Rookies begin to hit stride

KIRKLAND, Wash. – After playing the ninth game of his NFL career, Michael Boulware was finished.

He’d seen his share of grueling practices, sat through countless meetings and endured a beating like never before.

Physically and mentally, Boulware was done. The Seattle Seahawks’ rookie safety had hit the proverbial rookie wall.

“Your whole life, you’re used to playing 10, 11 games – 12 maybe,” he said, referring to the college and high school schedules. “You get to 12, and it’s only halfway, and you’re like, oh, my gosh.”

Boulware’s pity party hit a wall of its own last week when head coach Mike Holmgren called him in for a meeting. Seattle’s other rookies were there, too, all of them summoned for an annual message.

The season’s not over, Holmgren said in so many words. In a sense, it’s just beginning.

“Coming into that meeting, I was like, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Boulware said. “I felt like I was burnt out. And then he came in and gave us that speech, and it kind of gave us some encouragement. It’s something you’ve got to push through.”

Boulware did just that, returning an interception for the game-winning touchdown against Miami a few days later. In a more subtle way, the other members of his rookie class are also making contributions.

“We’re learning, and we’re getting there,” said middle linebacker Niko Koutouvides, a fourth-round pick who has seen extensive action. “With each game, we’re going to get better and better. It’s exciting for us to be a part of this. We just have to keep working hard.”

First-round pick Marcus Tubbs made his first start of the season Sunday and registered his first sack. Koutouvides split time with starter Orlando Huff, alternating each series. Even third-round pick Sean Locklear, an underused offensive lineman, got into the action by returning a kickoff 12 yards.

Ten weeks into the regular season, when most college teams are finished or taking time off before a bowl game, Seattle’s rookies are just starting to hit their stride.

“Coming out of college, you always hear about the wall,” Tubbs said. “But to be honest, I look at it like that’s not even an option. This is my job, and it’s fun.”

Koutouvides agreed.

“The way the younger guys react is based on how the veterans react,” he said. “They know it’s a 16-game season, and they’re still motivated and high-flying. You just feed off of that.

“It is kind of funny because the college game’s over, and it doesn’t really feel like that. … It seems like (the season is) rolling by. Every week I’m happy that we’ve got another game. It’s kind of fun.”

Boulware’s having fun, too, even if it sometimes seems like work. Reinvigorated by Holmgren’s speech, he enters the final six games of the season on a mission.

“Before, I was just hoping to help out the team,” he said. “And now, I’m starting to feel like I’m a part. I feel like I’m able to contribute, and it’s time for me to step up.”

Not just Boulware, but the entire Class of 2004.

“You hope that your class is going to be the best class ever,” he said. “So you enjoy seeing your classmates do well.”