Trufant without sling, surgery

Marcus Trufant has excellent closing speed – and he needed it every time training camp rolled around.

The fourth-year Seahawks cornerback has spent significant portions of his offseasons rehabilitating from injuries, including shoulder surgeries following the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The surgeries robbed Trufant of valuable conditioning and technique work in minicamps. That might not sound like a big deal, but it was to Trufant, especially when he showed up at training camp every summer at Eastern Washington University in Cheney knowing his teammates had a head start.

“It feels good, to be here all season and able to work out instead of being in a sling or having surgery,” said Trufant, the former Washington State Cougar. “In prior years, I felt I had to catch up to the guys because I missed the offseason.

“The offseason is big. If you can have a good offseason it helps you throughout the regular season.”

Defensive backs coach Teryl Austin agreed.

“I’ve noticed the last three years at the beginning of the year he always starts a little slow and then he gets better and better as the year goes on and I think that (missing offseason workouts) is why,” Austin said. “Playing defensive back is a lot of timing and you have to get your steps right and get a feel for the routes and formations. If you miss the whole offseason, you feel like you’re behind.”

Trufant believes one of the reasons he was moved from left to right corner prior to last season was to limit the stress on his surgically repaired right shoulder. When making tackles, right-side cornerbacks generally lead with their left shoulder, though Trufant pointed out “it’s not a big deal because you’re going to be making tackles all over the field.”

Trufant missed the 2005 regular season finale against Green Bay with a back injury, but returned to make nine tackles in the postseason and break up four passes, three of those along with a fumble recovery coming in the victory over Carolina in the NFC Championship.

Still, Trufant had career lows in tackles (64), interceptions (1) and passes defensed (14), and he feels like he hasn’t maximized his potential.

“My first few years I’d give myself a B-minus, or something like that,” said Trufant, selected by Seattle with the 11th overall pick in the 2003 Draft. “I always feel I can do better every time I’m on the practice field. I listen to my coaches and I feel I can always improve.”

This training camp, more than any before, he feels particularly comfortable.

“This is pretty good for me right now,” he said. “I feel good, I’m in shape, minicamps went well and I’m ready to get it done.”

Austin is a believer.

“I think ‘Tru’ can be one of the better corners in this league,” he said. “He’s got everything you look for – good competitor, tackler and hopefully with the offseason he’ll be able to take his game up a notch.”