Seahawks’ rookies step up in final preaseason game
SEATTLE – The most conclusive findings of the Seahawks’ 31-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders in their preseason finale at CenturyLink Field came early on Thursday evening.
They were a decisive signal that Seattle’s present and future are in capable hands.
More accurately, feet.
On two of the game’s first three scrimmage plays, top rookie draft choice Frank Clark sped from defensive end to disrupt Oakland’s plays before they got started. He was in the backfield six times in the first 19 minutes. The sixth time was for a sack and fumble in Oakland’s end zone. Teammate Jordan Hill recovered that for a Seahawks touchdown and a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter against a Raiders team that only started one of its 22 regulars.
Clark beat his blocker five different times to speed into the Raiders’ backfield in the first quarter. His first 20 minutes Thursday included four tackles – three of them solo – one tackle for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and those half-dozen charges into the Raiders’ backfield.
Seattle’s other top rookie pick was just as fast. And just as stunning. Again.
On the second offensive play for Seattle, which finished the preseason 2-2, Russell Wilson worked behind his new starting offensive line that gave him plenty of time for one of the relatively few times this preseason. The quarterback looked right then left. There he found rookie Tyler Lockett sprinting alone.
Lockett caught Wilson’s lofted ball at the Oakland 30, then zoomed past late-arriving safety Larry Asante and thoroughly beaten cornerback Keith McGill the rest of the way to the end zone.
Lockett then broke into a goofy dance move to celebrate his third touchdown in four preseason games. They’ve been 63 yards, 68 yards on a wowing, zigzag punt return last weekend in San Diego and 103 yards on a kickoff past some stunned Broncos in the preseason opener Aug. 14.
That may even be beyond the production Schneider had in mind when he traded three draft choices to Washington in May to move from the bottom to the top of the third round so they could get Lockett to be Seattle’s primary punt and kickoff returner.
Less conclusive but no less exciting: What to do with Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams as the 53-man roster for the regular season must be set by Saturday afternoon?
Incumbent wide receivers Chris Matthews and Ricardo Lockette may be wondering that now, too.
Smith and Williams, former Washington Huskies, seemed to perhaps be battling each other for the final of six or perhaps seven roster spots at this position. Then Williams, the undrafted rookie who had his final season and a half at UW ruined by a broken leg and displaced foot, made a diving catch while tightly covered. That 16-yard touchdown pass from B.J. Daniels made it 24-14 in the third quarter.
Smith made a deft move after a catch on a screen and a cut-back move to complete a 28-yard punt return.