Seahawks Team Report

INSIDE SLANT

After a so-so effort in his first preseason game, Seattle Seahawks veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) quelled growing talk of a potential quarterback controversy with his play against Green Bay.

In two quarters of work, Hasselbeck completed 11 of 15 passes for 127 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch(notes). He finished with an impressive, 120.7 passer rating. And Hasselbeck’s numbers would have been even better if not for a couple uncharacteristic drops by tight end John Carlson(notes).
In just three series of nfl jerseys work against Tennessee the week before, Hasselbeck finished 4 of 10 for 26 yards and 47.9 passer rating.
So what was the difference for Hasselbeck?
“Probably just a little bit more focus and intensity,” he said. “And even though it’s a preseason game, giving it the respect that it’s due. Holding it in high regard and realizing that every opportunity you get to go out and play at Qwest with the jersey and with the helmet, you have to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was pleased to see his starting quarterback get back on track.
“Matt played very well,” Carroll said. “He did a beautiful job of handling himself in the first half. We wanted to play him for the first half. He got 15 throws or something like that. He did a nice job of moving the club, made some good choices.”
On the other end of the spectrum, backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst(notes) came back down to earth after throwing for 214 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as a Seahawk.
Whitehurst finished 9 or 20 for 73 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions playing with the second unit.
Even with the poor performance, Carroll continues to have confidence in Whitehurst.
“He looks good out there playing, he looks like our brand of football,” Carroll said. “I don’t have any question about that.”
NOTES, QUOTES
• Offensive tackle Russell Okung(notes), drafted No. 6 overall and paid a maximum $58 million contract to be the team’s left tackle of the future after Walter Jones(notes) retired, injured his right ankle on the first series of the game against Green Bay.
Okung is expected to miss at least two weeks with a high ankle sprain. The Seahawks consider him day-to-day, though he’s unlikely to play in Detroit Lions jersey the preseason considering the lengthy recovery time from the injury is typically closer to one month.
Okung reported to camp eight days late and was dinged up in Seattle’s first exhibition game against Tennessee. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said X-rays on Okung’s ankle came back negative and he is likely to miss 2-4 weeks.
The Seahawks dealt with rash of injuries along the offensive line last season, cycling through four offensive tackles and starting six different offensive line combinations as they attempted to replace Jones. So Carroll understands the importance of getting Okung back in a timely manner.
“It’s pretty significant,” Carroll said about the Okung injury. “We made it as big of a priority as we can make it in getting him. We’ll have to see how it goes. (Mansfield) Wrotto played the whole game just about. We’ll see how we did and all. That’s a big loss if he can’t come back. We put a lot of time and effort in getting this guy right. He’s done everything we can ask of him, and we’ll see how it is and how long it’s going to take.”
• Rookie safety Earl Thomas(notes) continued to struggle in making the jump to the NFL. In Green Bay’s first drive of the game, Thomas bit hard on quarterback Aaron Rodgers’(notes) play-action fake and was beaten over the top of the defense by receiver Greg Jennings(notes) for a 56-yard gain.
“He thought he had the play made, but the ball was amazingly thrown,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said. “And he made a great catch as well. He was there. We could have played it better. There should have been two guys on it.”
On Green Bay’s second drive of the game, Thomas and veteran Lawyer Milloy(notes) appeared to get crossed up, with both players covering the middle of the defense, leaving tight end Jermichael Finley(notes) wide open in the end zone for a 12-yard score.
Carroll took blame for the miscommunication on the field, saying the coaches didn’t get the call in on time on the headphones.
• Running back Leon Washington(notes) got his first playing time since suffering a scary, compound fracture that ended his 2009 season. He played the second quarter against Green Bay, carrying four times for 19 yards, including an 11-yard scamper for a score.
Washington said he never doubted he would make it back to the field.
“Not one bit,” Washington said. “Because first of all I have the ultimate faith, and second of all I have faith in my preparation. How hard I work in practice, coming out to the game if you take care of business in that aspect it becomes easier in the game.”
• The Seahawks confirmed this week that they were granted permission by the San Diego Chargers to enter into preliminary contract talks with San Diego restricted free agent receiver Vincent Jackson(notes), but it appears nothing is imminent in terms of the two sides reaching a deal.
It’s not known if Sunday’s transaction—the Seahawks signed Brandon Jones(notes)—impacts their interest.
There’s no word yet on what type of compensation the Seahawks would have to provide to the Chargers in return for Jackson’s services. But bringing Jackson into the fold would give Seattle the big, explosive receiver they were looking for when they went after Brandon Marshall(notes) in free agency.
San Diego appears committed to trading Jackson, who is believed to be seeking a long-term contract worth more than $9 million per season, because the team expects that he will not report at all this season.
The Broncos received a pair of second-round picks as compensation when they dealt Marshall to Miami.
