Mike Macdonald said it best, anytime you line up in anything competitively you want to win the game.However, the fact that the Seahawks lost to Dallas 17-7 on S
Mike Macdonald said it best: anytime you line up in anything competitively, you want to win the game.
However, the fact that the Seahawks lost to Dallas 17-7 on Saturday night shouldn't be cause for any concern.
Do the Seahawks have things to work on? Of course, that's precisely what the preseason action is for.
But there were positives as well.
Let's dive into it and see what the Hawks will work on before traveling to Tennessee next weekend for joint practices and a second preseason game.
The defense was solid again
While Mike Macdonald wanted to clean up the operational part of his team, you still have to admire how his defense played.
A lot of players contributed, but Tyrice Knight, the third-year linebacker from UTEP, stood out with 10 tackles to lead all players.
Knight has made major impacts before, namely with two forced fumbles against the Cardinals that went for touchdowns in the same game last season
Today Knight felt like was a big step back after injuries have hindered his progress
"Everybody just always comes to work every day. For me, I’ve been having a great camp. I’m trying to stack days and just let it play out like it’s supposed to play out," said Knight
The same could be said for Rylie Mills, who as a rookie last year didn't even suit up until the postseason. His impact was immediate, and we all remember that sack in the Super Bowl.
Now, in the preseason, it's about building on that.
“I always remind myself that no matter how bad anything gets, last year I was just standing on the sideline, just counting the reps like everybody else. As long as it’s not that, I’m doing great.”
Montorie Foster Jr.'s story continues to inspire
Less than a year ago, Montorie Foster Jr. was back home in Ohio, working as a substitute teacher at his alma mater, St. Edward High School, after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp for the Hawks.
In sort of a storybook continuation of that story, Foster, Jr. earned a Super Bowl ring after the Seahawks signed him to the practice squad late in the year.
The inspiration continued when Foster, Jr. led Seattle in receiving yards and caught the lone touchdown for the Hawks on a pass from Drew Lock in the first quarter.
"It was kind of tight coverage a little bit, and it was a tight window, too, shout out to Drew (Lock). On that play, I knew the ball was going to be right there, so I was just ready for it”
It all happened because Foster kept scratching and clawing his way to an NFL roster spot.
“It means everything. I was back at home for 16 weeks, and it was tough. There were times when I wanted to give up and get a regular job. But I stayed at it. My dad told me that cream always rises to the top and to just stay faithful. I just kept working, and now I’m here today," said Foster, Jr.
Montorie has certainly turned heads all summer at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. While the wide receiver room is stacked with stars like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Tory Horton, and others, it's Foster, Jr. that is always finding a way to make plays and become undeniable.
"It’s been great. Every time I play, I play to a standard, and it don’t matter if I’m playing good or bad, my standard is my standard. I go out there every day and just try to put my best foot forward every day and put forth the effort, go block, do the little things, and let everything else take care of itself," Montorie said.
Oh, and if you're wondering. Foster, Jr. spent the time away from Seattle getting his real estate license, and about those classes? He substitute taught many different subjects, including Latin, despite not being able to speak it.
"I don’t know any Latin at all, so I was like, man, do y’all’s homework and I will just be here watching you all, and it was all good from there. No lesson plan, not at all.”
New way of using QB's in preseason game
In a sort of move that makes you think, 'why didn't somebody do this sooner?' in the football world, the Seahawks employed a brilliant strategy of sort of staggering reps for Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe.
What we mean by that is, most often in a preseason game you see guys split halves, quarters or whatever it may be evenly.
This approach was meant to more accurately portray the situation in which Lock or Milroe would actually see the field, should something ever happen to Sam Darnold.
It would be pretty sudden.
“I think as a backup, you have to be prepared and ready to go at any point. This is not my first time being a backup, so I think reps are so important for me and Drew (Lock), and for any guy that’s a backup because in the league, the starter gets the majority of the reps. As many reps as we can get, as much as possible, are going to prepare us and help us out for whenever the opportunity comes that we play in the game. I don’t see it as a negative. I see it as an opportunity for us to get reps. Preseason is big for us because during the season, once you have an established starter, your reps are cut short," said Milroe
"Yeah, it was definitely new. I had done a lot of different ways. This is my first time doing it this way. I feel like, honestly, it is a good way as a backup guy. Obviously me and Jalen aren't going to be the starters this year. Kind of being able to go to, get pulled out, sit a little bit kind of feels like a normal Sunday where you are just getting thrown in if something were to happen," said Lock
I kind of feel that way about how the rotation went tonight. It's a good thing to practice for us, I think.
Overall, Macdonald wants to see more production and believes the lessons learned from this game will help that.
"Got to put up more points. We need to operate better. There are some good things. It's great to have tape against another team now. In a different type of setting where the pass rush is live, you're up against the play clock. All these different things that you have to be able to play out are great learning experiences for everybody, quarterbacks included," he said.
Neither signal-caller turned the ball over. Which is great, but the improvements Macdonald wants have to do with the operation of the game and making things smoother.
Lock's poise was evident, and Milroe's potential, especially to hurt teams with his mobility, was on full display even as the duo looks to take the next step next weekend against the Titans.
The 12s were ready
68,474 was the attendance at Lumen Field Saturday night, for a preseason game where just about every starter didn't play.
Think about that.
The Super Bowl effect, yes, but also just a testament to the 12s.
The team noticed.
"First of all, I want to shout out the 12s. That's the most people I've ever seen at a preseason game. We owe them a better performance, to say the least," Macdonald said.
"It was awesome. Even when you finally get told the day is done, you kind of absorb a little more. Just looking around late in the third, early fourth, like, wow, this place is actually packed. It was super cool.
Again, nothing that we don't know, but shout-out to the 12s. Best fan base ever. It's super cool that they came out and supported us tonight," said Drew Lock, who completed 9-of-13 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Take note, too, because that was the only home preseason game. The next time we see the Hawks at Lumen Field it will be for the regular-season opener against New England on September 9th.
