Seahawks camp takeaways: Frank Clark gets more work, Schottenheimer reflects on preseason opener
Aug 13, 2018, 3:26 PM | Updated: 4:01 pm
Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark (wrist) was active in practice Monday. (AP)
(AP)
Monday marked the Seahawks’ 13th day of training camp, with a practice session that saw even more work for starting defensive end Frank Clark. Reporters also got their first chance to talk to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer about Seattle’s preseason loss to the Colts.
Huard: Justin Coleman ‘best defensive player on field’ for Hawks vs Colts
The team will take Tuesday off before returning to the field Wednesday. Until then, here are three takeaways from camp:
Frank Clark ramps up
Defensive end Frank Clark saw his most extensive work yet since undergoing wrist surgery in June. Clark has been able to participate in warmups throughout the summer and got some practice time Sunday, but Monday marked his biggest workload yet.
Clark played several snaps during 11-on-11 drills and looked unhampered by injury, at one point bursting around the line for what likely would have been a sack (or, at the least, a quarterback hit).
Clark’s return to the starting lineup is a boon for Seattle’s pass rush, which also finds itself without projected starter Dion Jordan, who is currently on Seattle’s PUP list and facing an uncertain timeline in his recovery from a leg injury.
More injury updates
Linebacker K.J. Wright also got in practice time after missing Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, cornerback Byron Maxwell (groin), safety T.J. Mutcherson, and offensive tackles Isaiah Battle (knee) and Jamarco Jones (ankle) sat out practice. There are so far no new updates on longer-term injuries like Doug Baldwin (knee) or Jordan (shin).
First-round pick Rashaad Penny left the field early with trainers, according to the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, but it doesn’t appear to be anything serious as of now.
Schottenheimer says Hawks have to improve on third down
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer spent a few minutes after practice reflecting on Seattle’s 19-17 preseason loss to the Colts.
Obviously much of the feedback more directly affects second- and third-team players, since Seattle’s starting offense and defense didn’t play longer than the first quarter, including just one drive for quarterback Russell Wilson. Still, there were a few positives and negatives for Schottenheimer.
Seattle’s new OC liked what he saw from the run game.
“We’re going to look at some different run concepts probably,” he said, “but again, I was pleased with how we ran the ball.”
He took issue with the team’s third-down conversion rate, however.
“Big thing for us from last game was third down. We put ourselves a little bit in third down and long, which kind of hurt us. I think we had 10 of them and four of them were third-and-11 or more, and that’s hard. You can’t shoot yourself in the foot. Third down will be something (we’ll focus on) for sure.”
Seahawks-Raiders London game moved to Wembley as new stadium isn’t ready
