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New York Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How the Seahawks' stars are building up their teammates: ‘Best vets in the league'
RENTON, Wash. — Derick Hall was working out in the weight room at the Seattle Seahawks' headquarters during the spring when he was interrupted by new teammate DeMarcus Lawrence. A 12th-year veteran who signed a three-year, $32.5 million contract to join the Seahawks' outside linebacker room this offseason, Lawrence saw that moment as an opportunity to show Hall one of the pass-rush moves that helped him accumulate 61.5 career sacks. The move shall remain a secret, Hall said when recalling the moment during a KIRO-AM radio interview this summer, 'because I'm gonna use it.' Advertisement Hall had eight sacks last year, second-most on the team behind Pro Bowl defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who had 11 and became the first Seahawks defender to reach double-digit sacks since 2018. Hall also finished second on the team behind Williams with 20 quarterback hits (Williams had 28). Entering Year 3, Hall wants to raise his game another level, so he's always open to any nugget or detail that might help him get to the quarterback more often. The Seahawks had a month off between minicamp and the start of training camp. When veterans reported for camp on July 22, Lawerence approached Hall and put his arm on him in the manner an offensive tackle would when facing an edge rusher. Hall knew this meant Lawrence wanted to see the move, so he executed it on the spot. 'You still got it,' Lawrence told him. The Seahawks aspire to be contenders in Year 2 under coach Mike Macdonald. To do that, many players in their first, second and third seasons must be consistent, high-level contributors. Help from the veterans will be key to unlocking the potential of all the young talent. Lawrence's relationship with Hall is a good example. 'D-Law is a great guy,' Hall said. 'He's very open-minded. He's not one of those vets who's going to sit around and do what he do.' No, Lawrence does not exactly sit around at practice. 'He's the best drill player I've ever seen in my life,' Macdonald said last week. 'You could ask him to do any drill known to mankind, and just the trust he has in why you're doing it. It is 1,000 percent every rep, the intent of what he's trying to create. That's the standard he's setting for our front so the guys don't have a choice but to fall in line.' 🚨 NEW #SeahawksMan2Man pod 🚨 'Scheme driven' Live now: Training camp thoughts on Klint's new scheme, helping the OL, identity, '25 class early impressions, Schneider's extension, Micah Parsons + more! YouTube Spotify — Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) August 4, 2025 Seattle didn't sign 33-year-old Lawrence just to be a mentor, of course. His 2024 season in Dallas was cut short due to a foot injury, but in the two seasons prior, when current Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Durde was his position coach, Lawrence had 10 sacks and 23 quarterback hits and made two Pro Bowls. As the Seahawks await the return of Uchenna Nwosu (knee), Lawrence is expected to be dominant on the edge. The fact that he's willing to take young players like Hall and fourth-year edge rusher Boye Mafe under his wing is a bonus. Advertisement 'It's great to have a guy like that in the building who's been seasoned, (played) in this league a long time, had a lot of success,' Hall said. 'I'm happy to have him. He teaches me a lot, and I'm learning a lot about the way he played. I feel like our playing styles are similar, so being able to have that is huge.' Midway through the first padded practice of training camp, first-round rookie Grey Zabel split a pair of one-on-one reps with Williams. Then Williams and Zabel chatted off to the side while their teammates continued the drill. The 11th-year veteran defensive tackle had some pointers for the first-year left guard. Those sorts of conversations with members of Seattle's seasoned defensive line have taken place throughout camp, Zabel said. 'These guys are some of the best leaders I've been around,' Zabel said. 'Leo talking to me the past few days during one-on-ones, helping me out, progressing my pass set, what he's seeing, what I'm feeling, all that stuff — that's just the type of person, player he is, the leader that he is. That's the culture that's being built around here.' Zabel being schooled by the defensive vets stands out because the offensive line is full of players still on rookie contracts. Left tackle Charles Cross is the most seasoned starter, having played nearly 3,000 offensive snaps in the regular season and playoffs. Zabel is learning from him as well, referring to Cross as a 'big brother' who has offered tips and tricks of the trade. But guidance from the defense just adds another layer to all that the No. 18 pick is learning. Sometimes Zabel seeks out the defense's advice. An understandable act for a man who described Seattle's defensive line — headlined by Williams, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy II — as a unit that will 'magnify your weaknesses tenfold.' Other times, Williams will offer tips unsolicited. All of this matters, given how essential Zabel's growth is to the strength of the offensive line. 'There's a few times that he's come up to me and just said, 'Hey, this is what I'm seeing, this is going to help (you) out,'' Zabel said. 