RENTON — Back in training camp, a time when optimism reigns supreme, it wasn’t unreasonable lump the words John Carlson and Pro Bowler into the same sentence.
After all, the Seahawks tight end was coming off a season in which he led the team in receiving yards, receptions and receiving touchdowns as a rookie. Why then, in his second year, wouldn’t Carlson blossom into one of the league’s most dangerous tight ends?
Carlson did little to quiet such talks early in the season, catching six passes for 95 yards in the Seahawks’ season-opening win, then adding six more catches for 46 yards in Week 2.
But where has John Carlson gone to now?
Since those first two games, he has just 25 catches in 10 games and one touchdown. Even including that big first game, he is on pace fewer catches, yards and touchdowns than he had in 2008.
But given the fact that the Seahawks have won their past two games, Carlson can accept that he had just three catches and 23 yards in those two games.
“Bottom line is we’ve won two in a row,” Carlson said. “And if I don’t have anymore catches this year but we win the rest of the year, that’s something I’m willing to do. I’d be happy with that.”
Carlson points out that his job is more than catching passes, and that has been even more true this season as the Seahawks have been forced to use him more in pass protection while trying to shore up the offensive line. But the line has been healthy for the last four games, and Carlson has four catches over that span.
The Seahawks have won two straight games without Carlson, but they’d like to start getting more production out of him. One big difference this season is that teams are paying more attention to Carlson. A linebacker or safety is hitting him as he begins his route, something he often didn’t deal with last year.
“More than last year, teams have been very sensitive trying to reroute John on releases,” offensive coordinator Gregg Knapp said. “So he’s been getting banged a lot more, and one of the things we’re working on John progressing in is what we call second-level releases. Those linebackers or safety about five-yards off the ball, we’ve got to keep our pad level down as a tight end and avoid that because sometimes that will throw the timing off as far as progression goes.”
But just because Carlson’s numbers are down now, don’t expect that to remain the case over the remaining four games. Knapp pointed out three of the first five pass plays were designed for Carlson last week, but twice protection broke down, and the other time he was well covered.
Asked if he thinks Carlson is close to a breakout, Seahawks coach Jim Mora answered simply, “Yes.”
That’s something Carlson and the Seahawks would welcome.
Hasselbeck rests
Matt Hasselbeck, who has a sore shoulder from being hit during Sunday’s win over San Francisco, was held out of practice Wednesday. He is expected to be available for Sunday’s game. Hasselbeck finished the game, completing 12 of his final 13 attempts after taking a hard shot on a third-down scramble in the third quarter.
“He’s just sore,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “Nothing structurally wrong and he should be back out there (today).”
It is the second time this season Hasselbeck has dealt with a sore throwing shoulder. He also injured it during the Seahawks win over Detroit, but didn’t miss any game time.
Backup linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee) was the only other player to miss practice. Mora said it is probable that Lewis will play this weekend. Defensive end Cory Redding (concussion) was limited in practice.
Frozen tundra
Mora indicated that he’d like to have his team practicing outside this week since the team’s indoor facility, which functions much like a giant football field-sized cooler, might be colder than the outside air temperature. Additionally, outside practice would give the Seahawks a chance to practice on grass, mimicking the field surface in Houston.
There’s only one problem with taking practice outside during this unseasonably cold weather.
“The ground is frozen,” he said. “Our field is frozen, so I don’t believe we’re going to be able to go outside.”
Not easy being green
Wednesday’s press conference took a number of odd turns with Mora in a more lighthearted mood than usual. At one point, he brought up pants his team wore Sunday. They were dark blue with a green stripe down the leg, the same ones the team wore earlier this season when it debuted bright green jerseys.
Told by reporters that they thought the green jerseys might be coming back when the pants were spotted during pregame warmups, Mora laughed and said that won’t be happening.
“Those have been retired,” he said.
Eventually Mora decided the uniform talk had taken up too much time.
“I can’t believe were talking about uniforms, and I brought it up,” he said. “I brought it up. It’s my fault. I brought it up.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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