If only Jim Mora could have known what he was about to unleash by saying a week ago that you’ve got to be “a little bit of a dirtbag” to be a good offensive lineman.
Monday, a box arrived for the Seahawks’ coach. It was from San Diego-based Dirtbag Music Records, and it contained hats, stickers, key chains and lanyards bearing the company logo, as well as “a really nice note,” Mora said.
Wednesday, when Mora stepped to the stage for this week’s Q&A session, sitting on the table where he sits was a “Dirtbags” visor from the Long Beach State baseball team – an early Christmas gift from reporters who cover the team.
Mora broke into a smile before offering, “You guys are sick. That’s great. Thank you.”
But even more pleasing to him was the way his line responded in last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being challenged – and shuffled, with rookie 
The Seahawks lost the game – 24-3 – but the linemen won, in Mora’s estimation.
“The way they played on Sunday was much more like the way we want them to play,” Mora said. “So that gives us cause for hope. It was a good sign that came out of an otherwise dismal day. So if we can build on that, that’ll be good.”
Mora will get no argument from quarterback
“They played great. I think that’s partly what made Sunday so disappointing for me, because they played so well, you know? And I didn’t. That didn’t help,” said Hasselbeck, who tied a career high by throwing four interceptions in the game and also lost a fumble.
The linemen have taken to the nickname “dirtbags,” to the point that some are almost flaunting the San Diego-sent apparel Mora gave them.
“Playing offensive line, you want to be known as a ‘dirtbag,’ ” left guard
“So, yeah, it hit home when coach made that comment, because it means you’re not doing your job. So we got in there, we were (perturbed) and I think it paid off in the long run.”
The comments, and subsequent shuffling, didn’t hit anyone harder than Spencer. He was the one that was moved from center after three botched snaps against the Texans. Spencer had been snapping with his left hand the previous four games because he’s wearing a cast on his right hand to protect a broken thumb. But it hadn’t been an issue until the fifth game.
“In this business, you never know what’s going to happen,” Spencer said. “I had an off day, they made the switch and all I can do is go to work and work on my technique at guard.”
Spencer will remain at guard for this week’s game against the Packers in Green Bay – and also share time with
“We’re a motivated group, no matter what,” Spencer said. “We always want to go out and play well and get our job done. Does it happen all the time? No. But in that (meeting) room, we’re a motivated group and we want to be good.”
In addition to doing a better job of protecting Hasselbeck, the line also helped the Seahawks rush for 80 yards in the first quarter.
“I’ll tell you what I liked: Their tenacity,” Mora said. “I saw a surge in aggression, in tenacity. I thought that their protection was good. I thought that they did a good job of creating a pocket for Matt to step up into.
“I thought that we did a better job of trying to get backside cuts in our run game, which is really critical in the zone scheme. And I thought our surge at the point of attack was better. All that being said, we’re still looking for more.”
Good point. Because despite the hats, and pats on the back, the bottom line still eluded the line.
“Losing to a team like that isn’t exactly the statement we wanted to make,” Unger said. “It’s pretty tough to find a whole lot of positive stuff from that game. You could say that we responded, but we lost the game. So it wasn’t quite what we wanted to do.”
The “dirtbags” have two more opportunities to get it done – starting with the Packers, who have the No. 2 run defense in the league.
“I think they’re embracing the word a little bit,” Hasselbeck said. “I think you’ve got to. You’ve got to embrace those kinds of things. But they’re also taking it seriously.”