'I'm using all the knowledge I can gain to be the best I can.' Defensive back Nick Emmanwori is another young player Macdonald is counting on to help bring his vision for the team to life. A standout safety at South Carolina, the second-round rookie is essentially playing nickelback against certain offensive personnel groupings (Devon Witherspoon slides outside when Emmanwori is in). He's near the line of scrimmage so that all of his skills against the run and in coverage are highlighted as often as possible. Advertisement Emmanwori is the only new member of the starting rotation in the secondary. Julian Love, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen and Witherspoon have all demonstrated they can play at a high level. But their play will take the Seahawks only so far if Emmanwori isn't quickly up to speed and playing at a similarly high level. It's important they take Emmanwori under their wing like they have. 'I've been lucky to have some really good vets and mentors in my career that changed everything for me; I'm trying to be that for him,' said Love, 27, the elder statesman among the starters in the secondary. 'Just trying to be a resource for him and answer any questions he has,' Love continued. 'I know Spoon is trying to be that for him, as well as the other guys on the secondary. We need him. It's not a thing of, 'He's a rookie, so we're going to be on him all the time.' We're going to be on him, but it's all in an effort to just help him get better and be the best player he can be.' Emmanwori, whose playmaking has already shown up in camp via multiple interceptions, is grateful for their guidance. Pick it off, kick it off. Powered by @Boeing — Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 2, 2025 'We have the best vets in the league,' Emmanwori said. 'Specifically with the DB room, they're just all like big brother figures. I have four older brothers, so it just feels like that big brother-little brother relationship. Julian and Coby, they're vets, they're pros (in) everything they attack, whether it's film (or) on the field, they're just ahead of the game. They're trying to catch me up with them, too.' Other mentor-mentee relationships have taken shape as well. Veteran tight end Eric Saubert has played for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and for other play callers who run a version of the wide-zone, play-action-based scheme. Second-year tight end AJ Barner said the 31-year-old Saubert has been a 'go-to' guy whenever the young tight ends have questions. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp is in Year 9, and all the wisdom he passes down to Jaxon Smith-Njigba is invaluable. The teams that contend in this league tend not only to have young talent but also to pair it with a handful of savvy veterans willing to share their secrets. The Seahawks have both. Growing those relationships over the next few weeks might pay dividends when the season begins. Advertisement 'It's a great experience,' Lawrence said of mentoring the young players, 'just taking all the things that I learned from all the years of football and passing it along to some young hungry guys who are ready to attack the league.' (Photo of DeMarcus Lawrence, 0, Derick Hall, 58, and Leonard Williams: Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)
USA Today
04-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys may have stumbled into a superstar as a second-round pick angles toward starting
The Dallas Cowboys needed help at defensive end for the 2025 season. Facing the loss of long-time starter and multiple-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence, the team needed reinforcements. The club had drafted the position, highly, but had yet to reap any dominating rewards. So when the opportunity presented itself to secure themselves the potential steal of the 2025 draft, they jumped on it Dallas secured the services of perhaps the best pass-rushing defensive end of the draft when they drafted Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku. But pre-draft accolades don't matter if it doesn't manifest itself on a pro field, and while training camp isn't the real thing, what Ezeiruaku has shown in Oxnard has a lot of people extremely excited. Rundown Position: Defensive End Age: 21 Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 248 pounds Hometown: Williamstown, NJ High School: Williamstown College: Boston College (Highlights) Draft: 2025 Second Round (No. 44 overall) Acquired: 2025 draft Contract: Four-year contract (2025), $10.2 million 2025 Base Salary: $840,000, $1.85 million cap hit Profile With Micah Parsons not participating in practice due to his contract dispute, Ezeiruaku has been declaring himself as a true force to reckon with. Lining up primarily as a left defensive end, Ezeiruaku has shown a complex rush attack that is far beyond his years. He's also displayed the ability to set the edge, looking like he's ready to take on a starting role sooner rather than later. Dallas brought back Dante Fowler, who left for a season in Washington, and the expectation was that he'd be starting opposite Parsons, but that may not be the case and if it is may not be for long. The Cowboys also signed Payton Turner, a former first-round pick like Fowler, as veteran depth. They join last year's second rounder Marshawn Kneeland as Parsons' supporting cast. That's before mentioning 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams, who is looking to return from an ACL injury. Together, the Cowboys have assembled a tremendously pedigreed group at defensive end, but Ezeiruaku looks like a potential breakout star amongst the room. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
