Seahawks mini camp

Good morning family and friends!



Over the weekend we had our rookie-team mini camp and it was great. It was truly a blessing to be back on the field with the team competing and putting in some hard work. The weekend was full of physicals, team meetings, film, walk-throughs and practice. It was a long weekend but it was the best! I got the chance to get to know my fellow teammates and coaches a bit better as well as some of the in coming rookies and vets. Our special teams unit is a great group. Led by veteran kicker Olindo Mare, who was tagged franchise this season, punter Jon Ryan and Tom Malone and long snapper Pat MacDonald. Our coaches Brian Schneider and Jeff Ulbrich are full of energy, enthusiasm, and passion. We all learn from eachother and really gelled over these past 3 days, and will continue to do so. This unit will be very competetive this season.



Coach Carroll was on fire! He is such a motivator. He knows how to get the attention of the entire team and staff. On the field the entire coaching staff is running around like a wild pack of wolves, yelling, and sweating more than the players it seems. These coaches are so full of passion and determination and really know how to coach and get the best out of every single player no matter how long they've been playing the game. The structure of practice is geared towards non-stop action and teaching. Competition is everywhere and the team practices very hard and very fast. It is nearly game speed without pads and knocking people to the ground. A very noticable thing is the chemistry and positive attitude of the entire team.



I had a very solid camp. The coaches threw me into the scheme of things on day one. It wasnt anything I wasnt used to but it was still a big learning experience and Ive learned a lot over the past 3 days. The biggest thing is being able to progress each day, I believe I did that and yet there is still a lot of room for improvement. The feed back I recieved from my coaches was very positive. I am truly blessed to be back and given the opportunity to compete for the job.

Mini camp re-cap videos:
Day 3
Day 2
Day 1

Over the next couple of weeks, we will continue with the off season lifting and conditioning program. The off season program runs until the end of June. OTA's (organized team activity) will happen in the next couple of weeks and will be spread out throughout the months of May and June. I am really excited to get into the program. I have heard nothing but positive things about coach Carlisle's program and everyone has seen great results. Time to work hard, prepare and progress to become the best player I can be!!! Thank you all for your continued love and support! GODbless



USC reunion:



Since the arrival of coach Carroll, the Seattle Seahawks have welcomed many former USC players and coaches into this new era of Seahawk football. Coach Carroll built a coaching staff which includes former USC coaches Ken Norton Jr, (linebackers), Brian Schneider (special teams), Jeremy Bates (offensive coordinator), and Rocky Seto (defensive quality control). Fromer players include, Lofa Tatupu (linebacker), Tom Malone (punter), Ryan Powdrell (fullback), Mike Williams (wide receiver), LenDale White, (running back), Anthony McCoy (tight end), Jeff Byers (offensive line), Will Harris (safety), and Josh Pinkard (corner back).



California connection:



As I sit in my locker I glace around the room at all the names of my teammates. Some I have known from my first time with Seattle in 2007 and some Ive known for a couple of years from the UFL and working out at free agent camps.

One very cool connection is with running back Louis Rankin. Louis is from Stockton, CA, about 15 mins from my home town of Tracy and he played high school ball at Lincoln high then moved onto the University of Washington. Louis and I played against eachother in high school and I still remember him running all over us at our homecoming. I believe they whopped us 50-something to nothing. It is so cool to think that far back and to see how far we have come! Louis's locker is to the right of mine.

To my left is running back Quinton Ganther. QG and I have the same agent Dave Canter. This is his first year with the Seahawks too and he is from Richmond, CA and played high school ball at Fairfield high. We faced Fairfield high at the University of Nevada-Reno football camp every summer. He was another back who easily ran all over us!

Tom Malone who is a punter played in the UFL with me last year, but he played for New York. Tom and I actually got signed to the UFL on the same day and we sat next to eachother on our connecting flight from Denver to Orlando. Tom is from Orange County and played at USC. He has had NFL stints with the New England Patriots. Again a cool connection. Small world huh?

There are several Californians on the team and I met a few rookies who flew in with me that hail from Northern California. Full back Mike Morales (UD-Davis), tight end Patrick Devenny (Colorado), and safety James Bradley (Utah State).