The Seattle Times: Seahawks Blog

Game over: Seattle 32, Detroit 20

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:24:21 PST

Post-game coverage from Monday's edition of The Seattle Times:

David Hawthorne quick study filling in for Lofa Tatupu
By Jerry Brewer, The Seattle Times

Hasselbeck gives Seahawks' season stay of execution
By Steve Kelley, The Seattle Times

Seahawks overcome 17-0 deficit
By Danny O'Neil, The Seattle Times

Seahawks defense hits the lottery with a pick-five
By Danny O'Neil, The Seattle Times

Video: Jim Mora, "We just had to dig in."

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:37:54 PST

Game thread: Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks, Nov. 8

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:02:18 PST

Fourth quarter

Marcus Trufant intercepts his first pass of the season, with textbook coverage of the Lions' Calvin Johson. Seattle's ball at its own 40 with 4:34 left in the game.

What got into Seattle's return games in the second half? It's actually looked good. Justin Forsett just returned a kick 46 yards.

Largest comeback in Seahawks franchise history was 20 points. Seattle twice came back from an 18-point deficit to win. If Seattle holds on to beat the Lions, it will have overcome a 17-point deficit.

Jason Hanson 50 yard field goal at 8:04

Seattle 25, Detroit 20

Third quarter

David Hawthorne intercepted his second pass of the game as quarterback Matthew Stafford continued to look like a rookie quarterback.

Seattle completes its comeback from a 17-point deficit with a 78-yard touchdown drive that included a defensive pass interference penalty, a reverse pass from Seneca Wallace to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Seattle scored its second touchdown of the game on a pass.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh 2 pass from Matt Hasselbeck (pass failed)
Seattle 22, Detroit 17

Last week against Dallas, Seattle called a screen pass right into the teeth of a defense, which is the perfect play call to gouge them, but a Cowboys lineman (No. 72 I believe, but I'm going on memory) reached out and made a great play to defend the pass.

Well, Seattle called a screen into a blitz in the third quarter against the Lions, the result a 49-yard gain by Julius Jones that set up Olindo Mare's third field goal of the game.

Olindo Mare 24 field goal at 9:24
Detroit 17, Seattle 16

Seattle punted for the first time all game in the third quarter. Usually that's a good thing. In this case, it's because Seattle was too busy giving the ball to Detroit on the Seahawks' half of the field in the first half.

Sunday's inactive players

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:48:58 PST

INACTIVE: WR Mike Hass, S Jamar Adams, G Mike Gibson, G Mansfield Wrotto, DT Red Bryant, WR Ben Obomanu, TE Cameron Morrah. QB Mike Teel in uniform as No. 3 quarterback.

INACTIVE: S Marvin White, CB Jason David, FB Jerome Felton, LB Vinny Circiu, T Jon Jansen, G Daniel Loper, DT Grady Jackson. Drew Stanton in uniform as emergency quarterback.

Two lineup changes for Detroit: Landon Cohen will start at defensive tackle for Grady Jackson, who usually devours space -- among lots of other things -- on the Lions defensive line. Terrelle Smith will serve as No. 3 quarterback.

Can't hush Housh

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:52:47 PST

Chad Johnson told T.J. Houshmandzadeh about a photo he'd made for his friend and former teammate. He just didn't tell Houshmandzadeh he was going to post it on Twitter, but that's what he did earlier this week, and somebody put it up in T.J. Houshmandzadeh's locker this week. That's the picture over on the right of this page.

There's a poetry to the way T.J. Houshmandzadeh talks. Transcribing an interview is similar to how it felt to transcribe an interview with Gary Payton with a rhythm and a fluidity that doesn't always translate when you take snippets of what he says.

In that spirit, here's a transcript of the questions Houshmandzadeh was asked Friday.

Q: When things are going tough for a team, do people read too much into things that wouldn't be such a big deal in other situations?

Houshmandzadeh: Like what?

Q: Oh, I don't know, gestures.

