Holmgren: ‘Problems are behind us’

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

KIRKLAND – Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren doesn’t need to issue any challenges to his offensive line. He’s too busy making promises.

“Our protection problems are behind us,” Holmgren proclaimed with a straight face Friday, despite the fact that his quarterbacks have been sacked 18 times this season. Asked to extrapolate on this enlightenment, Holmgren offered: “I just think we’ll play better.”

Through three games, the Seahawks have allowed five more sacks than any other team in the league. At its current pace, Seattle would shatter the all-time team record of 67 sacks allowed.

The Seahawks offense may make a few adjustments to help protect the quarterback this week, but the most important key to an improvement in that area is for the offensive line simply to play better.

“We’ve got to put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” left tackle Walter Jones said. “We’ve got to go out and handle the blitz and try to win the game.”

Seattle’s struggles on the offensive line have been perplexing to everyone in the organization, including Holmgren. He said earlier this week that he still believes this unit can be “the best line I’ve been around in a long time.” While the unit has played well on running plays, it continues to struggle against opposing pass rushes.

Part of the problem has to do with the situations Seattle has been in the past two weeks. In losses to Oakland and Philadelphia, the Seahawks fell behind early and got into obvious passing situations. A lack of productivity on first down – Seattle averages 3.3 yards per first-down play, down 1.2 yards from last season – has also helped opponents in terms of knowing when the Seahawks will throw the ball.

Sunday’s opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars, rank sixth in the NFL with 10 sacks.

QB will be game-time decision: Holmgren was mum on whether he thought Matt Hasselbeck would be able to start at quarterback, but he didn’t rule out the possibility.

Hasselbeck has not practiced at all this week, but Holmgren said Friday that there is still a possibility he could play.

“I’m going to make that decision Sunday,” Holmgren said. ” (Trent Dilfer has) had the majority of work in practice this week, but I’ve got to see how Matt feels. Matt’s been feeling better. … If I thought (Hasselbeck) could physically handle most things, then he would go.”

Hasselbeck has been hobbled by a groin injury this week, and Dilfer has taken all the snaps with the No. 1 offense. The lingering injury eventually knocked Hasselbeck out of last Sunday’s game at Oakland.

“I don’t want to get (Hasselbeck) off balance,” Holmgren said. “He’s going to be our quarterback, and if he’s 100 percent physically, then he has a good chance to play. If he’s not, then we go with Trent.”

Tangled lines: Both the Seahawks and Jaguars could be without a starting tackle Sunday.

Jacksonville would miss its ailing starter the most. Left tackle Tony Boselli was limited in practices this week because of a shoulder injury, and he is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Not having him in the lineup would be a big blow to the Jaguars’ offense, and not just because Boselli is 6-foot-7, 322 pounds.

“He’s our best offensive lineman,” quarterback Mark Brunell said. “He’s a great player, he’s a great leader. We are a much better team with Tony Boselli in the lineup.

The Seahawks may have to play without starting right tackle Chris McIntosh, who missed the first two days of practice this week with a neck stinger that he aggravated in last Sunday’s loss to Oakland. McIntosh practiced Friday, but Todd Weiner worked with the No. 1 offensive line.

Springs remains questionable: Cornerback Shawn Springs practiced all week, but is not a sure thing to play in Sunday’s game. Holmgren, who said Monday that Springs would start if he could play, admitted Friday that there was a chance he could use Springs in a reserve role.

Until this week, Springs had not played or practiced in nearly two months because of a slight tear to his left hamstring. Willie Williams and rookie Ken Lucas started last week.

Mariners’ postseason conflicts: The good news for the Seahawks is that none of the Mariners’ possible home playoff games would be played at the same time as a Seahawks home game.

The bad news is that the Seahawks’ next three games after this weekend will be played on the same day as scheduled road playoff games. A Nov. 4 trip to play the Washington Redskins is scheduled to go up against a possible Game 7 of the World Series.

Quick slants: Seahawks offensive lineman Robbie Tobeck was fined $5,000 by the league for unnecessary roughness against the Raiders. Tobeck is going to appeal the fine. … Holmgren would not say why tight end Itula Mili started ahead of Christian Fauria last week, and has not chosen a starter for Sunday’s game. … The Seahawks have been outscored 44-6 during the first half of games this season. … The Seahawks limited their “Salute to Heroes” giveaway to 3,000 tickets this week, meaning no more freebies are available for local civil servants.