What we're seeing with the Seahawks is reflective of what happens to a football team besieged by injuries and just keeps happening. There is a domino effect and it's imperative that everyone stay realistic.
As coach Mike Holmgren said, this is a long season and let's be realistic about all the players that have been lost on offense, the impact it has had on the defense and watching how they work their way out of their present state.
And that includes not trying to fool anybody about the situation that injuries have created.
"I think the first thing you do is, you must be honest with the team," Holmgren said. "I've always said that. And when we don't play well, or I think we got snookered a little bit in the coaching side of it, I'll say that. I tell them that. They're bright guys. A lot of them have played a lot of football. If I did it any other way, they'd go, 'What's he drinking?' or whatever. That's where you start.
"The guys know the situation. I told them (Monday) I think some of them might be trying too hard to make up for our deficiencies right now. That can happen. You know, we have a way of doing things that has been good for us in the past. If all of a sudden you start changing all those things, it smacks a panic just a little bit."
So the key is not to panic or pointing fingers. Momentum can go both ways.
"It only takes one game for us to get back on track," defensive end Patrick Kerney said. "It's tough, but we all have confidence we can turn this around."
As the ebb and flow of players continues through injuries, the Seahawks made another roster move Tuesday, re-signing seventh round draft choice Justin Forsett from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. To make room for Forsett, they released wide receiver Michael Bumpus. Bumpus will be eligible for the practice squad if he clears waivers.
On to the e-mail of the week:
From: Jeremy
Mike,
It goes without saying that our defense is ranked lower than last year. Do you have any idea why they are struggling? Also do you think some personnel changes are coming? If our defense could get close to there play of last year I think a few more wins will follow quickly.
Jeremy,
At this point of the season, it's hard to fathom much of a change. A lot of it is just mindset, and the defense just has to regain its confidence and swagger going after a variety of offenses. Some of the problem has been playing against bigger teams that have prevented them from getting a consistent pass rush.
Nonetheless, it's going to take a concerted effort from all 11 on defense to turn things around and be the defense they figured to be at the start of the season. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Lawrence
Mike,
I've been watching how the Hawks season is going and I think the wide receiver position is going to need an overhaul. There hasn't been a true deep threat in Seattle since Joey Galloway and hopefully the Hawks can draft a couple of receivers. Don't get me wrong I love the Hawks, someone needs to get them fired up.
Lawrence,
It's just hard to get a handle on the wide receiver situation because this is such an extraordinary situation of injuries. Teams just don't lose six receivers at the same time. At least Bobby Engram is back and presumably Deion Branch will play this week. Along the way they have added Koren Robinson, who looks like he can be a significant contributor with speed.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Matt
Mike,
I was wondering why the same Seahawks defense that did great last year isn't playing at the same level this year. I mean we went from one of the top teams to struggling for a win. Does it have to do with new coaches and losing Shaun Alexander? We had a good thing going.
Matt,
There is a transition with coaches, but Alexander has nothing to do with their success or failure, particularly when you consider how sparingly he played the last couple of seasons because of injuries. The injuries to the team overall have been the primary problem.
Just consider the offense in the opener, having lost six receivers, they didn't have right tackle Sean Locklear, right guard Rob Sims played most of the game with a torn pectoral muscle and center Chris Spencer played after missing most of training camp. There has been a domino effect from the offensive woes that has thrown the defense off balance. If they can just get healthy, things should be dramatically different the second half of the season. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Christopher
Mike,
I just heard that Tony Gonzalez just went on the trading block. Would Seattle be willing to give up a second round pick to get him? I know we have a great find inJohn Carlson but I think Tony would just make him even better through mentoring. From what I know of Tony G. he is a stand up guy with the right personality for the Hawks. Thanks Mike for taking the time to listen to the fans concerns. I always look forward to your mailbag!
Christopher,
The trade deadline has passed and Gonzalez didn't go anywhere. And it's no surprise. Every time he steps on the field, another NFL record for tight ends is on the verge of being broken. Even so, there are too many other needs to give up something significant at a position where they're thrilled with Carlson. Not only does he have all the athletic qualities to be a superior tight end, he's also very bright and focused.