Houshmandzadeh: Man, I've been doing that my whole career.

Q:Has it gotten this kind of attention before?

Houshmandzadeh: No. I've done that my whole career. Guys from Cincinnati texted me and said they're surprised it took to Game 7 for me to do it. I think people in Cincinnati knew me. Marvin knew who I was and so whether I was right or wrong -- probably wrong -- it was just he knew it was the competitor in me. I didn't mean no harm by it. I'm just upset by the course of the game, which I would hope everybody is. Some people express themselves differently.

Yeah, it never got this attention before. I'm shocked, but it is what it is.

Video: Jim Mora talks about healthy team for a change

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:39 PST

Friday report

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:14:36 PST

The Seahawks had 53 players participate in a regular-season practice Friday, the first time that has happened in more than a year.

That included tackle Sean Locklear, who participated in a full practice for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. He is listed as probable, which means there's a virtual certainty he would be available for normal duty. Could he start?

"He could, but we haven't made that decision yet," coach Jim Mora said. "We like what Damion McIntosh has done. It has been a long time since Sean has played. It's nice to have him available, though."

Locklear said afterward he feels ready to play, but his role had not been discussed with him.

"I'm ready to go," Locklear said.

If Locklear doesn't start, Damion McIntosh will make his second consecutive start at left tackle for the Seahawks.

QUESTIONABLE: WR Ben Obomanu (oblique).

PROBABLE: T Sean Locklear (ankle), CB Ken Lucas (neck), QB Matt Hasselbeck (rib), LB Will Herring (shoulder), S Jordan Babineaux (hip).

QUESTIONABLE: FB Jerome Felton (ankle), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), RB Kevin Smith (shoulder).

PROBABLE: DT Grady Jackson (knee), DE Jason Hunter (ankle), QB Matthew Stafford (knee), DE Dewayne White (hamstring), LB Jordon Dizon (foot), DT Sammie Hill (ankle).

Special Thursday night chat transcript

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:10:30 PST

Well, there was a request made Tuesday to hold an evening Live Chat! We'll try it tonight, and if there are more people on it compared to the first Thursday afternoon chat we held this year, then we'll stick with the evening format on Thursdays.

'Hawk Talk: Evening edition, Nov. 5

Shirt tales: Fan selling the jersey off his back

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:32:15 PST

One Seahawks fan has decided to sell the shirt off his back. And in this case, it's a Matt Hasselbeck No. 8 jersey that he has posted on Craig's List.

Here's the description from the posting: "I've decided to send my Hasselbeck jersey the way of my Mariners jersey, my Sonics jersey, and the do-do bird: EXTINCT! The below jersey is officially for sale. It is a size large. The price is make me an offer. In addition to the price of the jersey you'll also be required to play left tackle for the remainder of the season or until you are injured, whichever comes first. Enjoy!"

Thursday's injury report

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:07:11 PST

Tackle Sean Locklear was not part of the team 11-on-11 practice drills Thursday, another piece of evidence that he won't be starting Sunday against Detroit. Fullback Justin Griffith, returned however, after an absence that was not injury related Wednesday.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was not limited in practice Thursday after sitting out part of Wednesday's practice. Will there ever be a point in which he isn't so sore early in the week after a game?"I would hope so," Hasselbeck said. "I would hope so. One of the things, when you come back early from an injury when you really shouldn't probably, you add on some healing time. You probably have accrued some other nagging things. That's probably the case, but I hope I can get there."

Well, is it a holding pattern or improving? Does Hasselbeck feel any better this week compared to a week ago?

"I feel a little bit better, probably, to similar," Hasselbeck said. "It's week to week. I can't lie."

DID NOT PRACTICE: WR Ben Obomanu (oblique).

LIMITED IN PRACTICE: T Sean Locklear (ankle), CB Ken Lucas (neck).

FULL PRACTICE: QB Matt Hasselbeck (rib), LB Will Herring (shoulder), S Jordan Babineaux (hip).

DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DT Grady Jackson (knee).

