Leonard Weaver discovers the big picture

Updated: August 5, 2007, 10:21 PM ET
Associated Press

KIRKLAND -- Leonard Weaver has a vision for his future. He just needs to nail down his present.

Weaver, the Seattle Seahawks' third-year 6-foot, 242-pound fullback, currently is occupied with the pursuit of making it in the NFL. After the first week of camp, it's clear that he will push 15-year veteran Mack Strong for playing time as the blocking back for Shaun Alexander.

Head coach Mike Holmgren already has said that Weaver will get more of Strong's plays. In Saturday's scrimmage, Weaver was the lone back in some four-wide receiver formations with the first team, the role held down by Strong in recent seasons.

Even the 35-year-old Strong said earlier in camp that "it took a while, but it (age) is starting to catch up with me a little bit."

After Sunday's practice, Head Coach Mike Holmgren said, "Leonard Weaver did a little bit that was encouraging to me.".

That's reassuring for a player who was a undrafted free agent two years ago out of Division II Carson-Newman in Jefferson City, Tenn. Weaver didn't even play last season because was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain and missed the entire season.

But for him, his time away was well spent. He held various coaching roles for Renton High School football team in the Seattle area last fall.

"I would look forward to going back to a community like that, definitely, in 10 years or so," said Weaver, saying that the experience gave him the perspective he needed. "I would love to coach at a high school. Being able to give back to a community is my passion, making an impact on those kids in some way or form.

"It did a lot of things for me," he said. "The main thing it did was made me appreciate the game that we play, especially the level I'm at. A lot of guys dream of playing or coaching in the NFL. This is a privilege to be able to come back."

What Weaver came to understand was the big picture, not merely his status as a prospective NFL player. As he rose to Renton's defensive coordinator late in the season, it gave him the opportunity to see the whole field, not just the narrow view of his fullback position.

"It helped me learn the game," he said. "A lot of players play, but don't really understand the game. At this level, it's very important that you understand situations. Understanding a situation predicts a lot of what you do and what you do determines whether you win or lose.

"I realized I really didn't know this game as well as I thought I did," he said.

Weaver saw some playing time his first season with the Seahawks in 2005. He played in all 16 games on the special teams and saw some spot duty behind Strong with 17 carries for 80 yards. Weaver, a former tight end at Carson-Newman, caught one pass for 12 yards.

But in a game where nothing and no one lasts forever, he now faces the prospect of replacing longtime fan favorite Strong.

"It's not awkward," Weaver said. "Mack and I get along great. He has been a brother figure, a father figure, just a great mentor. I would never try to squeeze him out. I tell everyone I would play behind him another five years if I have to. That's the kind of respect I have for him.

"However it shakes out. When ever he gets ready to go, he's going to pass me the torch and I'm going to say, 'Hey man, I'm here for you and I'll take it on and do the best I can.' "

NOTES: A few prominent players were held out of practice Sunday; tackle Walter Jones (shoulder), tight end Ben Joppru (hip), linebacker Leroy Hill (hamstring) and wide receiver Courtney Taylor (knee). Taylor will miss at least four weeks. Joppru is uncertain. "He has a real painful (right) hip pointer and he also pulled a muscle when he hurt his leg," Holmgren said. Jones has missed four days with his shoulder issue. "If he's sore and thinks the shoulder is aggravated a little bit, we're just not going to play him or practice him," Holmgren said. ...Surprisingly, among the players seemingly the most seriously injured Saturday was wide receiver Ben Obomanu. But he practiced Sunday. He had sustained a neck injury on an overly aggressive tackle by safety C.J. Wallace. ... Holmgren singled out wide receiver D.J. Hackett and quarterback Seneca Wallace for their play in the scrimmage . ... While most of the starting jobs are fairly secure, Holmgren suggested that the right side of the offensive line "is competitive, even though I am very pleased with Sean Locklear, how he came to camp and what he's doing. Chris Gray, he is solid as a rock. There are not a lot of real starting questions. I don't think. There are very few. We'll see."


Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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