Jackson reportedly wants a contract that will pay him more than the four-year deal with $24 million guaranteed that Marshall got from the Miami Dolphins in March.
Jackson certainly looks the part of a big-time playmaker. At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds the 27-year-old would be the down-the-field threat Seattle is looking for. Jackson has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in receiving and scored 16 touchdowns over that period.
Jackson also has to serve a three-game suspension to start the season for violating the league’s policy on substance abuse.
• Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill’s(notes) domestic charge case will be dismissed if he complies with stipulations handed down by the Issaquah Municipal Court for the next 18 months.
Hill entered into a stipulated order of Green Bay Packers jersey continuance during a hearing recently. That action avoids a trial slated for later this month on a misdemeanor count of fourth degree assault/domestic violence regarding an April arrest at his Hill’s home in Issaquah involving his live-in girlfriend at the time.
According to the agreement, Hill must complete a one-year state-certified domestic violence treatment program, 26 weeks of weekly therapy and counseling, followed by monthly sessions for six months. Hill also has to do 25 hours of community service.
Further, Hill must have no other criminal law violations and possess no weapons during the period.
The only contact Hill is allowed with his alleged victim is on the telephone, pending his progress in the domestic violence treatment program and a judge’s review of the limited-contact order.
Hill already received a game suspension without pay, along with missing an additional game check for violating the league’s substance abuse police.
Hill was arrested in January of last year in Georgia on misdemeanor marijuana possession, receiving 12 months probation through a plea agreement. A league spokesman said Hill’s latest court issue will be reviewed under the league’s personal conduct policy, so he could receive additional punishment by the league.
Hill is currently out with a sprained knee that head coach Pete Carroll said is expected to keep him out a few weeks.
Quote To Note: “The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘Man, I finally got one.’ That’s the first interception of my career so I was definitely thankful, and just excited. I wish I could have run a little bit with it, but a receiver had my leg, but I was definitely happy and it helped me out with my confidence as well, as I’ve only been here for a short period of time.”—Seahawks linebacker Tyjuan Hagler(notes), commenting on his interception against Green Bay.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Seattle Seahawks continued to make a flurry of roster moves this week.
The latest involved trading 2008 first-round pick Lawrence Jackson(notes) to the Detroit Lions for a sixth-round selection in the 2011 draft.
The USC product had never lived up to expectations in Seattle, and apparently did not fit the defensive scheme being employed by his former coach with the Trojans, Pete Carroll.
And Jackson became expendable when the Seahawks picked up defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer(notes), another first-round bust from the 2008 draft with San Francisco, giving up a sixth-rounder to the Niners. However, Balmer already suffered an ankle and leg injury in a preseason game against Green Bay that could have him on the sidelines for awhile
The Seahawks also signed WR Brandon Jones, a 49ers castoff, on Sunday.
Player Notes
• WR Mike Hass(notes) was waived by Seattle.
• DT Kentwan Balmer arrived in Seattle via a trade with San Francisco to beef up the depth at defensive line, but he’s already injured. Balmer suffered a leg and ankle injury against the Packers
• LB Alvin Bowen(notes), a veteran linebacker out of Iowa State, was cut this week.
• K Clint Stitser(notes) was brought in to give veteran Olindo Mare(notes), who has a sore calf, a rest.
• RB Adrian Peterson was released after the depth at his position improved.
• DL Amon Gordon(notes), a Stanford University product is an Everett, Wash. Native, signed and will play defensive tackle for Seattle.
Battle Of The Week: Julius Jones(notes) vs. Justin Forsett(notes) for starting RB job—Forsett replaced Jones in the starting lineup for the second preseason game, but only gained 14 yards against Green Bay. Leon Washington is expected to get the start in the third preseason game.
Other Battle Fronts: Cornerback Kelly Jennings(notes) struggled in covering Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finley out on the perimeter. Jennings continues to battle Josh Wilson(notes) for the starting cornerback job opposite Marcus Trufant(notes).
Player Of The Week: LB Tyjuan Hagler—The six-year veteran had four tackles, an interception and a pass deflection. He could provide some depth at linebacker for Seattle if they chose to move on from Leroy Hill.
Rookie Report: Defensive end Dexter Davis(notes) continues to impress. He finished with a team-high six tackles, include a sack, forced fumble and recovery on the same play. Receiver Golden Tate(notes) has yet to get going, with just Houston Texans jersey three catches for 21 yards in two games.
Injury Report: Offensive lineman Chester Pitts(notes) (knee) and cornerback Josh Pinkard(notes) (knee) remain on the active PUP list, which means they still count against the 80-man roster and can be activated at any time. Linebacker Leroy Hill still is out with a sprained knee. Offensive tackle Ray Willis(notes) is scheduled to have arthroscopic knee surgery to repair an ailing knee. Cornerback Kelly Jennings suffered a hyper-extended left elbow. Offensive tackle Russell Okung has a possible, high-ankle sprain. Defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer suffered a knee and ankle injury.