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Monday, May 12th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:25:07 pm
With the Rams' mini-camp ongoing, here is a story about how Josh Brown is faring in St. Louis. Also, I'll put a reminder up tomorrow morning, but I am doing a News Tribune chat from 1-2 tomorrow afternoon. There was some confusion when I did a chat from the Super Bowl, because the chat is a different site than the blog. If you want to participate, this is the link to the site: http://wwwb.thenewstribune.com/discussions/discussion.php?id=98.
Categories: Former Players
• 18 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 11:31:09 am
Here is a post in a University of Hawaii fan blog that says the Seahawks are interested in defensive tackle Mike Lafaele, though it does admit the Seahawks don't have room at the spot right now. Here is the whole post.
Categories: Street free agents
• 4 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 05:51:26 am
After a Mother's Day Weekend hiatus, the blog is back up and running. Here is an interview I did with kicker Olindo Mare last week. It is interesting because there is some kicking esoterica in there that I think most people don't realize and/or think about: On Competition against Brandon Coutu: There is no reason for me to be a jerk to him off the field or even on the field. I am going to let what I do on the field speak for itself. I am not going to change anything. Oh Josh Brown: He had a great career here. It is tough. No matter where you go it is the same. It was the same when I went to Miami and it was the same with Karney when I went to New Orleans. Karney was always a guy who I looked up to. Obviously not in his prime. It was hard for me to go there. But unfortunately I got hurt. I am not going to come in here and say it is my goal to come in here and be better than Josh Brown was or to reminisce on what he did or what I did five years ago. His time was over, my time was over there, it is time for me to make name for myself here.
Categories: Interviews
• 9 comments
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:22:30 pm
Matt Hasselbeck met with the media on this final day of mini-camp. Here were some of his quotes: Disappointed in Engram for taking a stand like this? "You know, in Bobby's case not really. He's one of those guys I almost put him in the same category as Walt, Chris Gray. They've been doing it so long they know exactly what it takes to get ready. A lot of the plays that we run are for them. If you watch the cut-up and we run that play 100 times, 97 of them have gone to Bobby -- that kind of thing. So it's an opportunity for the Logan Paynes and the Jordan Kents and the Ben Obomanus, it's a chance for them to run Bobby's plays.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 12:19:28 pm
It was a very short final session, only 70 minutes long. There were some drills for half the period, then the sides came together to run some plays. WR Logan Payne had some nice receptions from Seneca Wallace, otherwise there was nothing that really stood out. Mike Holmgren gathered together everybody who was still healthy afterward and gave a speech that was greeted by cheers. I spoke with Payne for a little afterward, and he sounded excited about his opportunity, especially after coming out of Minnesota, which mostly ran the ball. He said he does not have a feel for who is ahead in the competition but thinks that the front office has done a good job of mixing and matching receivers with different attributes. He said he has been working in the slot some. I asked him if that was what he saw as his future. He said the coaches have all the WRs learning all the different positions, so he doesn't really know what his future spot will be. Matt Hasselbeck also talked. I'll post some of that interview once it is transcribed.
Categories: Minicamps
• 3 comments
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 07:51:23 pm
I forgot to mention this yesterday, and it doesn't really paint me in a good light, but it is a pretty humorous and telling exchange. During Holmgren's meeting with the media yesterday, I asked him what Chris Gray's position was. He said Gray would play backup center and backup guard. Now before I tell you my next question, I have to say that I was trying to find out Holmgren's plans for Ray Willis, and if they planned on using him at right guard once he gets healthy. But what I asked was, "So you are not going to groom any young guys at right guard?" He looked at me like my brain had froze and quipped, "Groom somebody? In my last year? I'm done grooming. Let somebody else groom." Touche.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:57:18 pm
This was part of Mike Holmgren's session with the media on Tuesday. He was asked about the tight end position and the running backs: “I am not sure. I don’t think it has been long enough. I really have to see more it and certainly we have it see them in pads. We drafted John Carlson but Will Heller is having a heck of a camp. I like Putzier, I like what he is doing. He is playing nicked up a little bit. Alcorn is good. The tight end position, we have some choices there. It will be an interesting battle in training camp. The running back position, Julius and Mo (Morris) will both play. I have to kind of see how we are going to use Duckett. That is what I am looking at right now; Fullback, halfback. He has been a halfback but I would like him to move into fullback a little bit. Curran, I like Curran. He is kind of a bowling ball with legs. He is a tough guy, a smart guy. If he shows well on special teams, who knows? And then Leonard (Weaver), I expect to take the next step. He was pretty good for us down the stretch last year. I expect him to take the next step this year. (Owen Schmitt) is eager and he is smart and he is tenacious. In a brief period of time you saw what you saw on film. I suspect if you put the pads on, that will be a better situation for him than at mini camp in shorts. When you have players like that, the short thing is okay, but when you really get a chance to bang into people, you really show what you can do.”
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:30:57 pm
I don't know what is going on but it seems to be getting colder the further we get into May. Today's practice was unbelievably cold with a brisk wind whipping across both practice fields. I think everybody is probably a little sluggish at this point, both because the weather is so depressing and because fewer players are practicing everyday, which means more reps for the guys who are healthy. Today, Courtney Taylor was out with an injury, as was Deion Branch, Will Herring, Patrick Kerney, Rocky Bernard, Marcus Tubbs, Ray Willis, Chris Spencer, Walter Jones, Zac Alcorn, Mike Green and Rob Sims. Bobby Engram also was not here, as expected, continuing his statement about his contract displeasure.
