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DeMarcus Lawrence Helping Set The Standard For Seahawks Defensive Front

In his first training camp with the Seahawks after 11 seasons in Dallas, veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is already making a strong impression on teammates and coaches.

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After spending the first 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Cowboys, DeMarcus Lawrence wasted little time imparting some of the wisdom that comes with being a four-time Pro Bowler who has played 141 career games.

As third-year outside linebacker Derick Hall explained, Lawrence was working with his fellow edge rushers on pass rush moves from the start of offseason workouts, and with the start of training camp came the follow through. Lawrence wanted to make sure Hall had been practicing what they worked on a couple months earlier.

"He brings a lot, just walking up to guys, seeing how they're doing, seeing how they're feeling, just always trying to teach something new," Hall said. "We've been working on moves since the day he got here, and the first thing he did when we got back (for camp) was walk up to me and was like, 'Show me the move.'

"Being able to have a veteran guy like that who's had success, who's been in this league a long time, who knows how to play the game the right way is really huge for us. I'm happy to have him."

For Lawrence, years of on-field success is the result not just of talent, size and athleticism, it also comes from practice habits that have made a strong impression on his coaches and teammates.

"He's like the best drill player I've ever seen in my life," Macdonald said. "You could ask him to do any drill known to mankind, and just the trust he has in why you're doing it, he's 1,000 percent every rep, the intent in what he's trying to create, and that's the standard that he's setting for our front, so the guys don't have a choice but to fall in line. It's just exciting to see him out there working. You know what he can do on the field, the tape speaks for itself, but you understand how it comes to life based on how he works."

For Lawrence, the driving force behind that work ethic is his desire to earn the biggest prize of all in the NFL, one that, despite all of his individual success and plenty of winning seasons, eluded him in Dallas.

"I still haven't reached the goal that I set myself to, that Super Bowl," Lawrence said. "We've got the talent around us, we're a capable team, but it's just all about putting the work in, stacking days and becoming one."

In 2014, Lawrence arrived in Dallas as a second round pick who enjoyed a standout career at Boise State, so the ability was clearly there, but in his eyes, what really helped him become the player he is were the lessons taught by then Cowboys defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.

"Early in my career, Coach Marinelli, he taught me, if I don't believe in myself to do it in practice, I'm not going to believe in it to do it in the game," Lawrence said. "I always took that into every practice and every situation, so if I'm comfortable enough to do it in practice, I'm damn sure going to do it in the game."

As Lawrence talked with reporters after practice Thursday, Hall couldn't help himself, interrupting the interview while throwing an arm around his veteran teammate.

"Tell them how good you are, how good of a vet you are," Hall said with a grin. "We're happy and glad to have you."

The fact that Lawrence and Hall are forming a bond early isn't surprising to defensive lineman Jarran Reed, who sees a lot of similarities between the two edge rushers. Asked how those two are alike, Reed said, "They're crazy as hell. They play one way, and that's balls to the wall, and that's all you could ask for. That's the standard we're trying to set with this defense, fast and physical as shit."

Seattle signed Hall, who has 61.5 career sacks and is also an elite run defender, to produce on game day, first and foremost, but it is also clear very early in his Seahawks tenure that he will be a positive influence on his teammates as well.

"He's played a lot of ball, so being able to pick his brain and understand the things that he has under his belt, the tools that he knows for himself, that's big for us," outside linebacker Boye Mafe said. "It's just taking those and putting that into our own games, and having him share the knowledge."

Mafe added that Lawrence's practice habits, "Show you what it takes. For a guy of his pedigree, you would think he might want to take a little break, but he knows that to continue and maintain his production, that's what it takes. And that's what you see from him."

Seahawks players participated in their second practice of training camp on July 24, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

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