ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Randall Godfrey was the epitome of Seattle’s no-excuses mantra Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks’ middle linebacker took the blame for a long Marshall Faulk run late in the game, even though Godfrey wasn’t supposed to be on the field at all. Godfrey was out with bruised ribs all week yet suited up for the game in case of emergency.
He ended up getting a 9-1-1 call when Orlando Huff suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter.
Although Godfrey made an interception on his second play, he blamed himself for not being in the right spot on Faulk’s 28-yard run with less than six minutes left in the game.
“It was pretty much my fault,” Godfrey said. “I happened to run through a block, and that’s where the rust came in. I was rusty all week. You realize how important it is to be disciplined and to be in the right spot.”
Godfrey was one of two starting linebackers removed from the starting lineup because of injuries. Outside linebacker Anthony Simmons did not make the trip because of a sore neck. Making matters worse, strong safety Reggie Tongue also missed the game because of a strained hamstring.
“We’ve got some good, quality (reserve) players,” said Damien Robinson, who stepped in for Tongue at strong safety. “We’ve got players that would start anywhere in the NFL.”
D.D. Lewis started in place of Simmons for the second consecutive week.
Godfrey bruised his ribs last week and expected to watch Huff play the entire game Sunday.
But when duty called, he ignored the pain and took the field.
“I’ve got a (pain-killer) shot right now, but I know I’m going to be feeling it (Monday),” he said after the game. “It was painful out there.”
Chopped down: Because right tackle Chris Terry missed two practice days to attend to a family matter, Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack made his third start of the season.
But he didn’t last long.
A concussion limited Womack to just 20 plays. He got hurt in the middle of the second quarter and was replaced by Terry.
“It’s tough,” Terry said of stepping in after missing most of the practice week. “But when the bullets start flying, you’ve got to play.”
Both Terry and Womack lined up against Rams sack leader Leonard Little, who entered the game with 11 sacks but didn’t have any Sunday.
Corner blues: For the third week in a row, a Seahawks cornerback got beaten repeatedly.
And for the third week in a row, it was a different cornerback.
Shawn Springs was solid after returning to the starting lineup, and Ken Lucas didn’t make any mistakes as the nickel back. But rookie Marcus Trufant played one of his worst games of the year, most notably in the first half.
Trufant has often been tested by opposing quarterbacks this season, but he typically stands up to the task.
“That has been the case all year, and it happened (Sunday) that they kind of got the best of me,” he said. “I was out there fighting hard, but sometimes the wide receiver’s going to make a play, and that’s what was happening.”
Trufant gave up a 25-yard reception to Isaac Bruce, a 23-yard reception to Torry Holt and a 40-yard touchdown to Bruce – all in the first half. He was also called for a holding penalty in the first quarter.
Trufant’s best moment came on a diving pass breakup in the end zone, but an offsides penalty against teammate Isaiah Kacyvenski negated the play.
Red dog: The Seahawks’ blitz package, which hasn’t scared too many opponents this season, had its share of success early in Sunday’s game.
One blitz was particularly effective, as Huff followed blitzing outside linebacker Chad Brown into a hole to record a sack and safety on the Rams’ second offensive play.
“We got the pressure early, but we didn’t get enough of it in the later quarters,” Huff said. “I tip my hat to (quarterback) Marc Bulger and the coaches because they knew how to make the adjustments.”
Huff’s safety marked Seattle’s only sack of the game.
Mili breaks out: About the only offensive weapon the Seahawks’ passing game featured in the first half was tight end Itula Mili.
The veteran had half of the team’s 10 receptions at halftime. He had 69 receiving yards, most of which came after the catch.
“I was getting the sense that they were trying to take away our outside game, so you kind of take your chances on the inside,” said Mili, who did not catch a pass in the second half. “You know that you’ve got to come to play, you’ve got to be the horse they can ride. That’s what I wanted to do, to keep the ball moving until our receivers started getting the outside stuff. And that’s what started happening.”
Alexander’s great: Running back Shaun Alexander ran for 126 yards and is on pace to have the best season of his career.
Alexander has 1,216 rushing yards this season. He is 102 short of his career best – set in 2001 – with two games to play.
Alexander also scored his 13th touchdown of the season, giving him 49 in his career. That moved him past Chris Warren into third place on the Seahawks’ career list.
Quick slants: The Rams were without wide receiver Isaac Bruce (sprained ankle) and cornerback Jerametrius Butler (bruised knee) during the second half. The Seahawks took advantage of Butler’s absence by testing rookie DuJuan Groce on a number of occasions. … Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown, who has been slowed by chronic foot pain this season, had one of his best games. He tied for the team lead with seven tackles and applied pressure to Bulger throughout the game. … The Seahawks have a chance to complete an unbeaten home schedule this Sunday against Arizona, but are 1-6 on the road. Seattle has lost six in a row away from Seahawks Stadium.
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