RENTON, Wash. — While talking up the Seattle Seahawks’ new-look defense, quarterback Geno Smith highlighted the element of practice that has been most notable, not only on Friday but throughout the first three days of training camp.
“They make it tough on us,” Smith said of the defense. “You saw a few times where I had to scramble left, scramble right — it’s not going to be easy back there. As long as we continue to push each other I think we’ll continue to get better.”
Both sides of the ball are installing new schemes and when that’s the case, the defense is often further along than the offense. Seattle’s offense, led by Smith and a bevy of talented pass catchers, has been sharp through the first three sessions, but the defense has consistently made them work for everything. The back and forth has been exactly what head coach Mike Macdonald and his staff want to see. We’ll dive into some of those moments and a reunion with a familiar defensive in these Day 3 notes and observations.
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Red zone battle
The red zone and third-down periods between the starting units are the most intriguing because that’s where the Seahawks struggled most on both sides of the ball. The defense stood tall in its final red zone period on Thursday, which ended with safety Julian Love picking off Smith on an out route intended for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
On Friday, Smith started the final red zone period with a fade ball to Tyler Lockett for a touchdown of roughly 13 yards. Some defenders argued that Lockett bobbled the ball as he fell to the ground, but the officials disagreed. Left cornerback Tre Brown was in coverage on that play and right on Lockett’s hip, but Smith put the ball near the sideline where only his receiver could get it.
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They went at Brown again, this time with DK Metcalf as the target on a jump ball, but Brown was in the receiver’s grill as the ball sailed overhead. Brown and Metcalf exchanged words afterward, which led to another end-zone target for Metcalf. Again, Brown had tight coverage and the ball fell incomplete.
Smith also threw a touchdown to tight end Noah Fant during a red zone period.
Brown betting on a big season
Last season, Brown was Seattle’s sub-package starter at left cornerback and was often off the field in base personnel in favor of rookie Devon Witherspoon. Brown appears to be playing a similar role in Macdonald’s scheme, with some flexibility to play left and right corner. In a pre-practice chat, Brown confidently expressed what he expects from himself in Year 4.
“I want to be the best on the field this year,” Brown said. “I got a high standard. Pro Bowl, All-Pro, nothing less.”
Asked what it will take to achieve those goals, Brown said, “Just me being consistent and them finally trusting in me and the player that I am.”
And what kind of player is Brown?
“I’m a player that makes plays, especially in crunch time,” Brown said. “You always see me show up. You’re going to see more of that this year.”
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Fully recovered from a season-ending knee injury he suffered as a rookie, Brown played his best ball last season, recording six passes defensed with two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown against the Lions. Brown also picked off Joe Burrow in Week 6 and had a pass breakup on third down that gave the offense a chance to win the game. He’s playing beside two Pro Bowl corners in Witherspoon and Riq Woolen, and if Brown comes close to reaching that level, the defense will likely be more consistently competitive and have a chance to reach its ceiling.
“Before the injury, I was doing my thing,” Brown said. “Last year I was doing my thing. I’m the player that you see out there, and that’s what you’re going to get from me.”
Starters missing on OL, DL
Swing tackle George Fant didn’t practice Thursday, so the starting offensive line was, from left to right: Charles Cross, Laken Tomlinson, Olu Oluwatimi, Anthony Bradford and McClendon Curtis (right tackle Abe Lucas is still out). Rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight ran with the starters in place of Jerome Baker, who was present but not practicing. I didn’t see rookie nickel corner D.J. James, either. Dre’Mont Jones initially suited up but didn’t finish practice. Macdonald didn’t address the media after practice to provide clarity on the non-participants.
Don’t target Witherspoon
Witherspoon seemingly hasn’t been targeted much in practice, so he’s not making a bunch of plays on the ball, but he’s playing some good coverage. It’s clear he has a good feel for how the offense is trying to attack and jumps on the routes Smith wants to hit. For instance, he stayed on Lockett’s hip on a dig route Thursday, resulting in a checkdown to a running back. On Friday he sat on an underneath route by Metcalf, allowing outside linebacker Boye Mafe to get to Smith for what would have been a sack during a team period. In a separate team period, Seattle sent a blitz and Smith lofted a long ball to Smith-Njigba with Witherspoon in coverage, but the ball fell incomplete.
Witherspoon had a really strong year in coverage last season and seems to be picking up right where he left off.
Metcalf a tough cover
Smith and Metcalf picked on rookie cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett during a red zone period. Metcalf beat him for touchdowns on back-to-back plays, first on a back-shoulder fade and then on an out-breaking route. Metcalf is 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds; Pritchett is 6-foot and 190 pounds. Metcalf is a mismatch against most cornerbacks, but that sequence illustrated how tough it is for young defenders to stop him. That said, Metcalf’s next two targets were those incompletions against Brown, who is listed 5-9. Metcalf got the best of Brown earlier, though, beating him with a long post pattern for a touchdown during a team period.
Smith said there’s “100 percent” another level that can be reached by Metcalf, who had over 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
“That’s my job to keep pushing him and that’s his job to keep coming and bringing it every single day,” Smith said. “I’m just trying to push him and hopefully I can be the quarterback that he needs to unlock that.”
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Welcome back, Blair
The Seahawks re-signed safety Marquise Blair, a 2019 second-round pick who tore his ACL in 2020, was released in 2022 then bounced around a bit before working out for the team on Thursday. Jonathan Sutherland was released to free up a roster spot.
“Really think the world of Marquise, happy he was able to battle back from some injuries,” said Smith, who joined the Seahawks the same year as Blair. “When I saw him in the locker room, everyone was just so excited. All the guys that have been here with him, we know what he went through to get back and we’re wishing him the best. I can’t wait for him to get on the field and keep showing his stuff.”
(Photo of Tyler Lockett: John Froschauer / Associated Press)
