CHENEY – While Tuesday’s morning practice might have looked like an ordinary session to the untrained eye, its wealth of participation held special significance.
For the first time since last October, the Seattle Seahawks had all 11 projected defensive starters on the field at the same time.
Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu returned after missing nearly a week of action with a strained hamstring, while defensive linemen Grant Wistrom and Rocky Bernard were back practicing with the first team.
Add in safeties Ken Hamlin (missed final 15 weeks of 2005 season due to head injuries suffered in an October altercation) and Michael Boulware (missed all the minicamps and part of training camp following knee surgery), and the Seahawks finally had their full compliment of defensive players on the field together.
“It was great. It really was,” defensive coordinator John Marshall said. ” (Tatupu, Wistrom and Bernard) have got fresh legs, so there was enthusiasm there.”
The defense did seem to have an extra bounce in its step Tuesday, celebrating a pair of plays in which quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had to throw the ball away, then swarming Boulware after he intercepted a pass that was tipped by cornerback Kelly Herndon.
“It feels good to see all the right faces in the huddle,” defensive end Bryce Fisher said. “Getting Grant back and Rocky back, that’s really going to help our team get better.
“We still have two preseason games, and those guys are going to have to get up to speed. As far as getting them back: the earlier, the better.”
Jackson, Tubbs still out: The only key component missing from Seattle’s defense was reserve tackle Marcus Tubbs, who is still about a week away from returning to the field because of an Achilles injury that required offseason surgery. Wide receiver Darrell Jackson (knee) is also sidelined until next week.
Coach Mike Holmgren initially thought both players would practice Tuesday, but their return date has been pushed back.
“I was hoping I’d get them on the field a little bit this week,” Holmgren said, “but we have a short week, and I just want them right when they come back.”
Holmgren was asked specifically about his concern with Jackson’s return from March knee surgery.
“I’m not frustrated,” he said. “He (Jackson) felt in his own mind that he could be ready at a certain time, and it’s pretty close to the time we’re going to be ready. I thought I might have him a week earlier, but as long as I have him for the first game (of the regular season on Sept. 10).”
Womack back: Left guard Floyd Womack returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday, but Rob Sims continued to work with the first team.
Womack did not take part in any team drills.
“I was a little bit nervous today because I didn’t want to re-injure it,” Womack said Tuesday morning. “But I got through it OK.”
Happy returns: After giving up a long run on a fake punt and failing to corral an onside kick, the Seahawks’ special teams had a mostly forgettable showing in Sunday’s win over Indy.
Lost in the shuffle were a pair of early returns that gave the team hope for better things.
Josh Scobey rambled 55 yards on the first kickoff return of the game, while Peter Warrick went 25 yards on his first punt return.
“It always feels good to get a nice return to get the offense good field position,” Scobey said. “That’s one thing we’ve been working on at camp, trying to get the timing down and getting in rhythm.”
Scobey said he expects the return game to improve over last year because the players have worked together all offseason.
“We’re that much better than we were this time last year because guys have been here,” said Scobey, who joined the Seahawks one year ago today after being cut by the Arizona Cardinals. “It’s not like last year, when we got thrown into the fire. It’s all about the timing and all about guys trusting each other.”
Quick slants: Wide receiver Bobby Engram missed Tuesday’s practice because he was in South Carolina attending to a personal matter. … Rookie fullback David Kirtman suffered a bruised quadriceps in Sunday’s game and did not participate in Tuesday practices. … Wide receiver D.J. Hackett participated in team drills for the first time in three weeks. He made a couple nice catches but also dropped a ball. … A helmet-less Robbie Tobeck snapped a few balls for a passing drill. Tobeck is expected to miss a few more days while he recovers from surgery on his left (non-snapping) elbow.
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