Published: Sunday, May 4, 2008
Seahawks' Marshall says it's tough to evaluate 'guys in their underwear'
Associated Press
KIRKLAND -- Projecting and evaluating the defensive potential of the Seattle Seahawks based on a spring minicamp is not the most optimum circumstance.
As defensive coordinator John Marshall said Sunday, "It's tough to tell with five practices for guys in their underwear."
The players have had just three days of without pads. At least a dozen players did not participate because of injuries. They are just coming out of winter and getting back into playing shape and the team had to work in a fair number of draft choices and free agents.
"At this point you don't know totally where the fit is going to be," Marshall said, "but I like the expectations to where the fit could be."
The defense was without some key players because of offseason surgeries, such as DE Patrick Kerney (shoulder), DT Marcus Tubbs (knee), DT Rocky Bernard (foot) and SS Mike Green (foot).
Marshall also got his first looks at free agents signees such as LB D.D. Lewis, DE Chris Cooper, CB Omare Lowe, DT Larry Tripplett, LB Wesly Mallard and CB Dalton Bell, along with high profile draft choices DE Lawrence Jackson (first round) and DT Red Bryant (fourth round).
Marshall said the front office did an outstanding job in evaluating the new players.
"There is potential in some areas we need to be stronger in. The biggest area is consistency of production, game in and game out," he said. "Character-wise , attitude-wise, work ethic-wise, that's a start. As we go through the training camp, the physical-ness of that, the preseason games, then we'll have a good feel where they all will fit in."
Special teams: New place-kicker Brandon Coutu stretched out his leg in the far fields and it stretched a long way.
Coutu, a seventh-round choice out of Georgia who was considered the best kicker in the country, showed his range in the morning practice session. He hit a field goal from 57 yards out and the balls was still 10 feet or so above the crossbar.
He tried a couple more kicks from 63 yards. One fell about 4 yards short and the other at least 10 yards short.
What's interesting about Coutu, who is in competition with veteran Olindo Mare for the spot, is that he uses a two-step approach to kick the ball instead of three steps, without sacrificing distance. What that means is he can get the kick off quicker, before the line can close in, and perhaps the spot can be a bit closer to the line of scrimmage.
Minicamp ends: The minicamp ended Sunday for all the drafted players and any college players who signed as free agents. By NFL rule, those college players can not participate again with the teams until after their college class graduates. For some, such as Notre Dame TE John Carlson, that's in just a couple weeks. Others, however, might have to wait until June.
The camp continues for the next four days for veterans and free agents. There will be one morning practice each day, lasting between one to two hours.
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