Notebook: Engram a happy middle man

It always feels better the next week, Bobby Engram said.

The Seahawks wide receiver was talking about his cracked ribs, which had healed enough for him to play at Arizona last week and make three catches for 28 yards. On Sunday, Engram looked completely healthy, leading the Seahawks with six catches for 70 yards.

More important, Engram went over the middle to make most of his catches, with no fear of getting hit in those same ribs. His best catch went for 27 yards during a second-quarter scoring drive, on which he leaped over Rams cornerback Corey Ivy to bring down the ball.

"The second week you feel a little more comfortable in terms of getting your legs under you and it's tough when you're out three or four weeks to come back and play 60, 65 plays," Engram said. "When I'm out there playing, I don't think about it [taking hits over the middle]. If something's going to happen, it's going to happen. No need to worry about it. Just trying to protect myself as best I can."

Efficient Hasselbeck

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hasn't been putting up eye-popping passing numbers lately. He even was intercepted twice Sunday and suffered through his worst game (passer rating: 68.6) in a while.

But Hasselbeck has been efficient this season, especially given injuries to Darrell Jackson (still out) and Engram (returned two weeks ago), his two leading receivers. Proof, teammates say, of his maturity.

"He's a leader," receiver Joe Jurevicius said. "He's a student of the game, and his vocalization in that huddle is very instrumental in why we're successful."

Added Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren: "He's really matured very, very nicely. You've seen him from the beginning. He is a smart quarterback, and we need him to play well for us to do well. And he's doing that right now."

Hasselbeck completed 17 of 29 passes for 243 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass.

Bailey shines in debut

The Seahawks were down a starting defensive lineman with Marcus Tubbs unable to play Sunday, so Rodney Bailey was activated for the game.

It was the 26-year-old's Seattle debut after three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and one on injured reserve in New England, and Bailey made an impact.

Bailey entered the game near the end of the first quarter, and forced a fumble early in the fourth quarter that stopped a long Rams drive with the Seahawks leading 24-9.

Bailey reached in to strip tight end Brandon Manumaleuna of the ball on a third-and-one play after Manumaleuna had made a catch and gotten the first down. Safety Marquand Manuel recovered the fumble.

"I've just been watching these guys play every single week," Bailey said. "Anything you can do out here on defense to help the team win, it's great."

Blown up

Qwest Field oohed at replays of right tackle Sean Locklear leveling St. Louis defensive end (and Pro Bowler) Leonard Little from the blind side on a running play in the first quarter. Shaun Alexander lost 3 yards on the play, but Locklear got his big lick on Little.

"Ah, man, it was exciting," Locklear said. "Just part of the play. He was just trying to make a play on Shaun, and I just peeled back on him. I was thinking about it, and either it could have taken him out of the game, or it could have fired him up. But I think I did a pretty good job against him."

The Locklear-Little matchup was one to watch, because Locklear faced quite a challenge as a second-year player and first-year starter. Little was the Rams' leader in sacks entering the game, but the Rams had no sacks.

Little downplayed the block.

"It looked a whole lot worse than it was," he said. "He got me on the shoulder."

Locklear, unlike veteran Robbie Tobeck at Arizona, chose not to celebrate his hit. "Hey, I'm a first-year starter just trying to play," he said. "I celebrate on a touchdown."

All-time team announced

Voting for the Seahawks' 30th Season All-Time team, sponsored by Macy's, culminated in Sunday's announcement of the 27 players and one head coach whom fans chose as the best in team history.

Players eligible played at least 64 games, started at least 40 or made a Pro Bowl appearance for the Seahawks since 1976. The coach is Chuck Knox. The offense features four players on the 2005 team (12 position players total): WR Steve Largent, OT Walter Jones, G Steve Hutchinson, C Robbie Tobeck, G Bryan Millard, T Steve August, TE Mike Tice, WR Brian Blades, QB Dave Krieg, RB Shaun Alexander, FB John L. Williams and K Norm Johnson.

The all-time defense, with no current Seahawks, is DE Jacob Green, DT Cortez Kennedy, DT Joe Nash, DE Michael Sinclair, LB Chad Brown, LB Rufus Porter, LB Fredd Young, CB Dave Brown, CB Shawn Springs, S Kenny Easley, S Eugene Robinson and P Rick Tuten.

Two of the three honorable-mention players are 2005 Seahawks — FB Mack Strong and Hasselbeck. The third honoree is DT Jeff Bryant.

Notes

• Tubbs, a game-time decision as to his availability because of a left calf strain, was inactive, and Rocky Bernard started in his place. D.D Lewis started at strongside linebacker after missing last week's game with an injury. He had two tackles.

• SS Michael Boulware had six tackles and an interception, showing no side effects from a hamstring injury suffered at Arizona.

• Rookie LB Cornelius Wortham, signed Saturday to the active roster, made his NFL debut on special teams for Seattle.

• TE Itula Mili has been available to play for the past few weeks but was left inactive again Sunday.

• Members of the Tuiasosopo family, including former Seahawk Manu, raised the 12th-man flag before the game.