Seahawks defense making strides
It is way too early to tell if the Seattle Seahawks defense will make a sizable jump from the beleaguered 2004 unit, but the current group has made a favorable impression on a tough critic.
Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes likes what he’s seen so far at training camp.
“You see some things going on as far as some of the movement in some guys, the hustle,” Rhodes said. “There’s more urgency at certain positions. I’ve seen guys run well and chase the football.”
Rhodes might be incorporating as many as seven new starters – eight if one counts safety Michael Boulware, who started four games last season. There are also health issues. Tackles Rashad Moore (shoulder) and Cedric Woodard (knee), safety Ken Hamlin (shoulder), linebackers D.D. Lewis (concussion), Lofa Tatupu (hamstring) and LeRoy Hill (knee), and cornerback Andre Dyson (stinger) have missed portions or all of camp. Tatupu, Hamlin and Woodard are back on the practice field and nobody listed above is expected to miss the regular season opener on Sept. 11.
“The attitude is better,” Rhodes said. “I feel like the players are working really hard on the field. Guys are speaking up more and making other guys accountable.”
Seattle finished No. 26 in total defense last year, the lowest standing by a Rhodes’ coordinated defense. In his eight seasons as a coordinator, the last two years have been the only two times Rhodes’ defenses have finished outside the top 10.
A rash of injuries didn’t help. Injured starters and key reserves missed 109 games last season. Of those, 74 were on defense.
Those figures are of little solace to Rhodes, who painstakingly went through videotape of every game from last season.
“Coaches tend to be gluttons for punishment because they keep looking at the same nightmare over and over again,” he said.
What Rhodes saw in those game tapes wasn’t always pleasant.
“One of the biggest things is finishing (and) playing hard,” he said, adding that the defense wasn’t physical enough and didn’t fly around in pursuit of the ball.
Key imports include end Bryce Fisher, tackle Chuck Darby, linebackers Jamie Sharper and Kevin Bentley, and cornerbacks Dyson and Kelly Herndon. Tatupu and Hill arrived via the draft.
Darby and 2004 first-round draft pick Marcus Tubbs have been solid inside while Woodard and Moore, last year’s starters, have missed most of camp.
“Right now I’d say our front should be a strength for us with (Darby and Tubbs) playing with a great sense of urgency,” Rhodes said. “I think we’ll be able to rotate guys and get our best players on the field where they can play full tilt. I think our secondary is going to be pretty solid. Linebacker is a wait-and-see situation because we have to see the group come together.”
Back to work
Coach Mike Holmgren gave the players a break from practice Wednesday, which proved to be a prophetic move when the weather turned rainy.
The team will practice twice today, at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.
The Seahawks have just four full-team practices remaining before breaking camp after practice Saturday morning. Friday’s afternoon session is for special teams.