Bevell: Tyler Lockett is a 'legitimate threat' at receiver, 'light years ahead' of expectations

Bob Condotta on Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett

I think there’s little question he will make a sizeable impact as both a kickoff and punt returner, pulling off long returns for touchdowns of each during the preseason.

What was a little more eye-opening is what Lockett did as a receiver — even if only because that often requires a longer adjustment period — with six receptions for a team-high 129 yards, including a 63-yarder in the finale against the Raiders that was the only touchdown scored by the No. 1 offense in 13 possessions.

Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said this week that the success Lockett had as a receiver has increased the role he figures to have in the offense to start the season.

“For sure,” Bevell said Wednesday. “I think I said up here before, we thought of him, or at least I thought of him as a kick returner. But he’s come in and done a fantastic job of what we’re asking him to do, he’s picked up a lot of the offense. For a young guy, he’s light years ahead of where I thought he’d be. He’s a legitimate threat for us at wide receiver.”

The Seahawks use a heavy rotation at receiver with the one constant being Doug Baldwin over the last few years. But that could change in 2015 if Lockett can prove starter-caliber from the get-go. The team will still be run-first, but they've slowly letting Russell Wilson throw the ball more as he has proven very capable in the passing game.