Good afternoon, 12s.
Here's a look at what's "out there" for today - Tuesday, July 28 - about your Seattle Seahawks:
Thomas Rawls Appears On List Of Underrated Rookies
Doug Farrar at SI.com has put together a list of 12 underrated rookies who he thinks could turn heads as training camps begin to open around the NFL.
The list is made up entirely of players who were selected on the third day of the 2015 NFL Draft, or players who were passed up altogether, like running back Thomas Rawls, who signed in Seattle as an undrafted rookie free agent.
"The buzz about Rawls started in mincamps, when he impressed with his ability to take contact and drive for extra yards—something that lined up with his college tape," Farrar writes of the 5-foot-9, 215-pounder out of Central Michigan. "The Seahawks obviously prefer backs who aren't afraid of contact and can do the little things, and the word in the Pacific Northwest is that if Rawls keeps it up, and former second-round pick Christine Michael doesn't pick up more of the subtleties this season, Rawls could instigate a changing of the guard behind Marshawn Lynch."
If Rawls manages to stick on the Seahawks roster and earn reps behind Lynch, it wouldn't be the first time an undrafted rookie free agent has made their mark in Seattle - as Seahawks.com digital media reporter John Boyle noted last week. Also worth noting? Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll called Rawls "a real bright spot" at the conclusion of the team's minicamp last month.
"I've studied Thomas a lot," Carroll said. "I love his style of running. He's really a head-knocker. He really goes after guys and when you guys get to see him put the pads on you'll see how physical of a runner he is. He had play after play in college of just smacking people and running and breaking tackles and all that. He showed very good feet, he caught the ball well, he's going to be a very-willing blocker.
"He was a real bright spot. I thought he really jumped out at us and he was very consistent, worked throughout the whole thing knowing that his best, maybe most exciting dimension, hasn't even been seen yet. He had a great camp for us. It'll be really fun to see him when we start playing ball."
Tweet Of The Day
Today's "Tweet of the Day" comes from the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals, who announced that they have hired the NFL's first female coach, Jen Welter, a former rugby player who will intern through training camp and preseason coaching the team's inside linebackers.
Arizona also added a former Seahawks linebacker to their coaching staff yesterday, with Pro Bowler Levon Kirkland joining the team as an outside linebackers coach under the Bill Bidwill Coaching Fellowship, a program set up to help recently-retired players gain coaching experience.
Mind-Blowing Stats
As training camps begin to open around the League, NFL.com has put together a photo essay outlining 10 "mind-blowing stats" ahead of the 2015 season.
The 10th and final stat NFL.com points out involves the Seahawks and the addition of three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, acquired in a March trade with the New Orleans Saints.
NFL.com writes, "In the Russell Wilson era (since 2012), the Seahawks have not had any player record a 1,000-yard season or catch more than 70 passes in a season. With the addition of Jimmy Graham, that could change. Graham has two 1,000-yard seasons, and four seasons with 70+ receptions. He leads all tight ends in receptions (256), yards (3,056), and TD (35) since 2012."
More From Around The Web
Bob Condotta at the Seattle Times continues his training camp countdown series by discussing Alvin Bailey's chances at taking over the starting job at left guard.
Gregg Bell at the Tacoma News Tribune says offensive line position battles will be a key to Seahawks training camp, which opens Friday.
Travis Pittman at KING 5 News revisits the top 10 storylines to come from the Seahawks offseason.
The Seahawks' Jimmy Graham is the second-highest rated tight end in 'Madden 16'.
NFL Media reporter Judy Battista outlines nine storylines to watch as training camps get underway around the League.
And Bucky Brooks at NFL.com ranks each position's importance from quarterback (No. 1) to return specialist (No. 25).
D*id I miss anything you think is worthy of inclusion? Let me know on Twitter *
