Wyman’s Seahawks OTA takeaways: Run game emerging as No. 1 story

Danny, Dave and Moore co-host (and former Seahawks linebacker) Dave Wyman took in the Seahawks’ OTA on Thursday. Below, he shares his takeaways from the team at this point in the offseason.

To me, the No. 1 story with the Seahawks in 2018 is watching the running backs and the offensive line.

Photo gallery: Seahawks’ May 24 OTA

This team so desperately needs a top 10 running game. If they get that, Russell Wilson’s is going to be an even better quarterback.

I think it’s about the running backs much more than the line. So focusing there, Chris Carson looked really good – just watching him running to the outside, his timing and how he sets up blocks and things like that.

C.J. Prosise is a fantastic player. He’s very versatile – he’s fast, he can catch, and he’s a tough guy. When he’s in a game he’ll try to run you over. The only downside is you don’t see guys that get hurt a lot all of the sudden become healthy later in their careers, so I do worry about that. But I still feel like he’s in the hunt to contribute on this offense.

I’m keeping an eye on how new offensive line coach Mike Solari and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer work together. You hope the running game can look like the New York Jets’ did towards the end of Schottenheimer’s tenure there from 2006-11 when they were among the league leaders in rushing. That allowed Mark Sanchez to be a decent quarterback. Russell is already a top five quarterback, and now if you give him a running game, then they can start using play action more. Russell to me is a magician with the ball, and he’s as good as anybody as far as play action pass goes.

Doug Baldwin’s a really good receiver.

He and Russell looked like they worked well together on Thursday. He’s got the best hands in the league and he’s always open. If I was picking teams, I think he might be my first choice for a receiver. He’s always open and I think he’s a red zone answer because he gets separation. He looks good out here.

Will Dissly is gonna surprise some people.

Watching the UW alum and rookie tight end run some routes, he’s surprisingly fleet of foot. And not only does he run good routes and is a good blocker, he’s got really good hands. The word on his workout prior to the draft is that when he caught the ball you couldn’t even hear it.

Can Shaquem Griffin make the transition to the pros?

The question on Shaquem is not whether or not he can play in the NFL without a left hand. It’s whether or not the rookie linebacker can make transition from college to the pros. We talked to second-year defensive lineman Nazair Jones on Thursday for Danny, Dave and Moore, and Naz said something very familiar to me: how much better he felt coming back his second year. My rookie year I felt lost, like they were messing with how I play football. Naz just said he felt really comfortable coming in this year. Whenever a rookie shines in his first year I’m always shocked and impressed.

Don’t sleep on the secondary.

Yes, even without Richard Sherman and probably Kam Chancellor. Neiko Thorpe, who I think is already the best gunner in the NFL on punt coverages, is a guy who could have a breakout season on defense. Justin Coleman can play both inside and outside, and he’s actually pretty good in the run game, as well. He’s really a talented player. Shaquill Griffin is switching sides and looked comfortable over there. Rookie Tre Flowers, who is switching from safety at Oklahoma State to corner, is an oddity – he’s so tall and skinny and long – that it will be interesting to watch him this year.

Doug Baldwin eager to see energy from Seahawks’ rookies