One practice | Shoulder pads | Closed to public

Practice was quieter Tuesday, but that had nothing to do with the energy level of the players. No fans. No music. No big inflatable goalposts perched on the berm on the east side of the practice field.

Monday was the final day that Seahawks' practices were open to the public, which means there is a decidedly different feel.

• Defensive end Lawrence Jackson returned to practice after being held out the past two weeks because of a sore hamstring.

• The best nickname on the team by far is Joe Pawalek, the linebacker who returned to practice after recovering from a hamstring injury. The coaches call him JoePa.

• Safety Jordan Babineaux had an outstanding practice. First, he intercepted a pass intended for Golden Tate. Cornerback Marcus Trufant was covering Tate on the play, and he tipped the pass up from Hasselbeck and Babineaux intercepted it.

Babineaux very nearly intercepted another pass later in practice, reading third-string quarterback J.P. Losman, and breaking on a ball intended for Mike Williams.

• Tight end Anthony McCoy had another very catchable ball bounce off his hands. McCoy caught a touchdown pass in Saturday's exhibition victory, but has instances in which he has mishandled passes that should be easy receptions during practice.

Jackson's return to practice presented an opportunity to ask him about what seems to be somewhat of a position switch. Coach Pete Carroll said Monday Jackson would be playing the Leo, which is the pass-rushing end that lines up on the weakside of the offensive line.

"They told me their plans," Jackson said, "and right now, the only focus I have is going out there and getting better as a player at whatever position they have me playing."

That's the kind of answer any coach wants to hear, and Jackson made it very clear that part of being a professional is following the instructions he is given.

But there is also a very important question at the center of this because the change in the structure of Seattle's defensive line has the potential to render Jackson a 'tweener.

He weighs 270 pounds, and in his two NFL seasons, the strength of his play has been against the run. But he's not that 300-pound presence that Seattle seems to be looking for at left defensive end -- what coaches are referring to as the five-technique. That's where Red Bryant is starting. He weighs 323. Kentwan Balmer could play there, too. He weighs 315. E.J. Wilson is a rookie, who is a powerful 289.

But at the same time, Jackson is not that quick-twitch pass rusher either, and he's much more an every-down defensive lineman than someone like Chris Clemons, the starting Leo, or Nick Reed a backup.

Does that Leo position suit Jackson's skill set?

"I can play it," Jackson said. "It's not a problem, but obviously you see the size difference between me and the other guys that are in there. I can do some things differently than I can. I just have to put all my tools together and make it work for me."

Now, the discussion of Jackson has become a loaded topic, but there are some things that must be pointed out.

First of all, as a rookie, he was used in numerous positions, something that the coaches eventually felt was a detriment to his development. Last season, he was used primarily on first and second downs, which worked against big sack numbers.

Jackson is more of a complete defensive end than people have given him credit for. He's strong against the run and as a pass rusher, he's someone who will rely upon technique above anything else.

And for everyone who has criticized his production, it's worth noting that he has more sacks after two seasons than Michael Strahan did.

So while it's a legitimate question where Jackson will fit, it's pretty premature to start attaching labels that pronounce him a disappointment.