Sep 2nd 2008 12:45AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL Injuries, NFL Rumors
Good news for Seattle Seahawks fans: Matt Hasselbeck will start on Sunday. Bad news: he’s a little concerned about things like “rust” and his “back”.
The Pro Bowl quarterback will start Sunday in Buffalo and he says he will likely be rusty. He’s played just two series of a preseason game since last January’s playoff loss at Green Bay.

Hasselbeck revealed his back was in pain and spasms for weeks following a practice incident days before the first preseason game Aug. 8 at Minnesota. He said Monday he isn’t anxious over how he will feel getting hit Sunday for the first time in almost nine months. He says that’s an all-too-familiar feeling.
I’m not the only one who knows that “weeks” is several weeks, and that August 8 was like “several weeks” ago, right? I mean, not to be pessimistic, but if I’m a Seahawks fan, I’m not particularly confident with that.

Of course, the other options are Charlie Frye and Seneca Wallace, so I guess I’d probably be willing to ignore the possibility that the ‘Back wasn’t going to be healthy and just hope for the best.

Aug 31st 2008 8:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks
One of the consistencies of Mike Holmgren’s regimes has been strong quarterback play. Maybe Matt Hasselback never became the “next Brett Favre”, but maybe, on a number of levels, that’s actually a good thing. What Hassyback has become, though, is one of the most consistently underrated and, um, consistent signal callers in the league. He’s not flashy but he doesn’t need big name wideouts to post big stats either. He’s got a bad back early this year though, and I’m automatically docking the Seahawks one “heat point” for refusing to use Seneca Wallace at wideout. Also: Charlie Frye.

There’s something to be said of your running back situation when neither Julius Jones nor Maurice Morris can perform at a high enough level in training camp or preseason to make Mike Holmgren name a starter. T.J. Duckett could still be cut, although with the recent Ben Obomanu injury, it looks like both he and Justin Forsett could be on the roster, with Duckett manning goal line carries and Forsett returning kicks. It’s not a really attractive situation either way you slice it. Continue Reading

Aug 21st 2008 1:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL RumorsI think it was pretty widely assumed that T.J. Duckett’s only purpose as a member of the Seattle Seahawks would be handled around the goal line. Any other time, he would be squarely on the bench. Except for maybe fourth and one or such relevant situations.

Point being, he wasn’t going to play a lot. But it turns out that, via ‘Hawks Insider, he might not play at all.
I just listened to Mitch Levy’s interview of Mike Holmgren this morning, and a couple things jumped out:

1) While discussing Justin Forsett, he said that his decision at the end is either with the Seahawks or elsewhere. He essentially acknowledged that Forsett will not get through waivers if they try to place him on the practice squad. He also said he realizes that there could be a public backlash if the guy is cut.

2) Regarding T.J. Duckett, Hugh Millen was very critical, saying that he is a one-trick pony whose one trick is not that effective. Holmgren did not really defend Duckett, instead acknowledging that “the pile is pretty big” in front of him, meaning the other running backs. He said the Duckett decision also will come down to the end.
Both points kind of go hand-in-hand; if Forsett, who could end up being a deeeeep fantasy sleeper, ends up making the team (and he should, if you like to base opinions on preseason statistics) then suddenly Duckett isn’t necessarily expendable, but he’s a waste of space as a fourth running back.

My guess would actually be that Duckett doesn’t make the team; how much good can he really do in just specialized situations, particularly with the Seahawks proclivity at passing on short yardage situations. At least holding onto Forsett would make the fans happy (noted above) and give them some legit options.

Aug 18th 2008 10:50PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL InjuriesNo, no, it’s okay Seattle fans. You can exhale now.

Theeeerrre you go. Yes, I know. Charlie Frye is absolutely terrifying. But your boy is on his way back. He’s gonna play in the preseason and Mike Holmgren even said Matt Hasselback should be doing just fine from here on out.
When asked if he would play against the Chargers in the third preseason game that is usually the longest starters play before the regular season, Hasselbeck said, “Absolutely, (though) I don’t know how much.”

Coach Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck gave him “the thumbs up” Monday that he was back to full health.
Hasselback has obviously been bothered by a sore back, so Seattle fans were likely fairly worried. That level of worry went crimson, TSA style, when they watched Frye lead the team in the last preseason game.
One of Frye’s interceptions came after he escaped two would-be sacks in his own end zone and then clucked a desperate heave in the general direction of T.J. Duckett. Corey Graham returned that 6 yards for a touchdown to give Chicago its first lead, 12-9 in the third quarter.

“You probably don’t throw that one. I think he would agree,” Holmgren said.
If I was a real sadist, I would actually admit that I was pulling for a Hasselback injury that puts Frye under center during the regular season, but I just can’t cop to that. And honestly, it’s not something Seattle fans or Holmgren really deserve.

Aug 13th 2008 2:00PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL InjuriesHubris is a necessary evil of the sporting world — wimpy little wannabe jocks won’t survive in a world where your will and determination (and not ability, mind you) determine whether you win or lose.

So, clearly, Courtney Taylor, youthful and exuberant Seahawks wide receiver, who already understands the violent and business like nature of football, is pretty much penciled in for the Pro Bowl.