USA Today
01-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks named potential \
The Seattle Seahawks are an unpredictable team heading into the 2025 season. General manager John Schneider made sweeping changes to the roster this offseason. Geno Smith was replaced at quarterback by Sam Darnold, and DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett were replaced at wide receiver by Cooper Kupp. There's also a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, and veteran pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence joined the defense. Did you get all that? The sizable changes in personnel and scheme makes the Seahawks an unknown commodity. Pro Football Focus recently outlined five dark-horse teams that could surpass their win projection in 2025. The Seahawks made the list! "The Seahawks' win projection sits at 7.5 games in 2025, while PFF's wins projection has them at eight wins in 2025," Thomas Valentine wrote. "Much of that optimism stems from the Seahawks' defense. Mike MacDonald's defense allowed 21.6 points per game in 2024, earning a 69.8 PFF grade, and really kicked on down the stretch. The unit ranked sixth in EPA per play after their Week 10 bye until the end of the season, and the additions of veteran DeMarcus Lawrence and rookie safety Nick Emmanwori will likely allow the group to carry on growing into one of the best defenses in the league." "Even in a tough NFC West, the Seahawks have the 12th-easiest schedule in 2025," Valentine continued. "Though a playoff berth seems unlikely, they could still push for a wild-card spot and outperform their projected win total." Cheers to the Seahawks exceeding national expectations in 2025!
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Secret Weapon Ranks High as NFL Rookie Sleeper
Cowboys Secret Weapon Ranks High as NFL Rookie Sleeper originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Cowboys landed what they believe is a steal in this year's NFL Draft, snagging Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku with the 44th overall pick - this despite many projecting him as a late first-round talent. Advertisement And now? Dallas fans will welcome Ezeiruaku - and will learn how to pronounce it, too, as "Ezz-AH-rah-koo'' - with open arms, hoping he can step into the void left by DeMarcus Lawrence, who departed the Cowboys for Seattle after an impressive 11-year career and four Pro Bowls. "Easy'' is 6-3 and 247, so he doesn't share Lawrence's somewhat thicker build. And Lawrence proved to be a grinder when it comes to stopping the run; that's a big goal here as well. In the end? Expectations will certainly be high for the new kid, but his college resume suggests he's more than capable of meeting them. At Boston College, Ezeiruaku showcased his pass-rushing dominance, leading all Power Four players with an eye-popping 16.5 sacks last season. One reason why many observers believe he have the potential to become the next big defensive standout in Dallas? He'll also benefit from the veteran leadership around him to accelerate his development. Advertisement With one of the league's premier defenders, Micah Parsons, creating chaos on the opposite side, Ezeiruaku - assuming he earns snaps - should see plenty of favorable matchups on the other end, and he has the skill set to take advantage. Parsons, who has averaged nearly 13.5 sacks per season over his four-year career, demands constant attention from opposing offenses, which could free up Ezeiruaku to make an immediate impact. If this works out, he will work in combination with the likes of nine-year veteran Dante Fowler Jr. and rehabbing Sam Williams. Fowler, signed through free agency this offseason via Washington, brings a wealth of experience and production, with 55.5 career sacks to his name. Williams is a recent second-round pick who is rehabbing his way to being a force. Surrounded by proven talents like Parsons and Fowler, and fellow dynamic younger guys like Williams, Ezeiruaku will have no choice but to learn from the best — and ideally, to rise to the occasion. A "secret weapon''? As we learn how to pronounce his name, maybe so. Advertisement A "rookie sleeper''? Yes, so much so that one national outlet thinks the NFL world should be buzzing about his names the way they do about the Jaguars' Travis Hunter, the Raiders' Ashton Jeanty, and the Giants' Abdul Carter. ... all premium first-round rookies. Ezeiruaku does have one one thing they don't: He's joining a team with legitimate playoff expectations. That stage could be a fine platform for him to show why he belongs among the league's elite young talents. ... as he ideally moves from being a "secret'' to being a "weapon.'' Get more from Hayden Pustejovsky here. Related: Cowboys Lineman Signs With New Team Amid 'Sabotage' Accusation Related: Cowboys Trade Of Micah Parsons To Patriots Rumor Gets NFL Insiders Traction This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Every Seahawks player at voluntary OTAs. They think this bonding is going to be huge
