Conservative Hawks open it up at end

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, December 2, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – The ball fluttered a little bit, which was to be expected in a wind that came off Lake Washington with menacing force. It floated some, too, which made time seem to slow down as the ball hung in the air.

But when Matt Hasselbeck’s pass on the Seattle Seahawks’ final drive of regulation finally fell into the waiting arms of receiver Darrell Jackson, it was much more important than a 47-yard gain.

Hasselbeck’s downfield throw seemed to symbolize what can happen when the Seahawks’ offense opens up a little bit.

The pass, which went for 21 more yards than any other Seahawks play in Sunday’s win over San Diego, marked the first time in a long while that Seattle attempted a deep throw. Jackson’s reception eventually put the team in position to kick the game-winning field goal, but Rian Lindell booted the ball too far left. Still, the offense prepared for overtime knowing that it could make a big play.

“That’s what (Hasselbeck) is supposed to do every game,” Jackson said. “And that’s what we’re supposed to do every game, make plays for him. It worked out.”

Had the play not worked out, who knows how much more conservative Holmgren would get next week. He barely pulled the trigger at all on Sunday.

Perhaps because of a touchdown to start the game, the Seahawks played most of the game conservatively against the Chargers. While San Diego used linebacker Junior Seau to work as a spy against running back Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks’ passing game hardly did anything to make the Chargers pay.

Seattle had one stretch in which it had only five first downs over 10 drives. The Seahawks’ longest pass during that stretch went 17 yards against a soft San Diego defense in the waning seconds of the first half. Only two other plays during that span went for longer than seven yards.

It looked more like a tug of war than the West Coast offense.

“We started off the game wanting to throw it a little bit,” Holmgren said. “We were OK, and then we went into a little bit of a funk where we weren’t handling it. Then we kind of shifted gears just a little bit.”

Even when the Seahawks threw the ball, they kept within the framework of a conservative offense. The first play of the game was a 26-yard completion, then Seattle didn’t gain more than 20 yards on another play until the throw to Jackson. The short passes rarely came with any yards after the catch. Five completions on third downs came up short of the marker.

Things got so bad that the home crowd started booing the offense. This time it didn’t feel as though fans wanted Trent Dilfer as much as they wanted a different offensive game plan.

But Holmgren stuck to his guns, and the Seahawks were able to eke out a victory.

“It was a good defensive game where one or two plays make the difference,” Jackson said.

Welcome back: Ken Lucas was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Oct. 7, and held his own while filling in for Shawn Springs.

Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway both beat Lucas for a first down, but the Seahawks’ rookie didn’t give up a touchdown.

“I have a better feel for the game now,” said Lucas, who is filling in while Shawn Springs serves a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. “I had little jitterbugs at the beginning of the season, but they’re gone now. I feel more relaxed and feel I can play now.”

Quick slants: Recently-signed defensive end Matt LaBounty made his season debut Sunday, four days after being picked up by the Seahawks. LaBounty saw limited action in a reserve role. … The Seahawks have now gone four consecutive games without committing a turnover, which is the longest streak in club history. … The Chargers had Pro Bowl safety Rodney Harrison back on the field for the first time in three weeks. He suffered an ankle injury Nov. 11 at Denver. … San Diego’s Tay Cody left the game in the second quarter due to an ankle injury and did not return. … With 87 rushing yards Sunday, Shaun Alexander is still 19 yards short of the 1,000-yard barrier. He scored his 12th touchdown of the season, however, which ties him with Indianapolis’ Marvin Harrison for the AFC lead.

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