‘No drop-off’: Intensity stood out to Wyman at Seahawks OTAs

If there was ever any concern the Seattle Seahawks would take their foot off the gas after winning the Super Bowl this past February, the team’s OTA practices over the past two weeks are an early indication that won’t be the case.

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For one, there’s the attendance. OTAs are voluntary, but it appears that every player on Seattle’s 91-man roster was on hand for at least one the six practices, according to either firsthand accounts from media members or photos on the team’s website.

And then there’s the on-field intensity and focus, which stood out to Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman.

“The intensity and execution of practice was really noticeable,” Wyman said this past Thursday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob.

“There’s absolutely no drop-off,” he added. “It’s not a team that looks like, oh yeah, we’re fat and happy, we got a ring and we’re good – we’ll be good whether we practice hard or not. No, there’s none of that.”

In addition to the team’s veteran leadership, Wyman credited head coach Mike Macdonald for instilling that atmosphere.

“Mike Macdonald will get after you,” Wyman said. “If you’re not paying attention, if you screw up a play, if you run the wrong route, he has that presence out there. … Every one of those (reps) is precious. You can only have so much time out there, so he doesn’t want to waste it.”

Wyman also was struck by how sharp this year’s OTA practices were compared to two years ago.

Back then, Macdonald was a 36-year-old first-time NFL head coach who was still in the early stages of building his program’s foundation.

Now, Macdonald has an established and proven championship culture, along with a core of veteran leaders who are entering Year 3 in his system.

“If you would have looked at the first year of OTAs with Mike Macdonald and compare them to now, it’s just night and day as far as how they’re practicing,” Wyman said.

“The main guys – guys like Julian Love and Ernest Jones IV and Byron Murphy II – they know what to expect,” he added. “And (Macdonald) knows what to expect out of them.”

Listen to the full Wyman and Bob conversation at this link and this link. Tune into Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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