, but Woolen's sophomore campaign got off to a rough start with a knee injury during offseason workouts that led to surgery. That setback didn't keep him from being ready for the start of the season, but it did affect his preparation for the season, with then head coach Pete Carroll noting later in the season that Woolen took some time to get all the way back even as he played throughout the season. Woolen also dealt with multiple upper-body injuries that affected his ability to tackle as well as he or his coaches would have liked.
Woolen fought through the injuries and the criticism that came his way, and still had a strong enough season that, for the second year in a row, his peers voted him to the NFL Top 100 Players list. But a solid season isn't up to Woolen's standard, especially after what he did as a rookie, so he's expecting more from himself this time around.
"There was a lot of stuff going on, but throughout everything, I still kept my head high, and made sure I came every day ready to work, and I made sure I kept my mind as clear as possible," Woolen said. "But just know that I feel way better than where I was last season. I just have a better mindset on things.
"I just went out there and played. I just kept playing hard, kept playing my role on the team, trying to be a great teammate. I still got good recognition for it even though I don't feel like I did the best that I could. At the same time, my peers and the coaches know what's really going on and know what makes a great player in this league. I know I'm a great player, so it's a good thing to come into this season with everything that happened last year behind me now."
Woolen's play through the first week of camp more than backs up hype that's come his way so far. His coverage has been outstanding on a play-in-play out basis, including during plenty of memorable battles with DK Metcalf, a matchup that features two of the fastest players in the game.
"He's always been better year by year, whether that's mentally or physically," Metcalf said. "It's always a good matchup going against one of the best corners in the league at practice. It just makes it easier on Sunday going against opposing DBs. I think he is growing, it's his third year, he's looking to make more strides than he did his rookie year and his second year in the league."
Woolen's training camp has been notable not only for his strong play, but also for the fact that, at least on some occasions, he's not sticking to the right side of the field. As Macdonald explained last week, they like to move players around, especially early in camp, in the name of versatility, and Woolen is feeling more comfortable occasionally moving to the left side after playing right corner the first two seasons.
"It's starting to feel really good," he said. "I was so used to playing on the right side, but in this defense, you've got to learn to play in different positions, different spots. With reps and with time, I feel like I'm getting better and better, and that is a part of my game that I wanted to do, be able to play in different spots on the field, so it's been fun."
How exactly the Seahawks plan to use Woolen, Devon Witherspoon or any other defensive back remains to be seen, but it was noteworthy this summer that assistant head coach Leslie Frazier brought up Woolen's name on the Move The Sticks Podcast when asked his thoughts about having cornerbacks travel with top receivers as opposed to sticking to one side of the field. Woolen doesn't know if that will be his role or not at time this year, but he's open to the challenge of it should he be asked to shadow an opponent's top target.
"I like that a lot, because I know I am a great player, and I know that I can go against any of those guys in the league and perform well," he said. "I go against the three of the best receivers in the NFL every day at practice, so that gives me confidence to go out there and play against all the great receivers in the league."
The Seahawks practiced without pads on Wednesday afternoon and hosted the Blue Angels as special guests on July 31, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Max Pircher (69) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback PJ Walker (15) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback D.J. James (29) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Lance Boykin (18) and cornerback Carlton Johnson (37) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21), cornerback Riq Woolen (27), and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback/safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Joshua Onujiogu (49) and linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (50) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Richardson (43) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh at practice with punter Michael Dickson (4) and kicker Jason Myers (5) on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kairee Robinson (35) and running back Kobe Lewis (44) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kairee Robinson (35) and running back George Holani (36) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback D.J. James (29) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback D.J. James (29) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker (17) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace (24) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and safety Julian Love (20) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety K'Von Wallace (24) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on July 31, 2024 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