LIMITED PRACTICE: FB Jerome Felton (ankle), DE Jason Hunter (ankle), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), RB Kevin Smith (shoulder), QB Matthew Stafford (knee), DE Dewayne White (hamstring).

FULL PRACTICE: LB Jordon Dizon (foot), DT Sammie Hill (ankle).

Seahawks Psychologist: The doctor will see you now

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:43:31 PST

I don't have a psychology. Heck, I didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, and I don't have a junior high-school coach passing along axioms about adversity and what it does to people.

But this week has been the equivalent of a visit to the psychologist's for the Seahawks with their coach talking about accountability and strong people being competitors in the face of adversity.

Coach Jim Mora made that statement after Sunday's 21-point loss in Dallas, he reiterated it the next day and on Tuesday the Seahawks announced three roster subtractions.

Message sent?

"Those of us who have been around, you know that roster moves are going to happen after you start like we've started," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "He had said it plain out, that we're going to make some changes, we're going to do some evaluating and he did. His words weren't hollow. They definitely did it. He backed it up."

There wasn't the need to say too much else, Hasselbeck said.

"We didn't do a lot of talking Monday," Hasselbeck said. "We did a lot of talking on Sunday. Starting Monday this week, it has really just been back to work, just kind of getting after it, do you're talking on the field type of thing. There definitely is a different attitude this week in terms of a sense of urgency."

So was it a wake-up call? Not really. Just an attempt to change things up.

"If you keep doing the same old, if you keep on doing what you've been doing, you're going to get the same result," Hasselbeck said. "After Sunday, after the way things went Sunday, everyone just sort of got the message that we've got to look at this thing from all angles and pick it up. I think we've started to do that. We're still fighting some things, but all in all, we're working harder if that's even possible. We're working harder and trying to do whatever it takes."

'Hawk Talk: Live Chat! transcript read now

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:23:25 PST

'Hawk Talk: Live Chat! with Danny O'Neil at 11:45 a.m.

LT Sean Locklear probably won't start

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:59:22 PST

Sean Locklear returned to practice in a limited role Wednesday, but offensive coordinator Greg Knapp isn't penciling him in as a starter.

"Realistically, to have him start and play would be hard to ask of him," Knapp said. "We want to see him the next two days and evaluate his progress."

Locklear was limited in practice Wednesday, leaving the field after completing individual drills.

DID NOT PRACTICE: FB Justin Griffith (not injury related), WR Ben Obomanu (oblique).

LIMITED IN PRACTICE: T Sean Locklear (ankle), QB Matt Hasselbeck (rib), LB Will Herring (shoulder).

DID NOT PARTICIPATE: RB Kevin Smith (shoulder).

LIMITED PRACTICE: FB Jerome Felton (ankle), DE Jason Hunter (ankle), DT Grady Jackson (knee), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), QB Matthew Stafford (knee), DE Dewayne White (hamstring).

FULL PRACTICE: LB Jordon Dizon (foot), DT Sammie Hill (ankle).

Also, the FCC is not involved in the investigation of just what Deion Branch meant when he said, "If y'all want me, come find me," after scoring Sunday in Dallas.

Branch answered questions from reporters Wednesday.

"A big misunderstanding," he said. "What you all hear, is not what's coming from me. I just want to win, I want to play and that's the bottom line. When you're 2-5, a lot of stuff you hear, it may sound different, but the meaning of that is not that."

And once again, it wasn't a comment aimed at other teams, but rather the people in charge of his team. And if he was going to try and rock the boat, Branch said he would have said something before the season started back when he was told he was the No. 3 receiver.

"I've been accepting my role," Branch said. "If I wanted to start something, I would have done it in minicamp. That's not me. I wouldn't say those type of things. Me and management, we talked about it. We both understood what was what. They told me what was going on in preseason. I understood that going into this season."

Tackle Sean Locklear to practice

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:13:26 PST

Tackle Sean Locklear is expected to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a severe high ankle sprain in San Francisco Week 2.

