After getting back from Nashville early Monday morning, the Seahawks were back on the practice field Tuesday to kick off a short practice week before they leave Thursday for their preseason finale in Kansas City.
And thanks to a Wednesday opener to kick off the regular season, the Seahawks will be two weeks away from their September 9 opener against the Patriots when they take the practice field again on Wednesday.
The compressed nature of these final couple of weeks—a Sunday game into a Friday game into a Wednesday opener—combined with the fact that the Seahawks have so far rested their starters in the preseason, and figure to do the same on Friday, means every practice rep is at a premium over the next two weeks.
"Practice needs to be the focal point," receiver Rashid Shaheed said. "Each and every rep, we've got to try to make it into a game rep, mentally. Just coming out and competing, and I feel like our coaches do a good job setting up practice so we get that work in."
Shaheed, like the rest of Seattle's starters and top veterans, has yet to suit up in the preseason, making a competitive practice like the Seahawks had in Nashville with the Titans all the more valuable. That's particularly true for an offense getting accustomed to working with a new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury.
"We like the way that we controlled the offense," Shaheed said of the offense in the joint practice. "We went out with the mindset of just competing, and I felt like (Fleury) let us go out there and play our game. We got a feel for his play-calling on team drives, long drives, 2-minute. We feel like we got a good feel for how he likes to call games and a good feel for how the offense is flowing."
Seattle's defense has continuity both in terms of scheme and play-caller, Mike Macdonald, and personnel, with 10 of 11 starters from the Super Bowl back with the team, but players on that side of the ball also know they need to take advantage of every practice rep between now and the opener, as well as the game-day routine even when they aren't playing.
"We know we're not playing but attacking the gameday like we are playing," defensive tackle Byron Murphy II said. "Also taking real mental reps, watching film, things like that like you're getting prepared for a game. Being a pro."
For head coach Mike Macdonald, this stretch is more about growth than perfection, and more about process than results in the preseason, though obviously he'd prefer his team had won its first two preseason games. And coming out of Sunday night's loss in Tennessee, which saw the Seahawks backups take a 16-3 led against Tennessee's starters before fading in the second half, Macdonald is seeing a lot of encouraging signs.
"The bright side is I really do feel like our team got better this week from the work that we got in practice, and I thought we did a lot of great things, especially earlier in this game, which is what we're looking for," Macdonald said after Sunday's game. "I think we took a step. I think we're improving. I think the important thing for our team is that we have to shed an expectation about where we need to be right now. I think the focus needs to be about how fast can we improve on a daily basis, and our guys have had that attitude. So through that lens, I think it was a successful week. But ultimately, we want to be able to win these games. But we definitely made an improvement from last week, so let's keep going.
"The things we said we wanted to improve on from last week, I think we did those things. So operation-wise just how we get in and out of the huddle, how we take the line, all those kind of before-the-play type of things that we wanted to improve on, I think we did, which is great. I thought we played physically. I thought we rushed the passer really well. It was good to see the run game get off a little bit in the first half. Be great to run it better in the second half. A lot of good things; a lot of good things."
Macdonald acknowledged that the early opener does compress the preparation over these next couple of weeks, but it's a challenge and opportunity he is embracing.
"It's kind of a funky preseason," he said Sunday. "It's almost like preseason (game) three in terms of the proximity to the first game, but we're blessed with another week of practice and an opportunity to play another game. That's kind of cool, too, to have an opportunity to improve before we get into game mode."
The Seahawks returned to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for a practice on Tuesday, August 25.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14), quarterback Drew Lock (2) and quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Justin Jones (25) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks senior offensive assistant/offensive line coach John Benton at practice on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Julian Hicks (1) and wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (87) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashad Rochelle (35) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Andre Fuller (35) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Trevon Diggs (16) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Tysheem Johnson (36) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (17) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Trevon Diggs (16) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Trevon Diggs (16) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Vannett (83) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (32) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Dansby (37) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (55) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Derrick Graham (66) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Federico Maranges (62) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brock Lampe (46) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brock Lampe (46) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) and quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) with offensive coordinator Brian Fleury practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Trevon Diggs (16) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Aaron Smith (42) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Justin Jones (25) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82) and safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29), safety Julian Love (20) and cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) with Chris Berman at practice on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brock Lampe (46) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4), long snapper Chris Stoll (41) and kicker Jason Myers (5) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Tuesday, August 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
