KIRKLAND – While the Seattle Seahawks did not quite wrap up their minicamp with a clean bill of health, they’re certainly feeling a lot better these days.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who was limited after undergoing surgery on his non-throwing shoulder four months ago, hopes to be ready to practice without any limitations when the Seahawks reconvene for a minicamp next month.
Center Chris Spencer found out that he will not need a second shoulder surgery.
And as for that crack in Shaun Alexander’s foot? Coach Mike Holmgren said Thursday that the whole thing was blown out of proportion.
“I don’t know why he said what he said,” Holmgren said, referring to Alexander’s Tuesday comments regarding a small crack that still existed in a bone on his left foot. “… He is fine. We X-rayed it after the season was over. You saw him running out here; he is running all over the place.
“That is a non-story, honest to goodness. There is nothing wrong with Shaun Alexander.”
Heading into the two-part minicamp – rookies were available for the mandatory three-day camp that ran through last weekend, followed by a four-day, veteran-only camp that concluded Thursday – the Seahawks’ biggest question marks had to do with the training room.
But many of those questions have been answered.
Hasselbeck showed no signs of pain during his limited action, and he expects to be cleared to participate in the June camp.
“This was a great camp for me as far as where I was coming into the camp and where I am coming out of it,” Hasselbeck said. “I feel so much better throwing the ball. This is the first change-of-direction stuff I’ve done this offseason. And it’s the first time I’ve done anything with my body other than (rehabbing) my left arm.
“So it was a good camp for me. I’m looking forward to June 4, when we come back, and hopefully I’ll be much better throwing the ball and also more involved.”
Quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn was also encouraged by what he saw.
“We tried to get him involved with everything we could,” Zorn said. “He’s not that far away.”
Spencer missed this week’s practices while undergoing rehabilitation for the shoulder in Alabama. Alexander missed the past three days due to a prior commitment, but he looked healthy when he was in attendance.
Among the veterans who missed camp, Holmgren said the team is going to be conservative and hold most of them out until training camp. Safety Mike Green (foot) and offensive lineman Tom Ashworth (hip) could be seen conditioning while practices went on, while defensive back Jordan Babineaux (shoulder), safety Michael Boulware (shoulder/ankle), cornerback Kelly Herndon (ankle) and defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs (knee) went through rehab behind the scenes.
“It is training camp because that let’s let them really heal up, particularly the veteran players,” Holmgren said. “Then, hopefully, we can get through the season and we don’t have the same (injury) problems we had last year.”
As far as what was happening on the field, the Seahawks saw some interesting things that could have an impact on the 2007 season.
Among them:
* Ray Willis. The third-year offensive lineman seems to have taken the next step and is ready to see some playing time. He saw a lot of action at guard during the camp, but Holmgren said he could push Sean Locklear for the starting right tackle position. “I want a competitive situation on the right side of the line,” he said.
* Defensive improvement. It’s a hard area to evaluate when no one’s allowed to tackle, but the Seahawks’ veteran additions seem to have added a little oomph to the defense. Safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell were quick to establish themselves as leaders, and defensive end Patrick Kerney did enough in limited action to show that he’s back from surgery on his pectoral muscle. Hasselbeck said the defense was better at disguising coverages than it has been in recent years.
* Depth. The Seahawks have so much of it that guys like Boulware, Tubbs and Herndon might have a hard time finding playing time when they return from injury.
* Offensive questions. Without Spencer, the offensive line was in a constant state of flux. And neither D.J. Hackett nor Nate Burleson established himself as the favorite to earn the starting split end job.
Overall, the team satisfied its curiosity in regards to the makeup of the 2007 Seahawks.
“There’s a lot of anticipation,” veteran fullback Mack Strong said. “You don’t know what you have to look forward to.
“But we’re going to have a great team. I like the guys, the draft picks and free-agent pickups, and I think they’re going to help us win.”
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