Off Season Phase II (next 3 weeks)

[tarlhawk]

Phase II allows no contact and no wearing of helmets except for safety concerns when using Jugg Machines. It does allow coaches on the practice field for tips/instruction. This will allow our Pass Rush Specialist Coach (BT Jordan to work with our D-Line "Campers" as he begins to mode/instruct additional techniques/counters to further develop renewed pass rush aggression.

From our Seahawks.com website:

Brandon (BT) Jordan joined the Seahawks staff on March 15, 2023, his first season as an NFL assistant coach following one season as Michigan State's pass rush specialist.

Jordan, who has been in coaching since 2012, has specialized in training elite defensive linemen since 2018 while serving as CEO of Brandon Jordan Trench Performance. He has worked with more than 200 players on NFL rosters, including Seahawks Uchenna Nwosu and Al Woods, along with NFL Pro Bowlers Jadeveon Clowney, Maxx Crosby, Damon Harrison, Cameron Heyward, Chandler Jones, Von Miller Haason Reddick and T.J. Watt.

During Jordan's lone season in East Lansing in 2022, he helped develop the pass rushing skills of Jacoby Windmon, who recorded a career-high four sacks in his first game as a Spartan. Windmon was a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week and two-time National Defensive Player of the Week while leading the nation with six forced fumbles in addition to collecting 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Go Hawks

[NorthHawk]

Thanks for the blurb from seahawks.com. I had heard we’d hired a pass rush specialist but didn’t know much about him. Our Pass Rush has been so bad the last 4 years, we had to do something. I wonder if he had a say in the. DL/LBs we drafted?

[tarlhawk]

I wonder if he had a say in the. DL/LBs we drafted?

I was wondering the same thing when we drafted Derick Hall and Mike Morris later.

[NorthHawk]

It would make sense to include his opinion as he’s probably seen enough players to have an opinion of whether a player has what it takes to succeed at the NFL level.

[I-5]

So with Poona and Big Al now signed to Buffalo and New York Jets respectively, where does that leave the Seahawks when it comes to NT? Are they going to rest on Cam Young to be their guy, or do they have other candidates there? Sorry haven't been following that closely.

[MackStrongIsMyHero]

Besides Young, there’s Jarran Reed (who is expected to be a 3-4 DE), Mone (injury recovery in progress) and Myles Adams (not really big enough for NT) and a few UDFA. Not sure there’s any viable FAs for the role. Mone could do it if healthy. Probably the weakest point on the team.

Edit: Forgot Mone tore an ACL in Wk 15. Not likely he’ll even be ready by the start of the season.

[RiverDog]

Besides Young, there’s Jarran Reed (who is expected to be a 3-4 DE), Mone (injury recovery in progress) and Myles Adams (not really big enough for NT) and a few UDFA. Not sure there’s any viable FAs for the role. Mone could do it if healthy. Probably the weakest point on the team.

Edit: Forgot Mone tore an ACL in Wk 15. Not likely he’ll even be ready by the start of the season.

Yeah, probably not a good idea to let both Ford and Woods go if we expect to compete this season as we don't have a true NT on the roster.

We're weak up the middle on both sides of the LOS. Hopefully someone rises to the occasion.

[Aseahawkfan]

Yeah, probably not a good idea to let both Ford and Woods go if we expect to compete this season as we don't have a true NT on the roster.

We're weak up the middle on both sides of the LOS. Hopefully someone rises to the occasion.

I wouldn't be that interested in keeping the guys up front since they performed so badly myself. Not like Woods, Poona, and Mone did a great job holding the line. Still not sure why we look at their losses as consequential since they were a major part of the 30th ranked run defense. That means our D-line guys were pretty terrible, so not sure why we would want to re-sign them.

[NorthHawk]

I heard Pete talk about not having a monster in the middle, and it sounds like he’s OK with 300 - 310 lb NTs. He alluded to the idea of real bug guys in the middle because people remember the huge NTs of Pittsburgh. He didn’t think that size was necessary.
I guess we’ll see if he’s right.

[MackStrongIsMyHero]

UDFA DT Robert Cooper out of FSU is 6-2 335. Fits the NT mold but was a UDFA for a reason. They have what they have at this point. Hope they can make something of it.

[NorthHawk]

I also read that there’s some concern that Mone’s career might be threatened by his injury. I hope he fully recovers.

[Aseahawkfan]

I heard Pete talk about not having a monster in the middle, and it sounds like he’s OK with 300 - 310 lb NTs. He alluded to the idea of real bug guys in the middle because people remember the huge NTs of Pittsburgh. He didn’t think that size was necessary.
I guess we’ll see if he’s right.

Pete has always put a higher value on speed and ability to move than pure size. He doesn't love sloppy big guys.

