Published: Saturday, November 14, 2009
Seahawks close to full strength for Sunday’s game vs. Arizona
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Jeff Chiu / Associated Press
Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (right) and linebacker Leroy Hill (left) both missed the last game against Arizona due to injury, but will play Sunday against the Cardinals.
RENTON — Things got ugly the last time the Seahawks faced the Cardinals. No one in the Seattle locker room denied that this week.
But the return of several players at key positions has the Seahawks hoping things will go better Sunday in Arizona than they did last month when the Cardinals ran away with a 27-3 victory that featured five sacks of Matt Hasselbeck and franchise record for rushing ineptitude.
Seahawks coach Jim Mora confirmed Friday that Sean Locklear will start at left tackle, meaning Seattle’s line will be as close to full strength as it has been all season. With Walter Jones sidelined, the Seahawks started the season hoping to have a line of Locklear, Rob Sims, Chris Spencer, Max Unger and Ray Willis. Up to this point that group has not played together this season.
In the loss to Arizona, Kyle Williams, the fourth option at left tackle, started next to Steve Vallos, who was making his first career start at guard. The result was a rough day for Hasselbeck, who was playing with two fractured ribs, and a grand total of 14 rushing yards. With Locklear back alongside Sims on the left side, the Seahawks are expecting a big improvement the second time around against Arizona.
It also didn’t help the Seahawks any that they were playing from behind all day after Arizona raced to a 17-0 lead.
“When you’re playing with guys that haven’t played a lot, and you’re behind against a good defense like that, it’s really difficult,” Mora said. “So we’ve got to avoid that this time.”
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt isn’t counting on an easy afternoon just because his team handled the Seahawks in Seattle, especially since Arizona is going against a healthier team.
“What I’ve learned in this league is that you never can duplicate what you did before, no matter what,” Whisenhunt said. “We can’t just come in with the same plan and expect to have the same results, because they’ve got too many talented football players, their line is healthier now, certainly the quarterback is as good as anybody in understanding those things, so I think that’s part of the game-planning process. We’ll change up the things that we do and hopefully have some success against them. But they are playing a lot better football now and they’re healthier.”
The Seahawks aren’t just better on their offensive line this time around. Outside linebacker Leroy Hill is back, and middle linebacker David Hawthorne, who came in for an injured Lofa Tatupu in that game, seems to be getting better each week.
And perhaps most important considering Arizona’s talent at receiver, Marcus Trufant is back for the Seahawks. The last time the Seahawks played Arizona, Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings started, while Ken Lucas, who had missed the entire week of practice to attend his father’s funeral, served as the third corner. Trufant and Wilson, who has moved past Lucas on the depth chart, will start this week, and Lucas and Jennings will provide the Seahawks with as good of depth at cornerback as they’ve had in a long time.
Trufant, who intercepted Warner three times in a 2007 game — Seattle’s last win over the Cardinals — will give the Seahawks a much better chance at containing All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
“I relish the opportunity to go against a player of his caliber,” Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said of Trufant. “He makes me a lot better player. This week is extremely stressful, getting prepared for him, and I know what he’s capable of. Just two years ago, he had what, three interceptions, one for a touchdown return? He’s a phenomenal talent. I know I’m going to have my hands full whenever I see him.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
But the return of several players at key positions has the Seahawks hoping things will go better Sunday in Arizona than they did last month when the Cardinals ran away with a 27-3 victory that featured five sacks of Matt Hasselbeck and franchise record for rushing ineptitude.
Seahawks coach Jim Mora confirmed Friday that Sean Locklear will start at left tackle, meaning Seattle’s line will be as close to full strength as it has been all season. With Walter Jones sidelined, the Seahawks started the season hoping to have a line of Locklear, Rob Sims, Chris Spencer, Max Unger and Ray Willis. Up to this point that group has not played together this season.
In the loss to Arizona, Kyle Williams, the fourth option at left tackle, started next to Steve Vallos, who was making his first career start at guard. The result was a rough day for Hasselbeck, who was playing with two fractured ribs, and a grand total of 14 rushing yards. With Locklear back alongside Sims on the left side, the Seahawks are expecting a big improvement the second time around against Arizona.
It also didn’t help the Seahawks any that they were playing from behind all day after Arizona raced to a 17-0 lead.
“When you’re playing with guys that haven’t played a lot, and you’re behind against a good defense like that, it’s really difficult,” Mora said. “So we’ve got to avoid that this time.”
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt isn’t counting on an easy afternoon just because his team handled the Seahawks in Seattle, especially since Arizona is going against a healthier team.
“What I’ve learned in this league is that you never can duplicate what you did before, no matter what,” Whisenhunt said. “We can’t just come in with the same plan and expect to have the same results, because they’ve got too many talented football players, their line is healthier now, certainly the quarterback is as good as anybody in understanding those things, so I think that’s part of the game-planning process. We’ll change up the things that we do and hopefully have some success against them. But they are playing a lot better football now and they’re healthier.”
The Seahawks aren’t just better on their offensive line this time around. Outside linebacker Leroy Hill is back, and middle linebacker David Hawthorne, who came in for an injured Lofa Tatupu in that game, seems to be getting better each week.
And perhaps most important considering Arizona’s talent at receiver, Marcus Trufant is back for the Seahawks. The last time the Seahawks played Arizona, Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings started, while Ken Lucas, who had missed the entire week of practice to attend his father’s funeral, served as the third corner. Trufant and Wilson, who has moved past Lucas on the depth chart, will start this week, and Lucas and Jennings will provide the Seahawks with as good of depth at cornerback as they’ve had in a long time.
Trufant, who intercepted Warner three times in a 2007 game — Seattle’s last win over the Cardinals — will give the Seahawks a much better chance at containing All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
“I relish the opportunity to go against a player of his caliber,” Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said of Trufant. “He makes me a lot better player. This week is extremely stressful, getting prepared for him, and I know what he’s capable of. Just two years ago, he had what, three interceptions, one for a touchdown return? He’s a phenomenal talent. I know I’m going to have my hands full whenever I see him.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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