Seahawks continue to give Christian Haynes opportunities to break into lineup
In what arrived in surprising fashion, Haynes has also been receiving occasional reps at center. The experiment began at OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and has continued being displayed at training camp. Head coach Mike Macdonald recently claimed that Haynes is in the mix to be the team's starting center this year.
It's worth noting Haynes has been the third-string center, working behind Olu Oluwatimi and Jalen Sundell. That indicates Haynes' possesses a far more realistic chance to win the right guard job. Nonetheless, Macdonald's staff is offering him multiple opportunities to break into the lineup.
Haynes struggled as a rookie last season. The third-round selection lost last offseason's position battle to Bradford, but occasionally replaced him. Haynes totaled 164 snaps at right guard, earning a lackluster overall offensive grade of 48.5 from Pro Football Focus.
The Seahawks are hoping to see Haynes take a developmental step forward this season. New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and offensive line coach John Benton are relying on him. The onus is on Haynes to maximize the opportunities he's receiving at training camp.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
26 minutes ago
- USA Today
Packers PFF grades: Best, worst players from loss to Jets in preseason opener
The Green Bay Packers got encouraging performances from a few important offensive linemen and a couple of disruptive games from a few young defensive players, providing a handful of silver linings from an otherwise poor and disappointing performance from Matt LaFleur's team overall in the preseason opener on Saturday night. Based on grades from Pro Football Focus, here are the best and worst players from the Packers' preseason-opening loss to the New York Jets: Top 5 offense Tom gave up one hurry over 12 snaps but did earn an elite run blocking grade (91.7). Johnson rushed seven times for 67 yards, scored a 39-yard touchdown, forced three missed tackles and had two runs of at least 15 yards. Morgan played 36 snaps at left tackle, including 23 as a pass-blocker, and didn't give up a pressure. Swinson was solid as both a run and pass blocker at tight end. Sheppard caught both of his targets for 20 yards while running only seven routes. Top 5 defense Enagbare produced two pressures, including a quarterback hit, plus a team-high four stops against the run across 32 snaps. Hopper had five solo tackles, four assisted tackles, three stops against the run and zero misses while giving up just one completion into his coverage. King broke up a pass in the end zone, didn't give up a catch into his coverage and had one run stop. Bartlett played only 18 snaps but had two stops. Valentine produced one stop and didn't give up a catch over 10 snaps with the first-team defense. Bottom 5 offense Hardman dropped his only target and didn't have a catch despite running 20 routes. Doubs couldn't haul in either of his contested catches on the first drive. Jennings gave up a pressure, was flagged for holding on 3rd-and-1 and struggled mightily as a run blocker (team-worst 39.1 run blocking grade). Heath had a drop and caught only one of his four targets for four yards while running a team-high 24 routes. Love completed only 1-of-5 passes and took a sack across 12 snaps and two drives, both ending in punts. Bottom 5 defense Dumas-Johnson missed four tackles and gave up two catches for 27 yards across 25 snaps. Simmons missed two tackles and was charged with giving up five catches for 76 yards, both team highs. Dunn gave up one catch for 11 yards and was fortunate he didn't allow a deep touchdown pass (due to an overthrow). Alexander didn't have a tackle or pressure but did miss a tackle over 11 snaps. Ester earned a poor run defense grade and didn't have a pressure over 12 snaps. Special teams Linebacker Kristian Welch played a team-high 19 special teams snaps and earned the team's highest overall grade at 87.8. He made three tackles covering punts and kicks. Johnathan Baldwin, Kitan Oladapo and Isaiah Simmons also had tackles. Jamon Dumas-Johnson had a miss, while Barryn Sorrell had a holding penalty on the opening kickoff return. Mecole Hardman muffed a punt, Brandon McManus made his only field goal attempt and Daniel Whelan averaged 52.0 yards per punt. Quarterback play Jordan Love completed 1-of-5 passes from clean pockets and took a sack on his only snap under pressure. Love, Malik Willis and Sean Clifford all had passing grades under 50.0 Rookie Taylor Elgersma completed 3-of-4 passes and had a position-high grade of 68.7. Rookie spotlight Fourth-round pick Barryn Sorrell produced two pressures and a terrific pass-rushing grade of 87.9. First-round pick Matthew Golden started, played 12 snaps and caught his lone target. Second-round pick Anthony Belton played 42 snaps at right tackle and was on the field for a team-high 20 pass-blocking snaps, but he didn't give up a single pressure and earned the offensive line's second-best run-blocking grade. Stat to know The Packers struggled making tackles. The defense was credited with missing 17 total tackles against the Jets.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Baylor loses RB Dawson Pendergrass to injury ahead of season opener vs. Auburn
