--Despite a 46-20 run-to-pass ratio in Sunday's victory over the St. Louis Rams, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said he prefers to keep his offense balanced, even when he gets all his receivers back healthy. "I think balance is when we're at our best," Holmgren said. "The first game, we did not do that because we got behind and I threw the ball more."

--Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren was more complimentary of QB Matt Hasselbeck the day after he threw a block that took out two Rams players on a 29-yard TD run by Julius Jones - though he still doesn't want Hasselbeck to execute such plays. "I think he glanced over at me just before he did it, just to kind of give me a shock," Holmgren said.

"You know what? It was a great play. It was a fun play, and it's exciting, and I'll tell you, his teammates loved it. It's just that he came over and before I said anything, he said, 'I know, I know.' I didn't even have to say anything. He didn't care though. He just did it. It was good."

--Holmgren said the only way for receiver Deion Branch to get used to having his surgically repaired knee get ready to be hit is to be hit. "Earlier, I said that the veteran guys have an easier time with it. But it's not an automatic thing," Holmgren said. "He's got to go in there and get banged. He's got to know his knee is going handle what he's going to face. All those questions, I believe, in his mind, still have to be answered."

--FS Brian Russell was named the team's interim player representative, though the team will have a vote soon to decide which player that will be. The players' meeting with the union is not until March.

BY THE NUMBERS: 144 - The number of yards Julius Jones has averaged in four career games at Qwest Field.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "They're telling me these guys are coming back, but until I see them ... the check's in the mail." Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren on getting back all his healthy players after the bye week.