Seahawks notes: Gilbertson happy with his role

Published 11:25 pm Friday, August 1, 2008

KIRKLAND — After going from assistant offensive line coach to special assistant to wide receivers coach in a span of less than four years, Keith Gilbertson seems to be on the fast track in his profession — again.

Only this time, Gilbertson has limits to where he wants his career to go. When it comes to being a head coach, the Seattle Seahawks’ 60-year-old assistant would just as soon leave that to others.

“I’ve had enough of that,” the former University of Washington football coach said Friday. “That last 13 months across the lake, that was plenty. That would cure anybody.”

Gilbertson had three stints as a head football coach: at Idaho, Cal and UW. His last gig, which ended after a 1-10 season in 2004, left a bad taste in his mouth.

Now Gilbertson is focused on the present, not the past or his career path for the future.

“Right now, I just want to do the best job tomorrow that I can do,” he said. “And then I’ll get up the next day and try to do it again.

“A lot of things are behind me,” the Snohomish native added. “I’ve been a head coach three times. I’ve enjoyed some of them immensely, and some of them not so good. I’ve been a coordinator for a lot of years at a lot of schools. So for me now, it’s just coaching and being accountable to the rest of the staff and the people I coach. And that’s plenty.”

Gilbertson was promoted to wide receivers coach after Nolan Cromwell left to take the offensive coordinator position at Texas A&M.

“I’m enjoying it,” said Gilbertson, who served as Seahawks offensive coordinator in the 1990s before joining Rick Neuheisel’s staff at UW.

The Seahawks’ receivers are enjoying Gilbertson. But that doesn’t mean it’s all fun and games.

“The misconception from the outside looking in is that we’re just having fun. But that guy gets after it,” Nate Burleson said. “He’s chewed every single one of us out at least one time.

“One thing that really sticks out on the field is he has a great amount of knowledge on the field — not just of the receivers but across the board.”

Bryant out a month: Rookie defensive tackle Red Bryant was scheduled to undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee Friday, sidelining him four to five weeks. Bryant hurt his knee earlier this week, forcing him out of Thursday and Friday practices.

He was battling for playing time at a position that has plenty of depth. Starters Brandon Mebane and Rocky Bernard return from the 2007 team, while former starter Marcus Tubbs is close to returning from a serious knee injury. Craig Terrill and former University of Washington star Larry Tripplett have plenty of NFL experience.

Bryant was a fourth-round pick in the April draft. He is engaged to Janelle Green, the daughter of former Seahawk Jacob Green.

Scrimmage today: Holmgren said that today’s intrasquad scrimmage at Qwest Field can help the team start making evaluations.

“I target a handful of players that are in very competitive situations to making the roster,” he said. “I think in fairness, you have to let those guys show. And the scrimmage is actually the best place, because the coaches aren’t there (on the field). It’s like a game, and we see how they’ve processed what we’ve done so far without help.”

Today’s scrimmage is not like a typical game. The Seahawks go through game-like situations such as short yardage, red zone and two-minute offense, but score is not kept.

Coug lover: Holmgren has been impressed with the way Michael Bumpus, a rookie wide receiver from Washington State, approaches his job.

“Michael’s running uphill. The odds are against Michael a little bit — just from the nature of the veteran players and who’s here and the roster size and all that,” Holmgren said. “But clearly, that’s not affecting how he’s going after it, and I appreciate that. I think you try and create spots for players either on special teams or in the return game who understand.”

Quick slants: Tripplett (knee) and defensive lineman Chris Cooper (leg) did not practice Friday. … Converted guard Mansfield Wrotto continued to struggle with his snapping duties Friday. Wrotto is working as the No. 2 center behind Steve Vallos until veterans Chris Spencer and Chris Gray return from back injuries. Both players could return as soon as next week.