Seahawks give Christian Haynes reps at center
Seahawks give Christian Haynes reps at center
The Seattle Seahawks promoted competition at last week's mandatory minicamp period. Position battles were especially fierce across the offensive line. Olu Oluwatimi routinely rotated at center. At right guard, it was Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes jockeying for reps.
The expectation is those position battles will continue throughout July and August's training camp period. Head coach Mike Macdonald will eventually name a starter at both interior blocking spots. One occurrence that went somewhat underreported at minicamp was that Haynes also earned some reps at center, per various local beat writers in attendance.
Haynes played a little center at the Senior Bowl before the Seahawks drafted him.
There could be multiple explanations. Is Haynes going to insert himself into the competition at center alongside Oluwatimi and Sundell? That feels unlikely, but not impossible. Haynes is a front-runner at guard versus Bradford.
More realistically, if Haynes is defeated by Bradford for the starting gig at guard, the coaching staff likely wants to see his versatility. Backup interior lineman typically need to play multiple positions to be active on gameday. New offensive line coach John Benton is likely exploring Haynes' capability to play center in case he's a reserve player.
Training camp will be critical for the sophomore Haynes. Fans hope he'll display enough growth to dethrone the underperforming Bradford as the starting right guard. Meanwhile the Seahawks are exploring alternatives.
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USA Today
6 hours ago
- USA Today
Seahawks give Christian Haynes reps at center
Seahawks give Christian Haynes reps at center The Seattle Seahawks promoted competition at last week's mandatory minicamp period. Position battles were especially fierce across the offensive line. Olu Oluwatimi routinely rotated at center. At right guard, it was Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes jockeying for reps. The expectation is those position battles will continue throughout July and August's training camp period. Head coach Mike Macdonald will eventually name a starter at both interior blocking spots. One occurrence that went somewhat underreported at minicamp was that Haynes also earned some reps at center, per various local beat writers in attendance. Haynes played a little center at the Senior Bowl before the Seahawks drafted him. There could be multiple explanations. Is Haynes going to insert himself into the competition at center alongside Oluwatimi and Sundell? That feels unlikely, but not impossible. Haynes is a front-runner at guard versus Bradford. More realistically, if Haynes is defeated by Bradford for the starting gig at guard, the coaching staff likely wants to see his versatility. Backup interior lineman typically need to play multiple positions to be active on gameday. New offensive line coach John Benton is likely exploring Haynes' capability to play center in case he's a reserve player. Training camp will be critical for the sophomore Haynes. Fans hope he'll display enough growth to dethrone the underperforming Bradford as the starting right guard. Meanwhile the Seahawks are exploring alternatives.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Seattle Seahawks 2025 NFL Season Preview
Seattle Seahawks 2025 NFL Season Preview originally appeared on Athlon Sports. [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] Advertisement Head coach Mike Macdonald's first year at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks had its ups and downs. Although they finished at 10-7, they became the first team since the 2020 Miami Dolphins to miss the playoffs after reaching double-digit wins, which caused a lot of frustration among the fan base, especially after a 3-6 home record, and resulted in some major changes in personnel. More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks Offense 'Facelift' may be a bit of an understatement when describing the Seahawks' new offense. Quarterback Geno Smith, wide receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are out, with Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Clint Kubiak, respectively, set to take their places. Kenneth Walker III© Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images The identity of the offense should remain the same, with running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet as the focal points after the pair received a combined 376 touches in 2024. But with Darnold receiving a hefty $110.5 million contract to take over for Smith, he's going to need to prove that he can be successful outside of Kevin O'Connell's system in Minnesota. Advertisement Darnold has a nice pair of security blankets in Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. General manager John Schneider snagged Kupp from the Seahawks' division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, and signed him to a three-year, $45 million deal. If healthy, he should be an effective complement to Smith-Njigba, the third-year product of Ohio State who exceeded 1,100 receiving yards and made the Pro Bowl last season. However, staying healthy has proven to be a challenge for Kupp, the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year. Since 2022, Kupp has missed 18 games, and in a room that has little proven depth behind Smith-Njigba, free-agent signee Marquez Valdes-Scantling and former undrafted free agent Jake Bobo, Kupp's health will be critical to Seattle's offensive success. Keep an eye on fifth-round pick Tory Horton, who ran a 4.41 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process and was very productive at Colorado State in his final season. He could rise up the depth chart quickly. Kubiak is going to need a bounce-back season from the offensive line, which was one of the league's worst units in 2024, allowing 54 sacks, tied for the third-most in the NFL. Right tackle Abraham Lucas has missed 21 games in the past two seasons after a strong start to his career in 2022, and the Seahawks haven't been able to find much depth behind him. Selecting interior offensive lineman Grey Zabel in the first round out of North Dakota State was a solid move to begin shoring up the unit, which is also hoping for a boost from UConn product Christian Haynes, a third-round pick in 2024. 'I like how he finishes the blocks, then finding his targets down the field in space,' Macdonald said of Zabel after he was selected. 