Observations of minicamp rookie Seahawks: D.K. Metcalf impresses the day 1



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The limitations of a rookie minicamp – no pads, no touch – make it a setting of choice for a receiver that stands out.

Even in this context, D.K. Metcalf's second round selection of Seahawks was standing above the rest.

"This guy is a monster," marveled security, Ugo Amadi, who first met Metcalf in summer camps when they were in high school. He watched on Friday the 6-foot-4 receiver and 229-pound take a blistering advance in traffic along the sideline that was the highlight of the first part of the Seahawks' three rookie mini-camp practices this weekend .

"It may be even more unique than we thought," said head coach Pete Carroll after appearing for the first time in person at Metcalf in the Seahawks' uniform ( No. 14).

Metcalf is one of three receivers selected by the Seahawks, although he was the only one on the field with fourth-round pick Gary Jennings and seventh John Ursua for hamstring injuries. Carroll said Ursua could train but the team wants to be smart with him. Jennings, he said, needs a few more weeks to regain his health.

The highest expectations are Metcalf, with many experts surprised that they did not go in the first round and still be available at the end of the second round.

As Carroll said, the road ahead is still long.

"There has never been such a fast and fast guy who has been so tall and strong in the combined," Carroll said of Metcalf's shot-on goal of 40 yards. "He has all these things behind him. Now he has to find out how to play football. "

That was the question some people had about Metcalf, noting that he had only played two full seasons at Ole Miss and had never recorded more than 39 catches in a season. One of the growing ideas among scouts is that successful recipients at the university using their athleticism to make contested shots do not often see this translated into NFL where everyone is bigger, stronger and faster.

The Seahawks are looking for Metcalf to master the most subtle aspects of the game, such as the separation and discovery of open points of a defense.

To make it easier for Metcalf, the Seahawks are currently limiting it to the division position. As Carroll notes, all recipients learn all the tasks.

"We are going to start it where we know it can adapt now," Carroll said. "But we are open to everything."

And if it's his leap that drew all eyes Friday, Carroll said it was something lower, his feet, that could have been impressive.

"Sometimes the biggest players do not move that fast," Carroll said. "His feet were very fast (on film), and he has already shown it here today. This shows that the potential is there to make him an excellent pitcher (outside the line of scrimmage). He will already be very strong using his hands to shoot the ball. But this combination, when we will have the chance to link everything, it should be a very good package. "

Here are six more comments from Friday's minicamp:

Ifedi still in Seattle's plans

The Seahawks have officially announced this week that they would not choose an option for the 2020 season on the contract of the right tackle Germain Ifedi. The option would have paid $ 10.35 million to Ifedi, an amount he did not imagine Seattle would want to insure now.

Nevertheless, Carroll said that this did not mean that the team did not want to keep Ifedi, but simply that she would prefer to do it with a different number and time.

"Well, there are a lot of factors," Carroll said. "You know, we're trying to keep aligning with the alignment and all that and the big demands, sometimes we can jump on it, sometimes we can not. We love Germain. He grew up with us. He became a strong football player and did a great job. He started a ton of games for us, held up and was tough on it. We would love to have it. This is not an indication of anything, but we love this guy and we hope he will be with us for a long time. "

Amadi has time for nickel

Carroll again stated on Friday that his goal was to use the second round pick, Marquise Blair, for added security, and Amadi, for a free match.

But Amadi also had time to play nickel on Friday. This is something he has done with regularity in Oregon and that many have imagined he would try with the Seahawks, especially since the nickel position is wide open after the loss of freelance coach Justin Coleman of Last year.

Carroll said that free security will remain Amadi's main position, but the team wants to see what it looks like in the slot.

Amadi said his use at Nickel was not a surprise because he played pretty much everywhere in high school in his career.

Burr-Kirven at linebacker

One of the main ways that players can stand out in this context is their ability to quickly assimilate what the team is trying to teach them.

By that measure, Carroll said linebackers Cody Barton and Ben Burr-Kirven had impressed him on Friday.

"Burr-Kirven) and Cody were really impressive throughout the first day of mastery of what we were doing, communication and awareness, transforming fronts and carrying out their tasks," Carroll said. . "They were really good at it today. Even with the simplicity of installation, it's still a lot and the offensive makes it quite formal enough to challenge them. "

Carroll said that Burr-Kirven will play mainly with the weaknesses, which will create an interesting competition. The starter is K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks, Austin Calitro and Shaquem Griffin have experienced last season because of injuries. Even Barkevious Mingo played there in a few scenarios.

This seems to mean that Barton will be used more as a linebacker. But Carroll said the plan was to get everyone to learn both spots, saying that they "will have great versatility over time".

Carroll loves his Jazz (Ferguson)

Jazz Ferguson is another receiver who caught Carroll's attention. He was officially announced as one of the 12 players the Seahawks signed as a free traded agent.

Ferguson began his career at LSU but was fired from the team in 2016 for what, according to reports, was a failed drug test. He was transferred to the North West State where he participated in 66 receptions for 1117 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Listed at 6-5, 228 pounds, it's actually about 6-4, 240, said Carroll.

"I've watched Jazz a lot to see him do what a great man does," Carroll said. "He plays very well on the bench and has a very good body control, a good physical presence during the ball, which allows the ball to catch the ball and catch the ball with the help of a ball."

Two players on the test stood out literally

44 players are also present at the test camp, hoping to do enough to be registered on the list of 90 players (which, of course, means freeing someone to make room).

It is too early to tell who can have a shot.

But two players watched the game on Friday: 6-6 Jordan North Texas offensive tackle and 234-pound 6-22-pound picker Daniel Williams, a third-year player who was also on the list of Jets, Browns and Washington. last two seasons.

When asked if he had ever seen a 6-9 before, Carrolll said, "I do not know, but I have not recovered from that yet and I am serious. D & # 39; AGREEMENT. Six o'clock nine and then you stand next to him or whatever is next to him and he's just doing it just makes everyone look like a punk, you know? So, I do not know how he did it today. I could not say it, but he impressed me. I moved away from him every time I had the chance. "

As for Williams, Carroll said he was also impressed by his attitude.

"He was very lively and dynamic, and we love that part," Carroll said. "And he looked very comfortable here and so, you know, the first day is all we can say. But just general athletics and all that was good. I liked what I saw today because he really played and had fun playing, etc.

Status quo on Doug Baldwin

Carroll reiterated what he and CEO John Schneider said last week about Doug Baldwin – he is still weighing his future – while pointing out that retirement may be the most legitimate option.

"I was with him today in the training room," Carroll said. "He works hard and works hard to try to make himself understood. It's a big challenge and you know; he has a lot to defeat. "

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