Published: Monday, November 16, 2009
SEAHAWKS NOTES: Seattle finds rush game
Justin Forsett and Louis Rankin fill in for Julius Jones and rush for 164 yards against the NFL's third-ranked rush defense.
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Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press
Seahawks running back Justin Forsett (20) celebrates his touchdown as Cardinals' Ali Highsmith (95) and Antrel Rolle (21) look on in the first quarter of Sunday's game. Forsett rushed for a career-high 123 yards on 17 carries.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Seahawks lost a game Sunday, and most likely any hopes of reclaiming the NFC West title, but for those inclined to look for silver linings on even the dreariest of days, we present to you the Seahawks run game.
Against an Arizona defense that came into the game ranked third in the NFL against the run, the Seahawks, who entered the game with the 30th-ranked rushing offense, gained 164 yards on the ground. As a team the Seahawks averaged 6.8 yards per carry. It was the most rushing yards the Seahawks have gained this year since accumulating 167 in the season opener against St. Louis.
Leading the charge was diminutive back Justin Forsett, who rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries — both career highs — filling in for Julius Jones, who had to be hospitalized with a rib injury.
Louis Rankin, who played his first game with the Seahawks last week on special teams, chipped in with 24 rushing yards on three carries and 24 receiving yards on three catches. Forsett also caught five passes for 26 yards.
The last time the Seahawks faced Arizona, they managed just 14 rushing yards, a franchise low. On Sunday Seattle topped that total on its first possession.
Forsett and Rankin were certainly helped by the fact that the Seahawks had their entire starting line, minus Walter Jones who is on injured reserve, playing together for the first time this season.
“It's no secret that the running game hasn't been what we thought it could be, what we wanted it to be,” said left guard Rob Sims. “It was good to see Justin go for 123, and Louis Rankin, in practice he gives our defense trouble, and he gave Arizona some trouble on some plays, so it was good to see both of them play well.”
Burleson shut out
Nate Burleson, who came into the game as the Seahawks leading receiver, did not have a catch in Sunday's loss. It was the first time Burleson has gone without a reception since December, 2006.
Burleson is probably looking forward to not playing the Cardinals again this season; in last month's game he had just two catches.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, on the other hand, had his biggest game as a Seahawk, finishing with nine catches for 165 yards, the second highest yardage total in his career. He said the accomplishment didn't mean a lot given the result of the game however, and lamented not coming up with a catch in the fourth quarter when the Seahawks ended up having to settle for a field goal.
No. 11? That's Deon Butler
In case you'd forgotten who the Seahawks receiver wearing No. 11 was, it was rookie Deon Butler. Butler had one catch in each of the Seahawks' first three games, then went four straight games without a reception. Butler had one against the Lions last week, and on Sunday he was more involved in the offense than he has been all season, catching three passes for 26 yards. Butler was targeted seven times overall.
No pressure
One of the keys to stopping Arizona's offense is to pressure quarterback Kurt Warner. He had been sacked nine times in Arizona's three losses, and just seven in their five wins before Sunday. The Seahawks did not put much pressure on Warner, finishing the game with no sacks and only one quarterback hit. It's no surprise then that Warner finished 29 of 38 for 340 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers.
It was the second time this season that the Seahawks have failed to record a sack, the other coming against Indianapolis. Seattle's starting defensive ends, Patrick Kerney and Lawrence Jackson, combined for as many tackles, two, as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and tight end John Carlson.
Going lefty
Center Chris Spencer, who is right handed, took shotgun snaps with his left hand Sunday because of a thumb injury. Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Spencer handled it well for the most part, but that the snap might have been a factor on a ball Matt Hasselbeck bobbled before throwing the interception that ended Seattle's comeback hopes.
A lot of laundry
Penalty flags were everywhere Sunday, as the Seahawks and Cardinals combined for 20 penalties that covered 249 yards. Arizona, which had 11 penalties for 136, committed four defensive penalties for 36 yards on one second-half Seattle possession, which ended in a field goal.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
Against an Arizona defense that came into the game ranked third in the NFL against the run, the Seahawks, who entered the game with the 30th-ranked rushing offense, gained 164 yards on the ground. As a team the Seahawks averaged 6.8 yards per carry. It was the most rushing yards the Seahawks have gained this year since accumulating 167 in the season opener against St. Louis.
Leading the charge was diminutive back Justin Forsett, who rushed for 123 yards on 17 carries — both career highs — filling in for Julius Jones, who had to be hospitalized with a rib injury.
Louis Rankin, who played his first game with the Seahawks last week on special teams, chipped in with 24 rushing yards on three carries and 24 receiving yards on three catches. Forsett also caught five passes for 26 yards.
The last time the Seahawks faced Arizona, they managed just 14 rushing yards, a franchise low. On Sunday Seattle topped that total on its first possession.
Forsett and Rankin were certainly helped by the fact that the Seahawks had their entire starting line, minus Walter Jones who is on injured reserve, playing together for the first time this season.
“It's no secret that the running game hasn't been what we thought it could be, what we wanted it to be,” said left guard Rob Sims. “It was good to see Justin go for 123, and Louis Rankin, in practice he gives our defense trouble, and he gave Arizona some trouble on some plays, so it was good to see both of them play well.”
Burleson shut out
Nate Burleson, who came into the game as the Seahawks leading receiver, did not have a catch in Sunday's loss. It was the first time Burleson has gone without a reception since December, 2006.
Burleson is probably looking forward to not playing the Cardinals again this season; in last month's game he had just two catches.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, on the other hand, had his biggest game as a Seahawk, finishing with nine catches for 165 yards, the second highest yardage total in his career. He said the accomplishment didn't mean a lot given the result of the game however, and lamented not coming up with a catch in the fourth quarter when the Seahawks ended up having to settle for a field goal.
No. 11? That's Deon Butler
In case you'd forgotten who the Seahawks receiver wearing No. 11 was, it was rookie Deon Butler. Butler had one catch in each of the Seahawks' first three games, then went four straight games without a reception. Butler had one against the Lions last week, and on Sunday he was more involved in the offense than he has been all season, catching three passes for 26 yards. Butler was targeted seven times overall.
No pressure
One of the keys to stopping Arizona's offense is to pressure quarterback Kurt Warner. He had been sacked nine times in Arizona's three losses, and just seven in their five wins before Sunday. The Seahawks did not put much pressure on Warner, finishing the game with no sacks and only one quarterback hit. It's no surprise then that Warner finished 29 of 38 for 340 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers.
It was the second time this season that the Seahawks have failed to record a sack, the other coming against Indianapolis. Seattle's starting defensive ends, Patrick Kerney and Lawrence Jackson, combined for as many tackles, two, as quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and tight end John Carlson.
Going lefty
Center Chris Spencer, who is right handed, took shotgun snaps with his left hand Sunday because of a thumb injury. Seahawks coach Jim Mora said Spencer handled it well for the most part, but that the snap might have been a factor on a ball Matt Hasselbeck bobbled before throwing the interception that ended Seattle's comeback hopes.
A lot of laundry
Penalty flags were everywhere Sunday, as the Seahawks and Cardinals combined for 20 penalties that covered 249 yards. Arizona, which had 11 penalties for 136, committed four defensive penalties for 36 yards on one second-half Seattle possession, which ended in a field goal.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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