The Seattle Seahawks are reporting to training camp on Wednesday as a team in transition.

After five consecutive seasons with at least 10 victories that included two trips to the Super Bowl, the Seahawks posted a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs in 2017. Seattle had the NFL's No. 1 defense in four of the five seasons, but several of the players who fueled the best half-decade in the Seahawks' history are gone.

Seattle coach Pete Carroll said earlier this year that new leaders would need to emerge for the Seahawks. He mentioned defensive tackle Jarran Reed as a possibility, calling the former Alabama standout "the heart and soul up front" for Seattle.

"It sends chills through my body," Reed said when asked about Carroll's comments during an appearance on "Danny, Dave and Moore" on KIRO-AM in Seattle earlier this month, "and it makes me realize that they do have faith in me, that they believe in me, and, of course, just being able to get along with the players and be vocal and to go out there to show it and to do it. That's one thing that I've always carried with me throughout my life.

"As far as calling myself a leader, I wouldn't do that. I'm just trying to be the best teammate and best player that I can be in the locker room and on the field for my teammates and my guys that I'm out there battling with. If he wants to give me a role, I will embrace it, take it on. Nothing's going to change. I'm going to be myself every day, give it all I've got. I want everybody I'm playing with to be the same -- go out there and play with a lot of physical tenacity and a lot of grit."

Reed joined the Seahawks from Alabama as the 49th player picked in the 2016 NFL Draft.

As a rookie, Reed started five games, played 44 percent of Seattle's defensive snaps and made 34 tackles, including 1.5 sacks. He also started both of the Seahawks' playoff games.

In his second NFL season, Reed started all 15 games he played and was on the field for 56 percent of Seattle's defensive snaps. He had 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

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Among the players missing from the Seahawks' defense in 2018 are cornerback Richard Sherman and strong safety Kam Chancellor, a pair of four-time Pro Bowlers. Ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril had each been with the Seattle defense for five seasons and have four Pro Bowl invitations between them. Also gone are end Sheldon Richardson and outside linebacker Michael Wilhoite, who were starters last season.

Free safety Earl Thomas could join the departed on defense. He wants a contract extension, has said he won't report to training camp without one and is pushing for a trade after eight seasons, including six Pro Bowl campaigns, in Seattle.

Reed said Seahawks' fans shouldn't worry.

"You lose those guys, but you pick up the younger guys that's in their steps, such as myself, Frank Clark, Naz Jones, Brandon Jackson, Dion Jordan," Reed said. "I don't think there's anything to worry about. Those guys left us in great hands. We learned from the best. So everybody's got to trust us and trust that we're going to go out and do our job. I don't think nobody should be worried because we're all hungry, especially to show the world."

Reed said he was looking forward to reporting to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington, on Wednesday for the start of training camp.

"I'm always getting excited to get back to work," Reed said. "Never nervous. This is my family, man. This is my distant family away from home. I'm always excited to get back, see the guys, see everybody. It's going to be like a family reunion when we get back. Everybody's going to be slapping fives and smiling -- until the day we put the pads on. Then we'll be arguing with each other."

The Seahawks will kick off their four-game preseason schedule on Aug. 9 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.