Seahawks’ Collins shines in mock game
Published 7:15 pm Sunday, August 7, 2016
By Dave Boling
The News Tribune
RENTON — If the Seahawks had to file an injury report after a scrimmage, rookie running back Alex Collins might have been ruled: Questionable — writer’s cramp.
After having a big day on the field Sunday afternoon, with touchdowns via receiving and rushing, Collins spent almost an hour at the fence signing autographs until the final fan had decamped.
It was the first game-type scrimmage of training camp for the Seahawks, and Collins, a fifth-round draft pick, was seeing so much action because of the injury to Thomas Rawls and a slight illness to Christine Michael.
“He did a good job and got a lot of work today,” head coach Pete Carroll said of Collins. “It was a big day for Alex to get the shot.”
Collins rushed for three straight 1,000-plus yard seasons at Arkansas, but had only 27 catches in that span. He had three catches on Sunday, including a deep touchdown pass from Trevone Boykin.
“It’s just good that us running backs can be threats in the passing game as well as the running game,” Collins said. “In college, they used me more as protection to stay in and block, so it’s good that I’m actually being that duel-threat kind of running back.”
But spending an hour with the Sharpie in his hand after practice?
“I try to do it every day,” Collins said of meeting the fans. “They come out and support us. I just appreciate them being out here and supporting us every day.”
Collins also lost a fumble, although Carroll said he was certain the play would have been blown dead on review.
Carroll announced after the practice that Rawls (ankle) was coming off the physically-unable-to-perform list and would be eased back into practice next week. Tight end Jimmy Graham (knee), though, will need a little more time before coming off the PUP.
“We’re just going to take a little more time with Jimmy,” Carroll said.
Sunday was the first appearance of newly acquired free agent guard Jahri Evans, a multiple-time All-Pro with the Saints for the last decade. Evans was signed on Saturday and showed up for the scrimmage in full pads. He did not see action, though. He wears No. 62, and will be given a look at left guard after having played right guard for a decade in New Orleans.
“I really like the experience he brings to us, and the leadership he has shown in the past may be a factor for us, we don’t know,” Carroll said. “Right now, he’s competing for playing time. This is a guy who has done everything you can do in the game, so we’re happy to have him.”
Evans will have “to get in our kind of shape,” Carroll said. “He’s not been told he’s the starter or anything, he’s been brought in to compete and hopefully he’ll add to the level of play.”
Evans was cut by the Saints in February for salary camp reasons, and liked what he saw when he came to Seattle on Thursday. “It feels good up here; it’s a good offense and a good scheme and I’m just looking to get to work,” Evans said.
On the injury front, receivers Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith are sidelined with hamstrings, and defensive end Frank Clark (calf) has been worked back into action the past couple days but was held out of the scrimmage.
Safety Kam Chancellor will be back Tuesday, while receiver Doug Baldwin will need a little more time to recover from a calf injury.
Russell Wilson threw a touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett, receiver Jermaine Kearse set up a touchdown with a sideline circus catch.
The Hawks open the preseason Saturday at Kansas City.
Mock game
Sunday’s scrimmage stands as the annual “mock game” heading into the week of the first preseason game. The players were in full pads and contact was mostly live (except for quarterbacks, and no kicking game other than placekicks). Carroll said he thought the practice was “raggedy” at the start because the coordinators were calling in plays via the headphones and transmission was sketchy for them.
Who looked good
Carroll said he thought the defenses did a good job of keeping pressure on the quarterbacks, particularly with perimeter rushes. Key among those was Cassius Marsh, a SAM linebacker who also edged up to the line to rush in nickel situations. He was a matchup problem for tackles all day. Collins showed he can catch the ball effectively, with three grabs including one for a touchdown pass from Boykin from near midfield. Wilson completed 17 of 26 pass attempts with a touchdown to Lockett. Lesser-known receiver Montario Hunter, a rookie from Elizabeth City State, had a couple catches, including a deep sideline pass from Wilson. The speedy Hunter was timed by the Seahawks in the 4.3s for the 40. Carroll said that he thought the versatility of the offensive linemen has made that unit “ahead of where we thought we would be … we’re very big and physical up front.”
Quote of the day
“This was definitely the best mock game we’ve had since I’ve been here.” — Quarterback Russell Wilson
