At first glance, Seahawks looking good

Staff and fans should be sweating bullets.

So then why has this team looked so good in the first two weeks of practices and in the first exhibition game Friday night – a 34-17 win over Minnesota?

It’s premature to lock into predictions, and there are a number of concerns aside from injuries, most notably why the secondary looked so ordinary against the Vikings, especially the normally rock-steady Pro Bowl corner Marcus Trufant.

But this team has been sharp, highly motivated and impressively efficient in practices. All that translated to a very solid performance on the road in the preseason opener.

A few thoughts why:

 • Whenever you have an elite quarterback at the top of his game, you’re likely to get off to a good start. That’s doubly true when your second-team guy is capable.

Matt Hasselbeck opened as would be expected of a three-time Pro Bowl selection. And once again, as he has in the past couple preseasons, Seneca Wallace has shown exactly why the Hawks’ staff is so reluctant to play him anywhere other than quarterback.

Wallace passed for three touchdowns in little more than a half a game, showing his mastery of the offense and an arm that is fully up to league standards.

 • Coach Mike Holmgren promised at the end of last season that the running game would be revamped. It certainly has been. And greatly improved in the process, if early indicators are valid.

Mo Morris picked up 62 yards on six carries, and Julius Jones showed impressive versatility.

It was a good indicator before the game when former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong evaluated Jones by saying “he runs the ball hard inside and outside.” Strong didn’t continue the next logical statement, but the thought could have been continued with “... unlike Shaun Alexander the last couple years.”

Two examples of Jones’ impact: On Wallace’s TD pass to tight end Jeb Putzier, Jones flashed into a gap to cut down a linebacker on the exact kind of blitz that blew up so many plays for the Hawks the past two years. Later, he made a shoe-top catch in the flat to bail out Wallace, who was scrambling under pressure.

While Leonard Weaver didn’t get to carry the ball, he showed crucial improvement as a blocker. On several of Morris’ early runs, Weaver was not just getting in the way of defenders, he was actually creating space by moving them.

 • Some young veterans are really maturing and exploiting their opportunities.

With Kerney out, Baraka Atkins is showing that he’s comfortable at defensive end, looking strong at the point of attack. Kevin Hobbs, too, is becoming an extremely solid cornerback.

Reserve defensive tackle Howard Green, meanwhile, might have been the star of the game Friday night, being stout against the rush, coming up with two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.

Maybe the biggest example of stepping up was provided by Steve Vallos, thrust into the starting lineup by the injuries to Spencer and Gray.

When the game started with Vallos going against perhaps the best defensive line in the NFL, I questioned the wisdom of allowing Hasselbeck to take even one snap.

But Vallos did fine. He whiffed on his guy a time or two, but for the most part he got the job done. Several times he looked excellent. One strong effort came on a Coutrney Taylor reverse. Vallos got a standoff at the line, and then raced downfield for a nice second block. Very nice hustle.

 • The young receivers continue to battle for spots on the roster, with Jordan Kent having his most productive performance. Kent got open and showed good concentration on a touchdown pass from Hasselbeck. That will be huge for his confidence, and also for the confidence the staff has in him.

In addition to Ben Obomanu, Taylor and Logan Payne (out with an injury), the solid group of young guys is now swelling with the fine performance of rookie Michael Bumpus (three catches, 51 yards).

 • The rookies are not looking like rookies. Top draft pick Lawrence Jackson came up big against the run, and also in his pass rush. Fullback Owen Schmitt showed he can run and catch and block. And seventh-rounder Justin Forsett was second in rushing with 55 yards on 13 carries.

But two of the real eye-openers in camp have been undrafted rookies David Hawthorne and Jamar Adams. Hawthorne jarred the ball loose all night with his big hits from middle linebacker, and Adams is providing strong run support from safety.

 • Maybe one of the biggest causes for the Seahawks’ early promise is the consistency of high effort.

Second-year defensive tackle Brandon Mebane serves as an example. On one early pass play, he fought his man at the line, and once the pass was away, he turned and sprinted downfield, putting a hit on a receiver that helped force a fumble.

That’s the kind of play that is infectious. It sets a level of expectation on the team in terms of effort. It makes injured players want to hurry back. And if they can’t make it back, it causes fans and the staff to have fewer worries about it.

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

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