Huff ready to make a big impact
KIRKLAND — Something about Orlando Huff’s demeanor shows that he’s not only ready to assume a starting role with the Seattle Seahawks, but that he’s confident he’ll get it.
Huff took part in his first offseason practice Monday, joining his Seattle Seahawks teammates at a minicamp that will run through the middle of next week. Although he’s not assuming anything, Huff worked with the No. 1 defense at middle linebacker.
“I’m not looking to prove anything to anybody,” said Huff, who underwent shoulder surgery four months ago. “I know what I’m capable of doing when I’m healthy. It’s just about being put in a position where I’m able to be a starter and to be able to contribute to this team.”
Huff has a calm confidence about him that comes from his three years of NFL experience. While coaches once wondered whether he had the disposition to be a starting middle linebacker, Huff now looks the part both on and off the field.
He is battling second-year player Solomon Bates and rookie Niko Koutouvides for the starting spot at middle linebacker, and he appears to be the slight favorite. But Huff isn’t taking anything for granted after losing out on the starting spot last summer.
Huff finished the 2002 season as Seattle’s starter after an injury sidelined Isaiah Kacyvenski. He appeared to have an inside track on becoming the starter last season, but when the Seahawks signed veteran Randall Godfrey in June, Huff became the backup.
He injured his knee in the 2003 preseason opener, then was hampered by injuries all year while playing behind Godfrey.
“Just watching Randall helped me learn a lot,” Godfrey said. “Maybe it all happened for a reason. Overall, I’m a better linebacker. Maybe sitting out was the key. Who knows? We’ll find out.”
Good turnout
Coach Mike Holmgren said he was impressed with the number of players who were on hand for the “voluntary” minicamp. Of the 81 players not in NFL Europe, 74 attended Monday’s practice.
“This has been the best offseason we’ve had so far,” Holmgren said. “We’ve had more people participating. The guys that live far away and haven’t been here the whole time (in the past) have come in for extra days. I like their approach, I really do.”
Sleeping with the enemy
Seahawks fans might appreciate the fact that rookie safety Michael Boulware fell in love with the city and decided to take permanent residence here.
But Huskyfans might not like who he’s bringing with him.
Boulware and fiancée Jessica van der Linden are going to be married in four weeks, and they’ll move to Seattle shortly thereafter. Husky fans might remember van der Linden as the Florida State pitcher who recently knocked UW out of the NCAA softball tournament.
“I brag about her all the time,” Boulware said. “Any time I mention my fiancée’s name, I talk about all her records and everything.”