by: Michael Steffes
While the reports are around the internet from the 2nd practice of the day, and I have some thoughts.
First off, I would say that it is rare that the first day of the first mini camp gets noticed for the limited amount of mistakes, but that is what Clare Farnsworth and Matt Hasselbeck noticed. Most of the comments seem directed at the offensive line. Matt said...
"Those guys have been working hard," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said when asked about the lack of mistakes by the offensive linemen – mental, as well as physical. "They have been out on the field. They have been having a lot of meetings and doing a lot of drills and communication."Also, Frank Hughes at the TNT quotes Dave Boling also from the TNT as saying that Mike Solari is a huge improvement (over Bill Laveroni). It is safe to say that the level of tolerance for poor line play will not be very high. The fact that the team has come out, on the first day, showing that they have already been working hard at this shows me that this team is driven by a desire to win.
My belief is that comes from their quarterback, who Farnsworth reports was spectacular as well today. If anybody saw Hasselbeck interview during the Super Bowl, he talked about finding 5 ways he could improve, not worrying at all about what the front office or other players were doing. He, if anybody, could have looked around and pointed the finger. Instead, he looked at himself and demanded more. It is that type of attitude that will make this team better.
To Continue...
The concern over the receivers is going to be something that won't disappear until they prove it in the regular season and even beyond. The reports from today are so so. Hughes reported that Nate Burleson was dropping balls. Clare reports that Logan Payne was vaccum, gathering in everything in site. Nate Burleson has proven he can make a big catch in a big game. He did it several times last year. However, if he wants to be great, he is going to have to learn to catch the ball when the spotlight isn't on. Today was only one practice, but it is encouraging to see Payne mentioned already. This kid is star in the making. My guess is he will be just like Bobby Engram. A stud receiver who never gets the proper credit.
By all accounts, including just looking at him, Julius Jones is the perfect mixture of anger and gratitude. As one reader mentioned, he has the arms of a wrestler. Couple that with a mohawk, and the fact that he has a lot to prove and you are going to have a heck of a steal in my opinion. Holmgren is the polar opposite than Bill Parcells when it comes to motivating players. Simply by making Jones feel wanted, rather than obligated to find time for him, he seems poised to excel. The running back competition should only make him better, assuming he wants to prove people wrong. He is saying all the right things, I am thinking he will.
Finally, it is too bad that the team has so many injuries to deal with, but in a way it is a blessing. I wouldn't have said so until I watched the slide show on Seahawks.com. To see guys like Branch and Kerney out on the field do everything the can re-enforces the quality of the leadership on this team. How can any rookie feel it is OK to loaf when the hurt guys are out there watching and doing everything they can. My guess is that they were not required to do that. The rookies will catch on to what it takes quick, and that is what this team needs.
There has been a lot of talk about a "win one for coach" mindset. It is hard to ever gauge whether something like that exists on a professional level. As a fan we want to believe it does because the Seahawks are our passion. To these men it is their job. However, that doesn't mean it isn't possible. I have had bosses that I was willing to sacrifice for, and some I wasn't. Judging by the focus that appears to have been present today, It seems as if the team couldn't get the Mike Holmgren victory tour started soon enough.
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