"The biggest question will be to how Sean Locklear reacts," coach Jim Mora said. "He'll be limited in practice, but he will be out there."

LB Will Herring will not practice Wednesday after receiving an injection to his injured shoulder, but is expected to be OK. He is the only player not expected to practice Wednesday.

WR Ben Obomanu, injured oblique. "Seems to be doing pretty well," Mora said. "His oblique is responding to treatment and we feel like there's a pretty good chance that he'll be available for us on Sunday."

CB Ken Lucas, shoulder stinger. "He's doing well," Mora said. "He'll be limited, but he'll practice today. He'll get some repetitions."

S Jordan Babineaux, general soreness. "He's just a little bit beat up," Mora said. "He'll be limited, but he'll practice in some form or fashion."

QB Matt Hasselbeck also has that general soreness, and he'll be limited in practice.

Lineup adjustments

Nate Burleson will return more punts this week. He has been used sporadically in that spot this year. He will replace Justin Forsett as the primary returner.

Louis Rankin will be active and Seattle will not only take a look at him as a running back, but also a kickoff returner.

"What Louis adds is the element of speed," Mora said. "The man is extremely fast and shifty, and on a daily basis we watch him give our defense a real test. We want to see that."

He replaces Edgerrin James, who was released Tuesday.

"Very simply, in our attempt to get Louis Rankin some plays, a look, and see if we can utilize the speed that he has, see if he's a legitimate possibility as a running back in the National Football League, you have to put someone down," Mora said. "Edgerrin came in here and did a tremendous job for us in the locker room. He's a wonderful person. He's a pro. He worked his tail off. Unfortunately, results weren't exactly what we wanted. Rather than ask Edgerrin James -- and a man of his stature in this league -- to be inactive and relegated to the position on the scout team during the week, felt like the honorable thing to do was to let him go."

Edgerrin James let go by Seahawks

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:26:56 PST

Edgerrin James' contract was terminated by the Seahawks Tuesday as Seattle parted ways with the player signed to be the backup running back.

James gained 17 yards Sunday, moving to No. 10 on the NFL's all-time career rushing start.

He is replaced on the roster by wide receiver Mike Hass, who was signed from the practice squad more as an option should receiver Ben Obomanu be limited by an oblique muscle he injured.

James began the year as the backup running back, signed in August to take the place of T.J. Duckett as an all-around runner.

James is 31 and in his 11th season in the NFL. He gained 125 yards in seven games for Seattle and didn't have a run longer than 10 yards. He averaged 2.7 yards per carry, lowest of his career.

He gained 17 yards Sunday in a loss at Dallas, moving into the top 10 in the NFL in career rushing yardage. He is 33 yards behind Marshall Faulk for No. 9 all-time.

The move likely opens up opportunities for Louis Rankin, a running back the Seahawks signed from Oakland earlier this season and promoted from the practice squad last week to keep another team from signing him.

Receiver Mike Hass takes James' spot on Seattle's 53-man roster. The addition of Hass is to provide some assurance should receiver Ben Obomanu be unable to play because of an injured oblique.

The other roster move Seattle made Tuesday was to release safety C.J. Wallace. He is replaced by Jamar Adams, who was promoted from the practice squad.

WR Mike Hass signed to Seattle's active roster

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:59:18 PST

Wide receiver Mike Hass has been signed to Seattle's 53-man roster from the practice squad.

Seattle will have to make room for him on the 53-man roster.

There was some doubt about Ben Obomanu's status Monday as coach Jim Mora said Obomanu had suffered an oblique injury during Sunday's loss at Dallas and was undergoing tests.

Obomanu was the fifth receiver on Seattle's active roster and a special-teams mainstay.

WR Deion Branch was on KJR 950 AM on Tuesday afternoon and he discussed what cameras picked him up saying , "If y'all want me, come and find me."

So what did he mean?

"I want to play," Branch said to Dave Mahler on KJR, 950 AM. "I want to win. Bottom line."

