By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – Chad Eaton loves getting the chance to play alongside Lamar King again, and he can’t wait to get John Randle back. In fact, there are a lot of things about the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive line that has Eaton filled with excitement.
But when the subject turns to Seattle’s linebacking corps, Eaton takes on a different mood altogether. The 30-year-old defensive tackle said Tuesday that he wishes starters Chad Brown, Levon Kirkland and Anthony Simmons were at this week’s voluntary minicamp.
“That would have made things even better,” Eaton said. “You’ve got to hold up to your end of it. Levon’s only been in this defense for one year, and I’m looking for him to step up and be a big-time part of what we do. If you want to be a captain, and you want to be a leader, you’ve got to be here for all the (stuff). I mean, I don’t want to be here right now. But I have to help out the younger guys here.”
All three linebackers have excused absences and might join the team sometime before minicamp ends next Wednesday. Brown is attending his daughter’s kindergarten graduation, Kirkland is on his honeymoon and Simmons is attending classes toward his degree at Clemson University in South Carolina. But Eaton wishes they were able to attend the practices.
“Some guys need to take this job more serious,” Eaton said. “It’s too lackadaisical.”
As for his fellow d-linemen, Eaton expects a solid season. The biggest key will be the return of King, who has missed 10 games over the past two seasons due to a variety of injuries.
“I’ve been around him a year now,” Eaton said, “so I know he trains hard, I know he works out hard, and I know he gets treatment. I don’t know if it was just a bad-luck year or what. But we’re expecting a ton out of Lamar. And if Lamar’s on, it’ll make John’s and my job a lot easier.
“I watched film of (King) when he was a rookie, and he did things that were so amazing. And he didn’t even know what he was doing. Now you add a little technique to that, a little confidence from being a veteran, and I think he’ll be good for us.”
On the mend: Randle is recovering from surgery on his left knee to repair cartilage damage he suffered last season. He won’t practice this week, and is expected to miss the entire preseason, but should be ready for the season opener in September.
“I could have continued to play like I did last year,” said Randle, who went to the Pro Bowl in February. “But it was a little bothersome at times. I just wanted to get it out of the way, and I think it can help me to play even better.”
Eaton doesn’t expect the injury to be a setback.
“John will probably be ready in July,” he said. “Our thing with John is, he has miles on him. If you have a car with miles on it, you keep it in the garage, then you pull it out on the nice days. Our nice days here are Sundays (in the fall).
“I don’t care if John doesn’t practice all year long, because I know when John Randle suits up on Sundays, he does some amazing things.”
Chomping at the bit: Linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski was eager to get back on the practice field, even though he had two surgeries within 10 days of each other in February.
Kacyvenski, coming back from surgeries on his right middle finger and his left shoulder, returned to the field this week with the kind of passion that he’s displayed throughout his two-year NFL career.
“I’m so glad they let me come back out this time,” he said Tuesday. “It was a little iffy at first, but I showed them the last two days that I’m fine.”
Kacyvenski has been a key component to Seattle’s special teams over his career, but he is hoping to see more playing time in the defensive set during the upcoming season. He is Kirkland’s backup at middle linebacker, a position where he saw limited action in 2001.
“I love the label of being a special teams guy,” Kacyvenski said, “but I’d also love the label of being a special teams guy and a linebacker.”
Cornering the position: Even though second-year player Ken Lucas is listed as the starting right cornerback, there is no guarantee he’ll win the position.
But if Tuesday’s practice was any indication, Lucas does not seem like he’s ready to give up the job.
“A guy will make more progress between his first and second year than at any other period of time in his career,” defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell said. “He certainly has looked good. Last year he showed some real flashes of being a player, and we hope he continues to live up to his potential – which I believe is that of a starting cornerback in this league.”
Willie Williams, who is working at the left cornerback until Shawn Springs returns, and Doug Evans are challenging Lucas for the starting position.
Quick slants: Among the people attending Tuesday’s practice was Inglemoor High School football player Sean Marchak. The 18-year-old was in the news in April after being hospitalized following an attack at Peter Kirk Park in Kirkland. … Rookie defensive end Anton Palepoi, a second-round draft pick, joined the team for Tuesday’s practice after missing the previous day’s session. … The Seahawks expect to start selling tickets for individual games sometime next month. Season and charter tickets are currently available at 1-888-NFL-HAWK.
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