We're now one week and counting until training camp 2008 begins for the Seattle Seahawks.
The rookies, injured players and quarterbacks report on Tuesday for their physicals and meetings, while the rest of the veterans are slated for Thursday. The first official practice begins Friday morning at the Kirkland Headquarters with the onset of two practices a day.
There are still the top four draft choices to sign, with roster movement necessary to make room for them as they sign so not to surpass the maximum number of 80 for training camp.
The team breaks camp on Aug. 21 and by that time the organization will have moved from Kirkland to the new Virginia Mason Athletic Center on the east shore of Lake Washington in Renton. And at that point, the schedule will transition to one full practice a day, similar to the regular season schedule.
The preseason opens Friday, Aug. 8 at Minnesota against the Vikings, followed by a home game with the Chicago Bears on Aug. 16, at San Diego on August 25 and the preseason finale is Aug. 29 with the Oakland Raiders at Qwest Field.
The Seahawks open the regular season at Buffalo against the Bills on Sept. 7, with the San Francisco 49ers the guest for the home opener Sept. 14 at Qwest Field.
The following represent some of the e-mails received this past week from the readers:
From: Mike B.
Mike,
The Patriots may have the lightest strength of schedule, maybe the lightest in NFL history. I think it is a very good chance the Pats will be undefeated coming into Seattle on Dec 12. this could be the most exciting game played in Qwest Field. We may experience the loudest game ever! Maybe even more so than the NFC Championship game against the Panthers in '05. It will be a Sunday Night Prime time game. This may be Seattle's chance to prove to the world that we have a team capable of going to the "Big Show" and put the Hawks on the NFL map.
Mike,
It's a fascinating theory about what will be, but that's the great thing about the NFL. There is absolutely no way of predicting what will happen in this injury-riddled league. Perhaps the Patriots look like they are playing the weakest schedule - despite playing all the division winners. But you never know what will happen to the Patriots along the way either.
Regardless, it will be a spectacular night at Qwest Field and the national audience will be there. But it's a long season. The best way to convince everybody of the Seahawks prowess is to keep on winning right through the playoffs. And by the way, five consecutive trips to the playoffs, including the last four NFC West titles have the Seahawks in a prominent spot on the NFL map - it just happens to be too many miles away from the rest of the league. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Josh
Mike,
I'll make this nice and quick. First off I believe John Carlson is going to turn into a dominant receiver like Chris Cooley or like a skinnier Jason Whitten maybe. How do you think he'll fit in this year and do you think he is going to be a big part of our passing game or blocking game? Also I am overly excited for the Hawks to start this year. I'm a season ticket holder and every game is simply loud and amazing.
And one more thing, I see Julius Jones running for over a thousand yards with around 15 touchdowns this season. And also T.J. Duckett with some good numbers too. What are you seeing out of our running backs in the upcoming season?
Josh,
Regarding Carlson, the staff concluded long before the draft that he was the best overall package of skills for the Seahawks offense. He has good enough speed, and good athleticism to be a very good receiver. He also has the size, strength and savvy to be a consistently very good blocker. The hope is that all of that comes to fruition this season if only because he hung around for his senior year at Notre Dame has the maturity to adjust.
As for Jones, he has looked very quick hitting the line and did a good job of catching the ball in the flat. Certainly the expectations are that he can put up numbers, but there is also the thought of a productive ground game by committee too - including Duckett, Mo Morris and Leonard Weaver. Add the improvements to the offensive line and the growth should be obvious. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: James
Mike,
With the recent news of Brett Favre wanting to be released so he can make a return do you think Seattle will try to snatch him up? I know the staff is perfectly happy with Matt Hasselbeck as am I so do you think Favre would accept being a backup? I know he wants to start but the attraction is being with a Super Bowl contender and to be reunited with Mike Holmgren for his final season and that would also freeing up Seneca Wallace to be used however needed.
James,
What a wild and crazy thought man ... really. The Seahawks already have a Pro Bowl
quarterback, and there is virtually no chance Favre would move anywhere to be a backup. Hasselbeck has earned the respect of not only his teammates, fans and staff, but the rest of the NFL. He is the Seahawks quarterback and Wallace is the backup, with hopes that Charlie Frye can prove to be a solid enough backup that Wallace can contribute as a receiver as well.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: David
Mike,
First of all I think we should let Justin Forsett be a kick returner and John Carlson and Brandon Coutu start and let Seneca Wallace play more wide receiver. And I think the Seahawks will be 8-0 at home, 6-2 away for a 14-2 record and will have homefield advantage, with the NFC and get our first Super Bowl title for Mike Holmgren's final year. It will be fifth NFC West title in a row and 12 players will go to the Pro Bowl.
