Three things to look for as Seahawks open one-day minicamp

The Seahawks will give new meaning to the term minicamp this year.

Due to a penalty levied by the NFL for violating rules last year on how much contact is allowed during minicamps, the Seahawks will be able to practice on-field just once this year instead of the maximum three.

Players have been in meetings this week, but a practice that can last 2 1/2 hours today is the only on-field work the team will get.

So what will we see in the Seahawks’ one-day minicamp? Here are three things to watch for today:

1. Who’s on the field? Minicamp is mandatory, with players subject to fines of up to $70,000 if they don’t attend. So every Seahawks player showed up this week, including defensive end Michael Bennett and linebacker Bruce Irvin, who sat out OTAs (organized team activities) in protest of their contract situations. But how much we’ll see everybody on the field is another matter.

2. Christine Michael: Tailback Marshawn Lynch is attending the minicamp after sitting out OTAs – as is his custom – but it’s unlikely he’ll see any field time (last year he attended but sat out all three days). That would mean another heavy dose of Christine Michael, for whom this season looms large. Michael is entering his third year but has yet to carve out a definitive role and backup Robert Turbin is continuing to rehab from hip surgery.

3. Who’s at center? The most competitive position battle entering the offseason is at center, as the Seahawks searched for a replacement for the traded Max Unger. Lemuel Jeanpierre worked primarily with the starting offense in OTAs, but Drew Nowak – a practice-squad member last year – worked with the starting unit in the last OTA that was open to the media. Patrick Lewis also figures into a battle that likely won’t be decided until a few weeks or so into training camp.