Mack Strong set to play in 178th game

KIRKLAND — Ageless fullback Mack Strong, in his 13th NFL season, is rarely heralded, even though his work as a punishing blocker is instrumental to the Seahawks.

So it's worth mentioning that Strong will tie former defensive end Jacob Green for third place with 178 games played when the Seahawks play Sunday at Tennessee.

It took Green 12 seasons to reach 178. Strong spent his first pro season, 1993, on Seattle's practice squad and didn't appear in a game that season. Former defensive tackle Joe Nash is the leader in career games as a Seahawk with 218; former wide receiver Steve Largent is second at 200.

"It's a credit to Mack," Green said. "I was doing the hitting and he's the one getting hit. He's dedicated himself to being in shape."

Strong looked at the career service list before the season and reflected on how much of a blessing it has been for him to play so long.

"I was lucky to get one year," Strong said. "I was lucky to get one game, let alone however many. Hopefully I have a lot more to add on to it."

Strong, 34, played with Nash for four seasons in the 1990s. Strong said that at the time he didn't understand what the big to-do was about Nash having played in so many games.

"Now I know," Strong said with a grin.

Not just yet

With home-field advantage in the playoffs still to play for, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren isn't looking past this week at future strategic decisions.

Those would include when to rest his starters and when, or if, he will change anything in the playbook going into the postseason.

"You certainly have to use the things that got you there and if you change too much, I think you're making a mistake," Holmgren said. "You also have to add new things and wrinkles and things maybe you haven't shown or they haven't seen."

Asked if he will do that during the bye week of the playoffs or if it will be phased in over the course of the rest of the regular season, Holmgren stopped short of going further.

"I'll answer all those types of questions if and when the time is right, OK?" Holmgren said.

Holmgren has never been in a situation where his team has already clinched a playoff spot and he doesn't show future opponents much of his playbook in the final weeks of the regular season. As for resting his starters, Holmgren wasn't ready to discuss that, either.

"I'm not at that spot yet," he said. " ... This game Sunday, there's a lot at stake."

Sack master

Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch is tied for second in the NFL with 12 ½ sacks, quite a story since he never had more than four in any of his previous four NFL seasons, all with the Arizona Cardinals.

Injuries played a part in that, as the former second-round draft pick from Nebraska suffered season-ending knee injuries in 2001 and 2003. He signed with Tennessee as a free agent during the past offseason.

"All of a sudden, a light came on," Vanden Bosch said. "I'm at the point in my career where I've seen every block. I'm not really surprised by anything. Finally, things have just kind of flown for me, and everything's coming together."

Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom was Vanden Bosch's teammate at Nebraska.

"Nothing's ever been given to the guy," Wistrom said. "He's earned everything, and I couldn't be happier for him."

Notes

• RB Shaun Alexander said Oct. 31 he "wouldn't be surprised if something happens very quickly" regarding a new contract with the Seahawks. Yesterday, he told The Associated Press he believes that won't happen until after the season. "Honestly, I believe that they're going to wait until the end of the year," Alexander said. "It is what it is. ... I've let my agent and the Seahawks people talk. I don't think there are any conversations going on right now."

• The Seahawks signed OL William Henry to their practice squad. Henry was with the team during training camp before being released.

• CB Jimmy Williams missed some practice time Thursday with a lower-right leg injury suffered during practice, but he returned and intercepted a pass to end the session. It brought loud hoots and hollers from his defensive teammates.