RENTON, Wash. — Derick Hall was working out in the weight room at the Seattle Seahawks’ headquarters during the spring when he was interrupted by new teammate DeMarcus Lawrence.
A 12th-year veteran who signed a three-year, $32.5 million contract to join the Seahawks’ outside linebacker room this offseason, Lawrence saw that moment as an opportunity to show Hall one of the pass-rush moves that helped him accumulate 61.5 career sacks. The move shall remain a secret, Hall said when recalling the moment during a KIRO-AM radio interview this summer, “because I’m gonna use it.”
Hall had eight sacks last year, second-most on the team behind Pro Bowl defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who had 11 and became the first Seahawks defender to reach double-digit sacks since 2018. Hall also finished second on the team behind Williams with 20 quarterback hits (Williams had 28). Entering Year 3, Hall wants to raise his game another level, so he’s always open to any nugget or detail that might help him get to the quarterback more often.
The Seahawks had a month off between minicamp and the start of training camp. When veterans reported for camp on July 22, Lawerence approached Hall and put his arm on him in the manner an offensive tackle would when facing an edge rusher. Hall knew this meant Lawrence wanted to see the move, so he executed it on the spot.
“You still got it,” Lawrence told him.
The Seahawks aspire to be contenders in Year 2 under coach Mike Macdonald. To do that, many players in their first, second and third seasons must be consistent, high-level contributors. Help from the veterans will be key to unlocking the potential of all the young talent.
Lawrence’s relationship with Hall is a good example.
“D-Law is a great guy,” Hall said. “He’s very open-minded. He’s not one of those vets who’s going to sit around and do what he do.”
No, Lawrence does not exactly sit around at practice.
“He’s the best drill player I’ve ever seen in my life,” Macdonald said last week. “You could ask him to do any drill known to mankind, and just the trust he has in why you’re doing it. It is 1,000 percent every rep, the intent of what he’s trying to create. That’s the standard he’s setting for our front so the guys don’t have a choice but to fall in line.”
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Seattle didn’t sign 33-year-old Lawrence just to be a mentor, of course. His 2024 season in Dallas was cut short due to a foot injury, but in the two seasons prior, when current Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Durde was his position coach, Lawrence had 10 sacks and 23 quarterback hits and made two Pro Bowls. As the Seahawks await the return of Uchenna Nwosu (knee), Lawrence is expected to be dominant on the edge. The fact that he’s willing to take young players like Hall and fourth-year edge rusher Boye Mafe under his wing is a bonus.
“It’s great to have a guy like that in the building who’s been seasoned, (played) in this league a long time, had a lot of success,” Hall said. “I’m happy to have him. He teaches me a lot, and I’m learning a lot about the way he played. I feel like our playing styles are similar, so being able to have that is huge.”
Midway through the first padded practice of training camp, first-round rookie Grey Zabel split a pair of one-on-one reps with Williams. Then Williams and Zabel chatted off to the side while their teammates continued the drill. The 11th-year veteran defensive tackle had some pointers for the first-year left guard. Those sorts of conversations with members of Seattle’s seasoned defensive line have taken place throughout camp, Zabel said.
“These guys are some of the best leaders I’ve been around,” Zabel said. “Leo talking to me the past few days during one-on-ones, helping me out, progressing my pass set, what he’s seeing, what I’m feeling, all that stuff — that’s just the type of person, player he is, the leader that he is. That’s the culture that’s being built around here.”
Zabel being schooled by the defensive vets stands out because the offensive line is full of players still on rookie contracts. Left tackle Charles Cross is the most seasoned starter, having played nearly 3,000 offensive snaps in the regular season and playoffs. Zabel is learning from him as well, referring to Cross as a “big brother” who has offered tips and tricks of the trade. But guidance from the defense just adds another layer to all that the No. 18 pick is learning.
Sometimes Zabel seeks out the defense’s advice. An understandable act for a man who described Seattle’s defensive line — headlined by Williams, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy II — as a unit that will “magnify your weaknesses tenfold.” Other times, Williams will offer tips unsolicited. All of this matters, given how essential Zabel’s growth is to the strength of the offensive line.
“There’s a few times that he’s come up to me and just said, ‘Hey, this is what I’m seeing, this is going to help (you) out,’” Zabel said. “I’m using all the knowledge I can gain to be the best I can.”
Defensive back Nick Emmanwori is another young player Macdonald is counting on to help bring his vision for the team to life. A standout safety at South Carolina, the second-round rookie is essentially playing nickelback against certain offensive personnel groupings (Devon Witherspoon slides outside when Emmanwori is in). He’s near the line of scrimmage so that all of his skills against the run and in coverage are highlighted as often as possible.
Emmanwori is the only new member of the starting rotation in the secondary. Julian Love, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen and Witherspoon have all demonstrated they can play at a high level. But their play will take the Seahawks only so far if Emmanwori isn’t quickly up to speed and playing at a similarly high level. It’s important they take Emmanwori under their wing like they have.
“I’ve been lucky to have some really good vets and mentors in my career that changed everything for me; I’m trying to be that for him,” said Love, 27, the elder statesman among the starters in the secondary.
“Just trying to be a resource for him and answer any questions he has,” Love continued. “I know Spoon is trying to be that for him, as well as the other guys on the secondary. We need him. It’s not a thing of, ‘He’s a rookie, so we’re going to be on him all the time.’ We’re going to be on him, but it’s all in an effort to just help him get better and be the best player he can be.”
Emmanwori, whose playmaking has already shown up in camp via multiple interceptions, is grateful for their guidance.
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“We have the best vets in the league,” Emmanwori said. “Specifically with the DB room, they’re just all like big brother figures. I have four older brothers, so it just feels like that big brother-little brother relationship. Julian and Coby, they’re vets, they’re pros (in) everything they attack, whether it’s film (or) on the field, they’re just ahead of the game. They’re trying to catch me up with them, too.”
Other mentor-mentee relationships have taken shape as well. Veteran tight end Eric Saubert has played for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and for other play callers who run a version of the wide-zone, play-action-based scheme. Second-year tight end AJ Barner said the 31-year-old Saubert has been a “go-to” guy whenever the young tight ends have questions. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp is in Year 9, and all the wisdom he passes down to Jaxon Smith-Njigba is invaluable.
The teams that contend in this league tend not only to have young talent but also to pair it with a handful of savvy veterans willing to share their secrets. The Seahawks have both. Growing those relationships over the next few weeks might pay dividends when the season begins.
“It’s a great experience,” Lawrence said of mentoring the young players, “just taking all the things that I learned from all the years of football and passing it along to some young hungry guys who are ready to attack the league.”
(Photo of DeMarcus Lawrence, 0, Derick Hall, 58, and Leonard Williams: Lindsey Wasson / Associated Press)
