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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, October 17, 2009 SEAHAWKS NOTEBOOK: Arizona not having the start it expected By John Boyle Herald Writer RENTON — Nine months after coming up just short in the Super Bowl, Arizona’s defense of the NFC championship hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. The Cardinals, who play the Seahawks Sunday, stumbled out of the gate this season, losing at home to the 49ers in their opener, and bring a 2-2 record to Qwest Field. For a team that finished a Santonio Holmes toe away from winning a Super Bowl, this has hardly been the start to the season the Cardinals were expecting. Part of the problem might be the way they have handled success, the Cardinals coach said. “I think that people looked at us a little differently,” Ken Whisenhunt said in conference call this week. “I think our team looked at ourselves a little differently. I think that’s hurt us a little bit in the first few games, because we haven’t handled that very well. I think we’ve played a little bit tight, a little bit worried about making mistakes because we’re trying to be too perfect, trying to live up to that reputation.” The problem hasn’t been complacency, Whisenhunt said, just a team trying too hard to live up to expectations after a surprise Super Bowl run. Coming off a bye, Whisenhunt thinks his team might have fixed some of those problems. “I’ve tried to be a little bit less uptight myself in practice with the players — not harp so much on some of the little things — and I think our players have done a good job, in just talking to them, of trying to take that mindset of getting back to a little bit more like we were last year,” he said. “I think there’s a different mentality when you’re fighting for respect, when you’re trying to prove that you can be a good team, as opposed to the mentality of having success. The Cardinals have never had the feeling of success from winning the division or going to a Super Bowl. That’s something that was new for us, and I don’t think we’ve handled it very well to this point.” The Cardinals hope that this weekend is when they start to better handle their success. As Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner pointed out this week, it’s not as if teams are treating games against Arizona as season-defining opportunities. Despite their Super Bowl run, a lot of people question how good the Cardinals really are. “I don’t think it’s like the team that’s been on top for two or three years, that everybody wants to come in and say, ‘Hey, this could make our season if we beat this team,’” Warner said. “I don’t think that many people look at us like that.” Instead it’s just been a problem of execution, Warner said. Warner and the passing game have for the most part been good — Arizona is third in the NFL in passing offense — but the Cardinals are 31st in the NFL in rushing offense. They’re even more unbalanced on defense, raking dead last in pass defense and first in run defense. So while both teams will preach the importance of running the ball and stopping the run this week, don’t be surprised if the game turns into a battle of passing games. Run or pass, the Cardinals are simply hoping to get back to being the team they were last winter. Edge approaching a milestone With 18 more rushing yards, Edgerrin James will move past Marcus Allen into 10th place on the list of all-time rushing leaders. If James gets those 18 yards against Arizona, the team he played for the last three seasons, even the Cardinals will applaud. “You know, the one thing is that obviously you never want to see records broken against you,” Warner said. “But I guarantee you that if he breaks that record, there’s going to be a bunch of guys on our sidelines that are going to be standing up and cheering for him because he deserves it, and he is so classy and such a great friend, that we’d be extremely happy for him if he does it this weekend.” Williams to start at left tackle Kyle Williams, who finished last weekend’s game in place of the injured Brandon Frye, will start Sunday with the newly-signed Damion McIntosh serving as the backup. Seahawks coach Jim Mora said it is still undecided who will start at right guard between Steve Vallos and Mansfield Wrotto, but that both could see playing time. Lucas back today Cornerback Ken Lucas, who spent the week in Mississippi following the death of his father, will return to Seattle today and is expected to play Sunday. It has not yet been decided, however, if Lucas will start. Injured players probable Other than the players who were ruled out at the start of the week — Walter Jones, Sean Locklear, Leroy Hill, Rob Sims and C.J. Wallace — the Seahawks should have the rest of the roster available. QB Matt Hasselbeck (ribs), WR Nate Burleson (back), DE Patrick Kerney (groin) DE Lawrence Jackson (rib), DE Cory Redding (shoulder), G Mansfield Wrotto (ankle), and CB Travis Fisher (pelvis) all participated fully in practice were all listed as probable on Friday’s injury report. Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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