2. Marquise Blair is a player / What will a new look look like secondarily?
When Carroll spoke earlier in the camp about the possibility of using Marquise Blair as a nickel defensive back, he mentioned that the position could be a good fit because “he can push from” and that it is a place where the ball will come its way, leading to opportunities to make plays.
On Friday, Blair managed to back up his coach’s words on consecutive plays in the red zone, first recording a “sec” while flashing, and then one scene later with a leap of effort breaking a pass in the end zone.
Blair still has work to do to secure the nickel track – fellow sophomore Ugo Amadi has also had a strong camp, and the Seahawks also have enough cornerback depth that other options could come up – but Saturday will give him a good chance to state his case. Saturday will also be the best appearance yet on a defense with Jamal Adams, the All-Pro safety Seattle added in a trade last month, as well as cornerback Quinton Dunbar, who was previously added in a trade in the offseasons.
3. Alton Robinson continues to show / Is a new patient emerging ready to produce?
Whether in team practice or one-on-one pass-rush drills, rookie defensive end Alton Robinson, a fifth-round pick from Syracuse, manages to flash almost every day, and he did so on a few occasions again on Friday, in ‘ t come backfield to fill a run for a loss.
Robinson is just part of what will be a very different group on the defensive end this year, along with fellow draft pick Darrell Taylor – the second round pick from Tennessee is not training yet due to a leg injury – and additions from free agent Benson Mayowa and Bruce Irvin , a strong linebacker / rush end hybrid. Like the offensive line, the players facing that group in the closed line, these mock games and the added physicality are needed to see what they can do.
4. Carlos Hyde remains impressed / Who stands out in a very deep backfield?
With Chris Carson out of practice and with Rashaad Penny physically unable to make a list, free agent signing Carlos Hyde has gotten a lot of work done, and he remains very much like the 1000-yard rusher which he was last season. As Carroll has remarked, Hyde is somewhat similar to Carson in the fact that he is a physical, downhill runner, but he also has a lot of lateral agility to miss people.
With Travis Homer and rookie DeeJay Dallas also having strong fights, those two and Hyde are all struggling to earn playing time behind Carson, the presumed starter, and these mock games will provide a good chance to shine.
5. Freddie Swain was back / Who will take over the return obligation (if they are aware)?
After missing a few days with a light injury, rookie receiver Freddie Swain was back in action Friday, and one play early on that stood for the sixth-round pick from Florida was a kick back early in practice. Swain, one of several returners’ field stoppers, recognized a short kick and was able to catch it as he advanced at almost full speed – not at all an easy skill for a return – then made a few decisive cuts and exploded upfield.
Normally, the Seahawks would skip kickoffs and points in a mock game, but without preseason, Carroll said they will work on those situations in the three mock games. There’s still a chance the Seahawks will use Tyler Lockett in the return game, but if they want that off his plate – he came off in the second half of last season off duty after a serious leg check – then Swain will have one of be several candidates to see in that league. Travis Homer and David Moore took over last season’s kick and point return duties, respectively, so they were apparently in the mix, but early in camp many other players, Swain, John Ursua, DeeJay Dallas and Phillip Dorsett II among others , have also been involved.
