No matter what happens Sunday, the 2009 Seahawks season will go down in the minds of almost everyone as a failure. Seattle will finish 5-11 with a loss or 6-10 with a win, and either would be a massive disappointment.
But there is still something important to be done during this final week of practice, and it goes beyond planning for the Tennessee Titans.
Jim Mora and his coaching staff will worry about getting their team ready for a game during practice today, Thursday and Friday, but there is more for them to worry about than just that.
For the first time in a difficult season, it seems fair to wonder if losing is taking its toll on the locker room. To question if players’ attitudes could become a problem heading into what is certainly going to be an important offseason for a franchise that has won just nine of its past 31 games.
When teams lose, things can get messy, but so far this year, one thing you can say about the Seahawks, despite their troubles, is that they seem to be unified group, and one that is behind its coaching staff and still buying in to the messages being preached by the coaches.
Following a third straight blowout loss, however, you can’t help but wonder. Is the defense getting fed up with the offense after nine turnovers in two weeks? Are players starting to wonder about play calling?
After Sunday’s game, defensive tackle Colin Cole said, “If you can’t score points in this game, you’re pretty much dead in the water.”
That would seem like a knock on the offense, but to be fair it should be noted that Cole also admitted, “We weren’t able to stop them.” But might his mention of a lack of points be a sign that the defense is frustrated with an offense that has scored just 24 points over the past three games?
Meanwhile, receivers Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and T.J. Houshmandzadeh all went on 950-KJR Tuesday and felt the need to defend themselves from recent criticism. While it’s good they said everyone on the team should be blamed for the loss, other parts of the radio show hinted at some frustration.
Houshmandzadeh said he went to Mora after John Carlson’s fourth-quarter touchdown catch and said, “Coach Mora, we could have been doing this all game. This play right here.”
Branch essentially called out angry Seahawks fans, saying, “For all of the other people who are doubting the Seahawks, I’m going to tell you this right here, you’re either with us or against us, bottom line. There’s not ifs ands or buts about it. … If you’re not with us, stay at home.”
Sure players are frustrated, and rightfully so, but publicly admitting to questioning your coach on the sideline or lecturing fans who might be mad at the team could easily be perceived as a sign of growing unrest on the team.
Mora said Monday he’s still seeing a good attitude from the team.
“It’s not like a morgue, guys go out to practice and work hard,” he said. “Guys go out to practice and work hard, they still get together at night and watch film. Guys are on time. Judging by the ways our guys prepare and they practice and their attitude, you wouldn’t know that we’re sitting in the position that we’re in. That’s a credit to the leaders on our team.”
And if in fact the team is still united on all fronts and behind its coaches, nothing will be more important heading into the offseason than keeping it that way.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog.
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