Two interceptions in mock game cement Marquise Blair as Seahawks’ new nickel DB
There was nothing mock about Marquise Blair’s excellence in this Seahawks mock game.
The new primary nickel defensive back for 2020 and fan favorite had two interceptions with the first-team defense off undrafted rookie quarterback Anthony Gordon from Washington State on Wednesday in the latter of two scrimmages in five days at CenturyLink Field.
The first one showed how in synch Blair already is in his new job with the rest of the starting defensive backs.
Blair peeled back upfield to follow Gordon’s pass in the middle of the field to former University of Washington wide receiver Aaron Fuller. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin made an aggressive play on the ball over Fuller’s shoulder. Griffin batted the pass back to the arriving Blair for the deflected interception deep in the backup offense’s territory.
Blair has not just taken but seized the job as fifth defensive back in passing situations. The second-round draft choice last year from Utah is known as a ferocious hitter at strong safety. But coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. love Blair’s size at 6 feet 1 and 196 pounds, and him often attacking passes in flight like he does ball carriers on the ground.
With All-Pro Jamal Adams arrival in last month’s splashy trade from the New York Jets, the Seahawks needed to find a place to reward Blair for his standout practices with a job somewhere.
It’s going to be the nickel job from Ugo Amadi, who ended his rookie season late in 2019 as Seattle’s nickel.
“Marquise has been a noticeable change. I mean, look at the day he had today,” Carroll said. “He’s been a noticeable change playing the nickel spot.”
Griffin was more effusive.
“Marquise Blair has shined in this camp,” the fourth-year starting cornerback said.
Griffin called Blair “the front-runner” among all players in Seattle’s secondary this month.
“You can feel it when he’s out there with us. He doesn’t feel like he shouldn’t be out there,” Griffin said.
For his part, Blair knows you love him.
The hard-hitting, most popular one-year reserve Seahawk around says he’s seen and heard that fans want him to play more.
“Yes, I’ve heard a little bit. But I really don’t be on social media, so I don’t pay much attention to it,” the 23-year-old father of 2-year-old Ezekiel and 1-year-old daughter Ivelle said this month.
How much experience does the former Utah strong and free safety have playing nickel before this month?
“None,” Blair said.
“I only played safety.”
That’s going to change Sept. 13 in the Seahawks’ opener against Matt Ryan and the throwing Falcons in Atlanta.
The Seahawks believe Blair, Griffin, Adams, free safety Quandre Diggs and Tre Flowers at right cornerback (for now, until new arrival Quinton Dunbar learns the entire scheme) will improve what was the NFL’s 26th-ranked pass defense in 2019.
“I really feel like we’ve boosted this group,” Carroll said of his new, post-Legion of Boom secondary.
“We have very high expectations that we are going to play a lot of good football.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2020 at 3:40 PM.
