The Seahawks held a mini-camp practice for a little more than 90 minutes this morning, and it was a wild sensation because there is a huge cottonwood tree that sits along a row of trees bordering the field. With the wind blowing, there were little white puffs of cotton floating through the air, making it seem as if it was snowing even though it was 60 degrees out. The entire field was covered in the stuff.

There were a lot of non-participants, though most were expected: Marcus Tubbs, Walter Jones, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Deion Branch, Bobby Engram (contract), Rocky Berard (court, toe), Mike Green, Patrick Kerney, Will Herring. C.J. Wallace was the only one that was a surprise; I am still waiting to hear from the PR dept. about his absence.

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I thought the biggest thing Mike Holmgren said during his 15-minute meeting with reporters was that he is taking more of a hands-on approach with the young receivers because he realizes that at least one of them and perhaps several of them are going to have to contribute. With that in mind, he said he is no longer asking versatility out of them but is instead having each guy focus on one position. Courtney Taylor, for instance, will work almost exclusively at the flanker spot. Keith Gilbertson seemed much more vocal with the wideouts today as well. He jumped on Nate Burleson for false starting on one play, screamed at Taylor for dropping a pass on another.

Holmgren said he still does not know how he is going to use T.J. Duckett. He said Julius Jones and Mo Morris will get the bulk of the carries, and Leonard Weaver will start at fullback. He doesn't really have a spot for Duckett, though. Short yardage? Third down? Is he a fullback or a halfback? Holmgren is not really sure just yet. More than one person has commented that Duckett seems especially slow. I think for now we have identified the odd man out in a crowded backfield.

Holmgren said he has not spoken to Bobby Engram, but he said definitively that Engram will be at training camp. Not sure how he knows that if he has not spoken to him, but, well, um ...

Both kickers got some kicks in front of the team. Without detailing specific numbers, I'd say that Olindo Mare looks more sharp than rookie Brandon Coutu. However, Holmgren also said they would not have drafted Coutu if they did not think he had a future in the league. He also told the story of Rian Longwell, and how his first two kicks in practice in Green Bay as a rookie went off the tackle's head and the tight end's rear end. Guys have bad days when they are nervous, Holmgren was pointing out, and Longwell has had a very long, successful career.

There was one play in particular that stood out during the practice. With rookie Justin Forsett running a sweep to the right, rookie defensive tackle Red Bryant came bursting through the line. Usually guys don't hit each other very hard in these practices, but Bryant came through so fast and collided with Forsett so violently that Forsett went right to the ground. He obliterated him, which predictably drew a lot of whoops from defensive players.

One other impressive play: Seneca Wallace was throwing a deep pass that Kevin Hobbs stepped in front of and intercepted.

I got to practice late because of the Rocky Bernard thing, so I will have more information about who was playing what positions tomorrow.