Observations from Seahawks training camp: Michael Bennett looks fully engaged

The Seahawks had Wednesday off after four straight days of practice, which made it a good time to take stock of what we’ve seen so far during training camp.

Danny O’Neil shared his takeaways as well as some unanswered questions in his Three Things post.

Here are four observations of my own:

Michael Bennett looks fully engaged. Bennett stayed true to his word and reported to training camp despite having yet to get the new deal he’s been seeking for more than a year. While he’s presumably still unhappy with his contract situation, you wouldn’t know it by watching him work and interact with teammates (at least those who aren’t offensive linemen). Early in Tuesday’s practice, he gathered the defensive linemen around him and gave a fiery pep talk, turning to look at each of them. In between drills, he could be heard imparting some veteran wisdom on rookie defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson. During an 11-on-11 session, he was the first player to sprint onto the field and celebrate a big play by cornerback Tye Smith. It would be easy for a player in Bennett’s position to check out, but he seems to have done anything but that. In other words, he’s not just here so he won’t get fined.

Christine Michael has improved as a pass-catcher. Michael is on just another level athletically than any of Seattle’s other running backs, and it’s not all that close. It’s evident in the fluidity and power with which he cuts and also when he reaches top speed in the open field. But we’ve seen that for the last three years. What’s new with Michael is that he’s catching the ball better. That’s never been a strength of his, and it wasn’t something he did a whole lot of in college. But he said he worked on it over the offseason with his trainer and his brother, “catching like 100 balls a day.” Asked if Michael has improved as a pass-catcher, coach Pete Carroll said: “He really has. He’s worked really hard at it. We’re moving him all around, we’re just treating him like he’s a regular catcher. He didn’t come to us with a lot of catches in his background, so he’s doing a nice job running routes. It’s definitely obvious that he is more equipped and more confident than he’s been in the past.”

Mark Glowinski could be the least of the O-line’s issues. It’s no breaking news that the Seahawks’ offensive line is a major question mark. That was the expectation considering it has three new starters and no one in the same spot as a year ago. But injuries to Garry Gilliam and J’Marcus Webb have been setbacks for the group. Gilliam missed much of the offseason program while recovering from having a cyst removed in his knee, and he’s still working his way back in at left tackle during team drills. Webb had a calf strain, and offensive-line coach Tom Cable was blunt this week when asked what he’s seen from him at right tackle, saying that he looks like someone who missed a lot of work. Glowinski, the projected starter at left guard, has looked a good as anyone in that group, at least to my untrained eye. Offensive-line play is inherently difficult to assess, but it doesn’t take an expert to determine the winner in a one-on-one pass-rush drill, and Glowinski has seemed to win more often than anyone else.

Richard Sherman owns the deep ball. A few of the Seahawks’ best players have one skill that stands out above the rest. Russell Wilson is a magician at escaping pressure and extending plays. Bennett is lighting quick off the snap. Doug Baldwin’s releases are a work of art. And Sherman is masterful at defending the deep ball. That’s not a new observation by any means – he’s been great at that for years – but some plays from the first four practices have been reminders. Sherman always seems to be in complete control while running stride-for-stride down the field with receivers – even those like Tyler Lockett who are much faster on paper – and in perfect position to make a play on the ball. It’s to the point now that when a deep ball is in the air and Sherman is in coverage, you expect him to either pick it or or at least break it up.