David,
Well I'm glad that's settled. Nobody I've spoken to has had such a clear picture on what it will take to win the NFC again and be primed to win the Super Bowl XLIII. I'm just not quite sure that the Forsett, Carlson, Coutu and Wallace combo is all it will take.
Seriously, it will be fun to watch how Forsett is able to contribute. He showed good hands and speed in minicamp. Carlson improved daily and Coutu is certainly competitive with Olindo Mare for the place-kicking job. Wallace is clearly the backup quarterback for now, so we'll just have to wait and see how this all pans out. Who knows? Maybe you'll prove to be clairvoyant. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Brian
Mike,
I know who the Hawks' starting linebackers are, as well as Lance Laury and D.D. Lewis. How is Will Herring progressing, and what can you tell me about the other three backup linebackers on the roster.
Brian,
Herring showed great progress last season despite a balky knee. He's very bright, has great instincts, and made a big impact on special teams as a rookie. He has made the transition from safety early in his collegiate career to linebacker and grown into a high-level prospect for the big picture. The presumption is he will only continue to improve.
The trio competing to make the squad right now fit the mold of the smaller, quicker linebackers that team president Tim Ruskell likes to build his team around. A former second-team All-Pac 10 linebacker at Oregon, Wesly Mallard is the veteran of the group, a 2002 sixth round pick of the Giants. At 6-1, 230, Mallard played three years in New York, and has been on the rosters in New England, Tampa Bay, and Denver since. The two rookies are 6-foot, 240-pound David Hawthorne from Texas Christian, and 5-10, 225-pound Matt Castelo from San Jose State. Hawthorne and Castelo looked particularly quick at minicamp, but we'll learn a lot more once the pads go on in training camp. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Dan
Mike,
I think that the Seahawks have made some really good moves. I think the best thing they did was picking up Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett and drafting the fullback Owen Schmitt. I really think that this is going to help in the red zone. I also think that Jones is poised to have a career year in Seattle. The other thing I thought was smart was picking the long snapper Tyler Schmitt. Even though wasn't a popular pick with other fans, but I like I like it because it puts a person that is specialized in doing just that and it keeps the starter off the field for another play.
However, I have been a Seahawks fan for 23 years and sometimes get too over optimistic. What are your thoughts on Jones and the expected improved play in the red zone?
Dan,
Just as shoring up the secondary was the primary goal going into last season, the running game was the issue this offseason. It started on the line with new coaches Mike Solari and Mike DeBord, continued with running back coach Kasey Dunn, and the additions of guard Mike Wahle, plus Jones, Duckett and drafting Schmitt. Perhaps most underrated in the forecast is Leonard Weaver now having 13 games as a starter (including two playoff games) under his belt. So yes, the short-yardage game should be considerably better all over the field, including the red zone.
As for drafting Tyler Schmitt, because the Seahawks had no other specific needs at that point and this guy was the best available, so it was a great pick. Rarely does a team go through three snappers as the Seahawks did last season, and he should be a welcome relief from that headache. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Charles
Mike,
I am a Seahawks fan in Pennsylvania. Though I am originally from Lakewood, Wash., I would just like everyone to know the fan base on the east coast is growing. I met a lot of Seahawks fans out here, and I see a lot of Seahawks banners. My concern is the lack of respect from so many national sports reports. Because of this, I get all of my reports from the Internet and the NFL network, and put a ban on everything else. I would like to have other Seahawks fan do this with me till we get the respect we deserve. Just so people out in Seattle know the truth, even most Steelers fans think we were robbed in Super Bowl XL.
Charles,
It never ceases to amaze me how riled up people get over national recognition for their respective teams. All that really matters is who the season plays out, and it doesn't matter how others perceive them. However, one of the great ancillary effects of winning the 2005 NFC Championship was the newly-found recognition that not only Hasselbeck, but unsung heroes such as Mack Strong and Robbie Tobeck received for being part of such a consistently productive offense.
