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Associated Press 9y

Graham and Wilson working on connection in Seattle's offense

NFL, Seattle Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. -- Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham were set to provide an otherwise mundane Seattle Seahawks scrimmage on Saturday a highlight they hoped could be replicated throughout the regular season.

Just one problem. Cornerback Mohammed Seisay was more interested in intercepting the underthrown pass than giving the crowd sitting on the berm an opportunity to cheer Seattle's two offensive stars.

Wilson ended up leading five offensive possessions during the scrimmage, going against Seattle's defensive reserves, and led the Seahawks' offensive starters to two touchdowns and a field goal.

But that first interception didn't sit well with either Wilson or Graham, so the duo worked on it briefly after the scrimmage wrapped.

"Anything that we're iffy about we're going get it after practice," Graham said. "The season is right here and when those big moments come we want that connection to be right."

Wilson is still learning the timing and catching radius that Graham brings to Seattle's offense. The play that was intercepted was a double move the duo had barely run in practice prior to the scrimmage.

"That's the great thing about (him) is you can throw the ball in tough places where nobody else can really get it but him," Wilson said. "So you've got to take some chances and see what he can do and he can do it all."

Saturday's scrimmage was the closest Seattle will come to having game action until next Friday night's preseason opener against Denver.

It was an opportunity to do a little more hitting -- although still very little tackling -- and give coach Pete Carroll and his staff to get a gage on where some competitions stand heading into the start of preseason games.

Marshawn Lynch was a spectator, as expected, along Earl Thomas and a handful of others nursing various minor injuries. And the one notable absence continued to be strong safety Kam Chancellor, as his holdout in search of a new contract has dragged through the entire first week of camp.

Carroll said there had been no new communication with Chancellor since earlier in the week when the Seahawks' tone about the situation seemed to shift.

"I don't know we're any closer, but I know we're all working to make sure we stay connected. I know he's staying connected to everything that we're doing," Carroll said. "He's the ultimate competitor and he's not going to get very far away from us, but there is still stuff to be talked out."

Carroll added he's not surprised that Chancellor is standing firm in continuing his holdout.

"He's very strong in his belief. He's wanted to make a very clear statement, which he is doing," Carroll said.

On the field, the Seahawks continued to experiment along the offensive line at both center and left guard. Drew Nowak got most of the work with the first-team offense at center as he competes with veteran Lemuel Jeanpierre for the starting nod. Novak, another offensive lineman in Seattle that has made the switch from defense, has made a rapid ascent up the depth chart since being signed to the Seahawks practice squad before the start of last season.

At left guard, the Seahawks are still likely to go with Alvin Bailey as their starter, but have moved rookie Mark Glowinski from the right side to the left to see if the fourth-round pick from West Virginia can push Bailey for the starting job.

"The competition is on. Anything can happen up there a month from now, given four games coming up and all of that. We'll see what happens," Carroll said.

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