KIRKLAND — When the Seattle Seahawks travel to Atlanta this weekend to face the struggling Falcons, defensive end Patrick Kerney won’t be the only person making a return trip.
Seahawks secondary coach Jim Mora spent the past three seasons as the Falcons’ head coach, and some of his former assistants and players are excited to see him back in town when Seattle plays at Atlanta.
“That’s going to be surreal,” Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking said in a Wednesday conference call. “The three years (Mora) was here, the things we accomplished, him being way across the country like that (and) coming into our stadium, it’s just another twist in the Falcons’ 2007 season.”
Mora, who was not made available for comment Wednesday, was fired by the Falcons in January because of comments he had made to a Seattle radio station regarding his interest in one day coaching at the University of Washington, his alma mater. After leading Atlanta to the NFC Championship game as a first-year head coach in 2004, Mora went 15-17 over his final two seasons.
But his ouster still caught some people off guard.
“I was very surprised,” said interim head coach Emmitt Thomas, a former assistant to Mora who stepped in when Mora’s replacement, Bobby Petrino, resigned earlier this month. “The first year (Mora) got here, we went to the championship game. … But I enjoyed working for him. I thought he was very organized and very supportive of his players and his staff.”
Brooking, who joined the Falcons in 1998 and played through Mora’s entire tenure, said his former boss deserves another chance.
“I think he has the ability to be a head coach,” Brooking said. “There is no doubt about that. Was he perfect when he was here with the Atlanta Falcons? No. But I think he’s been around this game long enough — he’s all football, with his dad coming up and coaching — that I think he has the ability to be a head coach and a great leader.”
Mora was mentioned as a candidate for the vacant college job at UCLA, and his name has also come up for a future position at UW. In addition to being Seattle’s secondary coach, Mora also has the title of assistant head coach and could one day take over for Mike Holmgren in Seattle.
Holmgren’s current contract expires after the 2008 season.
Holmgren said that, from his perspective, Mora seems to be happy with his current job.
“Knowing Jim like I know him, he’s very much looking to (Sunday’s) game,” Holmgren said. “But without overstating it, I believe he’s moved on now and he’s having fun coaching this year. I believe he’s glad he’s in Seattle.”
Kerney is also looking forward to the trip, having spent the first eight years of his career playing for the Falcons (3-12).
“It’s as much a home to me as anywhere since I was a little kid,” Kerney said, “so it’s exciting.”
A final audition?: While Atlanta’s Brooking said that Sunday’s game could be a factor in which players return to the Falcons next season, interim coach Thomas is not looking at it as a chance to stay on as head coach.
“I’ll be 65 in June, (and) I still enjoy the game,” Thomas said, “but I knew (when I was promoted) I was just holding the seat, keeping it warm until they find their guy.”
Screen success: During Mike Holmgren’s tenure in Green Bay, the head coach’s offense featured multiple screen passes every Sunday.
His past few years in Seattle have seen only a few screen passes during an entire season.
But on Sunday, when running back Shaun Alexander caught a screen pass and ran 14 yards for a touchdown, it felt like old times.
“We were, for many years, a really, really good screen team,” Holmgren said, referring to his first few years in Seattle. “And then teams started working hard on that against us. And I believe there are backs who are good screen backs, (and) there are linemen are good at doing certain things, so you might not have exactly the combination you want.
“But we still work on it. We just don’t do it quite as much as we used to. But the play (on Sunday) was beautiful. If you wanted to look at a play and see it set up, see guys do it like they’re supposed to, that was just about perfect.”
Hackett, Wilson return: Wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle) and cornerback Josh Wilson (quadriceps) took part in Wednesday’s practice, and Holmgren said he expects both to play on Sunday.
Three veterans who have been nursing injuries all season did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin), left tackle Walter Jones (shoulder) and reserve safety Mike Green (knee) sat out the session and are candidates to sit out Sunday’s game, although Holmgren has not gotten into any specifics about playing time.
Wide receiver Deion Branch missed part of Wednesday’s practice with a calf injury, and his status for the game is unknown.
Holmgren said that center Chris Spencer will continue to practice and play despite a minor injury to his right thumb.
Ghost defense: Alexander was asked which team he would most like to face in next weekend’s playoff opener, and he was quick with an answer.
“I was really hoping that we had a first-round bye,” he said. “That was my favorite first opponent. They didn’t want to play against us. They’re scared.
“Anybody else is good.”
Quick slants: The Falcons’ roster includes punter Michael Koenen, a Ferndale High product who went to Western Washington University. … Atlanta safety Lawyer Milloy, a Tacoma native, is among four Falcons who did not practice Wednesday. Milloy is fighting a hip injury.
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