Here’s the schedule for the first two weeks of training camp leading up to the first preseason game on Aug. 15 at San Diego. For open practices you must register at Seahawks.com to attend. I’m not sure if there’s any spots available at this point. However, if you can’t get into one of the open practices at the VMAC, you can attend one of the open practices being held at the University of Washington on Friday, Aug. 7 and Tuesday, Aug. 18. Both practices begin at 6:45 p.m.

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The latter stages of Wednesday's afternoon's special teams practice was devoted to Ryan Plackemeier taking aim at the rafters of the indoor practice facility, which are 110 feet from floor to rafter. After a few misses, Plack hit the same beam three consecutive times. Olindo Mare could not get the ball up that high.

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Real quickly, before we get started, if you want to a see a picture of the crash I wrote about this morning, which involved Seahawks linebacker Dallas Sartz's grandfather, you can go to this link, go to the left side of the page and click on the boats link, then click on the Miss Seattle Too. The picture is at the bottom. It is a pretty phenomenal photo of a spectacular crash.

On to today's practice, which Matt Hasselbeck missed again. There are some conflicting things going on here because without getting into specifics, there are some indications that Hasselbeck's back is not in that bad of shape. However, Mike Holmgren keeps saying that his back is tightening up. I guess if you look at it, there is no reason to risk Hasselbeck if there is any indication he is sore. On the other hand, this could be the time for him to develop some rapport with his young wide receivers, none of whom has sufficiently stood out, though all have made individual plays. Either way, Holmgren said it is too early to say whether Hasselbeck will play on Monday night in San Diego -- though I suspect he will since I doubt they will want him to play much in the preseason opener on Friday, four days after the Chargers game. Again, we'll keep an eye on it throughout the week, obviously.

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Let's just say that this afternoon's practice was not really crisp. Needless to say, Mike Holmgren then let the offense have it. I don't know that I've ever seen Holmgren so frustrated, to be honest. Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace did not practice again, leaving the duty to Charlie Frye and Dalton Bell.

When Frye tried to throw a simple screen pass to Leonard Weaver and Weaver had to make an acrobatic catch to haul in the ball, Holmgren started turning red. When Frye then missed Justin Forsett altogether on the next play, Holmgren nearly combusted. He couldn't understand why the offense could not execute a simple screen pass. He stopped the offense and made them get together in the huddle, providing a few choice words. Then, after watching another 10 minutes of ineptitude, he stopped practice and let the defense go inside. He then made the offense stay after so they could practice the screen pass a while longer.

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Seattle defensive coordinator John Marshall talked with reporters for about 15 minutes after the special teams practice on topics including the Chicago Bears quarterback situation, Mike Holmgren's final year as head coach and the improvement of cornerback Josh Wilson.

As always, the conversation with Marshall was both enlightening and entertaining. Here are a few snippets.

On Seattle blitzing Rex Grossman in the game Saturday against Chicago, Marshall had this to say: "They've got a veteran group. A veteran quarterback and (Rex) Grossman nailed us on some throws a couple times in earlier games and I don't think I wanted to give him that opportunity again. Basically we were going to make him be good right off the bat."

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There’s a lot going on this morning so let’s get to it.

First off, Sean Locklear did not practice today and was wearing a brace on his left leg. Ray Willis worked at right tackle with Locklear out.

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren said he’s hopeful that Locklear will return for the regular-season opener game, but that it will be close.

Holmgren said Locklear has a sprained ligament.Holmgren said it’s not the ACL and Locklear will not need surgery, just rest.

Center Chris Spencer was back at practice today, but in a limited capacity. Spencer went through individual work but didn’t take any snaps during team drills. However, Spencer did work with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in some center exchanges this morning. The team shifted practice here at the VMAC from outside to the indoor facility because of rain threatening.

“That’s the beauty of this place because I don’t think we could have blown up the bubble that fast,” Holmgren said, joking with reporters afterward.

Spencer has been out since the beginning of training camp nursing a back injury, but he said he’s hopeful that he’ll be ready for the season opener against Buffalo.

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Justin Forsett: Does anything else need to be said?

Josh Wilson: I thought Wilson had struggled at times during training camp, but he showed good closing speed on that one pass where he was beat, made up the space and knocked away the ball. He also looked good in other coverage. Plus, Wilson would have had a sack if he was not held. I'm not sure what the official was looking at other than maybe he wanted to call intentional grounding over holding.

Kevin Hobbs: Hobbs has had some difficult times as well during camp, I would say even moreso than Wilson. But at a time that the Seahawks needed him, he made a timely interception. Hobbs also had two tackles.

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Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck met with us after the afternoon practice in helmet and shells and for the most part said he is not playing on Saturday against Chicago. "I've got a feeling based on reps, but I haven't been told anything," Hasselbeck said.

Hasselbeck said he would like to play in the game, especially since it is at home, but "it is not my call." He said he is happy for Charlie Frye, though, he has been working hard and he deserves a shot to play in the game. He also said he appreciates the chance for backup QBs to play in the preseason because he used to be the guy who only played in the preseason.

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This is the last real practice at the facility in Kirkland before the team moves to Renton on Monday. They have one more practice this afternoon and then a substitution practice tomorrow morning, and then they are out of here.

There were a bunch of people back at this practice, including Patrick Kerney, Matt Hasselbeck, Leonard Weaver, Sean Locklear and Josh Wilson, who never really left but had a scare yesterday. Hasselbeck's participation was limited, and he is not likely to play this weekend, but Mike Holmgren said it is nothing to be concerned about. Kerney will not play this weekend but said he hopes to be suited up on Monday morning and wants to play the final two preseason games.

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This afternoon's practice was a special teams affair, which afforded the opportunity to speak with special teams coach Bruce DeHaven.

DeHaven said he is going to spend this week once again on finding guys who can play -- and want to play -- special teams, then in the third and fourth weeks he starts playing the guys he think will make the 53- and 45-man rosters a little longer. Having said that, you may perhaps see Devin Hester rip off a few big runs this Saturday.

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For one of the first times this training camp, the usually subdued offense started yapping as much as the defense, making for a lively practice this morning under stellar blue skies.

The exchanges started when it appeared that Mansfield Wrotto carried a block pretty far downfield, prompting the defenders not in the play to start barking at the offense. As the defense was hooting and hollering, offensive line coach Mike Solari was literally screaming at his players, "That's a way to come off the line. That's a way to come off the line."

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That's right, Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack suited up and practiced today, and looked decent working during team drills at left tackle. Womack had missed several days with a knee injury and has spent more time in the training room than on the field so far in camp. But if he's able to stay healthy (I know a big if) he could provide some depth at O-line for the Seahawks with his ability to play both guard and tackle.

"It feels good," Womack said. "It always feels good to get back to practice. You want to be on the same page as everybody out there. It's never good to be on the sideline watching practice."

Womack said he doesn't know if he'll be ready to go for Chicago, and just plans on getting out on the field the next few days and seeing how it goes.

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