Hawks Notebook | 49ers QB not up to potential

Alex Smith watched most of his San Francisco 49ers' game against the Seahawks in California in September from the bench, courtesy of a hard shot from Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard.

Smith, the 49ers' quarterback, suffered a right shoulder separation on the first series and missed the next two games. His team is mired in a six-game losing streak, but Smith harbors no hard feelings against Bernard or the Seahawks for what happened to him.

"It's a rough game," he said. "You're going to have injuries, things like that are going to happen. In no way do I think it was malicious at all. He had a shot at me, and he took it."

Smith said his shoulder feels much better, but he's coming off a 17-for-38, three-interception performance that has his coach, Mike Nolan, trying to identify Smith's strengths and weaknesses.

Smith was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005 but has yet to live up to that potential and his own expectations.

"Coming into the season I thought he was ahead of where he has been right now," Nolan said. "I thought he would do a better job up to this point. His accuracy has been a little off.

"I think that's somewhat due to the soreness he has in the shoulder, but at the same time, if you can play, you know the quarterbacks are expected to perform at a high level."

Speaking of expectations, the 49ers were many observers' pick to unseat the Seahawks and break Seattle's three-year hold on the NFC West.

They're not out of the running even at 2-6, but they trail Seattle by two games and have underachieved in a division full of struggling teams.

"Maybe we just all ought to shut up and play, I guess," Nolan said.

"Certainly we'll learn that for next year."

Injury update

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said seven injured Seahawks, most of whom did nothing in practice Friday, are questionable to play Monday.

The availability of running back Shaun Alexander (knee), wide receiver Deion Branch (foot), defensive ends Patrick Kerney (oblique) and Baraka Atkins (ankle), tight end Marcus Pollard (knee) and linebacker Niko Koutouvides (hamstring) will be decided before Monday night's kickoff.

That group of players will be evaluated in practice today. Branch was in for a couple of plays at the end of Friday's session while Kerney was limited to individual drills.

Holmgren wants to see them be able to run without pain.

"Branch, as an example, his game is quickness and speed and he's got to be able to do that, otherwise I'd be doing him a disservice and the team [to play him]," Holmgren said.

Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard also did not practice and is listed as probable with a groin injury.

Alexander hasn't been on the field all week, but he's been running on a treadmill.

Linebacker Will Herring (hamstring) and offensive lineman Ray Willis (knee) are out this week. Linebacker Leroy Hill (hamstring) is doubtful after getting hurt last week in Cleveland.

Bringing it

Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck is fifth in the NFL in completions with 173 and ninth in yards with 2,023. The key to his consistency and sharpness is his listening and learning from quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn, Hasselbeck said.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com