Jake Heaps’ biggest takeaway from Seahawks OTAs? Offense’s use of tempo

After missing the first part of non-mandatory organized team activities (OTAs), most of the Seahawks’ top players showed up to practice, including star quarterback Russell Wilson and receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

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Part of why seeing Wilson and his star receivers at OTAs was so important is because of the new offense that the Seahawks will be running in 2021.

Brian Schottenheimer called plays for Seattle for the last three years, but he’s not out of the picture and the Seahawks have a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron. Waldron comes to Seattle from Los Angeles where he coached for four years, serving the last three years as the Rams’ passing game coordinator.

There are high expectations for the Seahawks’ offense under Waldron, and according to former NFL quarterback Jake Heaps, there’s already a lot to like.

Heaps attended OTAs on Thursday and came away with one key takeaway after watching the offense operate. Here’s what he had to say on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Jake and Stacy on Friday.

“The thing that stood out to me the most is the insane execution that I’m already witnessing with tempo,” Heaps said.

Ah, yes — tempo. Seeing an increase in tempo is something Seahawks fans have been clamoring for in recent years as Wilson seems to thrive in that sort of environment.

Heaps has said multiple times since Waldron was hired that the Seahawks will utilize tempo more in the coming season.

Heaps: Waldron bringing much-needed tempo to Seahawks’ offense

If Thursday’s practice is any indication, it appears tempo will be a key component of this offense in 2021.

“It wasn’t just in the 2-minute drill, it wasn’t just a certain package,” Heaps said. “I saw three different forms of tempo that this offense was running already in day four of OTAs.”

Heaps said that the offense performing well with that tempo so early on in the offseason shows that the players have really worked hard this season on learning the new offense.

“That means and that tells me that the learning has been at an extremely high level. It’s not just talk,” he said. “The virtual offseason for OTAs and the veterans, everybody’s been taking part in that, they’ve executed that well.”

And after seeing the offense operate in person this week, Heaps is excited for fans of the team to see what the Seahawks can do in 2021.

“I think everybody’s going to be blown away and excited to see Russell Wilson operating in this offense under Shane Waldron because of the different ways that they can attack and use tempo,” he said.

Listen to the second hour of Friday’s Jake and Stacy at this link or in the player below.

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