RENTON, Wash. --The Seattle Seahawks' coaching staff has emphasized ball security with rookie running back Alex Collins throughout training camp. And they had been thrilled with the results. Every day at practice, defenders would try to rip the ball out of Collins' hands, but he never gave it up.
During Sunday's scrimmage, however, Collins fumbled on an early drive, resulting in a turnover for the offense -- or at least that's how the officials ruled it.
"The defense just made a big deal about it, picking it up," Collins said afterward. "Trying to move on to the next play, and they're running down the field."
So it wasn't a fumble?
"No, no," Collins said. "They'll see it on film."
Pete Carroll seemed to back him up.
"I didn't see that fumble, how it happened," Carroll said. "The play looked like it was over."
That one play aside, Collins did well with a heavy workload. Thomas Rawls (ankle), C.J. Prosise (hamstring), Christine Michael (illness) and Zac Brooks (hamstring) all sat out the mock game. Collins scored a red-zone touchdown on the ground, but he was more impressive as a receiver. On one play where quarterback Trevone Boykin scrambled away from pressure and rolled to his left, Collins adjusted from his initial flat route and turned upfield. Boykin connected with him for what looked like a 50-yard score.
Asked if the receiving responsibilities in the Seahawks' offense are different than what he had to do at Arkansas, Collins said, "In college, it was more you-leak-out-last-minute kind of deal. But we weren't primary threats as far as the first read. But here, I can be the first read on any given play, and I can be the hot guy, they're-throwing-it-to-me-now kind of deal. So it's definitely different. They stress it a little bit more here."
Collins will be a player to keep an eye on when the Seahawks open the preseason on Saturday.
Other notes from the scrimmage:
Defensive end Cliff Avril somehow always flies under the radar, but he had three sacks and has given the offensive line fits throughout camp.
J'Marcus Webb lined up at right tackle with the first team. Earlier in the week, the Seahawks tried several players there. With the Jahri Evans signing, look for the team to continue to mix and match as Tom Cable looks for the best five-man combination.
Justin Britt played center with the first team, but Patrick Lewis rotated in. DeShawn Shead and Jeremy Lane got opportunities to play right cornerback with the first team.
Cornerback Tye Smith got tested deep twice by Jermaine Kearse, and both times he forced incompletions. The Seahawks have a deep and versatile group of cornerbacks.
Eric Pinkins could end up being the starter at strongside linebacker. Carroll noted afterward that Pinkins has been "the biggest surprise" in the group. Of the players vying for that spot (Mike Morgan, Cassius Marsh), Pinkins is the best in coverage.
In the team's unofficial stats, Tyler Lockett led all players with seven catches, including a touchdown. It's clear that the team is going to find ways to get him consistent touches on a weekly basis.
