Hawks Notebook | Heavyweights take field at left tackle

KIRKLAND — A Sports Illustrated poll taken before this season ranked Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones as the third-most intimidating offensive lineman in the NFL.

Jones (10 percent) ranked behind Baltimore's Jonathan Ogden (15 percent) and Larry Allen of San Francisco (22 percent), who plays guard. So Sunday's Seahawks-Ravens game will feature arguably the top two left tackles in football in Ogden and Jones.

Baltimore coach Brian Billick was asked about life without Ogden, who was selected this week to his 11th Pro Bowl in 12 NFL seasons.

"I don't know. I've never been a head coach without him," Billick said. "I told Jonathan, 'Why don't you stick around for a while because when you go, I should probably go with you.' "

Jones, like Ogden, is never part of the offensive game plan — his coaches don't have to do anything special to help him with his blocking assignments. He's left alone to cancel out his man.

"He is a great lineman, probably the best lineman I've ever had," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said of Jones.

Jones is going to his eighth Pro Bowl in 11 seasons. He admitted he looks up to Ogden, whom he sees as the tackle who set the standard.

"Ogden is way up there to me," Jones said. "He was the guy before I came in. It's one of those things where I'm happy for him to be able to, at the tail end of his career, to go out there and dominate guys."

Holmgren was asked if he is at a point where he is looking to groom a replacement for Jones, who has had shoulder surgery and has missed practice time in recent weeks to rest his shoulder.

"Do you think we can find another Walter Jones?" Holmgren said. "That's probably not going to happen."

When the time comes, the Seahawks would likely look to draft a left tackle with a first-round pick, because the position is so valuable as the quarterback's blind-side protector.

2008 opponents set

Now that all four NFC divisions have been clinched, the Seahawks know all of their opponents for 2008.

The Seahawks will host Philadelphia, Washington, NFC North champion Green Bay, San Francisco, Arizona, St. Louis, the New York Jets and currently undefeated New England. They will travel to Dallas, the New York Giants, Buffalo, Miami, San Francisco, Arizona, St. Louis and NFC South champion Tampa Bay.

The regular-season schedule with dates and times will be announced in April.

Notes

• Billick told The Associated Press that rookie Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, will start at quarterback for the Ravens this week, with Kyle Boller unable to practice because of effects from a concussion and Steve McNair on injured reserve. The Ravens hope Boller can serve as backup.

• Seahawks S Mike Green returned to practice after missing Wednesday. Jones was limited, as was WR D.J. Hackett. DT Rocky Bernard did not take part, and CB Josh Wilson still is unable to practice.

• Ravens LB Ray Lewis missed another practice with hand and back injuries.