Seahawks OTAs: Rashaad Penny, Noah Fant practice; more Geno Smith vs. Drew Lock, changed D
Geno Smith still with the starting offense, throwing to Tyler Lockett.
Drew Lock still running the second unit, throwing to Cade Johnson.
Rashaad Penny seen on the field practicing for the first time this offseason.
Same for Noah Fant. Seattle’s new tight end was away for a personal matter last week.
And new coordinator Clint Hurtt is demanding accountability on his defense that is already changed from last season.
The second week of Seahawks organized team activities (OTAs) began with some subtle, and not as subtle, news. And more changes.
Tuesday’s fourth of nine OTA practices for Seattle was the second one open to the media. It was the first time Penny was seen practicing since a hamstring injury sidelined the often-injured running back last week when the team practiced three times. Coach Pete Carroll said last week Penny’s issue was minor and the team was being cautious.
It’s only May.
Yet the sight of Penny back participating instead of watching quelled some concerns Seattle’s first-round draft choice from 2018 was back on his injured track. Penny was hurt for most of his pro career until the final five games of last season. That’s when he had his best, most prolific four games yet in the league.
The surge earned him a return to the Seahawks on a one-year, $5.75 million contract he signed in March. It includes $5.07 million guaranteed for 2022.
Penny’s health is more important with Chris Carson’s future in doubt. Carroll and the Seahawks were waiting last week for clarity on the lead rusher’s prognosis coming out of season-ending neck surgery. He played in just four games in 2021.
Ken Walker, the second-round pick last month who romped rushing for Michigan State last fall, was again getting looks with Smith, Lock and the top offensive players Tuesday. Walker was behind Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas, the healthy returning running backs.
Lock again sprayed pretty-looking passes across the field to various receivers, high-arcing deep balls and crisp shorter ones. As he also did at times in practice last week, Lock missed behind some receivers on short throws.
“Shoot, I think he looks good,” Lockett, the team’s top wide receiver with DK Metcalf (still not practicing but rehabilitating from foot surgery), said of Lock.
“He can throw the ball ... He makes great throws.
“He just has that type of calmness that he knows what he can do ...
“I think he’s adjusting well.”
Seattle acquired the 24-year-old quarterback in its massive trade of Russell Wilson to Denver in March. Lock has been with the second team so far in OTAs because he is less familiar with second-year Seahawks play caller Shane Waldron’s terminology and offense than is Smith. Smith was Wilson’s backup in Seattle the last three years.
Smith missed on a deep ball to Lockett past his fingertips down the left sideline early in group drills, among his more noticeable throws Tuesday.
Lockett said this the first time he’s had a wide-open quarterback battle entering a season since his Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, played two QBs.
Lockett said Smith is a different leader this spring knowing he has a legitimate chance to be the Seahawks’ starter, unlike previous offseasons knowing he wasn’t going to play as long as Wilson was on the team.
“Yeah, his approach,” Lockett said of the 31-year-old Smith, who started his first two NFL seasons for the New York Jets in 2013 and ‘14.
“Being able to come in and know you can run the team and him coming in in OTAs, I mean, he has that fire in his eyes. He has that look to be able to go out there and do great.
“I mean, he hasn’t had the opportunity to play in a couple years. When you have that opportunity right in front of you, what else do you need, you know what I mean? ...
“This is an opportunity that all of us wait for.”
Latest offensive line
Smith was behind a starting offensive line that had rookie first-round pick Charles Cross again at left tackle, 2021 starter Damien Lewis again at left guard, offseason signing Austin Blythe at center, Phil Haynes at right guard and 2021 undrafted rookie find Jake Curhan at right tackle.
Veteran right guard Gabe Jackson remained absent from the voluntary practices.
The team’s only mandatory work of the offseason is next week’s veteran minicamp June 7-9.
Lock ran the second offense that included Walker, Dakoda Shepley at center and rookie third-round pick Abe Lucas at right tackle.
Competitions at cornerback, nickel
Hurtt talked about Artie Burns, the former Steelers first-round pick and cornerback the Seahawks signed from Chicago this offseason. He said Burns looks more familiar in new Seahawks assistant coach Sean Desai’s coverage schemes now than he was last year for the Bears. Desai was Chicago’s defensive coordinator until Carroll hired him this winter.
Smith completed a back-shoulder pass to Fant wide outside to the left in the end zone past Burns. That had Smith dancing and yelling in celebration.
Tre Brown, who missed much of his rookie season of 2021 to injury, and last season’s starter Sidney Jones will compete with Burns and others for the two cornerback jobs.
Justin Coleman made a fine play staying with and then riding Lockett out of the back of the end zone to force an incomplete pass by Smith on another red-zone play. Coleman left Seattle for Detroit and the richest contact in league history for a nickel defensive back ($9 million) before the 2019. He returned on a one-year, $1.12 million Seahawks contract this offseason.
Ugo Amadi is another candidate to be the fifth, nickel defensive back.
Hurtt said Seattle’s changed, more varied defense with faster, more 3-4 styles will feature the fifth defensive back in multiple situations.
“We are going to play a lot more nickel stuff than we have in the past,” the new coordinator and promoted line coach said.
Eventually.
Hurtt emphasized no position competition is going to be close to settled until full pads come at training camp in early August.
“We are doing Underwear Olympics out here,” Hurtt said.
Bill Walsh coaching fellowships
The Seahawks have three assistant coaches in OTAs and minicamps who are part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh coaching diversity fellowship program the Seahawks and league sponsor.
Akeem Dent is assisting special teams. He played six seasons in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons (2011-2013), Houston Texans (‘14-’16) and Jacksonville Jaguars (‘17).
Amanda Ruller is helping with Seattle’s running backs. She is the running back and special teams coach at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She is also the assistant strength and conditioning coach there. Ruller is the running backs and special teams coach at Team Ontario, a U18 women’s tackle football team.
Jonathan Saxon is helping Hurtt and the Seahawks’ defense this spring. He Saxon is the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at South Carolina State.
This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 6:41 PM.
