Seahawks add new wrinkles

Seattle’s offense was one of the best in the NFL last season, but it didn’t escape off-season review by the coaching staff.

Several new running plays have been installed and a two-tight end package has been added. The message – staying put is falling behind. Seattle was sixth in total offense, but certainly would have cracked the top five if not for fundamental miscues such as dropped passes and missed assignments.

“Details,” running back Shaun Alexander said. “We didn’t realize it, but we let things go just on structure. From pass blocking to dropped balls to linemen missing blocks to me missing holes, most of the time it was small things. If we go fix those things, the sky’s the limit.”

Alexander gave quick approval to the new running plays. “(The coaches) did good,” he said. “We’re just trying to work out the kinks, but I’m excited.”

Itula Mili and Jerramy Stevens are competing for the starting job at tight end, but in certain situations it won’t matter. Both will be on the field.

“I kind of challenged the coaches to develop a (two-tight end) package during the off-season and I think they’ve done that,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “It’d be an excellent change and something to add to our package.”

Stevens, a former first-round draft pick who has had legal issues at the University of Washington and as a Seahawk, hasn’t produced big numbers in his first two seasons.

“I know over the last couple years there’s been a lot of opinions about him and the simple fact is, without going any deeper than that, he got hurt and it kind of retarded his development during the season,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “At the end of both seasons, he was a very good player. The people who said it was a really bad decision to draft him… they’re reading too many things into it. If he stays healthy, he’ll be fine.”

Old school

Shaun Alexander is stronger and faster than last year thanks to a few new training techniques. New to him, that is.

They’re old hat for Herschel Walker. The two were chatting at a golf tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Walker suggested his regimen of various push-ups to complement Alexander’s training.

“Man, that stuff works,” Alexander said. “When I got back in the weight room I was throwing weight around. That was kind of cool.”

Alexander is entering the last year of his contract, but he said that won’t influence his approach.

“I’ve never been a person to worry about money, ever,” he said. “I have three half-brothers and one older brother and between them they all had good jobs during the summers because they were trying to buy candy and take girls on dates when they got older. I was the one who said, ‘I’m going to mooch off of you.’

“I’m still pretty much going to be the same. Long as we have rookies I’m going to be all right financially.”

“No. 2 quarterback Trent Dilfer is in peak condition, in part because of advice he received from former Seahawks quarterback Warren Moon, now an analyst on the Seahawks radio network.

Dilfer lifted weights 300 of the last 365 days.

“I’m definitely the strongest I’ve ever been and I can see the benefits,” said Dilfer, who reported to camp last year understandably out of shape after the tragic death of his son. “I made some throws the first couple of days where I was a little off balance, my legs weren’t underneath me all the time, but I was able to get away with it because I have so much more strength.

“What I like is the last 3 or 4 years I’ve become much more of a touch passer. I throw the softer ball, but when I need to throw it harder it doesn’t take a lot of effort to do so.”

On the mend

Fullback Chris Davis’ 2003 season lasted less than two quarters. In coverage on a second-quarter kickoff in the opener against New Orleans, Davis planted his left leg to make a move around a defender. His left knee didn’t comply.

After missing the team’s minicamps rehabbing his torn anterior cruciate ligament, Davis passed a physical examination last Thursday, clearing his return to the practice field for the first time in 10 months.

“It’s been a long time,” Davis said. “I was pretty calm (Monday), but I was excited today. It was the first time in pads, but it’s going to be a while before I get used to everything.”

He never adapted to watching Seahawks games last season.

“I’d watch a few minutes then flip the channel to the Discovery Channel or something,” Davis said. “It was just terrible because I wanted to be out there. You see all the guys I came in with doing so well and now I’m starting all over again. It was a rough road.”

It’s not totally smooth yet. His knee isn’t completely recovered – that usually takes 18 months, he said, roughly the amount of time it took when Davis tore his right ACL at Syracuse.

Coaches were impressed with Davis’ blocking during last year’s camp.

“We’ll see if he can display the same physicality that he displayed in preseason last year,” running backs coach Stump Mitchell said. “It was good competition between Chris and Heath Evans (for backup fullback) and it’s going to be a battle again if Chris can come back.”

“The coaches know I had an injury but they can’t slow down for one guy,” Davis said. “I want to be able to get back to where I was and make the team again. I don’t want to be on that boat going home.”

Notes

Unsigned first-round draft pick Marcus Tubbs missed his second day of practice. … Receiver Koren Robinson (sore hip) was sidelined for the second straight day. … Seattle held its first practice in pads Tuesday morning under cloudy skies and cool 66-degree temperatures. “It’s a little too chilly honestly,” Holmgren said. “The players liked it, but my understanding is we’ll get back to warmer weather (today).” … Seattle’s afternoon practice concluded about an hour before Monday’s wind storm hit the region.