Seattle Seahawks D'Anthony Bell
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Seattle Seahawks D'Anthony Bell
The NFL schedule is long and grueling. From the start of OTAs to what the team hopes is the Super Bowl, it is a near 24/7 grind. Therefore, when teams hold voluntary sessions before the start of training camp, it is understandable if some players choose to skip them. When it comes to the Seattle Seahawks, however, that was not the case.
The Seahawks had near-perfect attendance at theirOrganized Team Activities (OTAs) before the start of the season.
OTAs are voluntary, and for most teams, various reasons prevent all players from participating in them. However, the Seahawks players and coaches believed that a successful Summer and fall would start in the Spring.
Full Team Buy-In
Leadership starts at the top of any organization, so when the highest-paid players or team leaders set a standard, the other players will follow.
Quarterback Sam Darnold, linebacker Ernest Jones IV, and Mike Macdonald are a part of the group that has set the standard for the Seahawks this season. Gregg Bell ofThe News Tribune wrote about how the Seahawks players have bought into the system.
“During the offseason, Macdonald, new quarterback Sam Darnold, middle linebacker Ernest Jones, and other team leaders said they believed the full buy-in this spring would lead to a better training camp this summer — and a better team this fall into winter,”Bell wrote.
Jones told Bell after a practice in June about the importance of the team buying in early.
“We’re bought into the goal and the mission,”Jones said during voluntary OTAs in June. “And the goal is to put another banner up in here. And I think everyone believes in that.We’re going to show up to work, and do we have to do to make sure we get it done.”
The Seahawks team has bought intoMacdonald’s message, andthey’ve connected since OTAs.
Team Connection
The major takeaway from OTAs in June was how the Seahawks have already begun to connect. The best teams in the NFL are all bonded by a singular goal.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach NickSirianni’s mantra last season was “Tough, Detailed, Together.” The 2024 Eagles team bought into that message and went on to win the Super Bowl. In 2025, the Seahawks hope that following a similar message will lead to the same result.
Seahawks star defensive lineman Leonard Williams discussed how unique this Seahawksteam’s connection is. John Boyle ofSeahawks.com wrote aboutWilliams’ thoughts in a June 16 article.
“I feel it a lot,”veteran defensive lineman Leonard Williams said of the way the team is connected. “I’m going into Year 11, soI’ve played a lot of football and been on a lot of teams, and not only am I seeing that we have a very talented team right now, one thing that stands out above the talent is just the connection.That’s somethingI’ve been trying to talk to the guys about,that’s really going to take us to that next level where we want to go.I’ve told them thatI’ve been on tons of talented teams that we had great players at all positions, but we justdidn’t have that same connection.”
“Those small things like having connection and being able to communicate on and off the field kind of helps you get to that next level,”Williams continued.
The Seahawks are hoping theteam’s strong connection can be what gets them over the hump and back into the playoffs and beyond.