'He's a really great athlete, how he moves. It's easy to overlook pass protection when you talk wide zone all the time. You can argue that's really where it starts in the evaluation process. Hard to find a rep that he had a hard time winning down [at the Senior Bowl] in Mobile. He took a lot of them.' Defense Anchored by a strong defensive line and one of the best cornerbacks in the league, the Seahawks should be relatively steady on that side of the ball thanks to Macdonald's scheme. Advertisement Up front, last year's first-rounder Byron Murphy II looked the part of a game-wrecking defensive tackle, even while dealing with an injury that sidelined him for three games. Although he tallied just half a sack and two tackles for a loss, Murphy was consistently in the backfield and required plenty of attention from opposing offensive lines, leading to a very productive season for Leonard Williams. Leonard Williams(Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) In his first full season with the Seahawks, Williams came up just short of his career-high with 11 sacks as he made his second Pro Bowl appearance after signing a three-year, $64.5 million deal to stay in Seattle. Schneider also gave the unit a big boost in free agency, bringing in former Cowboys pass-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who didn't mince words after spending 11 years in Dallas. 'A change of scenery is always good, but, you know, Dallas is my home,' Lawrence said after he signed. 'I made my home there. My family lives there. I'm forever gonna be there, but I know for sure I'm not gonna win a Super Bowl there. We here.' Advertisement In the secondary, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who earned his second Pro Bowl nod in as many seasons in the league in 2024, has quickly developed a reputation as a shutdown corner. The 2022 top-five pick out of Illinois has broken up 25 passes in his career; in doing so, he presents a lot of opportunities for his running mate, Riq Woolen. Woolen, the former fifth-round pick out of UTSA, pulled in three interceptions and was credited with 14 pass breakups last season, and as he heads into a contract year, he will be looking to produce at a high level. With safeties Julian Love and second-round pick Nick Emmanwori patrolling the back end, Woolen will have plenty of wiggle room to show that he's not afraid to be aggressive and make a play on the ball. Linebacker play is critical to Macdonald's scheme, and after trading for inside 'backer Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans, Schneider made the right move signing Jones to a three-year, $28.5 million deal. In just 10 games with the Seahawks, Jones racked up 94 tackles and an interception as Seattle finished the year ranked No. 14 in total defense. Specialists The Seahawks have boasted some of the most consistent special teams play in the NFL in recent seasons. Placekicker Jason Myers is entering his seventh year with the team after converting on 86.7% of his field-goal attempts last season. Punter Michael Dickson is entering his eighth year with the team after averaging 49.4 yards per punt in 2024. Final analysis The NFC West wasn't nearly as tough in 2024 as it had been in previous seasons, and heading into this season, the Seahawks have a great opportunity to take advantage of the division. They should have their sights set on the playoffs, and if they improve on their record at Lumen Field, they could very well end up as the division champions if they can overcome the growing pains of so many new faces in critical places. Advertisement More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks Related: Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available Related: Men in the Middle: Defensive Tackles Making Their Mark in Today's NFL This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Cooper Kupp brilliantly explained how defenses have evolved, largely because of Sean McVay
Cooper Kupp brilliantly explained how defenses have evolved, largely because of Sean McVay Kupp says McVay's offense was "ahead of the game" in 2017-2018, leading to major defensive changes across the league NFL defenses are better than ever and it's because offenses got too good. Cooper Kupp explains it perfectly — Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) June 13, 2025 It's not unreasonable to say Sean McVay has been the most influential coach in the NFL since 2017. He may not have as many rings as Andy Reid in that time period, but his offensive system and coaching strategies have created ripple effects felt throughout the league. From his frequent use of jet motion to his heavy reliance on 11 personnel to the way he values joint practices over preseason games, a number of teams have borrowed ideas from McVay and the Rams since his hiring eight years ago. McVay was hired by the Rams in the same year that Cooper Kupp was drafted, so the wide receiver has seen firsthand how impactful McVay has been. The now-Seahawks star was recently on a radio show and he talked about how NFL defenses have evolved – largely because of how advanced and dominant McVay's offenses were early on. 'In 2017, 2018, Sean McVay's offense is ahead of the game. There were times we were running plays and I'm like, 'They have no idea what is going on.' And we were just manipulating them, moving them to where we wanted them to go. It was just, it was stupid,' Kupp said. Late in 2018 and into 2019, Kupp noticed defenses were adapting and figuring out ways to slow down the Rams' high-powered attack, which ranked first and second in points scored during McVay's first two years. It was inspired by Vic Fangio's system, which used more Cover 4 looks, more six-man fronts and a concerted effort to limit big plays down the field. '2019, you start seeing some more of this Cover 4, some of the 6-1 stuff,' Kupp continued.' You see safeties now playing things from depth and being able to cancel things across. 2020 comes, Brandon Staley gets hired to L.A. Brandon Staley was with Fangio in Chicago. Staley, in one year, puts together the No. 1 defense in the league.' Staley was outstanding in his lone year as the Rams' defensive coordinator in 2020, taking a page from Fangio's book – but tweaking it to be more about concept recognition and match coverages, which is far more complicated than simply dropping back into a traditional Cover 4 look. 'Staley's thing is all about concept recognition, concept match, being able to cancel routes, move on to new things,' Kupp said. 'Now you've got a defense that's not just dropping to spots, but now they're playing the offense. And now more and more of this is shifted and molded into this, defenses now are holding these shells and being able to say, 'Hey, you aren't going to be able to see what we're doing pre-snap. We're going to show you late. We're going to bring pressure from all different directions. We're not just going to be dropping into spots. We're going to be matching, we're going to be playing zone stuff underneath.'' Kupp's explanation comes back to McVay's influence on the rest of the NFL with his creative play designs, route combinations and pre-snap motion. 'The complexity of the defenses have gotten so much more because the offenses have also started doing so much more that you have to be able to have answers for defensively. That's kind of where we're at right now, but it is fun, though,' he said. Kupp is always a wordsmith with his explanations of complicated football concepts and this interview was no different. It's clear McVay has had a major impact on the rest of the league and defenses have had to adjust to his schemes – which the Bears and Patriots did in 2018, leading to this defensive evolution against some of the game's best offenses.
