Published: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Seahawks notebook: Wallace likely to start at QB on Sunday
RENTON -- In November of 2006, Seneca Wallace passed for a career-high 252 yards but fell short of leading the Seattle Seahawks to a win at San Francisco.
That was his last NFL start. Nearly two years later, the Seahawks' quarterback is expected to make his next start Sunday when visiting Seahawks play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"He feels better, so it's going to be his ballgame, I believe, unless something happens in the next two days," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said on Friday, when Wallace completed his third consecutive pain-free practice on a strained calf muscle.
Wallace is likely to be the Seahawks' third starting quarterback this season, joining Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Frye. The last time Seattle had three different starters in a single season was 1998, when Warren Moon, Jon Kitna and Jon Friesz spent time in the lineup.
Hasselbeck is out with a bulging disk in his back, so the third-string Frye had to fill in last week.
But Wallace's sore calf held up during practice, so it looks like Sunday will be his show.
"I'm not sitting here jumping up and down," Wallace said. "I'm just going to go out and try to win the ball game."
Wallace said that the calf injury has improved throughout the week.
"On Sunday, you can't worry about all that," he said. "You've just got to go out there and play."
Frye will serve as Wallace's backup while Hasselbeck continues to rest his injury.
"Last week we really went in with one quarterback, and that's an uncomfortable feeling," Holmgren said. "This week, we have two."
Going different directions: For the first time since 1997, the Seahawks opened a season with two rookies in the starting lineup.
Tight end John Carlson and defensive end Lawrence Jackson have since headed down different paths.
Carlson continues to excite the coaching staff while leading the team in receptions (16). Holmgren said earlier this week that "he's really a fine player, and he's going to be really good."
Jackson, the team's first-round pick out of USC, has not made quite the splash in his first season. Holmgren confirmed Friday that Jackson is likely to lose his starting job to veteran Darryl Tapp.
"We need a little bit of a spark somewhere," Holmgren said. "Lawrence is a good football player. We're just trying some things."
Said Jackson: "This won't change anything in terms of my preparation. I know that there are things that I need to get better at. This is by no means a wakeup call."
Through five games, Jackson has 15 tackles and two sacks. But he's too often disappeared in games, while Tapp has been more consistent.
Ramblin' men: Rather than leave on Friday, as the Seahawks typically do for an East Coast game, the team plans to depart this morning.
The reason for the change in travel time is because Sunday's game is at night, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised on NBC's Sunday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. Pacific time.
Holmgren said that the time off during the day typically goes by quickly.
"Being able to watch some of the (other) games on TV makes the day go a little bit better," he said earlier this week.
More Mo-Mo: Holmgren said that running back Maurice Morris will get more playing time this week, but Julius Jones is likely to carry most of the load for now.
Morris returned from a knee injury last week but played sparingly. Holmgren said his initial plan to give both running backs equal snaps will not necessarily be followed.
"If a guy's hot and playing well, whether it's Julius or Mo, I'll probably leave him in a little longer," he said Friday.
Big play inability: A big reason behind the struggles of Seattle's offense this season is because of a lack of big plays. Just two pass receptions have gone for 30 yards or longer, while the longest TDs have both been runs -- 29 and 27 yards -- by Julius Jones.
According to statistics compiled by STATS, Inc., the Seahawks rank dead last in the league in yards after the catch, with 283. New Orleans has an NFL-best 896 this season.
Where's Joey? Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said that wide receiver Joey Galloway has a chance to play in Sunday's game, which would be a rare sighting for the oft-injured former Seahawk.
"I've nicknamed him the White Tiger. He's rare," Gruden said earlier this week. "He only comes out at Busch Gardens once every six months.
"… We need his play-making. There is a chance he could be available, but he's got to prove it this week on the practice field."
Another ailing receiver: Holmgren said that wide receiver Billy McMullen will be out awhile, if not the rest of the season, because of a compound fracture in his right pinky finger.
McMullen could be placed on injured reserve, as the team is looking for a roster spot to activate linebacker Will Herring from the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
McMullen is likely to be the seventh Seattle receiver to miss a game this season because of injury.
One of those receivers, veteran Deion Branch, is trying to get back on the field this week but was limited at practices because of a bruised heel.
"He's got two more days, so we're going to test him again," Holmgren said, adding that Jordan Kent is likely to see some playing time Sunday.
Quick slants: Holmgren said that Sean Locklear will continue to start at right tackle, but he added that Ray Willis also will see playing time. "That's a little more about where Willis is than about Locklear," Holmgren said. ... The Seahawks can activate Herring today, but they would have to make another roster move. The team has three weeks before it has to take Herring off PUP.
