KIRKLAND – Fans interested in a quick and superficial assessment of the first practice of the Seahawks’ June minicamp will want to hear that the marquee guys look sound.

For a quarterback who had surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder last winter, Matt Hasselbeck passed with enough velocity to validate the claims that he’s “ahead of schedule” on his recovery.

For a running back who missed so much of last season with a broken foot, Shaun Alexander looks lean and quick and healthy.

But at this point, the Seahawks are still dealing with the underlying pathology at the root of so many problems last year.

Yes, it’s only June, games don’t start until September, and there’s plenty of time for players to heal up and grow into positions.

But until they can find five reasonably healthy men to meld into an effective unit on the offensive line, the Hawks will have little chance of returning to anywhere near their 2005 level of competitiveness.

And minicamp in June is none too early to start considering the issues at hand.

Causes of the problems up front last season required no special insight.

Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson was lost to Minnesota, Pro Bowl center Robbie Tobeck was injured into retirement, and Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones was banged up enough that his customary degree of dominance slipped a bit.

The same five guys started on the offensive line during the first 15 games of 2005. It was perhaps the best line in the NFL.

Hasselbeck made the Pro Bowl and Alexander was the league’s MVP.

But the line made it all possible.

Last year, eight combinations of starters were employed. Given that communication and coordination of efforts are so critical among linemen, the results of the steady lineup changes were fairly predictable.

Sacks went up by 10, rushing yards went down by 500, and scoring dropped more than a touchdown per game.

Simply, that’s a decent blue print for a team dipping from 13-3 to 9-7.

“I think it’s big,” head coach Mike Holmgren answered Monday when questioned about the importance of solidifying the front line. “It is with every team. Part of our success … has been continuity up front. Last year, we played some younger guys. Their experience last year will help them (this season).”

Jones returns, of course, presumably recovered from the shoulder and ankle issues that dogged him.

Left guard Rob Sims developed so well at left guard in three starts as a plug-in rookie last season that he has a hold on that position thus far.

Former first-round pick Chris Spencer is expected to take over the center spot after Tobeck’s retirement and hold it for the next dozen or so seasons, but he’s seeing limited action now as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.

After that? Anybody’s guess.

“The right side, we’re going to go into camp and let them slug it out a little bit,” Holmgren said.

Fifteen-year veteran Chris Gray, “Pork Chop” Womack, Sean Locklear and Ray Willis will be the ones “slugging it out” for the right guard and tackle jobs.

And the sooner Holmgren can sort through it, the better, at least in his mind.

“It is important, and we’re going to try to make that decision as soon as we can, but (the competition) will go into camp,” Holmgren said.

With the players having only light contact or working against blocking dummies, it’s hard to differentiate this early.

Beyond that, Gray wasn’t at practice Monday because he was moving his family, Willis was spending time at both guard and tackle, as was Womack. And Pat Ross stepped in at center in team drills to keep Spencer out of contact.

“It’s crucial,” Spencer said of the need for the linemen to develop into a unit. “It’s important to have the starting five having a chance to play together because that’s how you build your bond.”

And that’s how you keep guys like Hasselbeck and Alexander healthy and productive for a whole season.

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