The Seahawks open training camp in about two weeks

It helps even more that the Hawks have veterans who know the schemes and can teach them to those who don't. That is no accident. It is the way the Seahawks have set it up.

On defense, Carroll has plenty of guys who are familiar with his scheme: former USC players Lofa Tatupu, Lawrence Jackson and Kevin Ellison, plus veteran safety Lawyer Milloy, who played for Carroll in New England over a decade ago.

Carroll is counting on Tatupu to continue to tutor second-year linebacker Aaron Curry.

"Last year, Aaron played his best football when Lofa was out there," Carroll told reporters during minicamps. "And Lofa helped him a lot, frankly. It got harder for Aaron without that experience right next to him. … Lofa affects guys. He helps people understand the game."

Tatupu missed 11 games last season, and Curry lost his on-field coach and started trying to make up for Tatupu's absence.

"I started chasing big plays," Curry told reporters last month. "I stopped doing my job. Instead of Matt Hasselbeck waiting for the play to come to me for me to make it, I was trying to do other people's jobs and chasing big plays, getting out of my gap, missing my assignments, chasing a big play because I had been making big plays."

With Tatupu expected back from the torn pectoral muscle that sidelined him for the final 10 games, Curry should be able to rely on the five-year vet's experience. And the Seahawks jerseys plan to let Curry loose on the quarterback as well, which might appease people who thought the fourth pick in the draft was too high to use on a linebacker who doesn't chase the quarterback.

On the back end of the defense, Milloy will be helping rookie first-round pick Earl Thomas Aaron Curry  learn the NFL ropes. At age 36, Milloy is ancient for a safety. But he played his best football for the Seahawks in December, and the new coaches had him working with the starters alongside Thomas in minicamps. Even if that doesn't last once the season starts, it's certainly a benefit for Thomas during the learning days of camp.

And the Seahawks are continued to be seen as a potential landing spot for Owens. At least one person close to Deion Branch Owens has indicated -- anonymously -- the Seahawks are still a possibility.

Now, a few months back general manager John Schneider indicated that something "drastic" would have to happen for that to become a possibility in an appearance with KJR 950 AM in Seattle.

There is at least one person close to Owens who still sees Seattle as a potential destination so the door may not be closed on that possibility.