CHENEY – After 13 consecutive days of practices, meetings and scrimmages, the Seattle Seahawks get a reprieve of sorts today.
The Seahawks will travel to Green Bay, then play a Monday night game against the Packers in their preseason opener.
“They’re tired of hitting one another,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “They look forward to the games.”
Fans hoping to see extended appearances by Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and Chad Brown might be disappointed. The first preseason game often includes cameos by the starters, followed by extended playing time from some of the players fighting for roster spots.
One player who has the ability to create some excitement is second-year quarterback Seneca Wallace, a fourth-round pick last year.
Wallace played well in the 2003 preseason, but quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn said he’s a much better player this year.
Wallace is more comfortable in the offense, as he showed in extended playing time at practices last week.
“Last year, (offensive coordinator Gil Haskell) just couldn’t have him in there,” Zorn said. “Gil would physically tighten up when I had Seneca in there. He’d look at me and go, ‘Are you sure he can run this play?’
“Now, Seneca’s a lot more confident. He’s making the offense run as it’s designed.”
Defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, the first-round draft pick who missed the first eight days of camp, is unlikely to play.
Cornerback Bobby Taylor, linebacker Chad Brown and offensive linemen Chris Terry and Steve Hutchinson took routine days off last week, and it is unclear whether they will play in Monday’s game.
Fresh leg: This time last year, Josh Brown’s right leg was beginning to feel like Jell-o.
Then a rookie, Brown came to Seahawks camp as the only placekicker on the roster. He spent practices kicking field goal after field goal, until his leg got so tired that the team signed free agent Remy Hamilton to provide temporary relief.
His 2004 routine involves a lot less work, in part because of the presence of rookie free agent Tyler Fredrickson.
“It’s nice,” Brown said. “I’m able to focus mentally and able to kick. I’m able to make the five kicks that I get work for me.
“I work smarter and not necessarily harder. That’s the key this year.”
Brown admits that his leg lost strength by December of last season, and not just because of the over-exertion at training camp.
“I was very worn down,” he said. “As the season wears on, your mind weighs heavy, and the pressure of the job in the first year. Everything gets heavy and makes your body heavy.”
To-beck, beck, beck …: During early drills of each practice, the defense works on one field, and the offense on the other.
Offensive lineman Robbie Tobeck was somewhere in between Saturday morning.
The 298-pound center was working as a defensive tackle on a scout team made up of offensive players. When quarterback Seneca Wallace dropped back to throw, Tobeck fell into pass coverage, intercepted the pass, and ran untouched down the right sideline.
He punctuated the touchdown with a spike while the hundreds of fans gave him an enthusiastic ovation.
“Once I caught it, I knew no one was going to catch me,” Tobeck cracked, “because of, you know, the speed.”
For the record, Tobeck has scored one touchdown in his NFL career. He was playing tight end for the Atlanta Falcons and caught a short pass in the corner of the end zone.
That touchdown earned Tobeck a Chris Berman nickname on SportsCenter: To-beck, beck, beck.
Robinson injured: Wide receiver Koren Robinson strained his quadricep during Saturday’s practice and is one of 12 players not making the trip today.
Some of the others include quarterbacks Trent Dilfer (back) and Brock Huard (back), offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson (general soreness), defensive end Grant Wistrom (heel), wide receiver Taco Wallace (abdominal strain) and cornerback Kris Richard (ankle).
Quick slants: The Seahawks canceled their afternoon session Saturday, limiting the team to one practice. … Rookie Marcus Tubbs saw limited action in team and pass-rushing drills, marking the first time he’s taken part in those drills. Right guard Chris Gray got the better of him during two one-on-one pass-block sessions. Tubbs will travel to Green Bay and could play Monday night … Receiver Darrell Jackson has been relatively consistent catching the ball this camp, but he dropped one long pass over the middle during Saturday’s session. … Cornerback Brad Franklin had the play of the day, intercepting a Seneca Wallace pass in the red zone and running it all the way back to end the two-minute drill.
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