It’s entirely understandable. The Seahawks have undergone a more radical change than any other since Mike Holmgren took over as coach in 1999.

At the start of minicamp, 37 new guys were wearing Seattle jerseys, and they were being coached by six new staffers.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had an idea that might help eliminate mistaken identities: Write players’ names on athletic tape across the front of their helmets – the way high school coaches do when they are buried under heavy roster turnover every fall.

Holmgren carries around what he calls a “cheat sheet” with names and numbers on it.

What to make of all the changes? After watching the first three practices, I’d say the new-look Seahawks are leaner, fitter and quicker. And I would almost guarantee they’ll be better able to run the football.

Most visibly, it’s incalculable how much more quickly running back Julius Jones hits the hole than Shaun Alexander. He’s not very tall, of course, but he’s sturdy and gets up to speed in a step or two.

He will not be a backfield dancer. He can catch the ball, and there’s even a rumor that he is not opposed to blocking. In short, Alexander will not be missed.

Jones wears his jersey sleeves rolled up, the better to show off a flashy set of arms. His, though, are dwarfed by fellow back T.J. Duckett, who has such inflated biceps that it seems almost difficult for him to fit a football in there when he bends his elbow.

In front of them, new left guard Mike Wahle, a two-time Pro Bowl player, is a nimble 6-foot-6, 307 pounds. He has already shown that he can get out and run in front of backs on sweeps and screens, giving the Seahawks a pair of guards (with Rob Sims on the right side) who can block on the move.

We don’t get turned loose in the weight room to see who is putting in work in the offseason, but one player who seems to have earned obvious results from diligent training is utility lineman Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack.

He was listed at 328 pounds even when he was obviously in another zip code. Now, he looks leaner and more athletic than when he showed up as a rookie. Seriously.

If that equates to him being less injury prone, he’ll be a valuable insurance policy against injury to Walter Jones.

Frankly, it’s weird going to practice and not seeing longtime assistant Nolan Cromwell throwing in warm-up drills to receivers. A former quarterback at Kansas, Cromwell had a serviceable arm. As much as I’m convinced that Keith Gilbertson will be up to coaching receivers, considering his experience all over the field, he will not be confused with Cromwell when it comes to passing in drills.

And there’s no Jim Zorn. No Stump Mitchell. Weird.

Here’s the good part for Seahawks fans: Line coaches Mike Solari and Mike DeBord seem to be making an impact. In one of the first line drills, Solari was running players through blitz and stunt adjustments.

At one point, he referenced a mistake made in the Chicago Bears game last season. He wasn’t with the team last season, of course, which means he’s been doing a lot of film study.

Another change: When the offensive and defensive lines are doing their pass-blocking drills, those not in action are on the side working on fundamentals with dummies and blocking bags rather than just standing and watching. It’s more efficient.

Of the draft picks, first-round defensive end Lawrence Jackson looks comfortable, making it obvious that he has played a lot of football under good coaches. At the snap, he flows to the ball without the read-and-react hesitance you see in some young defenders.

The team’s second-round pick, tight end John Carlson, is a huge, low-body-fat athlete who can catch the ball, block and can get to the right spot on the field. He reportedly scored almost off the charts on the intelligence test.

Check back with me on his quickness and footwork, though.

One of the more interesting exchanges Friday afternoon came when fourth-round defensive tackle Red Bryant went against second-year guard Mansfield Wrotto. Wrotto stonewalled him once. The second time, Bryant got his hands under Wrotto’s pads and appeared to throw him out of his way. Very impressive.

If I had to point to one “gee-whiz” guy who consistently makes impressive plays, it’s receiver Logan Payne. As he did last year in practices, Payne shows amazing hands, focus and concentration.

We don’t have much evidence as to whether he’ll sustain that when safeties start putting helmets to his ribs during games, but in terms of shaking free and catching the ball in traffic, the guy is a major talent.

He’s another player you might not recognize right off, not without his name taped to his helmet.

But you should get to know him soon enough.

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

dave.boling@thenewstribune.com