By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – No quarterbacks were being force-fed the offense in preparation for being the starter. No veteran defensive players were being asked to come in and take over as new leaders.
When the Seattle Seahawks opened their annual June minicamp Monday morning, it didn’t have the same question marks that hovered around past camps. This time around, there was a sense of familiarity in the air.
“These are pretty much the same guys from last year,” said wide receiver Darrell Jackson, one of 52 Seahawks returning from last season’s team. “Everybody knows each other. Everybody wants to work, and it feels more comfortable. We get to laugh a little more instead of being stressed.”
This summer’s minicamp has a different set of goals in mind. Last year was about bringing a group of players together to form some sort of cohesive unit. This offseason is based more on continuity.
“It is better,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “We should have fewer mistakes. And practice is pretty up-tempo. I like what I’m seeing.”
Among the highlights of Monday’s minicamp were the partial returns of two veteran players. Cornerback Shawn Springs and right tackle Chris McIntosh both took part in limited drills while recovering from injuries.
Springs, who is trying to come back from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss a good part of the 2001 season, took part in team drills that involved backpedaling and change of motion. But when it came time for 11-on-11, he watched from the sidelines. He will continue to practice on a limited basis until training camp begins next month at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
After Monday’s session, Springs said that he’s feeling fine and can run at full speed. He also showed typical training-camp confidence.
“When we get back to camp,” Springs said, “(the media will) all be like, ‘What is Springs doing?’ And by the third day, you’ll all be like, ‘He’s back. Blah blah blah blah. He’s better than ever now.’ And then you’ll be like, ‘He looked better than he did coming to camp last year. Blah blah blah. He’s still big. His arms are still big. Hopefully he doesn’t get suspended again this year. Blah blah blah.’
“I will say this: Be the first one to jump on the bandwagon, and you might be happy.”
McIntosh, meanwhile, will see more extensive action during the next six minicamp sessions. After undergoing a January procedure to repair a bone spur in one of his vertebrae, McIntosh is finally back on the field for the first time in six months.
“Today was one of those days where it felt good to get out there, but I was just rusty,” he said Monday. “It’s been a long time. I was getting sick of standing there.”
Not all of the players were on hand. All three starting linebackers – Chad Brown, Levon Kirkland and Anthony Simmons – had excused absences from the voluntary camp. Running back Shaun Alexander, like Kirkland a newlywed, is on a honeymoon. And starting left tackle Walter Jones is still sitting out while the team tries to carve out a long-term contract for him.
The Seahawks’ top three draft choices were also missing because of an NFL rule that does not allow rookies to attend weekday minicamps if their respective schools are still in session. That means tight end Jerramy Stevens (University of Washington), running back Maurice Morris (Oregon) and defensive end Anton Palepoi (Nevada-Las Vegas) will have to wait about six more weeks before they can practice with their new teammates.
Those who were in attendance Monday got a chance to get reacquainted and try to pick up where they left off in 2001.
“Each minicamp, you try to get a little bit better,” starting quarterback Trent Dilfer said. “You want to see a togetherness with the football team. You want to see a tempo, an identity start to establish itself. Then when you go into training camp, you’re not re-learning stuff.”
As one of only two Seahawks who have won a Super Bowl, Dilfer knows how important minicamps are to a team’s success. But he’s also quick to point out that this team has a long way to go before it is ready for the 2002 season.
“It’s hard to know anything,” he said, “until the pads come on.”
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