Seahawks
Wunsch's work pays off

By José Miguel Romero
Seattle Times staff reporter

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Up and down he went, panting and perspiring, and when he was finished his legs shook so violently that he could barely stand.

Jerry Wunsch repeated the Friday ritual, running the 220 steps near a Kirkland firehouse for the month that he spent without work. Then, on Oct. 13, the Seahawks re-signed him.

Only to let him go again 10 days later because the Seahawks needed a punter for that week's game, and Wunsch was deemed expendable.

After such a yo-yo season, yesterday was sweet redemption for the eight-year offensive lineman. Wunsch was pressed into service when All-Pro left guard Steve Hutchinson sprained his right ankle early in the second quarter in the Seahawks' 23-17 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Wunsch, in his third year with the Seahawks, played half of the game in his first action of the season. Hutchinson re-entered the game in the second quarter but was gone before the fourth, the pain too great to withstand. That left Wunsch to fill the role of blocking for running back Shaun Alexander and protecting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in what was a must-win situation for the Seahawks.

Wunsch wasn't the only super-sub along the offensive line on a day that saw Alexander rush for 195 yards and the Seattle offense rack up 433 yards. Right tackle Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack made his second straight start in relief of injured regular Chris Terry and did his part, despite having to fend off the rush from Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers.

"It just shows every week you have to prepare because you never know what's going to happen," Wunsch said. "Last week I was out on the street and now this week, it paid off. I just kept my focus and came to work and did my job."

The key for the line's success was constant communication. When Hutchinson was out, he made sure to talk to Wunsch on the sideline. Womack had right guard Chris Gray in his ear on and off the field, offering feedback.

"We have great chemistry," Womack said. "With guys like that around you, you can't go wrong."
 
Womack and Wunsch are perhaps the two most versatile linemen on the team.

"They're not one of the top o-lines that we've faced, but I think they play well together," Panthers defensive tackle Brentson Buckner said. "It's a unit that takes pride in that no matter who's in there, they're going to do it. They did a good job."

Alexander couldn't have asked for more than what he got from his lead blockers. The holes for Alexander were there, and even when they weren't, the linemen held their blocks long enough to allow Alexander to cut back inside or bounce to the outside.

"I feel good for a guy like Jerry," center Robbie Tobeck said. "He's been up and down this year, on and off the roster. It was good that he had a chance to play, and he played well. At one point during the game, I asked Jerry if he was tired because I could hear him breathing."

At least it was on the field, and not on those firehouse steps.

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