Seahawks Trying to Add Versatility in Workouts
By Ben Renner
As Seahawks workouts continue, many key players are trying to add key skills and contribute in new ways in 2016.
Thomas Rawls isn’t known for his blitz pickup skills, but he’s apparently working on protecting Russell Wilson in camp this offseason to round out his considerable running skills with a new way to put his footwork to good use.
Rawls’ added help in blitz pickup is undoubtedly a welcome sight for Tom Cable and the offensive line, which will be shuffled considerably by the time the season begins.
Rawls will have to develop a versatile skill set if he’s going to keep his grip on the lead running back position the entire season for the Seahawks. C.J. Prosise seems to be well-suited to the third down back role, where he can use his own set of various skills to pass protect and catch balls out of the backfield, and some have even pegged him as a potential surprise starter in 2016.
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Meanwhile, Paul Richardson was sighted at practice returning kicks. If the knee feels good enough to practice as a kick returner, he should be ready to go come Week One. A contribution from Richardson would be an added bonus for the Seahawks this year on special teams and in the receiving corps. He just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
Zac Brooks is training as a gunner on special teams, something he has experience doing at Clemson. With special teams whiz Ricardo Lockette wisely hanging up his cleats after almost getting his head knocked off in a game last year, Brooks could be a replacement with his speed and willingness to take the shots working as a gunner in the NFL usually entails.
The Seahawks still have many questions about the roster hovering over them. Who will back up Thomas Rawls? Will Rawls start to open the year? Will Jimmy Graham be fully healthy and up to speed? What in God’s name is going on with the offensive line? These are questions that we may not learn the answers to until Week One or beyond, but we can start to see a team take shape even this early in the team workout and training schedule. We aren’t to contact drills yet, but already we’re seeing Seahawks willing to take on new skills and roles.