Seahawks Notebook | Gloomy weather, but upbeat mood

KIRKLAND -- Somehow, training camp doesn't feel like training camp without some sunshine.

And although Seahawks camp officially got under way Sunday with the first set of two-a-day practices, it really felt like something was missing.

No sunshine. Only cold, wind-driven rain and dark skies. Temperatures in the low 60s, not the 80s and 90s as it was in Cheney when the team was holding camp at Eastern Washington University the past 10 years.

"I'd prefer it to not be so wet that guys are slipping around and sliding," coach Mike Holmgren said after an adventurous morning practice.

Later, he kidded with reporters. "Because there is a limited number of five-star restaurants over there [in Cheney], it bothered you to come up there more than me," he said. "It was more than just the weather, although the weather was good for us."

Despite the gloomy conditions that slightly improved as the day went on, the mood was decidedly upbeat.

The opening of camp marked the official beginning of the season with plenty of optimism, and 86 out of the 87 players on the roster -- the exception being defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, who is on the physically unable to perform list -- took part in all or part of the first practice.

Shaun Alexander looked strong and had a couple of nifty runs. Rookie draft choices Josh Wilson and Will Herring had interceptions. Deion Branch and Bobby Engram put their talents on display and Matt Hasselbeck looked agile on a scramble.

"Fortunately we've got everybody here," Holmgren said. "There's no one missing. I've always thought that was very important. You just keep your fingers crossed that nobody gets nicked up during training camp."

That statement came after defensive back Jordan Babineaux injured his right leg midway through the first practice. Holmgren didn't know the severity of the injury at the time he spoke but said, "We were lucky."

Eight Seahawks started camp on the PUP list in 2006. This year, Holmgren only has to scale back the participation of a few who had offseason surgery while they work their way back to full strength.

Those players include defensive backs Mike Green and Michael Boulware.

Babineaux, who also missed both the May and June minicamps, didn't participate in the afternoon session. He was to be further examined and a report on his status is expected today. He was seen at the end of the day on crutches.

Holmgren said he didn't feel placing Tubbs on the PUP list was a major setback in the status of the oft-injured former first-round choice.

"We're confident he'll play," Holmgren said. "He's doing fine. ... We came in knowing that we wouldn't have him on the practice field probably until the third preseason game. I would say he's on a schedule."

Beyond those developments, Camp Kirkland is off and running. And that's fine for fullback Mack Strong.

"There's some things about Cheney I miss," Strong said. "I miss being over there with our fans. Unfortunately, they don't get an opportunity to see us."

But no one seemed to mind the drizzle too much.

"I know we'll have our hot days here, but I don't miss those dry, hot days over there in Eastern Washington," Strong said. "I don't miss that hard field out there, either."

NOTES

• OL Floyd Womack took part in the morning practice, but did not come out for the afternoon session. Womack had a pair of arthroscopic knee surgeries last month.

• The morning practice lasted an hour and 50 minutes, while the afternoon session went for a little more than 1 ½ hours.

• Fourth-year pro D.J. Hackett opened as No. 1 wide receiver opposite Branch, and Holmgren said Hackett has the inside track on being a starter. "Right now, if we were to line up to play a game, Hackett would be there," he said, "but he hasn't played long enough in enough games to say this is done."

• Holmgren also mentioned competition on the right side of the offensive line, where Chris Gray opened as the No. 1 right guard and Sean Locklear the right tackle, and said Wilson will "make things tough" in the secondary.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com