The Baylor Bears suffered a major injury blow before their season opener against the Auburn Tigers later this month. reports that Baylor running back Dawson Pendergrass has sustained a season-ending foot injury three weeks before the Bears begin the 2025 season against Auburn. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda called the injury a "misfortune" and shared that Pendergrass' injury will require surgery. Pendergrass was projected to be the No. 2 back in Baylor's offense this season, but is considered to be a "1-2 punch" alongside the assumed starter Bryson Washington. The duo combined to rush for 1,699 yards last season with 18 touchdowns. Individually, Pendergrass added 671 yards and six scores to the total. According to Pro Football Focus data, Pendergrass gained 399 yards after contact last season while boosting 14 carries of over 10 yards, and 33 touches resulting in first downs. Washington will remain the Bears' projected starting running back. Still, it is assumed that freshman Caden Knighten and redshirt freshman Joseph Dodds will pick up the production that Pendergrass was expected to carry this season. Knighten was the No. 30 running back of the 2025 recruiting cycle, and Dodds redshirted last season after suffering an injury of his own. Baylor lost a pair of running backs, Dominic Richardson and Richard Reese, to the transfer portal last offseason, the duo each produced over 1,000 yards during their time in Waco. Aranda and the Bears will have just under three weeks to adjust their offensive game plan before taking the field for the first time in 2025. Auburn and Baylor will square off on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. CT. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Why the Seahawks' tight ends are the ‘silent engine' of Klint Kubiak's new offense
RENTON, Wash. — In the fourth quarter of the Seattle Seahawks' preseason opener, first-year tight end Marshall Lang caught a short pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe, turned upfield and was faced with a couple of options: Behave like a rookie, or heed the words of his veterans. There's a standard being established among Seattle's tight ends, a group that got lighter when veteran Noah Fant was released a few days before the start of training camp. Fant was the longest-tenured Seahawks tight end and one of two veterans, along with 31-year-old Eric Saubert. As the lone elder statesman in the room, and with multiple years of experience in this new offensive scheme, Saubert has taken on a leadership role in his first season with the team. Advertisement On top of being a go-to guy for answers about how to play the position in this scheme, Saubert has tried to create an identity for his unit. Lang's behavior after the catch Thursday night serves as a good example. Face to face with Raiders cornerback Sam Webb near the sideline, Lang opted against running out of bounds and instead dropped his shoulders and plowed forward to collide with the defender and pick up a few extra yards. Lang got up and roared while the Seattle sideline cheered him on. 'He was decisive, and he knew what he was doing. That's been something we've been training into the guys all camp,' said Brady Russell, a tight-end-turned-fullback who essentially plays both spots. 'First day, you might have seen one of the rookies slow down after the catch, but this weekend, you could see everybody catching, bursting, putting their shoulder down, trying to make something happen. Instilling that work ethic and that blue-collar mentality, Eric's done a good job of that.' 🚨 NEW #SeahawksMan2Man pod 🚨 'Physical philosophy' Live now: Recapping the Seahawks preseason opener, Kubiak's offense, the '25 rookie class — hello, Robbie Ouzts — depth in the secondary and more! YouTube Spotify Apple… — Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) August 8, 2025 The mentality of the tight end room matters because, as coach Mike Macdonald said Saturday, the group is the 'silent engine' of Seattle's offense. Seattle's offense is built around the idea of making all the run actions look like their passing concepts and vice versa. The tight ends are critical to making that philosophy a reality on the field. Tight ends are involved in nearly every facet of the game. They have to be tough run blockers, especially in this perimeter-based scheme that puts them at the point of attack against defensive ends. Advertisement Tight ends also have responsibilities in pass protection, either as help for the offensive tackles or one-on-one against edge rushers on play-action concepts. Then, of course, tight ends must be tuned in to all the details of the passing game. And not just quick routes at the sticks or checkdowns in the flat off of bootlegs, either. The good tight ends — the ones who make a passing game dynamic — can stress the defense vertically and make life hard on linebackers and safeties in the middle of the field. 