A Special Reunion For Hawks

For almost a decade, Rusty Tillman made special teams very special in Seattle.

Because of his collisions on special teams as a player, the former George Allen-coached linebacker earned the nickname “The King” because he was the king of special teams. In the Kingdome, as a Seahawks assistant, Tillman helped transform a one-time coaching afterthought into a cottage industry of professionalism.

As he tries to resurrect the Oakland Raiders’ special teams in the remodeled Oakland Coliseum, Tillman might cover his eyes when he glances to the Seahawks’ sidelines during this evening’s game at 5. A major construction sign hangs over the Seahawks’ special teams, and so far the sights haven’t been pretty.

Second-year special teams coach Dave Arnold is breaking in new deepsnappers, a new punter (Josh Miller), a new holder (Miller), new coverage players and new slightly less exotic schemes. Opening night reviews from the exhibition opener were horrible.

Poor tackling allowed a dreadful 36-yard kickoff return average. Miller’s punting was adequate (40 yards a try), but coach Dennis Erickson continues to insist to Seahawks ownership that veteran Rick Tuten be resigned. Though Tom Fletcher passed the first test as a deep snapper, Arnold will look at center Kevin Mawae on field goals and linebacker Jason Kyle on punts with little confidence in how either will do in a game.

To make matters worse for the Seahawks, they know Tillman was hired by Oakland to exploit any inadequacies in the Seahawks’ kicking units. After all, Tillman, who has evolved to the defensive coordinator level with the next stop being head coach, received a monster contract in excess of $200,000 a year to lead Al Davis’ special teams into the modern era.

“I’m having a good time,” Tillman said Wednesday. “This is the happiest I’ve been in five years. I’m kinda reborn.”

So are the Raiders. They’ve moved all operations here and everything is first class. Their new headquarters near the Coliseum is one of the best in football. There are fountains and ponds in front of the facility. Their training camp is on the site of a Marriott in the plush Napa Valley.

“This is the first time I’ve had a television set in my room at training camp in 27 years,” Tillman said.

While Tillman enjoys his new surroundings, Arnold handles the difficulties in Seattle knowing he has a tough act to follow. Even when the Seahawks promoted Tillman away from special teams, he helped Russ Purnell become one of the most respected special teams coaches in the league.

Arnold, Dennis Erickson’s special teams coach at the University of Miami and a former college head coach, spent last year learning how much attention special teams receives in the NFL. He’ll have to tighten up a kickoff coverage unit that allowed two touchdowns last season and had an awful 11.4-yard average defending punt returns.

“It’s still a matter of making tackles and making plays,” Arnold said. “The most frustrating thing about our kickoff coverage last week is that we missed four tackles and three others missed tackle opportunities. We had people in position, but we didn’t make the plays.”

Tillman won’t cut Arnold any slack. Raiders returners Tim Brown, Napoleon Kaufman, Rocket Ismail and Harvey Williams are among the most dangerous and fastest in the sport. Conversely, Arnold must give extra looks to young players such as rookies Reggie Brown, T.J. Cunningham, Eric Unverzagt, Fred Thomas.

Tonight marks Game 2 of the snapping tryouts. Arnold must pay close attention to how well linebacker Jason Kyle does in snapping to Miller, the punter. The Seahawks felt they couldn’t afford $275,000 for tight end Trey Junkin to be the deep snapper, so he’s with the Raiders. Kyle, the thirdleading tackler on special teams last year and bidding for a backup linebacker spot, could save a roster spot for another position player if he can replace Junkin.

Mawae, the team’s starting center, will handle snaps on field goals and extra points, but he doesn’t want to do it.

“I’ll do the best I can, but the coaches know how I feel about it,” Mawae said.

Because Seahawks quarterbacks prefer not being the holder, the punter is the next option. Kicker Todd Peterson has confidence in the unsigned Tuten. He’s just getting used to Miller, who only held in exhibition games for the CFL Baltimore Stallions.

“If Todd starts missing something, then it’s easy to point the finger at me,” Miller said.

Last Saturday, Miller wasn’t aware that as the holder he had to watch the 25-second clock. A delay-of-game penalty resulted, and Peterson missed a 35-yard attempt that followed.

“Because it was a preseason game, I guess it’s not as big a concern,” Arnold said. “It’s a learning experience. I’m sure that will never happen again. Before the game, we talked about clock management. Still, it was one of those things Josh didn’t think of. But you’ve got to have things like that happen to learn.”

Notes

Doctors said the season-ending surgery on Eddie Goines’ left knee was successful and they project he should be able to play next season, Erickson said. … Halfback Dou Innocent had surgery to insert a screw in his right index finger, but he might be able to practice next week. … Wide receiver Brian Blades, halfback Chris Warren, cornerback Nate Odomes and defensive end Phillip Daniels head the list of players who won’t play. … Rookie right tackle Robert Barr pulled a hamstring Tuesday so Howard Ballard, who has a sore knee, will have to play. … Because 4,500 seat-license purchasers backed out at the last moment, there is expected to be 20,000 empty seats in the Oakland Coliseum. Last ditch efforts to sell season tickets without PSLs netted sales of only 1,800, meaning taxpayers in Oakland have come $20 million short of paying for stadium renovation.