Categories: Minicamps
• 9 comments
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 10:37:55 pm
Here is my story for tomorrow's News Tribune: KIRKLAND – The Seattle Seahawks are not going to renegotiate wide receiver Bobby Engram’s contract, despite Engram’s displeasure with his current salary.
Categories: Miscellaneous
• 39 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 03:53:50 pm
Right guard Rob Sims had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee today. Mike Holmgren said that he expects Sims to miss four to six weeks, which would put him out of the team's two June mini-camps. However, Holmgren said, he expects Sims to be back for the start of training camp. The only players Holmgren said would not be ready for the start of training camp are Deion Branch and Marcus Tubbs, though he sort of hedged on Chris Spencer. That's one to keep an eye on.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:33:03 pm
Besides Bobby Engram and the regulars who are missing this camp, TE Jeb Putzier was the other player missing. He was walking with a slight limp. The beginning of practice was very sloppy. Matt Hasselbeck threw an interception to Marcus Trufant, then he fumbled a snap, then a play just broke down. Gil Haskell rather than Mike Holmgren was the one who jumped all over the offense. With Rob Sims out, the offensive line is now, right to left, Locklear, Wrotto, Gray, Wahle and Pork Chop.
Categories: Minicamps
• 16 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:08:42 pm
Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Bobby Engram dropped off a letter on his desk this morning to explain why he was skipping this mini-camp. Holmgren said he had not yet read the letter so didn't know what exactly it said or what Engram wants. Holmgren did say he had an inkling that this was coming, and that Engram told him after the weekend mandatory camp that there was a chance he would not be here this week. Holmgren said this is the business side of things, and sometimes these things happen between players and management. But, he said, he expects Engram to be there for training camp, which obviously is mandatory.
Categories: Minicamps
• 22 comments
Monday, May 5th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 10:50:53 pm
This is the story I wrote for tomorrow's News Tribune: KIRKLAND – Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram skipped Monday’s voluntary veteran mini-camp because he is upset about his contract, according to a source.
Categories: Minicamps
• 58 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:54:30 pm
I spoke with Olindo Mare and special teams coach Bruce DeHaven this afternoon about the competition for the rights to replace Josh Brown as this year's kicker. I asked DeHaven if the decision is made in a vacuum, where all things are equal, or whether Coutu's future and potential are taken into account. Bruce said for him, he likes to do it in a vacuum. Who hits the most kicks. Who has the best leg on kickoffs. Who handles the pressure the best. He said of course it doesn't always work that way, and front-office concerns (salary) are taken into account. But that is not his department. He tries to see who had the best camp, and he gives his input there.
Categories: Minicamps
• 7 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:12:01 pm
After his visit with the Bengals, former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is visiting the New Orleans Saints, according to NFL Network's Adam Schefter. Here is the link to his story.
Categories: Former Players
• 13 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:26:21 pm
It was a beautiful day in Kirkland, and much less hectic with all the rookies, undrafted college free agents and tryout players no longer in camp. Also missing were Rob Sims, who sat off to the side for the first time and apparently will have his knee scoped, Walter Jones, Chris Spencer, Bobby Engram, Mike Green, Patrick Kerney and Rocky Bernard. Ray Willis was back at practice.
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 01:12:00 pm
The Seahawks signed Texas Tech wide receiver Joel Filani and defensive tackle Kevin Brown, and they waived wide receiver Travis Brown and defensive tackle Kelly Talavou. Brown was one of the players the team brought in for workouts. None of the others were at today's first day of voluntary veterans' camp. Filani is from Texas Tech. He spent part of last season in Minnesota. Sunday, May 4th, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 12:51:51 pm
This was the last practice where the rookies were involved, and John Carlson and Lawrence Jackson and Owen Schmitt and the others were hustling into the building afterward to get their stuff and take showers before their flights home. Jackson, Carlson and Red Bryant all echoed similar sentiments: They were rusty, they learned some new things, the players are all much bigger and faster than college and the speed of the game presents issues. But they said they were happy to meet their teammates and get a feel for what they have to do. Carlson spoke about how complex Holmgren's offense is. He is heading back to Notre Dame instead of back to Litchfield, MN. Jackson is going back to LA to work out at USC's facilities until they get back here in two weeks, and Bryant is heading back to Texas.
Categories: Minicamps
• 11 comments
Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 08:11:25 pm
I spent a good part of the practice watching a competition between rookie kicker Brandon Coutu and veteran Olindo Mare. It wasn't apparent that it was a competition until we realized that general manager Tim Ruskell and VP of player personnel Ruston Webster were monitoring it, as well as special teams coach Bruce DeHaven and assistant John Jamison. Mare looks very smooth. He must have kicked about 20 straight without missing one kick. He didn't look pressed at all, just stepped up and booted them through, right down the middle. He went out to 38 yards.
Categories: Minicamps
• 18 comments
Posted by Frank Hughes @ 02:28:59 pm
My good friend Scott "Short Bus" Johnson of the Everett Herald was kind enough to send me some Ryan Plackemeier quotes, since I missed Plack yesterday. Here is what Plack told Short Bus about new long snapper Tyler Schmitt: RYAN PLACKEMEIER:
Categories: Quotes
• 7 comments
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Seahawks Insider
Frank Hughes took over the Seahawks beat and Seahawks Insider blog in July. Hughes covered the Sonics for The News Tribune from 1997-2007. Frank also contributes to ESPN.com, KJR-AM radio and Pro Sports Exchange. In 2005, Frank co-authored "Slick Watts's Tales from the Seattle SuperSonics." Frank lives in Seattle with his wife, two sons and yellow lab. News Tribune columnist Dave Boling and sports reporters Ryan Divish and Darrin Beene also contribute to the Seahawks Insider blog. Category
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