As for getting robbed in Super Bowl XL, well, it's a game that will be replayed in the heads of everybody involved with the Seahawks organization of 2005. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Jason
Mike,
I'd like to know what the team is going to do this year with the offensive line. Do you think they have the squad they need to protect Hasselbeck and improve on the running lanes?
Jason,
As I've previously explained, the running game was the most prominent offseason project, including the hiring of coaches Solari, DeBord and Dunn. Wahle is just two years removed from the Pro Bowl at left guard, and another season - particular with the coaching focus that was so obvious in minicamp - should show significant progress with center Chris Spencer and right guard Rob Sims. At tackle, Walter Jones and Sean Locklear are as solid a duo as any in the NFC.
There also is depth, with Chris Gray eminently capable at both guard spots and center, while Floyd Womack has proven to be adept at every position but center. Toss in youngsters Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto and Steve Vallos, and the staff appears to be pleased for now and the future. To be sure, the line has gone through transition, but the steps taken this offseason have gotten them back on course. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Joe
Mike,
I was thinking through our defensive front seven and trying to determine who will be our sack leader this year. Patrick Kerney would be the obvious choice. However with his dominance and public success last year, he seems likely to be a constant recipient of double teams and attention from opposing offenses. With Darryl Tapp getting better and Julian Peterson in the mix, I really could see Lawrence Jackson getting little attention, not being someone the other team worries about, and having a rookie year for the books because of it. What are your thoughts on our sack potential this year?
Joe,
The sack potential for this season is every bit as good - or better - than it has been the past three years as one of the best in the NFL. The question hasn't been about the numbers, which are always good, as much as consistently pressuring quarterbacks without having to blitz - although linebackers Julian Peterson and Leroy Hill are obviously two exceptional pass-rushers. Even more specifically, they need increase their effectiveness on the road to at least approach the success at home.
We'll have to see how the tackles play out among Rocky Bernard, Brandon Mebane, Marcus Tubbs, Red Bryant, Larry Tripplett and Craig Terrill to see what kind of pressure they can establish up the middle. nonetheless expectations are there for Kerney, Tapp, Jackson and improving Baraka Atkins from the edge. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Ryan
Mike,
Thanks answering the questions of the die hard Seahawks fans. I heard that Nate Burleson might not return kicks this year due to his increased role as the No. 2 wide receiver. Is this true? I would hate to see one of the best kick-return specialists in the NFL sidelined. Would Josh Wilson be filling in?
Mike,
It's tough to get a handle on what will happen with Burleson's kick-returning role this season, particularly kickoffs. Wilson will have a significant presence returning kickoffs with his speed and quickness that allowed him to break a big touchdown return at St. Louis. But at some point they'll have to cut back with Burleson, and that could be the slot. Third-year wide receiver Ben Obomanu or possibly rookie Justin Forsett could be candidates.
It's much tougher to find someone to return punts like he has in franchise record-setting-fashion. That too could fall to Obomanu or one of the young receivers, depending how the roles shake out during training camp. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
Comments
7/9/08 Mailbag with Mike Kahn
By Mike Kahn
Seahawks Insider
Believe it or not, training camp 2008 begins for the Seahawks in two weeks and the momentum is building with plenty of work still to be done.
Erik Kennedy's equipment staff has prepared the locker room in oversized fashion and all the equipment is in order for the throng of veterans and rookies that will fill the place. Sam Ramsden and his trainers have had the offseason to work with rehabbing players and now hope they are physically and mentally prepared for camp, while the field, maintenance and security crews have everything in order for the final training camp in Kirkland.
Chef Mac McNabb has finished ordering all the food and organized the meals for all the players, staff and media he will feed during the course of the virtual month before the team breaks camp during the third week of August.
And yes, plenty of players have maintained their work regimen during this break between minicamp and training camp, while Mike Holmgren and the coaching staff will have its entire schedule broken down over the next couple of weeks as well. Tim Ruskell and the personnel staff will all be on hand to grade out all the players they have helped accumulate for this camp, and before we know it, it will be business as usual.
It just doesn't seem like that long ago that the 2007 season ended, but by the time we blink again, it will be ancient history and the 2008 version of the Seahawks will dominate our thoughts. Here is just a smattering of the thoughts coming from fans over the past week.