'You've got to be really intelligent to play that position and just a physical player,' offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said during a KIRO-AM radio interview. 'We have some very physical guys, which we're really excited about.' To avoid telegraphing plays before the snap, all the tight ends must be dangerous. Seattle needs to be able to put AJ Barner and Saubert on opposite ends of the line of scrimmage on early downs and make it difficult for the defense to predict which direction the run might go based on the skill set of each guy (this is something Seattle struggled with during the days of pairing Jimmy Graham, a notoriously below-average blocker, with Luke Willson). The Seahawks must be able to operate out of 12 (two TEs) and 13 personnel (three TEs) and still force the defense to respect the threat of a downfield passing game. And from a technique standpoint, the tight ends must be sound to avoid tipping their hand. 'The tight ends play a huge role because a lot of time we'll be setting on the D-end, so you don't want to have a high (helmet) and looking like you're in pass pro; you want to sell the run play first,' Russell said. 'We have a huge role being that end man off the line. A lot of times, the safety will be reading us.' In April, Seattle selected Elijah Arroyo with the 50th pick, making him the highest-drafted tight end of the John Schneider era. Saubert, who spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers, signed a $1.4 million free-agent deal in March. Barner, a 2024 fourth-round pick, had a decent rookie year with 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns. The performance of this trio in the offseason contributed to the release of Fant, which also saved $8.9 million in cap space (and cash). Advertisement 'While we never feel like we're totally covered (at a position), guys did have very strong springs,' Schneider said on KIRO-AM radio of the decision to release Fant. Barner is currently the No. 1 tight end, and he's looked very promising in practice. Feeling a bit miscast as a blocking tight end coming out of Michigan, Barner continues to show he's a great athlete with soft hands and the ability to make big-time catches, like the one he had against the Minnesota Vikings to give Seattle a fourth-quarter lead in Week 16 last season. When Barner hears the term all-around tight end, he pictures someone who can run routes, block, protect the quarterback and play special teams. 'I think I'm that guy,' he said. Asked if he has more to prove as a pass catcher, Barner added: 'I just need to get the ball more and make the plays with it, and I think people need to start showing me love and giving me my respect.' For now, Barner certainly has the respect of his teammates and coaches. 'Every opportunity he's had, he's made the play. A lot of contested plays,' Kubiak said. 'He's doing the dirty work blocking in the run game, (and) that's helping us spring some big runs. I just love his mentality. He's all football. He loves the game, loves to compete. And he's just one of my favorite guys out there because when he gets going, he gets excited, the whole group just starts to light up.' Arroyo referred to himself and Barner as a 'two-headed monster.' At 6-foot-6 and 254 pounds, the rookie has the potential to be a game changer in a different manner because of his speed. He had only two receptions for 14 yards in the preseason opener, but he's been a tough cover in practice, particularly for the second-string defensive backs. He's a good route runner, but he really flashes his potential when he can open up and run, either on crossing routes or go balls. Light work for @arroyo_elijah36. Go Hawks x Powered by @Boeing — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) July 24, 2025 Arroyo has made multiple highlight plays in camp, including three on Saturday. Over the course of two team periods, Arroyo juked a defensive back to create space on out-breaking route, made a one-handed catch near the sideline for a first down and later kept his feet inbounds on a deep toss from Drew Lock along the sideline. Advertisement 'He has good feet,' rookie safety Nick Emmanwori said of Arroyo earlier in camp. 'Normally, I like tight ends bigger and slower, I feel like that's an easy cover for me. But with Elijah, he has feet like a big X receiver. You can line him up wherever you want.' Macdonald's 'silent engine' remark is a perfect description of what the tight ends mean to Seattle's success in 2025. The offensive line is the most important position group. Sam Darnold is the most important individual player. Guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Ken Walker III are the most talented and will likely account for most of the touchdowns. But the tight ends are undoubtedly a key cog in the machine, led by a young and hungry Barner, an athletic marvel in Arroyo and a savvy veteran in Saubert. 'We ask a lot of those guys,' Macdonald said. 'And I think they're playing really good football for us.' (Photo of Elijah Arroyo: Jane Gershovich / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