That was his last NFL start. Nearly two years later, the Seahawks' quarterback is expected to make his next start Sunday when visiting Seahawks play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"He feels better, so it's going to be his ballgame, I believe, unless something happens in the next two days," Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said on Friday, when Wallace completed his third consecutive pain-free practice on a strained calf muscle.
Wallace is likely to be the Seahawks' third starting quarterback this season, joining Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Frye. The last time Seattle had three different starters in a single season was 1998, when Warren Moon, Jon Kitna and Jon Friesz spent time in the lineup.
Hasselbeck is out with a bulging disk in his back, so the third-string Frye had to fill in last week.
But Wallace's sore calf held up during practice, so it looks like Sunday will be his show.
"I'm not sitting here jumping up and down," Wallace said. "I'm just going to go out and try to win the ball game."
Wallace said that the calf injury has improved throughout the week.
"On Sunday, you can't worry about all that," he said. "You've just got to go out there and play."
Frye will serve as Wallace's backup while Hasselbeck continues to rest his injury.
"Last week we really went in with one quarterback, and that's an uncomfortable feeling," Holmgren said. "This week, we have two."
Going different directions: For the first time since 1997, the Seahawks opened a season with two rookies in the starting lineup.
Tight end John Carlson and defensive end Lawrence Jackson have since headed down different paths.
Carlson continues to excite the coaching staff while leading the team in receptions (16). Holmgren said earlier this week that "he's really a fine player, and he's going to be really good."
Jackson, the team's first-round pick out of USC, has not made quite the splash in his first season. Holmgren confirmed Friday that Jackson is likely to lose his starting job to veteran Darryl Tapp.
"We need a little bit of a spark somewhere," Holmgren said. "Lawrence is a good football player. We're just trying some things."
Said Jackson: "This won't change anything in terms of my preparation. I know that there are things that I need to get better at. This is by no means a wakeup call."
Through five games, Jackson has 15 tackles and two sacks. But he's too often disappeared in games, while Tapp has been more consistent.
Ramblin' men: Rather than leave on Friday, as the Seahawks typically do for an East Coast game, the team plans to depart this morning.
The reason for the change in travel time is because Sunday's game is at night, with kickoff at 8:15 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised on NBC's Sunday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. Pacific time.
Holmgren said that the time off during the day typically goes by quickly.
"Being able to watch some of the (other) games on TV makes the day go a little bit better," he said earlier this week.
More Mo-Mo: Holmgren said that running back Maurice Morris will get more playing time this week, but Julius Jones is likely to carry most of the load for now.
Morris returned from a knee injury last week but played sparingly. Holmgren said his initial plan to give both running backs equal snaps will not necessarily be followed.
"If a guy's hot and playing well, whether it's Julius or Mo, I'll probably leave him in a little longer," he said Friday.
Big play inability: A big reason behind the struggles of Seattle's offense this season is because of a lack of big plays. Just two pass receptions have gone for 30 yards or longer, while the longest TDs have both been runs -- 29 and 27 yards -- by Julius Jones.
According to statistics compiled by STATS, Inc., the Seahawks rank dead last in the league in yards after the catch, with 283. New Orleans has an NFL-best 896 this season.
Where's Joey? Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden said that wide receiver Joey Galloway has a chance to play in Sunday's game, which would be a rare sighting for the oft-injured former Seahawk.
"I've nicknamed him the White Tiger. He's rare," Gruden said earlier this week. "He only comes out at Busch Gardens once every six months.
"… We need his play-making. There is a chance he could be available, but he's got to prove it this week on the practice field."
Another ailing receiver: Holmgren said that wide receiver Billy McMullen will be out awhile, if not the rest of the season, because of a compound fracture in his right pinky finger.
McMullen could be placed on injured reserve, as the team is looking for a roster spot to activate linebacker Will Herring from the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list.
McMullen is likely to be the seventh Seattle receiver to miss a game this season because of injury.
One of those receivers, veteran Deion Branch, is trying to get back on the field this week but was limited at practices because of a bruised heel.
"He's got two more days, so we're going to test him again," Holmgren said, adding that Jordan Kent is likely to see some playing time Sunday.
Quick slants: Holmgren said that Sean Locklear will continue to start at right tackle, but he added that Ray Willis also will see playing time. "That's a little more about where Willis is than about Locklear," Holmgren said. ... The Seahawks can activate Herring today, but they would have to make another roster move. The team has three weeks before it has to take Herring off PUP.
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