| When Seattle QB coach Mike Sheppard stepped on the field for
the first time at the team’s first minicamp under Mike Holmgren, he went to QB Jon
Kitna and told him something Sheppard may have to take back. "I told Jon that arm
strength was a concern I had," Sheppard said.
According to Sheppard, he was the first person to catch a pass from Kitna in practice
in the new Holmgren era in Seattle. Considering what Kitna displayed with that throw, then
maybe it will someday be referred to as the Kitna era.
"He kicked it up," Sheppard said about Kitna’s throw. "He really
laid it in there for me. That’s the type of attitude he has. He wanted to show me
that he had the arm strength."
It is just that attitude that has the new Seattle coaching staff excited.
The 27-year-old third-year player for Seattle is expected to be the team’s starter
when the Seahawks take the field in the season opener against Philadelphia. He played in
six games in 1998, started the team’s last five games, led the team to a 3-2 mark and
passed for at least 242 yards in three of those games.
But with the new coaching staff, most of that goes out the window.
"He was productive," Sheppard said about last season. "He had a chance
to win all the games. … He gave his teammates a chance to be successful. He did not
make a lot of critical errors, and that’s what stood out. But he hasn’t done
anything yet in our system."
That is a big "but."
So far in front of the new staff, Kitna, who won 1997 World League MVP honors, has done
nothing more than participate in a handful of offseason workouts. Nonetheless, what Kitna
has displayed in those workouts has left the coaches enthusiastic about the team’s
chances to succeed this season.
Aside from showing off his arm, Kitna has done his fair share of barking out commands
at teammates and, in effect, demanding the respect of the players and coaches.
"Jon’s one of those guys that draws people to him," Sheppard said.
"He commits to being a leader, and leadership. He’s been meeting with our
strength coach at 5:30 every morning to get some one-on-one coaching. Now imagine any
other player walking in at 6:30 or 7 a.m. and seeing Jon walking out, done with his
workout."
Still left for Kitna is to show what he can accomplish in the games. Sheppard said
Kitna has a grasp on the offensive system and understands the terminology well. He just
wants to see what Kitna can do in game action before making him out to be something he has
not proved to be – a quality NFL starting quarterback.
One thing Sheppard does not want to see Kitna do is throw interceptions. Neither does
Holmgren, who coached QB Brett Favre in Green Bay, including a stretch early in
Favre’s career when interceptions were a concern. Last season, Kitna threw eight
interceptions in only six games.
"The more confidence you get in the
offense," Sheppard said, "the more you can let it go. He has the arm strength.
It’s just if he has to think about things, then he’s not moving as fast. …
But so far he has answered our questions in a hurry." |