From: Louis
Mike,
If Marcus Tubbs comes back and plays close to the level in which he played in '05, and Red Bryant plays up to his potential, not to mention Rocky Bernard and Brandon Mebane, it seems to me that the Hawks could have one of the top interior defensive lines in pro-football. Am I missing something, or could this be the final piece to the Seahawks' defense finally obtaining that "elite" status? If nobody is able to run against Seattle, it may give quarterback Matt Hasselbeck some extra time to break in those new receivers. The team could be ready to find their groove by mid-season. They found the zone earlier than mid-season in '05, but that sounds great in '08.
Louis,
You've broken it down very well, and explains why there is plenty of optimism regarding the interior line and the defense overall. The Tubbs situation is fluid, of course, with him continuing to make strides toward training camp - which is his target date from the ACL surgery shortly after the injury he suffered in the last preseason game in 2007. Bryant, too, has lots of people feeling good. But realistically, we won't know anything until the games begin and we see them both perform.
Consequently, you're looking at Bernard and Mebane, with underrated Craig Terrill determined to earn his reps again by simply outworking whoever is blocking him. By watching him late in minicamp, Bernard is over the foot problems that troubled him last season and Mebane continues to change his body through diet and workouts that will make him faster and stronger. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: David
Mike,
I aspire to be a football coach one day, and I always wonder what it takes to be a great coach. What are some things that stand out to you about how Mike Holmgren runs this team so well? Hopefully you can give further insight as to what my priorities would be as a coach (such as it being conditioning, number of play reps plays, individual technique, etc).
David,
One of the things that stands out to me is how Holmgren often talks about how he wondered if he would ever win a game as a head coach, having gone through a winless season in high school. Nonetheless, he is headed to the Hall of Fame not only because he is exceptionally bright with a creative offensive mind, but his approach to the game.
More than anything else, it is consistency. Practices run with the same splits per drill and the same order. They bus together to a hotel for home games, have the team dinner, meetings and team snack every game. He sits in the same place on the bus. On the road, he sits in the same spot on the plane, he likes to choose the movies, and he reads. He likes to stroll back, check on players and joke with them. Most of all, he shows them that he really cares about them - while letting them have it when they deserve it. Other than a gifted football mind, in many ways the rest of his coaching techniques for motivation are very much like an exceptional parent. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Xavier
Mike,
What do you think about our kicking situation? I know that Olindo Mare is the veteran who will be taking the majority of the kicks. I've heard that Brandon Coutu has been really good. What is your take on this?
Xavier,
Frankly, it's just too early to tell. No doubt Mare is a veteran with a great track record over the years trying to prove the injuries that truncated his season a year ago were the exception rather than the rule. He looked very good in minicamp. On the other hand, so did Coutu, whom they drafted because of his strong leg, accuracy and believe he was the best kicker in college football a year ago.
In other words, this is going to be a dogfight come training camp, and minicamp was just a taste of what will unfold over the next six weeks. There is no way of knowing how it will pan out only to say it will be fun to watch. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Tom
Mike,
First and foremost ... Go Hawks!!!! there has been a lot of press as of late due to the Bills playing a few games in Toronto Canada, I was wondering if there was a chance the Seahawks would have the option of being able to play a few games in either Portland OR. or Vancouver, B.C. Although I would hate to lose the home field advantage, I would love to see the Seahawks increase their fan base. Is there any chance of this happening?
Tom,
This is a completely different situation than what is going on in Buffalo. It's a city that is shrinking corporately, and the Bills are in dire need of more revenue to perk up a fading city. Seattle is a thriving, growing marketplace and with the NBA Sonics having just moved to Oklahoma City, there will be even more corporate dollars to carve up. Toss in sellout crowds and a waiting list for season tickets in the neighborhood of 14,000, and the local fans have the priority.
They did play a preseason scrimmage in Portland in 2004, and do care about the fan base there. And there are plenty of fans from Vancouver that come down from B.C. as well. Both markets receive regional telecasts and receive attention with regard to community relations. But moving games is a major consideration that is rare from a successful franchise. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Steven
Mike,
As a Cougar alumnus I'm curious as to how Michael Bumpus is progressing so far? Also, what's the likelihood of Seneca Wallace playing receiver to fill in for Deion Branch until he gets healthy from knee surgery.
Steven,
The staff obviously liked Bumpus or they wouldn't have brought him in and he got some opportunity in minicamps with neither Branch nor Bobby Engram participating. He also got some reps returning punts, something he did at a record-setting pace at Washington State. With so many young receivers to start the season with, there will be ample chances for him to make a case at training camp.