[NorthHawk]

And yet he played Al Woods and Brian Mone, both of which were over 340lbs. He mentioned a few days ago of maybe re-signing Woods but Woods signed with the Jets.

[tarlhawk]

Off season reminders: (from seahawks.com)

Under the CBA, the offseason program consists of three phases, none of which include live contact, according to Over the Cap. The schedule for the Seahawks, as announced by the NFL on Friday, is as shown below.

First Day: April 17

OTA Offseason Workouts: May 22, May 24-25, May 30, June 1-2, June 12-14

Mandatory Minicamp: June 6-8

The three phases of the offseason program, as laid out by Article 21, Section 2(c)(i)-(iii) of the CBA are as follows:

Phase One. Phase One shall consist of the first two weeks of the Club’s offseason workout program. Subject to the additional rules set forth in Section 5 of this Article, Phase One activities shall be limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only. During Phase One, only full-time or part-time strength and conditioning coaches, who have no other coaching responsibilities with the Club, shall be allowed on the field; no other coaches shall be allowed on the field or to otherwise participate in or observe activities. No footballs shall be permitted to be used (only “dead ball” activities), except that (1) quarterbacks may elect to throw to receivers provided they are not covered by any other player; (2) kickers, punters, PAT/field goal holders, and long snappers may use footballs on the field for kicking, punting, snapping or holding without the involvement of any other players; (3) returners may field punts and kickoffs provided they are not covered by any other player; (4) JUGGS machines may be used for pass catching, punt returns, and kickoff returns. Players cannot wear helmets during Phase One, except that players using JUGGS machines may wear helmets for safety purposes if the player so desires. During all three phases of a Club’s offseason workout program, participating players may meet with members of the Club’s Player Engagement staff and may attend NFL/NFLPA jointly-sponsored educational sessions.

Phase Two. Phase Two shall consist of the next three weeks of the Club’s offseason workout program. Subject to the additional rules set forth in Section 5 of this Article, during Phase Two all coaches shall be allowed on the field. On-field workouts may include (1) individual or group instruction and drills during which offensive players may hold shields or bags for offensive players and defensive players may hold shields or bags for defensive players; (2) “perfect play” drills (e.g., offense or defense only, but not offense vs. defense), or special teams drills on a “separates” basis (e.g.., kicking team or return team only, but not kicking team vs. return team); (3) drills and plays conducted with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players with each group permitted to align eleven or fewer players across from eleven or fewer players. Players on one side of the ball may execute a play, but players on the opposite side of the ball may not initiate contact with, or attempt to impede the progress of, players who are running the play (such drills and plays shall be conducted at an acceptable walkthrough pace (i.e., Pro Bowl practice pace), as demonstrated in a video jointly approved by the parties); and (4) JUGGS machines may be used for pass catching, punt returns, and kickoff returns. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted. No offense vs. defense drills are permitted (e.g., no one-on-one offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen pass rush or pass protection drills, no wide receivers vs. defensive backs bump-and-run drills, and no one-on-one special teams drills involving both offense and defense are permitted.) Players may wear jointly-approved protective shirts during Phase Two but cannot wear helmets, except that players using JUGGS machines may wear helmets for safety purposes if the player so desires. The on-field time limit for Phase Two begins when coaches begin to coach a player or players on the field.

