Time for Hawks to step up
SEATTLE — Matt Hasselbeck isn’t the only one.
It’s a refrain that Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has uttered many times this season in regards to his team’s offensive struggles.
It also applies to the quarterback’s need to fight through pain today.
“It’s that time of year,” said wide receiver Bobby Engram, who has been playing on a sprained ankle for the past two weeks. “We have some tough guys on this team, and a lot of people are stepping it up — some players that you probably don’t even know about. Everyone realizes the importance of being ready for Sundays.”
Hasselbeck has been the most visible this week. After missing last Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins, he essentially willed himself to return to the practice field. He got some treatment on his bruised right thigh late last week, took part in Thursday and Friday practices, and will return to the field for today’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
“After (Friday), I feel really encouraged about my chances, and about my team’s chances (against the Bills),” Hasselbeck said.
While everyone in the Seahawks’ locker room is quick to proclaim their faith in backup Trent Dilfer, the return of Hasselbeck will be welcomed with open arms. He has been the cog that kept the offensive engine going in recent years.
So with the offense sputtering in neutral, the Seahawks are hoping the return of Hasselbeck can help steer things in a more manageable direction.
“We have to eliminate the big mistakes,” coach Mike Holmgren said,” and he should be able to do that. He’s not playing the game by himself. Everyone has to play well, and he’s part of it. But, certainly, the quarterback around here has to play well for us to do well on offense.”
The inconsistency of Seattle’s passing offense this season has led to outside criticism of Hasselbeck, yet Holmgren has been consistent in spreading the blame around. Dropped passes, missed blocking assignments and poorly-run routes have all contributed to the team’s woes.
But Hasselbeck has been part of the problem as well. He just hasn’t played at the Pro Bowl level he did in 2003.
“Strictly looking at completion percentages and statistics, we’re not doing what we did last year,” quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn said. “But I think he’s doing very well. He’s just had a couple of bad games (this season).”
Hasselbeck currently ranks 14th of 15 NFC qualifiers in passer rating, with a mark of 73.9. By way of comparison, he entered the season with a career rating of 83.9, including a mark of 88.8 in 2003.
He has 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions through nine starts this season, well off pace from his 2003 totals of 26 and 15.
Seattle’s running game has helped pick up some of the slack, but the offense has generally struggled to maintain a rhythm.
“I know we can’t change the past,” Hasselbeck said. “We know we could have played really, really well in those games, but we didn’t. We could have, but we just didn’t do it. From here on out, we can. We have an opportunity to change what happens in the future.
“It’s the same guys. We haven’t really changed anything. We just have to go do it. We’ve been having good practices, but we haven’t done it for four quarters in a game yet.”
The biggest key to Hasselbeck’s return is how his right leg responds. He suffered a charley horse in a collision with running back Shaun Alexander two weeks ago, and the resulting thigh bruise was slow to recover.