RENTON, Wash. - If Jim Mora puts up a defensive front as Seahawks head coach that is as strong as the one he's maintaining now to repel talk of 2009, no one will score on Seattle next year.

The Seahawks' defensive backs coach has already been named as the replacement for Mike Holmgren next season, the first coach-in-layaway deal with a known start date in NFL history. Yet no one around the team -- especially Mora -- will acknowledge the peculiar arrangement until after Holmgren's 10th and final season in Seattle ends this winter.

The latest example came Wednesday. It was the first full day on the job for Tom Cable as the Oakland Raiders' interim head coach. Cable was promoted from offensive line coach on Tuesday to replace the fired Lane Kiffin. Mora hired Cable, who went to Snohomish, Wash., High School, as his offensive line coach in Atlanta in 2006, when Mora was the Falcons' head coach. Cable had been the offensive coordinator at UCLA.

Cable has only an interim title through the end of this season from Raiders owner Al Davis. That leaves open the possibility he could rejoin Mora on his Seahawks staff beginning in '09.

When asked if Cable's promotion with the Raiders changes his plans for his Seahawks staff next year, Mora looked stunned and interrupted the question.

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not even thinking about next year. I'm thinking about the New York Giants," Mora said, switching the topic to Seattle's opponent on Sunday.

Mora said he watched Cable's introductory news conference with the Raiders from Alameda, Calif., and it seemed familiar, like he was back in a Falcons meeting room.

"That is who he truly is. He's not putting on an act or anything. He's very forthcoming. He's tough. He's to the point. I think he will do an excellent job," Mora said.

"Sometimes people have trouble seeing offensive line coaches as coordinators or head coaches because they put him in a certain category, or a certain silo. Tom always saw the big picture very well. As he mentioned in his press conference, he's had very, very good success as an offensive coordinator, a lot of success. I'm excited for him. I think he'll do a tremendous job. I think the players will play really hard for him.

"It's fun to see. It will be fun to watch."

Mora said he will call Cable in the next few days, "just to say hi. I'm really excited for him. ... It's good to see him get a chance."

Cable played at the University of Idaho in the mid-1980s for Keith Gilbertson, the former University of Washington coach who now coaches the Seahawks' wide receivers. And Cable played for Keith Gilbertson Sr., at Snohomish High.

McMULLEN PERSEVERES: Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and Koren Robinson were all back at practice Wednesday, coming off injuries. Yet look who remains a first-string wide receiver, at least for now: Billy McMullen.

Last month, Seattle signed him off his couch in Richmond, Va., to play his first game in two years. He wasn't supposed to play much in Week 2 against San Francisco, then had three catches for 48 yards as Matt Hasselbeck's main target while six other receivers were hurt.

"It's really a remarkable story," Hasselbeck said. "He came in and we weren't expecting him to play, but he played 65 snaps in his first game. Now that we have everybody back he is still our starting split end. Good for him.

"He is a big receiver and he does really well against press coverage. That is something that is tough to deal with for some guys. He makes tough catches."

Holmgren called McMullen "a great young guy."

"From a coach's standpoint, those types of things are very inspiring," Holmgren said.

Robinson was playing split end behind McMullen on Wednesday, but also sat out some of practice. The team is being cautious with Robinson's right knee, which he injured on his first practice day in eight months a few weeks ago.

QUICK HIT: RB Maurice Morris practiced some. Holmgren said again the starter in Week 1 remains behind the other returning injured players because of a sprained right knee. "Obviously it's a lot better," Morris said. "I can run a few plays now." Julius Jones likely will start again on Sunday.