The Seattle Seahawks opened week three of their Organized Team Activity ( OTA ) to the media last Thursday. The OTA’s are basically a nine week program that is broken down into three phases according to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement between the Players Association and the Owners.
Phase 1 consists of the first two weeks of the program with player activities limited to strength and conditioning and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase 2 is three weeks in length and consists of On-field workouts that may include individual player instruction and drills as well as team practice conducted on a “separates” basis. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
Phase 3 is four weeks in length and teams are allowed to conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs.” No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
The Seahawks major focus during the just completed 2016 NFL Draft was on offense evidenced by the team using eight of its 10 pics on the offense side of the ball. The Seahawks selected linemen Germain Ifedi, Rees Odhiambo, and Joey Hunt, running backs C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, and Zac Brooks, tight end Nick Vannett, and wide receiver Kenny Lawler.
Here is what Quarterback Russell Wilson had to say about the rookies
(On OL Germain Ifedi…) “Germain Ifedi looks really talented. He’s huge. He’s as big as you can get.”
(On TE Nick Vannett…) “He’s got unbelievable hands, smooth hands. His timing, he gets his head around right on time, understands the route concepts. Just a worker. Keeps his head down and works. That’s what you love about him. He made a lot of great plays today and he’s made great plays the past three OTAs. He’s going to be a talented star for us I think. You guys are going to look forward to him and the plays that he makes.”
(On RBs C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins…) ““Well Collins and Prosise look really good. Prosise wasn’t out there today, but Collins is just a physical runner who’s run the ball a lot. He played at Arkansas, ran the ball, physical, has been in that type of offense running the ball downhill. He’s never really caught the ball before, in terms of college and all that, but he’s got great hands. And C.J., he’s got all the talent in the world. They did a really good job of picking him and finding him. So we’re looking forward to it.”
(On WR Kenny Lawler…) “I couldn’t be here for rookie minicamp, but I watched him making those catches. Just crazy hands. I YouTube’d a couple of his highlights, too, just to see him make plays, and he’s got great hands. He made some great plays in OTA number two the other day, made a nice seam catch. He’s got great hands.”
Tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Thomas Rawls were both present at the OTA’s and where continuing their rehab work outs. Graham is recovering from a from a torn patellar tendon suffered in the Seahawks 39-30 win over the Pittsburg Steelers November 29th at Century Link Field. Rawls is covering from a broken ankle he suffered in the teams December 13th, 35-6 home victory over the Ravens