Even when they were going at their very best — back-to-back Super Bowl best — the Seahawks had guys who routinely blew off voluntary OTAs. Michael Bennett missed them; he stayed home with his wife and kids in Hawaii. Bruce Irvin skipped. Marshawn Lynch? He wasn't there. Because he couldn't get fined(!) The NFL players who miss voluntary OTAs may have contract issues and want to send a not-so-subtle message to their team. Or they just want to spend more time at home with family. Or on vacation. Anywhere but in practices they aren't required to be at in June, three-plus months before the season begins. Some of the most accomplished show up in the offseason only when they absolutely have to, such as the lone mandatory minicamp Seattle has over three days the middle of next week. But these 2025 Seahawks are different. Kicker Jason Myers (34) and nose tackle Johnathan Hankins (33) are the oldest players on this team. They have played in the NFL a combined 22 seasons. They are here. Myers was kicking away, as usual, Thursday, while Hankins was on the field in his helmet and 97 jersey going through drills. DeMarcus Lawrence, also 33 years old, is entering 12th NFL season. His first 11 years were with with the Dallas Cowboys. He spent Wednesday in one of his first practices with Seattle doing pass-rush drills on the side field. He was working with fellow edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, who are seven and nine years Lawrence's junior. A few yards away, Jarran Reed was working on his footwork and hands charging into fellow defensive linemen. Reed is 32. The Seahawks drafted him three U.S. presidents ago, in 2016. Leonard Williams, the Seahawks' $64.5 million, Pro Bowl defensive end? Yep, he's been here, too. The 30-year-old veteran heartily jogged onto the field to begin yet another OTA practice of his 11-year career this week. The last two weeks, the 2025 Seahawks have had every player on their roster, 100% of 90 guys, veterans, rookies, starters and reserves, at these voluntary workouts. That's for one of the only times in recent memory around here. It speaks to what Mike Macdonald has built in 16 months with one season leading the remade Seahawks. It's a sign the league's youngest head coach at age 37 is getting the buy-in from veteran players every young leader must have to succeed. One of the most importantly — and most recently paid — players on the team thinks the perfect attendance including from new starting quarterback Sam Darnold plus former Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp on the remodeling offense is a sign of what's to come for Seattle in 2025. And beyond. 'I think for this team, I think we're bought into the goal and the mission,' middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV said after practice Thursday. 'And the goal is to put another banner up in here. And I think everyone believes in that.' Jones is the defensive signal-caller and thudding tackler who transformed Macdonald's defense after Seattle traded with Tennessee for him in the middle of last season. The Seahawks just gave him a $33 million contract in March. He doesn't need to be here for these OTAs, either. But he is. 'We're going to show up to work,' Jones said, 'and do we have to do to make sure we get it done.' The News Tribune asked Jones if the players talked internally about making sure they showed up for these voluntary weeks. 'It wasn't something that we just sat there and say, 'Hey, make sure you're here,'' Jones said. 'But if we want to be who we say we're going to be, if we want to do what we want to do, and as when the best teams I've been around (including as a Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams), OTAs were really good. 'So I think that's just a direct reflection of what the work you get in here and what carries you into the season.' Seattle's defense has all 11 starters from last season returning off a 10-win team. That defense is the strength of this team, by defensive-guru Macdonald's design. Reed's a central part of it. He's the veteran tackle in the middle of the defensive line. His daughter Jacey was born the spring the Seahawks drafted him in the second round out of Alabama. She just turned nine. The defensive tackle could have been home with her. But he's here with all the other Seahawks, voluntarily. He said the players know this is the time to bond, with each other and their coaches. He says the players are truly 'jelling' with the coaches. 'Just to build a chemistry,' Reed said this week, 'and for one, just to be around the teammates. 'I like being here. It was actually fun. When you're away and you're watching film (by yourself remotely), you're just missing a lot and missing the camaraderie, that togetherness, building that connection with your teammates. That's the time that we use for right now.' Jones thinks having all of the returning defensive starters practicing together when they don't have to in May and June is going to pay massive dividends in December, January into, yes, perhaps February. That's when the Super Bowl is. 'I think it's going to be special,' Jones said of his Seahawks defense. 'I'm excited. I don't want to give too much because we've got to go put the work in. But, if the vision lives up to what I think, yeah, it's going to be something crazy.' After seeing them in these OTAs, what does Jones think about his defensive teammates already, a month and half before training camp begins? 'Hoopers,' he said. 'I like us, man. I like us versus anything and anybody. 'That's how I'll leave it.'
