Jeremy Bates is Seattle's 33-year-old offensive coordinator. He has three dogs, an office with no windows and a grinder's approach to coaching football.

He was an option quarterback at Rice, and he has torn the anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) in both knees. The first injury came in high school, the second in college.

His Dad, Jim, is a long-time defensive coach in the NFL, and Bates has been attending two-a-day practices at training camp since he was 5 when there was one rule. No talking. He could hand the football over, but no talking.

Well, now he's in charge of Seattle's offense and in a group interview with local reporters on Tuesday he explained that the foundation of that offense will be what was used by the Denver Broncos. That will include the terminology.

When Bates went to USC under Pete Carroll last season, it was with the understanding that he would be learning the Trojans' offense and not vice versa.

Four of the offensive assistant coaches worked with that Denver system under Mike Shanahan. Alex Gibbs was the Broncos' long-time line coach though he and Bates never worked there together. Bates, quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch and tight ends coach Pat McPherson all worked together with the Broncos.

As for the personnel considerations, Bates held his cards pretty close to the vest even when asked to address how the team is approaching left tackle given the uncertainty and questions over Walter Jones?

"Well, first of all, in my short career in the NFL, he's the best left tackle I've ever seen play the game," Bates said. "The guy is so smooth and patient. To have him play left is something special because you don't even have to think about who that stud defensive end is. You just say, 'Walter has got him.' ...

"He's just so special, and it's one of a kind. But left tackle is extremely important. We're not, though, going to get involved with talking about what route we're going. All I know is he has been a special Seahawk for a long time."

Well, any clearer explanation on the plans at left tackle?

"We need someone that we feel great about and protect Matt [Hasselbeck]," Bates said. "It's the blind side. I think left tackle is an important position just like a lot of other ones."

How about running back. Many think the Seahawks might look to add one of the top rushers in the upcoming draft, but under Gibbs, the Broncos made a habit of turning late-round picks into 1,000-yard rushers. What is Bates' approach to the position?

"I think Denver has proven that they've gotten a lot of great running backs late in the rounds," Bates said. "A lot of people say you've got to go to the first round and pick up that running back. I think if the offensive line, the tight end and the running backs all work together, all believe in the system, all know who they're reading and believe in 4 yards, 4 yards, 4 yards, they can be successful."

Well, ,how about how that position is stocked with Justin Forsett and Julius Jones coming back?

"I'm excited," Bates said. "I think both of them can play right away and they have been for years. I think they both fit in the zone system."