KIRKLAND – If the Seattle Seahawks were to give out awards for the two-week minicamp that wraps up today, the co-most valuable player honors might well go to Ray Willis and Pat Ross.
Uhhhh … who?
Not exactly household names, Willis and Ross have been two big reasons why the Seahawks were able to practice. The little-used offensive linemen – Ross was on the practice squad last season, while Willis was on the inactive list for 12 of the 18 games despite a clean bill of health – have filled in on a depleted unit while teammates took time off.
“It’s a good thing Ray Willis started his offseason workout the minute the (2006) season ended, because he took every snap at left tackle today,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said after Willis filled in for Walter Jones at Wednesday’s practice. “Right now, he looks like he played an entire game.
“When guys don’t come to this camp – yes, it’s voluntary, but – all you’re doing is putting more stress on your buddies. That’s just what happens. You’re hurting your buddies.”
Regardless of why some of the other linemen have been missing, Willis has been there to fill the void without complaint. He worked as the starting right guard while Chris Gray got his family moved from Alabama last week, and then Willis slid over to fill in for Jones this week.
Ross, meanwhile, has taken nearly every snap with the first team, and several with the No. 2 offense, while starting center Chris Spencer recovers from shoulder surgery. But Ross, a Boston College product who practiced with the Seahawks last season but was unable to play, shrugged off the talk about being overworked.
“They put us through a pretty good offseason conditioning program,” he said. “The most we do at one time is 20 plays, and you do more than that in a game. So 20 plays isn’t that bad.”
Both Ross and Willis agree that the extra work has been worth it. In terms of performing in front of the coaches, the current minicamp has been an opportunity like no other.
“I’ve just got to play well, make the most of it, and show the coaches that I can do it,” Ross said.
Added Willis: “It’s a great opportunity to get out there and be competitive.”
Willis has been waiting for any opportunity he can get. The third-year player has seen action in just seven NFL games, mostly on special teams.
He had never played guard – at any level – but eagerly offered to learn the position this summer so that he could be more versatile. Gray’s recent absence, along with injuries to veterans Floyd Womack and Tom Ashworth, opened the door for plenty of practice repetitions.
Even when Willis broke a bone in his left hand last week, he kept working. He’s had a cast put on before each practice and participated despite a club-like apparatus that leaves him without the use of his fingers.
“We have a great training staff, and they said it was OK for me to go out there, so I just wanted to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he said.
Offensive line coach Bill Laveroni said Willis has shown the coaching staff a lot during the two summer minicamps.
“He’s always been a hard worker. He’s always been the consummate pro,” Laveroni said. “Now the question is, can he do it in the games? When we get to training camp, we’ll see how he can do with the pads on.”
When the hitting starts at training camp late next month, the Seahawks’ first-string offensive line will have to play catch-up. There was such a lack of continuity during the minicamp – during one practice earlier this week, the No. 1 line included Willis, Ross and undrafted rookie Kyle Williams – that the veterans will be trying to remember what it’s like to play together.
“We’re going to go into training camp, and that’s where we should have everybody there,” Laveroni said. “That’s where we’ll develop that chemistry. We’ll be able to mold them into a unit there.”
Notes: Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu was held out of practice for the second consecutive day, while defensive tackle Russell Davis and cornerback Pete Hunter (hamstring) joined him on the sidelines. … Locklear returned to practice after taking off the previous day for personal reasons. Jones and running back Shaun Alexander were among those not in attendance. … Cornerback Kelly Jennings made several nice plays at Wednesday’s practice. On offense, tight end Marcus Pollard and wide receiver Nate Burleson stood out.
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