The Seahawks opened phase three of the offseason workout program Tuesday with their first day of organized team activities.

John Boyle

As the Seahawks simulated a two-minute drill situation during Tuesday's opening session of organized team activities, an offensive player jumped before the snap, a penalty that had cornerback Devon Witherspoon demonstrating that he is in midseason form when it comes to talking trash.

Moments later, when one of his teammates broke up a pass, Witherspoon was at it again, bringing regular-season intensity to a voluntary workout taking place on a postcard-perfect late May afternoon on the shores on Lake Washington.

While players have been around since the offseason workout program kicked off in April, Tuesday had something of a first-day feel to it as, for the first time since last season, offense and defense could line up against each other for 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 non-contact on-field work.

"It's exciting," said veteran safety Julian Love. "The first period, the two sides were talking (stuff) to each other. Everyone is just excited. We've been doing drills, coaches have just been in the office the past few months, and now we get some football action, see the ball in the air, you can just tell the juice was flowing for sure.

"There's a sense of appreciation. To be out there in a jersey, repping, it's just always fun. When you're back into it, the offseason is enjoyable, everyone's relaxing, but when you're back in football, it's like riding a bike, you're just back with your guys having fun and competing."

Said cornerback Riq Woolen, "It's just a lot of fun. It's different from going defense on defense. It feels good to be out there competing and getting the chemistry together."

While Love, Woolen and the rest of the Seahawks defense are excited to build off of a strong finish to last season, the first under Mike Macdonald's leadership, Seattle's offense is starting over with a new scheme led by offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, a new quarterback, Sam Darnold, and two new veteran receivers, Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and several other newcomers who will be expected to contribute early, led by first-round pick Grey Zabel.

"It felt good," Kupp said of the first day of OTAs. "Everyone's learning a new offense, coming in after a few weeks, and it's the first time running against people, it's always differentyou can run things on air all the time, but there's nothing like getting out there, 11 on 11, thinking fast and making decisions and all that. The energy was great, guys are excited, and that's all you can ask for on Day 1."

Kupp, having previously played in a West Coast scheme with similarities to what the Seahawks will be doing under Kubiak, is encouraged by what he has seen so far since joining the Seahawks.

"I just believe in this style of offense, what it is, the detail that's involved in making it happen," he said. "I think it's the kind of offense you have to run if you want to win championships. We've got guys across the board, and guys are bought into it and are starting to understand what we're trying to get done. It's exciting bring that stuff alive."

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Given the position he plays, Darnold of course will have a big role in determining the Seahawks' fates on offense this season, and coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Vikings, Seattle's new quarterback is making a good first impression on his teammates.

"He's awesome," Kupp said. "He's been great in terms of having a little bit of familiarity with the offense coming into this. The insights that he shares and the confidence he has in being able to say, 'Hey, these are the things that have worked in this offense' in terms of how we've operated and how he's operated, and being able to collaborate together and figure out what that looks like for us as we put this team togetherthis skill group, this offensive line, this quarterback group, as we get together and figure out what we're going to be about, to be able to have that collaborative talking, it's been really good."

Seattle's defense, meanwhile, is looking to show how much better they can be in 2025 after a full year learning Macdonald's scheme.

"Last year at this time, it was a much different story," Love said. "This year, we're able to start off so much further along than we did last year. We don't have build it up for the most partobviously some guys are catching up who are new herebut we've had a good install, everyone is flowing, the questions that are asked are way more detailed rather than big picture questions."

And as for that Day 1 energy provided by Witherspoon? It was both welcomed and expected by those who have seen him in action the past couple of years.

"He's one of one," said Love. "Some people are just born to compete in whatever they're doing, it can be in video games, it can be in ping pong, and for Spoon, it's not just a football thing, that's just who he is, 24-7. And that's what we expect from him, we look to him as that catalyst, that spark for us defensively."

Added Woolen, "It does bring a lot of intensity to the team. That's our guy, and we rely on his energy just as much as his play. having him out there, having him being vocal during OTAs, it helps us. That's one of the guys we count on on defense, and we know he's going to be a great leader and a great communicator on our defense as well."