Only for Guild Members » ROSS AGAIN: Second-year receiver

The biggest concern about the Seattle Seahawks' overhauled defense entering the season was probably the pass rush.

The worries proved to be true in the season opener when the Seahawks generated just one sack and very little pressure against a quarterback that mostly sat in the pocket.

The challenge in Week 2 will be different with the Seahawks facing the mobility of second-year Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky Tyler Toffoli Jersey , but the need to wreak at least some havoc in the backfield remains the same.

"Anytime you play you want to get the quarterback off the spot. Anytime you end up with one sack, everyone would like to have three or four," Seattle defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. "It's something certainly we want to get better at. ... No question you want more pressure."

Seattle's pass rush was perhaps a bigger worry going into the season than any of the changes that took place in its secondary. The Seahawks played most of last season without Cliff Avril due to a neck injury but still had Michael Bennett teaming with Frank Clark and finding success. Seattle finished last season 13th in the league with 39 sacks and was in the middle of the pack in the league rankings on the percentage of dropbacks that resulted in a sack. They were decent numbers considering the changes Seattle went through midseason with the loss of one of their top pass rushers.

The overhaul in the offseason left most of the burden on Clark as really the only proven pass rusher on the roster. Avril hasn't completely shut the door on playing again, but it seems unlikely. Bennett was traded to Philadelphia as part of Seattle's changes.

The opener against Denver showed there is still plenty to figure out.

Clark had Seattle's lone sack, but just one of the five quarterback hits on Case Keenum. Seattle rarely brought pressure and the front four was unable to generate enough heat to make Keenum uncomfortable.

"We got stuck on the line of scrimmage on play passes and was really the part that was really disappointing that we didn't respond better to get into our pass-rush mode," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. "It just happened. That's one phase of it and we would have liked to have got off on the edge a little better than we did. It's just stuff we've got to keep working on."

Getting Dion Jordan on the field more would be a big boost for Seattle. Jordan was limited to just 15 plays in the opener after missing all of training camp with a lower leg injury. Jordan was only activated to from the physically unable to perform list when Seattle made its final cuts, and his inclusion in Week 1 was a bit of a surprise considering the time he missed.

"Not having those reps for a while I was definitely a little rusty but other than that I physically felt really good," Jordan said.

Jordan flashed late last season when he finally was healthy enough to get back on the field. He had four sacks in five games last season and was seen as a major piece of the pass rush moving forward. Jordan said he should be on the field more considering the way he felt coming out of the opener.

"We've got to do a better job this week of sticking to our rush plan http://www.officialstarsproonline.com/authentic-adidas-brett-ritchie-jersey , sticking to it, and executing," Jordan said. "Understanding that certain quarterbacks and (offensive coordinators), they're going to try and get the ball out quick and block them up with eight guys in there so we can't get to them. We have to understand that and find a way around it."

NOTES: Carroll didn't have updates on the timelines for three injured players: WR Doug Baldwin (knee), LB K.J. Wright (knee surgery) and G D.J. Fluker (hamstring). None of the three participated in practice Thursday. ... LB Bobby Wagner (groin) and rookie CB Tre Flowers (hamstring) also sat out practice.

While Andy Dalton was throwing deep passes to A.J. Green and the rest of the Bengals receivers on Friday, Tyler Eifert was on a side field running sprints in shorts and a cut-off shirt.

He ran one sprint, then another. Next were some agility drills. The tight end did everything except catch one of Dalton's spirals.

The Bengals' most oft-injured player hopes that part comes soon.

The Bengals have gambled that Eifert can stay healthy for a full season and get the NFL's worst offense moving again. He played only two games last season before hurting his back again, prompting another medical procedure. Eifert was a free agent after the season Kyle Connor Jersey , and the Bengals decided to keep him with an incentive-laden, one-year deal .

Cincinnati's offense finished last in the league in yards. A healthy Eifert could help change that.

"I can't predict the future on that one, but I can testify to the fact that he made a difference when he was up and running for us," director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. "We know what he can do if he can get back to that level."

Eifert is one of Dalton's favorite targets. He caught 13 touchdown passes in 2015, the most by a tight end in Bengals history. That was the last time the Bengals made the playoffs. A concussion, a dislocated elbow, a torn ankle ligament and two back injuries have limited him to 24 games over the last four years.

Although the Bengals have encouraging reports on Eifert's back, they've decided to go slow with him at the start of camp. He hasn't been cleared to practice even though he feels he's ready Youth Dion Phaneuf Jersey , forcing him to work out on a side field the first two days.

"When I came back, I thought I'd go right into practice," Eifert said. "Everyone knows all the surgeries I've had. We're just being smart about it."

The Bengals are trying to keep him healthy and get him in shape for the opener at Indianapolis on Sept. 9. He said there's been no discussion about how much he might play in the preseason.

"I definitely need to get back out there, get some plays full-speed," Eifert said. "It's been a while."

Eifert hurt his back during the second game last season, a 13-9 loss to Houston. Backups Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah combined for 52 catches and eight touchdowns during the season.

Eifert's greatest asset is his ability to make catches in tight coverage, the main reason he became Dalton's favorite target near the goal line. The tight end has made one change in the offseason, dropping at least 10 pounds for quickness.

"I feel a lot better Aaron Ekblad Jersey ," he said. "Everyone is always saying you're got to block and hang in there in the trenches, you've got to put on weight, but that's (wrong)."

ON THE SIDE: Linebacker Vontaze Burfict also worked out on the side Friday for the second straight day. He hasn't been cleared to practice. Burfict is suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

ROSS AGAIN: Second-year receiver John Ross made his second impressive catch of camp on a long throw, drawing applause from the crowd of 1,050. Ross missed most of his rookie season with shoulder injuries.

OUCH: Tony McRae fell while trying to break up a pass, and receiver Cody Core landed on the back of the cornerback's right leg. McRae limped to a cart and was taken off for an exam.

http://www.officialusafootballs.com/atlanta-falcons