Hawk kicker says he’s the team’s cancer sometimes

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, December 30, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

SAN DIEGO – For the second time in as many meetings with the San Diego Chargers, Rian Lindell felt disgust and redemption within a short span of time.

Lindell, who overcame two missed field goals with a game-winner in overtime for a victory over the Chargers four weeks ago, rebounded well again Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks’ 24-year-old kicker nailed a 54-yarder at the end of regulation to overcome a miss from 48 yards just 2 1/2minutes earlier.

“When it’s right after a (missed) kick, the first thing you want to do is get right out there and prove that you’re not really that bad,” said Lindell, a Washington State University product. “That’s about as embarrassing as it gets. I don’t even know if (the miss) went eight (yards) deep. That was a horrible attempt. I really wanted to get out and prove to everybody, and to myself, that I’m not that bad.”

Lindell’s miss came with 2:43 remaining, leaving the Seahawks clinging to a three-point lead. The Chargers took possession and marched down the field to set up the tying field goal before a long Charlie Rogers kickoff return gave Lindell another chance with six seconds remaining.

The 54-yard game-winner marked the third time in five career tries that he has hit from 50 yards or longer. A 52-yarder at Oakland last season was Lindell’s previous longest.

Three of his four career game-winners have come against San Diego, including a 48-yarder to beat the Chargers in 2000.

Despite his three game-winning kicks this season – he also helped beat Cleveland in the season opener – Lindell has not been the model of consistency. He has hit just 20 of 31 field goals this season, as compared to 15 of 17 as a rookie.

“I finally stepped up and helped this team out,” he said after Sunday’s win. “All year, I’ve been a cancer to this team (because of misses). It’s nice to help them out. It’s nice for them to help me out and to give me an opportunity to return the favor.”

Coach Mike Holmgren, who readily admits to be less than an expert when it comes to kickers, submitted his own theory about Lindell’s pressure kicks this season.

“He has strength in his leg, and no one expects you to make that one,” Holmgren said of the 54-yard game-winner. “Maybe it’s easy for people to just pump away. It was a beautiful kick.”

Top pick disciplined: Rookie wide receiver Koren Robinson, the team’s top draft pick, did not start Sunday because he has been late for a number of team meetings, Holmgren said. Robinson was late for a team meeting earlier this week, so the coach started second-year player James Williams in his place.

Robinson was in on only about 10 plays Sunday. “I understand. I try not to make it a big deal,” he said.

Robinson caught two passes, both of which came with big hits from San Diego defenders. Afterward, Holmgren said he needed to send a message.

“He has a problem with tardiness,” Holmgren said. “It reminds me of when I was teaching high school, and you give a little pink slip to guys in high school. Except I can’t send Koren to detention.”

Robinson’s replacement, meanwhile, had a career game. Williams caught four passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start after entering the game with five catches for 87 yards on the season.

“In my mind, I was like, ‘Hopefully I’ll get a chance to play this week,’” Williams said. “Then Coach told me (Wednesday) I would be starting, and that was a big shock. … Hopefully this was a stepping point for me.”

Williams had two of the most important receptions of the day, including a 37-yard touchdown in the third quarter that helped give the Seahawks a 22-16 lead. Williams later got Seattle out of horrible field position when he out-wrestled cornerback Ryan McNeil for a 46-yard pass reception on a play that started at the Seahawks’ 10.

Milestone game: Wide receiver Darrell Jackson also surpassed the 100-yard mark Sunday, but that wasn’t quite as surprising. In fact, it was Jackson’s fifth 100-yard game this season.

He also surpassed the 1,000-yard barrier for the season, making him the first Seahawks player since Joey Galloway in 1998 to surpass that milestone.

Jackson was the key to Seattle’s early comeback, as he caught two long touchdown passes from quarterback Trent Dilfer on almost identical plays – both coming against McNeil.

“We’ve been waiting for it, but it’s a team game,” Jackson said of the wide receivers. “Sometimes you have to block. This year, mostly we’ve had to block. Today they threw the ball, and we just caught it.”

Picking on the rookie: Cornerback Ken Lucas, the Seahawks’ second-round pick in the April draft, saw more than his share of action while starting in place of Shawn Springs on Sunday.

The Chargers continually picked on Seattle’s rookie throughout the game, and generally had success. But Lucas came up with an interception near the end of the third quarter when he and receiver Trevor Gaynor both went up high for a deep pass.

“You have those games sometimes where all you can do is just make the tackle and hope your defense helps you,” Lucas said. “That’s what I did.”

Seattle’s other young cornerback, Ike Charlton, also came up with an interception in Sunday’s game.

“I’m glad for those guys, especially Ken Lucas,” said veteran cornerback Willie Williams, adding that the younger players will probably tease him this week. “He got his first interception, and he played a good ball game. I’m just excited those guys played for us and gave us a chance to win.”

Lucas was not the only Seahawks defensive back to get picked on, as Williams continually got beat by Curtis Conway during the first half. Conway finished with game-highs of 11 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown.

Ouch! Seattle’s defense continued to get banged up during the first half, as leading tackler Anthony Simmons went down with a hip injury. His backup, Marcus Bell, did not play because of a neck stinger, meaning inside linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski had to make his debut at the outside position.

Simmons returned to the game late in the second quarter.

Also missing from Seattle’s defense were starters Springs (hamstring) and Lamar King (strained calf). Reserves Matt LaBounty and Maurice Kelly are on the injured list and are out for the season.

Riley’s last stand? There has been growing speculation that Chargers coach Mike Riley might be fired as early as today, especially after San Diego finished its season with nine consecutive losses.

“I was surprised to see so much of it (Saturday) night when I turned the TV on and read the paper,” said Riley, who is 14-34 in three years with the Chargers. “It doesn’t surprise me that it was out there, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. You know how all that stuff gets rolling, so I don’t know. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Holmgren said he hopes to see Riley back in San Diego next season.

“I hope they give him another chance and let him coach again, because I think their team is much improved over last year,” he said. “I think he’s had some really bad luck. That’s out of his control.”

Quick slants: San Diego running back LaDanian Tomlinson broke the Chargers’ 36-year-old record for total yards in a season. Tomlinson had 38 rushing yards Sunday, and added 68 receiving yards off 10 receptions to give him 1,603 yards. Wide receiver Lance Alworth used to hold the record (1,590 in 1965). … Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown had a sack Sunday, marking his first one since Nov. 25. Brown had 5 1/2sacks in the first four games, but has had only three since. … Seattle running back Shaun Alexander was held to 59 rushing yards on 23 carries, and has now been held to less than 60 rushing yards in four of the last six games. … Over the past three games, Seattle has converted just seven of 36 third downs.

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