He went on to elaborate.

"Let me backtrack," he said. "This is what happens. You're 2-5, a lot of stuff going down. Everybody wants to win. I want to win. I want to play. I'm not sitting on the sideline complaining. I've accepted my role on the football team. I just want to go out and help my team win and I feel like I can help my team win by playing."

Branch said he absolutely was not talking about another team looking for him.

'Hawk Talk: Chat transcript with Danny O'Neil

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:59:26 PST

'Hawk Talk: Live Chat! with Danny O'Neil, Nov. 3

CB Travis Fisher released by Seattle

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:12:25 PST

Cornerback Travis Fisher was released by Seattle Monday, coming after cornerback Marcus Trufant played in his first game of the season. Fisher was signed after training camp began and as someone who would compete for a roster spot. That changed after Trufant was unable to begin the season. Fisher became the fourth cornerback, and played extensively in the Week 3 game against Chicago and at Indianapolis.

The return of Trufant Sunday made Fisher expendable, and in fact, he was inactive for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

The release of Fisher also coincides with the news that cornerback Ken Lucas is expected to be fine after leaving Sunday's game with what was described as a shoulder stinger. Lucas underwent a magnetic-resonance image (MRI), coach Jim Mora said, and is expected to be OK this week.

Two other players whose status will be monitored this week are wide receiver Ben Obomanu (oblique) and Will Herring (shoulder). More indicated both underwent tests, but there was no concrete diagnosis for their availability this week.

Also, the first-quarter discussion between receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was dissected.

The play was a second-down pass toward Houshmandzadeh who was being defended by cornerback Terrence Newman. Hasselbeck threw a low-trajectory pass that fell incomplete, and Houshmandzadeh indicated he wanted the ball thrown with a higher trajectory. The result was a fairly spirited discussion on the sideline.

"You're talking about on the sidelines where he looked all mad and stuff," Hasselbeck said. "That's just T.J. That conversation was about a pass we had had, but it wasn't like he was mad at me or I wasn't mad at him. Just kind of his demeanor. We've got an X Box room right in there where everyone plays X Box, and he yells at that TV far worse than he was yelling on the sidelines.

"I think that's something you have to understand about a teammate is that you've got to understand what works and what doesn't work. The perception certainly is that something bad was going on, so maybe we've got to worry about the perception, but there's no issue there between he and I at all. But we've got to complete more passes. That's a big issue."

Mora: "Things always look a little bit different on TV than they are in reality. If you've ever been on the sidelines during an NFL football game, the intensity and the passion are really amazing. I mean it's an environment that just is surreal at times. You're talking about two great competitors. They were just simply having an animated discussion. I can tell you that with 100 percent truthfulness. There was no animosity. There was no badgering. There was no pointing fingers. They were talking about a throw."

Surprising elements of a not-so-surprising loss

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:07:31 PST

Monday programming: We resume our regularly scheduled weekly programming with a look at just how surprising Seattle's game was. Please add your own surprises and remember our weekly Tuesday chat at Noon.

There were a lot of words you can hang on Sunday's defeat. Lopsided. Dispiriting. Galling.

Surprising, however, was not one of those words. Seattle went to Dallas last year with two wins and lost to the Cowboys by 25 points. The Seahawks once again took two wins with them to Dallas Sunday and lost by 21, and actually, were much more competitive than a year ago.

Of course, that's not saying a whole lot. So let's take a look inside what happened Sunday to find out what went into a not-so-shocking defeat on the road.Read more...

The Dallas debacle

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:25 PST

Just getting back from Dallas and running a little late on the Monday morning Surprise Index. Expect that closer to 1 p.m. In the meantime, here are the headlines from Monday's newspaper.

Maddening performances have become the norm
By Jerry Brewer, The Seattle Times

Dallas easily beats Seattle, 38-17
By Danny O'Neil, The Seattle Times

Marcus Trufant falls short in return to field
By Danny O'Neil, The Seattle Times