Win, comeback rooted in Holmgren’s trust in Matt

Published 11:26 pm Saturday, January 5, 2008

SEATTLE — Matt Hasselbeck threw two interceptions at horrible times.

They came on back-to-back possessions. One led to a Washington go-ahead touchdown; the other cut short a promising drive at the Redskins 9-yard line.

Suddenly, Washington’s magic that carried the Redskins to four straight wins and a playoff berth seemed to be working. After doing virtually nothing for 31/2 quarters, Washington scored two straight touchdowns to take a 14-13 lead. The Redskins surge was jump-started with two picks by safety LeRon Landry, who stepped in to the starting lineup for Sean Taylor, the young superstar whose life was tragically ended this season by gunshot.

Had the circumstances followed the pattern of the past month, the Seahawks would have faded and their season ended.

But this is the greatness that is Hasselbeck and the relationship he has with his coach, Mike Holmgren.

No screaming. No sideline fireworks. Hasselbeck is a veteran. He made a pair of mistakes he shouldn’t have made. He knew it. It does little good to relive them.

Holmgren, Hasselbeck and the team needed to look forward. Otherwise, they could kiss the season farewell. This, they know from experience.

“He’s a very fiery coach,” Hasselbeck said of Holmgren. “He gets excited. We have a system now, where, good or bad, I come off the field and there’s about 45 seconds before we ever meet face to face.”

Both Hasselbeck and Holmgren needed time alone to clear their heads before discussing the next possession. Both are mega-competitive. Both expect much out of themselves and out of each other. Formerly, that led to colossal clashes that did neither themselves nor, more importantly, the team any good.

That’s changed. It had to.

“I learned a few years ago that, as angry or upset that I may be, it does absolutely no good, particularly with a quarterback to remind him of something he already clearly knows,” Holmgren said. “We had a little cooling-off period, like we always do, and then we’re off to the next series and the next play. That’s the best way to handle it.”

The Seahawks had eight minutes to score, starting the series from the Redskins’ 42. The previous two series safely ejected from Holmgren’s memory, the coach’s play-calling turned aggressive. Hasselbeck found Nate Burleson for 15 yards with Shawn Springs draping himself all over the Seattle receiver.

Then, mindful of Landry’s tendencies, he faked a pass to the right. Landry, who had to have believed he’d had Hasselbeck figured out, bit on the fake and left D.J. Hackett alone.

That was all Hasselbeck needed to hit Hackett on a 20-yard TD pass that put the Seahawks back into the lead.

“He’d look at my first look and just go,” Hasselbeck said of Landry. “I don’t think I was quite ready for that, even though I’d see that on film. On the touchdown to Hackett, we just basically used that to our advantage — just look right, give a little pump and he was gone.”

This is what happens when coach and quarterback have mutual trust, based on seven years together. Even after two questionable throws, Holmgren could trust Hasselbeck to get the lead back. Hasselbeck could lead a crucial drive with a clear mind, not worrying whether his coach would tighten the reins. To a leader, this is the ideal relationship, one whose goodwill spreads to the entire team.

“Matt gets in the huddle, and he’s looking at us with fire in his eyes, knowing we were going to score,” Burleson said. “We knew at that point in the game, we needed to make something happen. And with the confidence that Matt has, we were right behind him 100 percent.”

How much can one player lift a team? How long can a team lean on one player?

Since Holmgren changed the emphasis within the offense at mid-season and left it squarely on Hasselbeck’s passing arm, the Seahawks are 7-2.

Hasselbeck didn’t have his best day Saturday, but he did enough to wrest the lead back from Washington before the Redskins’ wheels fell off. That’s Hasselbeck’s greatest value. When absolutely needed, he’s just good enough.

Hasselbeck will have to be better at Green Bay next weekend for the Seahawks to beat the Packers, but on Saturday, he left a devastating impression on Washington’s defense.

“I was telling somebody early in the week that Matt is probably the best quarterback we would have to face in the NFC playoffs,” Springs said. “He ran back out, accepted the challenge and moved those guys down the field.”

The Seahawks needed it. Hasselbeck provided it.

Sports columnist John Sleeper: sleeper@heraldnet.com. For Sleeper[`]s blog, go to cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/danglingparticiples.