Phase Three. Phase Three shall consist of the next four weeks of the Club’s offseason workout program. Subject to the additional rules set forth in Subsections 5(a) and 5(c) of this Article and Appendix G to this Agreement, during Phase Three each Club may conduct a total of ten days of organized team practice activity (“OTAs” or “OTA days”). The restrictions set forth in Subsection 5(b) of this Article shall not apply to OTA days. The Club may conduct a maximum of three days of OTAs during each of the first two weeks of Phase Three. A maximum of four days of OTAs may be conducted during either the third week or the fourth week of Phase Three, with the Mandatory Veteran Minicamp (Article 22, Section 2) to be held during the other week. During weeks in which the Club conducts only three days of OTAs, the Club may also conduct a fourth day of non-OTA workouts, but such activities shall be subject to the rules governing Phase Two workouts, as set forth in Subsection 2(c)(ii) of this Article. During Phase Three, all coaches shall be allowed on the field. No live contact is permitted. No one-on-one offense vs. defense drills are permitted (i.e., no offensive linemen vs. defensive linemen pass rush or pass protection drills, no wide receivers vs. defensive backs bump-and-run drills, and no one-on-one special teams drills involving both offense and defense are permitted) except that, outside of the 10-yard line, simulated press coverage is permitted using hand placement (versus jamming) during 11-on-11 drills and related position group one-on-one drills (e.g., footwork and release work (no “live-contact” or “bump-and-run”). During simulated press coverage drills, hand contact between a defensive player and a receiver is permitted provided the defensive player does not impede the receiver or alter his route and no live contact occurs. The NFL shall provide a video that is jointly approved by the parties demonstrating permissible press coverage and one-on-one drills. In addition to onfield activities permitted during Phase Two of a Club’s offseason workout program, special teams drills (e.g., kicking team vs. return team) are permitted, provided no live contact occurs. Team offense vs. team defense drills, including all drills listed in Appendix G to this Agreement, are permitted, provided no live contact occurs. Clubs may require players to wear helmets; players may wear jointly approved protective shirts; no shells are permitted during Phase Three of the Club’s offseason workout program or any minicamp. The on-field time limit for Phase Three begins when coaches begin to coach a player or players on the field. In the event that a Club begins an on-field OTA practice but such practice is discontinued within sixty minutes of its commencement due to inclement weather or for any reason beyond the Club’s control, the practice may be rescheduled on another day within the nine-week limit for offseason workouts unless the Club has an indoor practice facility, in which case the practice must be resumed and completed, if at all, on the same day in the Club’s indoor facility, provided that the Club shall have a reasonable period of —150— time to relocate players and equipment. In such a case the NFL will notify the NFLPA on a same-day basis that the practice was interrupted. If the Club does not have an indoor facility and wishes to reschedule the practice, the NFL will consult with the NFLPA before the practice is rescheduled.

As noted in the announcement from the NFL, the Seahawks will be holding OTAs during their mandatory minicamp June 6th-8th, and then once the curtain drops on the final OTA on June 14 that will be all until training camp opens in late July. It will still be some time before we see the team in full swing, but these dates serve as a reminder that the season is slowly approaching. The Seahawks have yet to announce the dates for the 2023 rookie minicamp, so stay tuned for more news on that.

[obiken]

Yeah this is the deadest part of the season no doubt!

[tarlhawk]

Yeah this is the deadest part of the season no doubt!

To me the end of OTA's and mini camps is like the anticipation of Christmas. Based on early shopping (free agency) and late shopping (the NFL draft) you have a chance to "look at" your assembled presents but can't really open them up yet "just look". When training camp (Christmas starts) all your presents get opened and now you get to really see what you got. Some presents are surprises...others seemed destined as mistakes to possibly return (trades) or release...(only so much room (53 man roster) to hold everything) so training camp is your "warranty" period. So far it looks like we got some neatly wrapped "presents" under our tree...are we happy? Go Hawks

[RiverDog]

Yeah this is the deadest part of the season no doubt!

To me the end of OTA's and mini camps is like the anticipation of Christmas. Based on early shopping (free agency) and late shopping (the NFL draft) you have a chance to "look at" your assembled presents but can't really open them up yet "just look". When training camp (Christmas starts) all your presents get opened and now you get to really see what you got. Some presents are surprises...others seemed destined as mistakes to possibly return (trades) or release...(only so much room (53 man roster) to hold everything) so training camp is your "warranty" period. So far it looks like we got some neatly wrapped "presents" under our tree...are we happy? Go Hawks

I'm with Obi on this one. It's so hard to tell exactly what kind of team we're going to have until they actually start playing games, and even then, a lot times it turns out to be fool's gold. That's how I became a bit of a Debbie Downer, because every time I started getting excited in the lead up to the season, reading all of the always glowing reports from the beat writers, then have it turn out to be warmed over garbage has caused me to be very careful about getting my hopes up.

I do pay attention to injured players and how they're progressing, like Brooks and Adams, as well as our competition down south, the Niners' Brock Purdy.

[NorthHawk]

With 17 games the season is more than ever about overall health and attrition. It's usually the healthiest teams that make it deep into the playoffs and SB so quality depth is an absolute.
Injuries are inevitable but who picks up the slack will determine success or failure for the most part.
And that's just luck in most cases.

[Old but Slow]

Because of injuries, it is important to have good depth. It is fine to see a good group of starters, but who do they have behind them? Currently we seem to have good depth at RB, WR, TE, pass rusher, and DBs. The offensive line depth looks OK, but the whole unit needs to learn to play together. Defensive tackle (nose?) and linebacker are weaker.

Special teams are quite good, which, in my mind, makes a big difference in the success of a team. Fortunately, the team recognizes that and makes sure they are strong there. I don't know the stats, but I would expect the Hawks to be up near the top in overall special team play. Players trying to make the team as a position player will likely separate themselves by special team play. So, in a case, a better cover DB might lose out to a lesser DB who is a ST whiz. Then, when a starter gets injured, the "better at ST" guy is the depth. It is kind of like a thumb on the scale.