Seahawks
Notebook: Holmgren hopes to help QB

By José Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

ROD MAR / THE SEATTLE TIMES Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had one of his worst games Sunday.

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KIRKLAND — A three-game losing streak in the NFL often is cause for drastic measures.

That said, this one can't really be considered drastic. It's simplistic.

The Seahawks are going to simplify their offense in order to take pressure off quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whom coach Mike Holmgren feels has "too much of the weight of the world on his shoulders."

The decision came in the wake of a dreary offensive performance by the Seahawks on Sunday at Arizona, a game they lost 25-17. Hasselbeck completed 14 of 41 passes for 195 yards, with four interceptions and a miserable rating of 18.9.

The plan is to focus on fewer pass plays so Hasselbeck is not overloaded and overly concerned about having to make a big play, and balance the offense to the tune of more carries for running back Shaun Alexander.

Holmgren met with his offensive coaching staff yesterday after reviewing game tapes and determined the Seahawks were not sound in technique and needed to get back to training-camp basics on offense.

"He has a job to do, the other fellas have a job to do," Holmgren said of Hasselbeck. "I think we're going to take a little different approach now in the next few weeks.

"They (players) are all looking to him; it's his football team. He is very, very hard on himself and part of my job is to keep him going."

Hasselbeck struggled with his passes Sunday. The Seahawks ran the ball on only 14 of their 56 plays, and Holmgren heard from Seahawks fans at Sun Devil Stadium about the lack of a rushing attack in the loss.
 
"We are at our best when we are more balanced," Holmgren said. "There is no question about that. So let's get back down to creating an atmosphere where we can execute better."

Hasselbeck said he never got into a rhythm on Sunday. He was, as Holmgren described, quite critical of himself.

He's confident things will improve, and seems to agree with a simplified offense.

"Part of my job is to really be on the same page as him (Holmgren)," Hasselbeck said. "There were a few times when I was thinking something different then he was. Maybe if we clean some things up, maybe that will help me be correct."

Holmgren blamed himself for the offense's shortcomings.

"When you're kind of struggling, I don't start with Matt, I start with myself," Holmgren said. "You can be the smartest coach in the world, but I have to be able to teach my player to execute that on the field. That's really what decides things, and we're making too many mistakes. So one, I'm not doing a good enough job of teaching it, or I've overloaded it so much that they can't function in the way they're supposed to function."

Notes

• OLB Isaiah Kacyvenski has a high right-ankle sprain, the team medical staff determined, and could be out for several weeks after being given an MRI yesterday. Kacyvenski was injured in the third quarter when Arizona tackle Leonard Davis rolled onto his ankle.

• Holmgren confirmed OLB Chad Brown will practice this week and is expected to play Sunday against Carolina. No word on how much Brown will play, however.

• WR Bobby Engram, P Tom Rouen and RT Chris Terry, all inactive for the Arizona game because of injuries, are questionable for this week, Holmgren said.

• Holmgren said the Seahawks will continue to alternate rookie Niko Koutouvides and veteran Orlando Huff at middle linebacker. The two each played about half of Sunday's game after Koutouvides was told of his expanded role the morning of the game.

• Seattle has apparently re-signed OL Jerry Wunsch after releasing him Saturday to make room for P Donnie Jones on the active roster. Wunsch was in the locker room with the team yesterday. Jones was waived and could be re-signed to the Seahawks' practice squad this afternoon.

• Alexander will visit Seattle's Coe Elementary School today as a guest of third-grader Treyvon Steinauer. Alexander will speak to students about the importance of education and offer football instruction as part of the NFL's Take a Player to School program.

• The Carolina Panthers lost any hope of DeShaun Foster playing again this season when it was determined yesterday the running back needs surgery on his broken collarbone. Foster was expected to miss six to 10 weeks after he was injured in an Oct. 10 loss to Denver. Carolina plays the Seahawks on Sunday at Qwest Field.

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