Influx of youth necessary for Hawks’ defense

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren likes everything about the middle of his defense, except maybe the players’ birth certificates.

The backbone of any defense is its interior and there is a good chance Seattle’s will be manned by talented, but young players. Take middle linebacker, where the competition is between fourth-year pro Orlando Huff, second-year pro Solomon Bates and rookie Niko Koutouvides. Huff is the only one who has made a tackle in an NFL game.

Rookie Michael Boulware, a transplanted linebacker, is competing with unproven Terreal Bierria at strong safety. Ken Hamlin returns at free safety after starting 14 games as a rookie a year ago.

And up front, first-round draft pick Marcus Tubbs is eventually expected to join a defensive tackle rotation that includes second-year pro Rashad Moore and third-year pro Rocky Bernard. Tubbs remains unsigned as camp nears the end of week one.

“We’re awful young on defense at some positions,” Holmgren said. “Ray (Rhodes, defensive coordinator) and I talk about that all the time. We’ve talked about it since last season. We both agree on the fact that having an enthusiastic young guy with great legs and great ability is an advantage over maybe a veteran who physically might not be able to do it as well.”

Middle linebacker candidates are receiving equal repetitions with the first-unit defense to determine the starter.

“Orlando and Solomon are similar in size and Niko is smaller, younger,” Holmgren said. “But I’m not looking at them that way. I’m looking for who makes plays and who makes the calls. There are subtle differences in their strengths. Huff is an excellent run stopper while the other guys might have an edge elsewhere, but it’s just how they play.”

That suits Koutouvides, who, at 238 pounds, is the lightest of the three.

“My freshman year at Purdue there was a position battle for a starting spot, so I know what it’s like to compete and have to keep the throttle all the way down and not let up,” said Koutouvides, who made 296 tackles as a three-year starter. “The coach will make the decision and that’s the way competitive athletics works.”

Same goes at safety. Bierria has been working with the first team while Boulware adjusts to his new position. Bierria played on special teams in 14 games in 2002 before missing last season with an injured shoulder.

“He’s got good size and he’s smart,” Holmgren said. “I have high hopes for him, but again he hasn’t been able to play and show us. In essence, it’s his rookie year.”

It’s definitely Boulware’s rookie year and Holmgren has pledged to give the Florida State product time to learn the position. There’s no rush to insert Boulware as the starter.

“I feel very comfortable with the situation I’m in,” Boulware said. “There are plenty of guys that can play the spot and play it way better than what I can do. I can just watch them and learn from them… so when my time does come I should be ready.”

Boulware is spending less time at the dining hall. At Florida State, Boulware consumed protein bars, three protein shakes and four meals daily to keep his weight between 225-230 pounds. His body is off the calorie train, but his mind is consuming heaping portions of the playbook.

“I’d say (safety) is kind of what I expected as far as the physical side of the position,” he said. “The mental aspect of the game has blown my mind away. There’s so much more to learn. I’m taking it step by step and slowly but surely I’m starting to get it.”

Cool down

Other than 95-degree temperatures on the first day of camp on Monday, the weather has been unseasonably cool. It was just 62 degrees Thursday morning and Friday it turned nasty as a thunderstorm forced the Seahawks to cancel the morning practice. It’s believed to be the first canceled practice since the team brought training camp back to Cheney in 1997.

“This is the first time in my career when I can remember weather like this and not being able to practice,” said fullback Mack Strong, a 12-year veteran. “It might rain a time or two, but we’ve always been able to practice.”

Not that he’s complaining.

“Oh man, I’ll take it whenever we can get a break,” he said. “The guys got some much-needed rest.”

The afternoon special teams practice was held as scheduled.

The cooler temperatures have lightened concerns about heat-related issues that usually accompany training camp. Defensive end Chike Okeafor, though, must constantly be on guard. He had a scare with heat exhaustion when he was in high school and he’s had to be diligent about taking precautions at practice.

During two practices earlier this week, Okeafor took some plays off as trainers wrapped his head and neck with wet towels. He loses as much as 5 pounds during practice and took two bags of fluids intravenously Monday to replenish lost liquids.

“The toughest thing is the afternoon practice,” he said. “I only have a couple of hours to rehydrate myself.”

Okeafor’s body doesn’t break down and absorb water molecules as efficiently as most players.

Notes

The Seahawks will fly to Portland this morning for an 11:30 a.m. scrimmage at PGE Park. … … Two-a-days resume at EWU on Sunday morning at 8:45. … Individual game tickets go on sale today at 10 a.m. for Seattle’s pre- and regular-season home games at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-888-NFL-HAWK.