With regard to Wallace playing wide receiver, a lot of that will be contingent on how comfortable the staff is with Charlie Frye as the backup quarterback. And we won't know that until much deeper into training camp after seeing how Frye handles the team during a preseason game or two. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Mike
Mike,
For starters I'm a huge fan of our starting wide receivers but let's face it, we need one more major target. I was really hoping Seattle would have grabbed Limas Sweed. Do you think there is any chance we could trade for him? He is such a force on offense and I know he'll do amazing things in Seattle.
Mike,
Despite all the talk about the wide receivers going into the draft, none of them proved to be worthy of going in the first round. And when you consider that, along with the simple fact Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor, Logan Payne and Jordan Kent have all been in the system for a year and made great strides, there was no reason for them to draft a receiver that high. The staff is happy with those young players and there was far more logic in addressing other needs.
No doubt, Sweed and others were on their radar screen and are still in their personnel system so pro personnel director Will Lewis and his staff will keep any eye on them if they become available. So really, you never know when the future will become now. But the hope is they won't have to look for receivers any time soon provided the young guys develop behind the veterans. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Orv
Mike,
Like most Hawks fans, I look at the coming year's schedule and look at the games we should win, should lose, might win or lose, in an effort to establish a win-lose expectation. We have a tough schedule this year, playing six playoff teams, including the Pats and the Giants. I come up with only two should lose games - at the Giants and at the Cowboys (although I remember beating the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving not too long ago). I come up with four should win games: Buffalo, Miami, and the 49ers and Jets at home. The might win or lose games are the Pats, Packers and Tampa (all a little on the might lose side of the equation) and the other divisional games plus the Eagles (all a little on the might win side).
So this all results in my expectation of a best case scenario 14 - 2 record, or a worst case scenario (assuming we win the: should wins and split the might win or lose games down the middle) of 9 - 7. Being an optimist, I'm going to assume we win 5 of the 7 might win or lose games amongst the divisional opponents and Eagles, and expect the Hawks to go 11 - 5 this year, again winning their division. What do you think? And sorry, brevity is not my strong suit.
Orv,
I tend not to look at the schedule as much as the Seahawks themselves. By looking at last year's schedule, you would have thought the season would have hinged on games at Carolina and Atlanta, and they ended up being meaningless games. Sure, it is fun to figure it out, and see how close you come, but I don't get into that. Instead, I look at how the travel schedule is more balanced - unlike last season's finish of four of six on the road - St. Louis, Philadelphia, Carolina and Atlanta. That should help.
The key will be how the team functions on the road. Holmgren laid it out clearly how much work it will require to win their fifth consecutive NFC West title. They're trying to figure out why the defense performs at a top-five level at home, but not on the road. If that is solved, they're in great shape. I'll enter training camp believing this is a 10-6 team just as I have the past three seasons, and we'll have to see which way it goes from there once the season begins. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Brian
Mike,
I have a question about personnel management. Specifically players they should or shouldn't acquire. It seems to me that they should have all the people in personnel record which players in free agency or the draft that they feel will perform exceedingly well. Or conversely which players on the roster they feel are unlikely to match expectations. This way the team can track their employees' record over time. Do the Seahawks do this? It could be a great way to see who within the organization has the knack for identifying talent.
Brian,
No worries, they have a very intricate and balanced system that makes everybody accountable. It starts with scouting, continues through drafting and signing, and then once the team begins to practice, every member of the personnel department grades every player. This system implemented by president Tim Ruskell was how he learned personnel development under Jerry Angelo in Tampa, and it has translated well with the Seahawks.
They also share copious notes on scouting players on other teams throughout training camp and the regular season so they are ready to pounce on players if they are waived or become available through trade. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: John
Mike,
I am a Seahawks fan who is English but lives in Dubai in the Middle East. I have seen the Seahawks four times in the last five years. My question is what happens if they can't agree on a contract with the draft choices and has this ever happened?
John,
If a player doesn't sign a contract, he goes back into the draft the next season. It doesn't happen often, but it does occur from time to time. Mostly it comes from unknown players. I just happened witness it here with the Seahawks when quarterback Kelly Stouffer, the sixth overall pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987 out of Colorado State, refused to sign.
But he was traded by the Cardinals to the Seahawks before the 1988 draft; otherwise the Cardinals would have lost a first round draft pick with nothing in return. The Seahawks gave the Cardinals three future draft choices for Stouffer to show for entering their first season in Arizona. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
