Notes and observations as Seahawks win preseason opener

Published 5:25 pm Saturday, August 13, 2016

The Seahawks opened their preseason with a somewhat miraculous 17-16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. The Seahawks trailed the entire game, then had 67 seconds to travel 88 yards with no timeouts when trailing 16-9. But Seattle, behind quarterback Trevone Boykin, moved that entire distance in four plays, with Boykin heaving a 37-yard jump ball into the end zone for the 6-foot-6 Tanner McEvoy to bring down on the game’s final play. The Seahawks then wisely went for two to make sure there was no overtime, and Troymaine Pope carried the ball up the middle to convert the two-point attempt and give Seattle the win.

So a nice comeback win for the Seahawks, but quite honestly there’s only so much one can read from the first preseason game. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson played just one series, while Seattle’s first-team defense played just two series. Kansas City used five different quarterbacks. When the game was won the teams were using the tail end players on their 90-man rosters.

But anyway, here’s some thoughts and observations from Saturday’s game:

– Seattle’s offensive line is still a work in progress. With projected starting right tackle J’Marcus Webb out because of a twisted knee, we saw the Seahawks reconfigure their first-unit offensive line, with Garry Gilliam switched from left to right tackle and Bradley Sowell stepping in at left tackle. The most interesting aspect of this switch was seeing Gilliam moved, since he’d been handed the keys to protecting Wilson’s blind side. It could be an indication the Seahawks aren’t yet sold on Gilliam being the best option at left tackle. The good news for the offensive line is that the first two units did not allow a sack. However, Seattle also failed to score a touchdown with those two units in the game, and the second unit saw some shaky play from the likes of former Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans and rookie free agent left tackle George Fant.

– Running back Christine Michael looked explosive. No one has ever doubted Michael’s physical tools, the question has always been about Michael’s focus. That focus was better at the end of last season after Michael was traded away, then released twice before returning to Seattle. He was the standout offensive contributor early in the game with 44 yards on seven carries and bursting through holes on multiple occasions.

– Boykin had ups and downs as he tries to prove to the Seahawks he deserves to be the back-up quarterback. He was tremendous on the final drive, and he looked very comfortable when running the two-minute drill at the end of each half — that makes sense since it’s the same tempo he played while in college at TCU. Boykin also didn’t turn the ball over and led the Seahawks on four scoring drives. However, he also missed throws both long and short on third down, and he had one particularly poor decision when running the read option. He finished the game 16-for-26 for 188 yards and one touchdown, but more will certainly need to be seen of Boykin to know whether the rookie free agent can be trusted to be the back-up.

– The Seahawks put a lot of trust in their rookie defensive linemen. Second-round pick Jarran Reed got the start at defensive tackle. Meanwhile, with defensive end Michael Bennett rested, it was fifth rounder Quinton Jefferson who somewhat surprisingly started in his place. Rookie free agent Brandin Bryant also got in on the act as he was the first defensive tackle off the bench to join the first-team defense. Clearly the rookies up front have impressed the coaching staff.

– Tyvis Powell had one heck of a game. The rookie free agent out of Ohio State was a big-time standout on special teams, making a huge block to spring Tyler Lockett on a punt return, making a tackle inside the 10-yard line on kickoff coverage, then hustling all out to nearly prevent a punt from going into the end zone. To top it off, he had an interception on a tip drill while playing safety (he also played some corner). The special teams play was probably the most important. The best avenue to making the team for an undrafted rookie like Powell is to show he can contribute on special teams, and he definitely did that.

– Perhaps most importantly, the Seahawks came away with no injuries to key personnel. Third-string cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste had to come out late in the game after suffering what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder, but Seattle had no other player who had to leave the field because of injury.

– The list of players who didn’t play: WR Deshon Foxx (hamstring), WR Kevin Smith (hamstring), WR Kasen Williams (hamstring), RB C.J. Prosise (hamstring), RB Zac Brooks (hamstring), SS Kam Chancellor (groin), RB Thomas Rawls (ankle), DE Michael Bennett (rested), RT J’Marcus Webb (knee), TE Jimmy Graham (knee), DT Jordan Hill (groin) and DT Sealver Siliga (calf). None of those injuries are considered significant, though it’s not known exactly when Rawls and Graham will be ready to return from their long-term issues.