Lesson learned for Hawks’ rookie punter

It could be said that Ryan Plackemeier’s apprenticeship into the NFL was coming along too easily, and so the events of last Thursday night could be considered long overdue.

One moment there was Plackemeier, the Seattle Seahawks’ big-legged rookie, unloading a high, 43-yard punt down the middle of the field. The next, Plackemeier was picking himself up from a face-down position, only to end up within spitting distance of special teams coach Bob Casullo’s tirade.

Welcome to the NFL, kid.

“I didn’t hit the right spot,” said Plackemeier, whose failure to direct the punt toward the right side of the field was a key factor in a 72-yard return touchdown by Oakland’s Chris Carr. “In college, you can get away with that. But not here. Coach (Casullo) sat down with me and explained what has to happen there.

“It can change field position, and I have to focus more on that aspect of the game.”

After a summer and training camp that had gone about as smoothly as any rookie punter could expect, Plackemeier finally got his wakeup call in the preseason finale. The misdirected punt, and Plackemeier’s weak attempt to tackle Chris Carr near midfield, left Casullo steaming on the sideline.

But the Seahawks’ special teams coach isn’t concerned about his rookie punter.

“He really handled himself well during the preseason as far as the competition,” Casullo said on Monday. “In the spring, we had three guys, and he clearly beat everybody out. And we put him in some tough situations.

The 22-year-old Plackemeier will be the first rookie punter to kick in a Seahawks season opener since Ruben Rodriguez in 1987. (Donnie Jones made the practice squad in 2003, took over for an injured Rouen midway through the 2004 season, and was eventually replaced by 32-year-old Ken Walter.)

Portis and Springs sit out

Running back Clinton Portis and cornerback Shawn Springs didn’t practice Tuesday, and their availability for Monday night’s regular-season opener against Minnesota was uncertain.

Portis, who partially dislocated his shoulder in the preseason opener against Cincinnati, was the only player not on the field at the start of the workout but arrived to watch before it was over.

Springs, recovering from abdomen surgery, and backup defensive end Renaldo Wynn (sprained ankle) also watched from the sidelines.

Portis set a franchise record with 1,516 yards last season. If he can’t play, Ladell Betts will get the start.

Carlos Rogers and Kenny Wright would be the expected starters in Springs’ absence.

Wynn hopes to practice Thursday.

Bells will be running

Mike Shanahan wasted no time declaring undrafted rookie Mike Bell his top tailback early in training camp. He’s being more coy about naming his starter for the Denver Broncos’ opener at St. Louis on Sunday.

“You’ll have to show up to that game, as we talked about before,” Shanahan said Monday. “Good try, though.”

It’s not that Bell did anything to lose his status as the starter. It’s just that Tatum Bell responded so well to the snub that he put his name back in the mix to be the Broncos’ next workhorse running back.

A third-year pro from Oklahoma State, Tatum Bell rushed for 921 yards and a team-best eight touchdowns last season, when he averaged a whopping 5.8 yards a carry while splitting snaps with Mike Anderson, who was jettisoned in the offseason, a victim of the salary cap.

Still, the coaching staff worries about Tatum Bell’s ability to carry the ball 25 times a game because he tends to tire out.

Both Mike Bell (187 yards, two TDs) and Tatum Bell (134 yards, two TDs) were outgained by Cedric Cobbs (195 yards, one TD) in the preseason, when the Broncos sported the league’s most prolific running game.

So, Shanahan might pull another surprise and sit both Bells when the Broncos take the field against the Rams. But the smart money is on Mike Bell, by just a smidgen over Tatum Bell.

Lineman returns to Titans

The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with defensive tackle Robaire Smith in a move that should improve their run defense.

Smith spent his first four seasons in the NFL with the Titans, then left as a free agent for Houston, where he started 32 games at right end.

He was a key piece of the defensive line in 2003 and 2004, when the Titans ranked second and first against the run. He started 15 games in 2003 to help the Titans reach the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons and had a career-high 4 1/2 sacks.

Tennessee ranked 22nd in the NFL against the run last season.