Back with great expectations
Cornerback Marcus Trufant is entering his second NFL season. He just seems like a seasoned veteran.
The first sign was when he arrived last week at Seahawks training camp at Eastern Washington University. He had his own dorm room. Rookies and free agents often share a room, as Trufant did a year ago with then-rookie Ken Hamlin.
On the field?
“He’s good,” coach Mike Holmgren said of Trufant, the former Washington State Cougar standout. “He’s one of those guys that say, ‘OK, I made a mistake,’ and it usually doesn’t happen again. He’s money in the bank.”
Trufant has been a disruptive force in practice the last two days with numerous pass deflections and a couple of interceptions. He tipped a ball away from a receiver Thursday into the arms of linebacker Anthony Simmons to force another turnover. On the flip side, he got burned on a deep pass over the middle from Trent Dilfer to Jerheme Urban, leaving Trufant to chalk up another learning experience. “You make little mistakes and a veteran like Trent is going to take advantage,” he said.
“He’s a young, young guy and he still has some things to learn,” Holmgren said, “but he processes things properly and he wants to do well.”
Trufant started all 16 games as a rookie. He was credited with 20 passes defensed, second in the NFC, fifth in the NFL. He also made 78 tackles to go with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
“This being my second year, it takes a little bit of the stress off knowing what to expect,” Trufant said. “You basically know how practice is going to work, what the coaches want you to do and where they want you to be.”
Trufant is expected to start at left corner while Ken Lucas and Bobby Taylor are battling at right corner. All the cornerbacks were made aware of new rules and points of emphasis by a crew of four NFL officials that visited camp Thursday.
Officials are cracking down on illegal contact by a defensive back that redirects or restricts a receiver. Defensive holding is another point of emphasis and officials will automatically flag a defensive back for grabbing a receiver’s jersey.
“That’s something we’re going to have to work on as a group,” Trufant said. “They’re going to be a little bit harder on us this year, watching hands and stuff like that. It may give the receivers a little advantage but it’s just one of those things.”
A point of emphasis of Seattle’s coaching staff is trimming the number of long receptions allowed by the secondary.
“That’s one of the things we really wanted to work on this camp,” Trufant said. “That was a little problem for us last year. We have to eliminate that and then we should be fine.”
Long distance arrival
After being delayed by Visa problems, German native Christian Mohr has arrived in Cheney and is scheduled to practice today. The NFL is phasing in a program that allows NFL Europe national players to spend a season on an NFL team’s practice squad. The NFC West is the first division to participate.
Mohr, who played for Berlin in NFL Europe, was first exposed to American football in 1996 as a high-school exchange student in Columbus, Ohio. In Germany, players pay to play on club teams. “It’s indescribable for me,” said Mohr, a 245-pound defensive end. “If you had told me a few months ago I’d say, ‘Nah, you’re crazy, I’m not going to America to play football and gain experience with an NFL team.’ This is going so fast because last year I played amateur football and made the national team. And then suddenly I played NFL Europe and now I’m here in an NFL training camp.”
Mohr’s arrival gave Holmgren an opportunity chance to tell a funny story about the two Japanese players who were added to Green Bay’s roster for the American Bowl in Tokyo in 1998.
“I went in for bed check one night and they weren’t there,” said Holmgren, Packers coach from 1992-98. “A couple of us went across the street looking for them. I thought it was an international incident and they were on the dance floor smoking cigarettes. They told me, ‘C’mon in,’ and they poured me a beer.
“So once we got that straightened out it was OK. I don’t think I’ll have as much trouble communicating with this guy.”
Notes
Holmgren assigned quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who came to camp with his remaining strands of hair dyed blond, a movie-themed nickname: “Goldfinger.” … Tight end Jerramy Stevens, despite tight coverage, made a dazzling fingertip catch for a touchdown in a red-zone drill. …. Center Robbie Tobeck (calf strain) could be sidelined for more than a week. Quarterback Brock Huard (muscle spasms) is out for at least a couple of days. The two will be among 10 players expected to remain in Cheney rehabilitating injuries while the team scrimmages in Portland on Saturday. Receiver Koren Robinson (hip) will probably practice for the first time Sunday. … Unsigned first-round draft pick Marcus Tubbs missed his fourth day, but club officials remain optimistic he’ll be in camp soon… .
Washington State University coach Bill Doba and members of his staff watched the morning practice. Said Trufant, who planned to visit with Doba at lunch: “He’s a great guy. He really made it happen for the Cougs last year.” … The NFL officials said they’ll have no tolerance for choreographed celebrations. The penalty will be 15 yards. Another point of emphasis: protecting quarterbacks from helmet-to-helmet blows and from being driven to the ground by defenders.