Seahawks Training Camp: Prelude To A Super Bowl
If you want to see the Seattle Seahawks play this year you’re going to need one of two things. You’re going to need a big fat HD television or incriminating photos of a season ticket holder so you can blackmail them out of their seats.
Seahawks tickets are completely sold out. That includes their eight regular season home games and training camp. Yes, that’s right. Seahawks training camp is completely sold out. The team is opening 14 practices to the public and there’s nary a ticket left.
I might have false started just a bit. There are still a few tickets left for the team’s two home preseason games. They’ll host the Broncos on Aug. 17 and the Raiders on Aug. 29. It’s not ideal, but at least you’ll get to see Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman for a series or two.
Training Camp
Seahawks players reported to training camp on July 24 for a team meeting and physicals. Camp started in earnest on July 25 with a 10:30 am practice. The team’s first mock game is Aug. 2 and its first preseason game is Aug. 8 in San Diego against the Chargers. This is the fourth training camp run by head coach Pete Carroll.
Seahawks hold their training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington. The team moved into the 200,000-square foot facility (the second largest in the NFL) in 2008. Renton is located about 15 miles southwest of Seattle.
Quarterback Battle
Just like last year, there will be a quarterback battle during Seahawks training camp. Tarvaris Jackson will compete with Brady Quinn for the backup role. We said a “quarterback battle” we didn’t say it was for the starting job. Jackson started 14 games for the Hawks back in 2011 and spent last year in Buffalo. Even though Jackson was signed too late to attend the team’s off season minicamp look for him to be named RW3’s backup once the season starts.
Player To Watch
We’ll have to wait for the regular season to know if Russell Wilson suffers from a sophomore slump, but training camp should tell us if giving up a first round draft pick for Percy Harvin was a good idea. Harvin is a playmaker who can line up all over the field and return kicks. In the offseason, Harvin spent a lot of time getting to know Wilson. The two appear to be on the same page off the field. Training camp will reveal if they’re on the same page on the field. If they are, the rest of the NFC better watch out.
Rookie To Watch
On the depth chart, rookie running back Christine Michael is behind Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. He suffered a torn ACL and a broken leg during his tenure at Texas A&M and endured some behavioral issues last season that cost him a one-game suspension. You might not expect him to get many carries in 2013. However, Lynch and Turbin are huge backs and Michael is a nice change of pace (although he’s still very physical). If he has a great training camp he might get more carries than pundits thought he was going to get when the Seahawks selected him 62nd overall in the second round in the NFL Draft.
Coordinator To Watch
Last year’s defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is now paroling the sidelines in Jacksonville. In his place is former Florida Gators DC Dan Quinn. During training camp will get to see how Quinn fits in with the league’s number one scoring defense. We should also see signs of how he’ll improve the team’s pass rush. Look for the Seahawks to be more aggressive in 2013. Quinn has a lot of talent at his disposable including newly acquire pass rushers Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. He also has the best defensive backfield in the NFL and some fast linebackers.
Tight Ends To Watch
With Anthony McCoy out for the season the job of backing up Zach Miller at tight end is up for grabs. Competing for the gig are rookie Luke Wilson and second-year player Sean McGrath. Wilson has the athleticism while McGrath is the better blocker. Look for Wilson to secure the number two spot late in preseason.
Super Expectations
This off season, the Seahawks experienced a 98% season ticket renewal rate for its 62,000 season tickets. That begs the question what was up with the two-percent that didn’t renew? Now, before you make wise about “what else is there to do in Seattle but watch the Seahawks,” the demand for Seahawks tickets has nothing to do with boredom (besides there’s plenty to do in the Pacific Northwest). It has everything to do with wanting to support a winner. The Seattle Seahawks are young, talented, and deep. They also have the one thing needed to become NFL champions, a franchise quarterback. Tickets are gone because Seahawks fans want to support a bona fide Super Bowl contender.
