Fast, talented, young

KIRKLAND, Wash. – Lofa Tatupu scoffs at the “sophomore slump” idea. The Seattle Seahawks’ middle linebacker insists that’s an unfounded label that won’t apply him.

Tatupu may be entitled to his opinion, but so is defensive coordinator John Marshall.

And the veteran coach with a raspy voice and 27 years of NFL coaching experience is going to keep harping on Tatupu and fellow second-year linebacker Leroy Hill to avoid just such a letdown.

“They’ve got a lot to work on and sometimes you have to remind them about that,” Marshall said. “You remind them that, hey, when you start building a reputation in name you have people that are out to get you and check you out and see how good you really are.

“They’ve got to improve their game, and they know that.”

Adding the freakishly athletic Julian Peterson should only help to keep any second-year swoons by Hill and Tatupu from materializing.

While questions remain about who will start at left cornerback and the healthy return of safety Ken Hamlin, there is little doubt about the talent in the Seahawks’ linebacking corps.

“It’s ridiculous man,” Hill said.

There is Tatupu, the undersized and overlooked second-round draft pick who became a Pro Bowl middle linebacker in his rookie season. He has stabilized a position that had hosted a series of ineffective players for the previous seven seasons.

There’s Hill, a third-round draft pick who refused to accept his role as a reserve last fall and thrived at outside linebacker after taking over for injury-prone Jamie Sharper.

And now there is Peterson. The two-time Pro Bowler signed a seven-year $54 million contract – $18.5 million guaranteed – last spring after spending his first six seasons leading San Francisco’s defense.

Seattle’s linebacking trio is suddenly among the NFL’s youngest, fastest and most athletic groups.

“We’ve got probably one of the fastest crews in the league, and two Pro Bowlers in Julian and Lofa,” Hill said. “I’ve got to try and get there. I have to step up my game, and to have Julian and Lofa, you couldn’t ask for anymore.”

It’s not the first time Peterson is being looked upon as the elder statesman. Early in his career, the 49ers’ revamped their roster, leaving Peterson as one of the few veterans on a young defense.

Hill and Tatupu are in similar situations. Each excelled in their rookie seasons, far surpassing any initial expectations.

Tatupu gained the most attention, finishing second behind San Diego’s Shawne Merriman for defensive rookie of the year. He became the first Seahawks rookie to lead the team in tackles since 1977.

Near the end of last season, Tatupu started noticing opposing offenses game-planning to take him out of plays. That’s fine, Tatupu says – more chances for Hill and Peterson.

“If you have a year like Leroy and myself did, people start to target you. You’re a marked man, so to speak,” Tatupu said. “I don’t think all those guys that had a good first year had a bad second year. … I don’t really believe in that and I don’t think myself and Leroy will have that.”

Ensuring there is no step backward partly falls to Marshall, the veteran assistant in his first full season as Seattle’s defensive coordinator. While extremely excited about what the trio can accomplish, Marshall also realizes keeping them humble may help keep them hungry.

Sometimes, Marshall said, players who end up struggling in their second year are often ones who overrated their own performance in their first. “Yeah, Lofa and Leroy were rookies, but it wasn’t like they captured the sport,” Marshall said. “But they have work ethic, they have a high character, and they have a passion to play. And that’s what’s fun.”