RENTON – One of the more impressive receivers for the Seattle Seahawks has been undrafted free agent Doug Baldwin.
At 5-foot-10, 189 pounds, the Stanford graduate doesn’t have the prototypical size coach Pete Carroll looks for in a pass catcher.
But what Baldwin does have is craftiness and the ability to get open in the middle of the field, similar to one of the best slot receivers ever to play for Seattle – Bobby Engram.
“One (of) my strengths is my creativity in the slot,” Baldwin said, “being able to be witty and creative matched up against a nickel corner or a (weakside) linebacker, so just being able to be creative in there, getting open and getting separation.”
But Baldwin, 22, understands he’ll have to do more than catch stop routes in the middle of the field to survive the upcoming cuts.
Usually players on the back end of the roster have to perform well on special teams, either as a punt or kick returner, or in coverage on punts or kickoffs.
Leon Washington has the return position locked up, but Baldwin could serve as a backup, and he’s also a willing participant in other special teams duties.
“It’s real interesting,” Baldwin said. “I haven’t made a tackle in almost seven years, so it was different running down there on (a) kickoff and trying to make a tackle. And I was also up on punt block as one of the frontline guys blocking at guard, and this guy probably had at least 120 pounds on me, but I was excited to get in there and just bump heads with him, and I did a pretty good job for my first time out there doing that.”
Baldwin said playing at Stanford with talented quarterback Andrew Luck – considered the top prospect if he declares for the next year’s draft – and then-Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh, now coaching the San Francisco 49ers, also helped him get ready for the NFL.
Baldwin led Stanford in receptions (56), receiving yards (824) and touchdowns (9) his senior season, earning second-team all-Pacific-10 Conference honors.
“Not just playing with Luck, but the whole system itself,” Baldwin said. “Playing with Coach Harbaugh, the way that he ran practice and the way he ran the program was all similar to what we’re doing here. So coming into it, it wasn’t as big of a shock as it was for some other people.
“I was able to dive right into it and go full speed, and I think that’s going to help me out a lot.”
Baldwin is tied for the team lead in receptions in exhibition play with six for 43 yards, and his play has certainly gotten the attention of Seattle’s coaching staff.
“For a guy that’s never been in an NFL camp, he’s taken to it very well and has made plays,” receivers coach Kippy Brown said. “He’s got a long way to go, but it’s not too big for him. He walks around like he belongs, and when he gets out there and gets reps, it looks like he belongs. So that’s a good thing.”
Quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst have singled out Baldwin as a guy consistently making plays, praise Baldwin is taking in stride.
“I try not to pay attention to it too much,” he said. “Obviously, the starting quarterback and the backup quarterback – guys that are competing for the job – are telling people that they have confidence in me, then obviously that means a lot. At the same time I have high expectations for myself.
“Guys say that I made some plays out there, but there’s a lot of plays that are left out there on the field that I didn’t make, so that’s what I’m looking forward to – being able to go back on the field and pick up the slack and improve every day.”
BALMER RELEASED
The Seahawks released defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer.
A first-round pick by San Francisco in 2008, Balmer was traded to the Seahawks during training camp last season, with the 49ers receiving a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft.
Balmer started 11 games – three at defensive tackle and eight at defensive end – last season. The former North Carolina star made 43 tackles for Seattle.
The Seahawks brought in several free agents to bolster the defensive line, including Jimmy Wilkerson and Jay Alford, along with drafting Pep Levingston in the seventh round, so Balmer was the odd man out.
With Balmer’s open roster spot, the Seahawks re-signed running back Vai Taua.
EXTRA POINTS
Linebacker Aaron Curry (knee) and center Mike Gibson (unknown) returned to practice, while defensive end Chris Clemons (ankle) and running back Marshawn Lynch (unknown) did not practice. … Others who did not practice include linebacker David Hawthorne (knee), linebacker Leroy Hill (knee), safety Kam Chancellor (foot), tight end John Carlson (shoulder), defensive end Dexter Davis (unknown), defensive end A.J. Schable (unknown) and defensive end Pierre Allen (unknown). … Tackle Russell Okung (ankle) again participated in the early portion of practice, including individual drills. But he did not participate in team drills. … Seattle will have a walkthrough practice in the morning and then travel to Denver on Friday.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/
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