By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – As rookie quarterback Jeff Kelly started onto the field for one of the first practices of his professional career, a veteran saddled up close, whispered a few words of advice, then gave him a pat on the behind.
A few minutes later, that same veteran stepped into a huddle and gave another rookie, offensive lineman Matt Hill, an encouraging slap on the palm.
For all the things Trent Dilfer has shown Seattle Seahawks fans on the field over the past seven months, his recent reputation as a winner has been built behind the scenes on small tokens like these. Many quarterbacks concentrate more on personal statistics and cementing themselves as leaders, but Dilfer knows the little things will dictate his future success.
“I might talk about it too much, but I really believe that chemistry helps you out in November and December, and how close your team is,” Dilfer said after Friday’s morning minicamp session. “All that starts right now.”
“Right now” would seem to be an unfamiliar concept to Dilfer, whose past two offseasons have been spent in the shadow of others. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in March 2000 and with the Seahawks last August on the accord that he would be the backup quarterback. This spring, for the first time since the 1999 season, he comes in as the No. 1 guy.
It’s a role Dilfer hasn’t had long-term since that fateful day in Nov. 1999 when he broke his collarbone while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Kingdome.
Now he’s re-discovered himself as a starter, and with it a sense of security that has eluded him for two years. He signed a four-year contract in March and recently purchased a home in the Seattle area.
Yet Dilfer prefers not to see his role as being any different.
“I don’t have a big label on my head that says: ‘Starter. Get out of my way,’” Dilfer said with a chuckle. “I’m one of 90 guys who are here this weekend, and I don’t want to be treated any differently. I just want to get better and help this football team get better.”
For Dilfer, that starts now – not in training camp or at the beginning of the regular season. It was part of the reason he basically gave the Seahawks an ultimatum after the 2001 season: Let me start or let me go. Dilfer relished another chance to come in as a starter, then go through the rigors of minicamps and training camp while fusing a group of players into a cohesive unit.
On Friday, his first official minicamp as the starter, Dilfer made his presence known.
“He’s a level-headed type of guy who blends with everybody,” wide receiver Darrell Jackson said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a rookie or a superstar. He just looks at you as a teammate, and he’s going to help you.”
Dilfer quietly held a similar role last season, but he was careful not to upstage starter Matt Hasselbeck in the locker room. On several occasions, Dilfer turned down early-season interview requests, simply saying, “This is Matt’s team.”
When he started to get some playing time, and eventually became the fan favorite, Dilfer allowed his natural leadership skills to work the locker room.
“With a guy like that, there’s no hiding it or faking it,” Jackson said. “It just naturally comes out, whether he’s the backup, starter or what.”
Of all the times when Dilfer’s leadership came out during the 2001 season, offensive lineman Robbie Tobeck most remembers a December win at San Diego. The Seahawks needed a victory to stay in the playoff hunt, and Dilfer threw two long touchdown passes to Jackson to turn an early deficit into a 14-13 lead.
“He didn’t get rattled,” Tobeck said. “The crowd didn’t bother him; nothing bothered him. That’s leadership, when you can do that.”
Although it’s only May, Dilfer is subtly putting his leadership skills on display again. Whether it be a few words of encouragement for a younger teammate or some gentle teasing of a veteran, Dilfer seems to be right at home in his new role.
“I just try to go out and get better every day,” he said. “I want to create an atmosphere around me where people can get better. More than anything else, I want to create an atmosphere where people can succeed. I try to make their job a little bit easier and encourage them. When you do that, you tend to get the best out of people.”
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