Tre Flowers impresses in debut, could be second Seahawks rookie in 2 years to win starting job at corner
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) spots up intended receiver Nick Vannett (81), who slips trying to make the cut, and is unable to pull down the catch in the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts in preseason action at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)
Tre Flowers, a converted cornerback who played safety during his playing days at Oklahoma State, spent his NFL debut for the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night lining up opposite an offense that featured a renewed Andrew Luck.
For most of the first half at CenturyLink Field -- during which Flowers played every defensive snap -- he tracked a six-year veteran in Indianapolis receiver T.Y. Hilton.
Did any of this daunt the 23-year-old rookie? Not really. He got the jitters out and started competing.
“Before the game I was pretty nervous, but everybody was talking to me,” Flowers said. “All of my teammates were talking to me, calming me down. The first play I felt pretty comfortable, and I just kept going one play at a time.”
Flowers, a fifth-round pick, got his first chance starting at right corner earlier this week during preseason camp. He started filling in for injured veteran Byron Maxwell (hip flexor) on Tuesday.
In front of a crowd of 68,418 in Thursday night’s 19-17 preseason loss to the Colts, Flowers played all 34 snaps at the position in the first half. The ball was thrown in his direction just four times, resulting in one pass interference call, two catches for short gains and a deep incompletion he knocked down in the end zone. He also chipped in two tackles.
“It’s very different,” Flowers said. “It’s a lot more technical. You’ve always got somebody in front of you, and this defense you’re always going to be in somebody’s face, so you’ve got to stay true to your technique and just really believe in it.”
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was plenty impressed with the rookie’s debut.
“I can’t wait to see the film,” Carroll said. “He was out there for the entire half, playing football. I thought he did well.
“He had the one penalty with great coverage. He was there. I think he grabbed him when he didn’t even have to do it to make the play. We’ll be able to really teach from that. Stayed up on top of the deep ball, down in the end zone. I thought a pretty good first outing.”
Flowers said he wished he could get the PI call back. Late in the first quarter, he got a hand in front of a pass from Luck to Hilton, but wrapped his arm around Hilton’s back, drawing the call.
“He gave me a little move. I felt like I was on top. I tried to come underneath, make a play but I kind of had my arm wrapped around him,” Flowers said. “College move, but in the big leagues now. You can’t do it.”
Apart from the one penalty, Flowers said he felt he played well, but like Carroll wanted to watch the tape, evaluate what he can improve on, and build on what he did well.
Both of his open-field tackles limited big gains by the Colts. And his coverage of Deon Cain in the end zone with seconds remaining in the second quarter likely saved a touchdown.
“I kind of felt the ball was coming toward me and just stayed true to my technique,” Flowers said. “One play at a time is what I wanted to do today, and I feel like I did.”
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