Being on the sidelines when your team mates are playing can be difficult for some players. Either missing games through injury or because you have not made selection is a cruel blow but using the time positively can help your team. That is exactly what the practice squad members of Seahawks did last weekend, as they studied the hand signals that Cowboys were using to instruct their defensive calls.
Baldwin said rookie squad players diagnosed the defense calls
Wide receiver Doug Baldwin was one of the players on the sidelines and after the game he admitted that Alex McGough and Caleb Scott had passed on vital information to their team after interpreting the signals being used by their opponents. Instead of just sitting back and enjoying the game, the squad players had been tasked with watching the signals to gain an advantage of knowing their defense set up.
Cowboys’ disguise was recognised
Cowboys attempted to disguise their coverage responsibilities as playing man coverage with Xavier Woods in a single deep safety and Kavon Frazier going close to the line of scrimmage. What they actually were planning was for Woods and Frazier to split the deep section of the field in half.
Lockett able to score touchdown as a result
Seattle knew what was coming, thanks to the rookie practice squad players and were able to take advantage of the knowledge, which left three receivers open. With Frazier unable to get to the deep coverage responsibility in time, Lockett received a delivery from Wilson that gave him an easy 52-yard touchdown.
What a great example of how a team worked throughout the squad to get the win. However, perhaps Baldwin should have kept quite about the tactic, as now other teams will be wise to what they are doing.
