D shows up for 2nd Seattle shutout of season

Making jokes about Cory Redding's stumbling fumble return or Nick Reed's 79-yard fumble recovery dash for a touchdown was easy after this one for Seattle's inconsistent defense.

A week after getting torn apart by Peyton Manning and Indianapolis, the Seahawks' defense pitched its second shutout of the season in Sunday's 41-0 romp over Jacksonville.

All the elements missing against the Colts returned versus Jacksonville. Seattle's defensive line was able to pressure Jaguars quarterback David Garrard and recorded four sacks. Talented Jacksonville tailback Maurice Jones-Drew was limited to just 34 yards rushing and touched the ball only 17 times running and receiving.

And Seattle forced a pair of fumbles, one recovered by Redding and the other snagged by Reed, who sprinted untouched for his first touchdown.

"We shortened everything down. Let's not overthink. Let's not overanalyze. Let's go out there and just do your job, play in and play out," said Redding, whose fumble return was called a "train off the tracks" by teammate Aaron Curry. "Everybody had so much fun."

Seattle had this much fun already once this season, blanking St. Louis 28-0 in the season opener. That was followed by three straight losses where Seattle's defense was exposed in different ways.

San Francisco running back Frank Gore punished the Seahawks' run defense. Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler took advantage of Seattle's depleted depth when injuries mounted, and the Seahawks were forced to use second- and third-string options.

Last week, Manning and the Colts' passing game simply had their way finding open receivers all over the field en route to 353 yards and a third consecutive Seahawks loss.

So this week, plans were simplified and a focus on individual assignments was the message rammed home.

"(Guys) were anxious to make plays. Whenever you're in a hole, guys are trying, but they're doing more than their individual jobs trying to make that play or force the issue," defensive end Darryl Tapp said.

The basic approach worked. The Jaguars finished with just 199 yards of total offense; Seattle forced five straight three-and-outs in the first half; and the Seahawks had their most lopsided shutout in nearly 25 years.

"This one is behind us already. As much as you'd like to sit here and look back, you really can't," linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. "After the final seconds ticked off the clock, it was time to move on."

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PSYCHO SCHMITT: Seattle fullback Owen Schmitt made quite the statement during pregame introductions.

As he emerged from the Seahawks' tunnel, Schmitt violently smacked his helmet against his forehead at least three times, inciting his teammates and leaving Schmitt with a cut forehead, bloody face and stained jersey.

"That was gruesome but beautiful at the same time," Tatupu said. "I don't know if that is possible, but that got us going. ... I guess that's a guy you want on your side, a man willing to bloody his own face. You know he's willing to put it all on the line."

Coach Jim Mora's concern was that Schmitt was the only active fullback for Seattle on Sunday.

"That's his enthusiasm," Schmitt said. "He talked to me. He came up and apologized."

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INJURY REPORT: The lengthy Seattle injury report added a couple of new names on Sunday.

Third-string left tackle Brandon Frye departed in the first quarter with a shoulder stinger, leaving Kyle Williams to take his place a day after being signed off the practice squad.

"I didn't have time for emotions. I ran out there then got set up and it was like let's go," Williams said. "I didn't really have time to think about anything."

With Williams in, Seattle didn't do drastic changes to its blocking scheme, even after Williams got badly beaten on one play and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, and his cracked rib, nearly got crunched from the blind side.

Williams said after that play he needed a moment to settle himself down and not do too much.

"I needed to calm down. I was trying to get a good lick on a guy and got overextended and my technique kind of went out the window," Williams said. "I just needed to settle down and go back to fundamentals."

Guard Mansfield Wrotto injured his left ankle, and reserve defensive backs C.J. Wallace (hamstring) and Travis Fisher (groin/hamstring) also were dinged.

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QUICK HITS: Seattle held the ball for the final 11:53 of the game, and had a nearly 10-minute advantage in time of possession for the game. ... Someone was having fun with injured CB Marcus Trufant. On the nameplate above Trufant's locker, his first name and number were covered athletic tape. Written on the white strips were "Desmond" and "6" referencing Trufant's brother, a starting cornerback at Washington. ... One of the two balls WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh caught for TDs was going to his daughter who turned 7 on Sunday.