Everything you said about Gonzalez is true. Getting another tight end just is low on the priority list, although there may be a need for a third one if Will Heller's knee injury proves to be significant. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Emerson
Mike,
It seems to me that we just need to be fired up during the games. More high fives and head slaps on good plays. It just seems that more teams in the NFL are showing more emotion and their teammates seem to be picking up on that energy. Also I think as a team we just need to make a few big plays like a long touchdown run or pass that is over 50 yards or so. Also the defense just needs to make a big play or two to get them fired up. I don't want to panic yet but the line is thin and the season is moving pretty fast. We need to get it going now. Go Hawks!!!!!
Emerson,
Actually, you have it backwards. If the defense started creating more turnovers and big plays, they would start giving each other more high-fives and head slaps. They begin every game all fired up – it was never more apparent than at the start of Sunday's game against the Packers, and they held them to three points until the final two minutes of the first half. But as the game slipped away, so did the celebration.
They are pro football players. Manufactured enthusiasm doesn't work. If they make big play they respond to each other – not until. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Ivan
Mike,
Huge Seahawks fan here who's in the military and tries to catch the Hawks every chance he gets. Anyway, on to my question: Do you see the Seahawks being interested in say trading for a Roy Williams to shore up the wide receiver corps or any big cornerback before the deadline?
Ivan,
Now that the trade deadline has passed, it is no surprise that nothing happened, and the fact that Detroit traded Williams to Dallas. Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said before the season – despite the injuries – he was inclined not to make any trades and give up draft choices. That's his preference when it comes to building the team, with free agents sprinkled in. They were essentially forced to give up a pick for Keary Colbert because they were hamstrung without an receivers, and he certainly wasn't about to give up any more.
Theoretically they should be fine this week with veterans Deion Branch, Bobby Engram and Koren Robinson healthy together for the first time this season. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Mike
Mike,
You have referenced last year's decision to scrap the running game in November when it was clearly hurting the entire team. That decision was the turning point of the season and helped win the division. This year they have had the opposite problem, no doubt due to the injuries. It has been clear from Game 2 that the running game was one of the only things that is working. In the Niners game, they were driving for the go-ahead score and settled for a field goal after three incomplete passes, even though they were running downhill and could have iced the game.
With the receiver injuries and the obvious improvement on the offensive line and running back group, how are they not running 45 times per game? What about a larger role forT.J. Duckett, especially in the fourth quarter? How about surprising a defense by unleashing a power package that can dominate the line of scrimmage? That certainly would be good for morale.
Mike,
It's much simpler to scrap a running game and throw the football if you've got veteran receivers, solid pass protection and good chemistry. Precision and tempo can allow a team to move the football through the air. That's not the case if a team knows you're going to run. They'll put eight defensive players in the box and jam everything up, making it nearly impossible to move the football.
Once Hasselbeck gets healthy and presumably the receivers will now stay healthy, the imperative is to regain the balance, and that should breed confidence and momentum to turn this season around. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
From: Erik
Mike,
I drove from Connecticut to New Jersey for the Giants game, and it was obviously disappointing. The best way to help our struggling but capable defense is to have a potent offense. I know Seneca Wallace was going to play receiver and possibly return punts before getting injured. Now that he is back healthy and Deion Branch is hurt again, combined with a 1-3 record, isn't now the time to FREE SENECA? I'm also looking forward to seeing Koren Robinson make some plays with his size and athleticism.
Erik,
Now that Wallace has struggled with a strained calf muscle, plus the return of Branch, Engram and the signing of Robinson, the wide receiver/punt-returner experiment is pretty close to being ancient history. There was a point this season because of all the injuries that it made sense. That's all changed with the aforementioned trio now available and Wallace still on the mend.
Right now, the hope is he's healthy enough to be mobile and start at quarterback on Sunday at Tampa Bay. Let's start with that. Thanks for writing.
Yours in sport,
Mike
