Published: Monday, November 9, 2009
Seahawks’ Hawthorne is ‘lights out’
Seattle’s second-year middle linebacker, making his third career start, intercepts two passes and leads Seattle with nine tackles
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Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald
Seattle middle linebacker David Hawthorne (57) celebrates with teammate Patrick Kerney after Hawthorne intercepted a pass in the second quarter.
SEATTLE — When David Hawthorne was a high school senior in Corsicana, Texas, more colleges recruited him as a safety than as a linebacker.
Hawthorne chose Texas Christian largely because head coach Gary Patterson told him he could play linebacker for the Horned Frogs. Fifty-or-so pounds heavier and seven seasons later, Hawthorne is now starting at middle linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks with Lofa Tatupu injured and out for the season.
On Sunday, however, Hawthorne showed that he might have made a pretty good safety too, twice dropping into coverage to intercept Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Hawthorne nearly picked Stafford for a third time in the fourth quarter, but the ball bounced off his hands and fell incomplete.
Making his third career start, Hawthorne continued to show he can be an impact linebacker in the NFL during the Seahawks 32-20 victory over Detroit.
As he did in his previous starts, Hawthorne led the Seahawks in tackles Sunday, this time finishing with nine. In three starts, Hawthorne has 33 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks and a forced fumble. Not a bad body of work for a player that went undrafted last year and barely made the Seahawks’ roster as a special teams player.
His two interceptions Sunday led to 10 points and helped the Seahawks avoid an embarrassing loss to the Lions.
“Lights out,” linebacker Leroy Hill said of Hawthorne. “Hats off to Dave. He has spent a lot of time after practice, doing a lot of stuff off the field like film and studying. Lofa is helping him out a lot and he’s playing like he has been here for five or six seasons.”
Indeed Tatupu, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle, has played a big role in the development of his replacement. Last season Tatupu gave Hawthorne the nickname “Heater” because of his hard hitting style of play, and this year Tatupu is mentoring the “Heater.” Despite his season-ending diagnosis, Tatupu is a regular in Seahawks meetings and film sessions, as well as in the locker room.
“He’s been the same kind of guy ever since I stepped on the field as a free agent last year,” Hawthorne said. “He actually gave me that nickname. He’s always been in my corner. With a guy like that in your corner, you’ve got to succeed.”
And while losing Tatupu was a big blow for the Seahawks, Hawthorne is making the most of his opportunity.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” he said. “When I think about that, it’s definitely a blessing in disguise. ... Granted, the situation with Lofa was a bad one and my heart goes out to him, but I’ve got an opportunity to show that I can play in the National Football League, and that’s always a blessing.”
Hawthorne admitted he was nervous when he first stepped in for Tatupu. He made his first start earlier this season in a home loss to the Bears, and shook off his jitters with a 16-tackle performance that also included an interception.
Any doubt Hawthorne may have had in himself went out the window after that.
“I realized that I can compete at this level,” he said, ‘and all of that went away real quick.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
Hawthorne chose Texas Christian largely because head coach Gary Patterson told him he could play linebacker for the Horned Frogs. Fifty-or-so pounds heavier and seven seasons later, Hawthorne is now starting at middle linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks with Lofa Tatupu injured and out for the season.
On Sunday, however, Hawthorne showed that he might have made a pretty good safety too, twice dropping into coverage to intercept Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Hawthorne nearly picked Stafford for a third time in the fourth quarter, but the ball bounced off his hands and fell incomplete.
Making his third career start, Hawthorne continued to show he can be an impact linebacker in the NFL during the Seahawks 32-20 victory over Detroit.
As he did in his previous starts, Hawthorne led the Seahawks in tackles Sunday, this time finishing with nine. In three starts, Hawthorne has 33 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks and a forced fumble. Not a bad body of work for a player that went undrafted last year and barely made the Seahawks’ roster as a special teams player.
His two interceptions Sunday led to 10 points and helped the Seahawks avoid an embarrassing loss to the Lions.
“Lights out,” linebacker Leroy Hill said of Hawthorne. “Hats off to Dave. He has spent a lot of time after practice, doing a lot of stuff off the field like film and studying. Lofa is helping him out a lot and he’s playing like he has been here for five or six seasons.”
Indeed Tatupu, who is on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle, has played a big role in the development of his replacement. Last season Tatupu gave Hawthorne the nickname “Heater” because of his hard hitting style of play, and this year Tatupu is mentoring the “Heater.” Despite his season-ending diagnosis, Tatupu is a regular in Seahawks meetings and film sessions, as well as in the locker room.
“He’s been the same kind of guy ever since I stepped on the field as a free agent last year,” Hawthorne said. “He actually gave me that nickname. He’s always been in my corner. With a guy like that in your corner, you’ve got to succeed.”
And while losing Tatupu was a big blow for the Seahawks, Hawthorne is making the most of his opportunity.
“It’s definitely a dream come true,” he said. “When I think about that, it’s definitely a blessing in disguise. ... Granted, the situation with Lofa was a bad one and my heart goes out to him, but I’ve got an opportunity to show that I can play in the National Football League, and that’s always a blessing.”
Hawthorne admitted he was nervous when he first stepped in for Tatupu. He made his first start earlier this season in a home loss to the Bears, and shook off his jitters with a 16-tackle performance that also included an interception.
Any doubt Hawthorne may have had in himself went out the window after that.
“I realized that I can compete at this level,” he said, ‘and all of that went away real quick.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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