Well, maybe that’s a stretch, but the youngster is pretty, pretty, pretty sure (via ‘Hawks Insider) that he can fill the void that Bobby Engram’s shoulder injury is going to create in the Seahawks offense.
“You feel bad for Bobby, but it’s the nature of the business. Other guys get the opportunity to at least show what they can do, show their potential,” Taylor said. “That’s the way we looked at it. That’s the way Bobby looked at it.”

“There’s no pressure added; just go out and play football.”

[…]”It’s a tough situation that happened to Bobby. That’s our mentor. He’s our ambassador,” Taylor said. “He’s a guy who we really look up to. But we’ve still got to go play.”Caveat: Mike Holmgren also said Taylor was going to be the step up guy, but it just sounds so much more freaking awesome that Taylor, a rookie, would step up and say something like this on his own.Continue Reading

Aug 11th 2008 5:15PM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL InjuriesMike Holmgren might be learning the hard way why you don’t announce your retirement in advance (instead, you just make random decisions, holding the hopes and whims of those that love you in a constant metaphorical tornado state).

First we had last evening’s speculation that Matt Hasselback might have a wonky back and now it appears that Seattle’s best healthy wide receiver, Bobby Engram (a indicative statement all its own), is sea.
Seahawks leading receiver Bobby Engram will miss six to eight weeks with a cracked shoulder, coach Mike Holmgren says.

The 35-year-old Engram set a Seattle franchise record last season with 94 catches and then skipped offseason minicamps while in a dispute over his contract that expires after this season.
And really, nothing says “quick comeback” like “35 year old with a cracked shoulder”. Deion Branch is on the PUP currently, leaving the Seahawks with … Nate Burleson! Nate flashed brilliance for a few months in Minnesota, once upon a few fantasy football destroying seasons ago, but hasn’t amounted to much more than a return man in Seattle.Continue Reading

Aug 11th 2008 2:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, Fantasy Football, NFL Injuries, NFL Rumors
The very last thing that Mike Holmgren needs on his farewell tour is Matt Hasselback dealing with a bad back for most of the season. The timeframe certainly isn’t guaranteed to be lengthy, but there was at least, via Seahawks Insider, a troubling sign during Sunday’s practice that all might not be well for the Seattle signal caller.
Probably as more of a precaution than anything else, Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck sat out this morning’s practice to rest a sore back. Hasselbeck came out with the rest of the team and stretched, but apparently couldn’t get his back warmed up and ran past a perplexed-looking Mike Holmgren as he headed toward the locker room, saying he would be back. But Hasselbeck never returned.
Now, maybe it’s just me but “totally unaware of why my quarterback left the field and never returned” doesn’t exactly jive with “precautionary removal from practice”.

Maybe there’s nothing there and Hassyback is fine. Or maybe, in addition to dealing with a depleted receiving corps and a makeshift running back three way tandem, the Seahawks offense is slowly coming apart at the seams.Continue Reading

Jul 30th 2008 1:15AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, Fantasy Football, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors
Remember that training camp battle that I mentioned the other day with the funky title about the Seahawks? Well, not only was I right … I was right quickly, as Mike Holmgren apparently sat down with Julius Jones and Maurice Morris and told them both the good news.

Running back by committee! (You have to say it like “orange mocha frappuccinos” for the exclamation point to work.)
Holmgren said he met with Julius Jones and Mo Morris yesterday and informed them of his plan to have them share carries. He said they both took it well and accepted it. He said he may even rotate who starts and then go with the hot hand. He also said he is asking T.J. Duckett to learn both fullback and halfback spots.
Wow. Really? A career reserve and an unseated, humbled Dallas cast off didn’t get all upset about being told they had to prove who was the better back? No way.Continue Reading

Jul 28th 2008 8:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West

Hey, I’m not proud of the nicknamed headline, okay? But, to me, the battle between Julius Jones and Maurice Morris will define the Seahawks season. Or at least where we think they’re going. Morris was the guy that filled in more than admirably while Shaun Alexander was nursing boo-boos (and a 3.5 YPC! Zing!). But Jones could be a back with purpose after essentially being discarded by the Cowboys.

You could argue — especially with Deion Branch hurt — that the flanker spot in Seattle is the most important position to watch. But we’re talking about a West Coast offensive team here and Matt Hasselback — he’s going to distribute the ball regardless of who’s catching it.

It could be Nate Burleson, Bobby Engram (if Branch comes back soon enough) or any of the youngsters — Logan Payne, Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor — and it doesn’t particularly matter.

What will matter is who ends up toting the rock for Mike Holmgren in his final season. Jones and Morris will be the chief competitors, but T.J. Duckett will be there to steal short yardage and further muck up the “starting” situation.Continue Reading

May 2nd 2008 1:44PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Cowboys, Seahawks, Dallas, SeattleRunning back Julius Jones left the Dallas Cowboys to sign a free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks this off-season, and he’s now saying just the kind of thing that will endear him to Seattle fans and anger Dallas fans.

Jones told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer what it’s like to play in Seattle’s Qwest Field, and he said it compares favorably with the Cowboys’ Texas Stadium:

“I like it here. This is one of my favorite places to play, so I was excited about it. …
“This was definitely the best fit for me. …
“I love playing here. The atmosphere, it’s 10 times better than Dallas.
“It’s intimidating. Before the game, raising the 12th Man flag, and then the 12th Man. It’s a lot. It gives you the chills.”
Jones just earned himself some love from the fans in Seattle, and he’ll most certainly be reminded of those comments in Week 13, when the Seahawks visit Dallas.