KIRKLAND – Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren publicly toyed with the idea of opening up his offense Wednesday, although there is no guarantee the results will be similar to what the team saw at the end of the 2002 season.
Over the final six games of last year, the Seahawks had the most prolific offense in the league, averaging about 475 yards per game. Along the way, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck had two games when he threw for more than 400 yards.
Fast forward to this season, and the Seahawks are averaging 334.9 yards per game, including 210.4 by way of the pass.
“We played those games differently,” Holmgren said of the final six weeks of 2002. “We were a little more wide-open. And the other part of that was that we were making plays. Catches and these wonderful plays. We haven’t had that many of those great plays. My hope is that we get it going down the stretch that way.”
When asked if he would consider opening up the offense to try to get it untracked, Holmgren admitted that the thought has crossed his mind.
“I think about that all the time,” said Holmgren, whose team has lost two of its last three games. “I want to help the football team, and am I doing my job that way? So, yeah, I think about it a lot. Maybe I do have to open it up.”
While Holmgren isn’t going to divulge his game plan for Sunday’s tilt with the Detroit Lions, the players expect to see an offense that is a bit less conservative.
“We talked this week about how he wants to play the game, and I’m on board,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “I’m ready to play the game that way, and we’ll see what happens.”
No receiver help: Like more than 15 other NFL teams, the Seahawks put a waiver claim in for ex-Cleveland Browns receiver Kevin Johnson on Wednesday.
The waiver system works in reverse order of record, so the 2-7 Jacksonville Jaguars got Johnson, who was released by the Browns one day earlier.
The Seahawks have only four receivers on their roster and have room under the 2003 salary cap. They could also have a roster spot available, as defensive tackle Norman Hand is expected to be placed on injured reserve due to a torn tendon in his right biceps.
Holmgren said the team considered adding Johnson, but not because of the recent spree of dropped passes by starter Darrell Jackson.
“I wouldn’t add a player to replace Darrell,” Holmgren said. “I wouldn’t do that. I might do it to give us another set of legs down the stretch here in November and December at practice.”
The Seahawks have three rookie receivers on the practice squad – Taco Wallace, Jerheme Urban and Antoine Burns – one of which could be activated at some point to fill the impending roster spot.
Baby blue nation: When the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers were in town, Seahawks coaches and players complained about the number of opposing fans at Seahawks Stadium dressed in opposing colors.
This Sunday, that trend will continue.
This time, a contingent of fans from the Portland area will be in town to see former University of Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington, who now plays for the Lions.
Harrington said that his family is hosting a bus trip that will include about 500 people, while he estimated that “thousands” of other Detroit fans could be there as well.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Harrington said. “This is as close as the Lions come to playing in Portland, and I know it has been on a lot of people’s calendars for a couple years now, so I expect there to be a decent Lions following. I think we will be well-represented for an away game.”
Motor City breakdown: The Lions have been so strapped by the injury bug that eight players have been added to the roster since the start of the regular season.
Things have gotten so bad at the cornerback position, where six players have suffered injuries, that the Lions signed ex-Seahawk Doug Evans on Oct. 30 and had him in the starting lineup four days later.
“It’s been fun, in a warped way, trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” coach Steve Mariucci said.
Stung safeties: The Seahawks are a bit hobbled as well this week, although most of the players who missed Wednesday’s practice are expected to be available Sunday.
Free safeties Damien Robinson and Ken Hamlin sat out practice, leaving the Seahawks so thin at the position that cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Kris Richard saw action there.
Robinson is doubtful for Sunday’s game due to a left shoulder injury, and Hamlin is probable because of soreness in his foot and knee.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whose list of bruises include his back, hand and knee, also sat out Wednesday’s practice. Trent Dilfer took all the snaps with the No. 1 offense, while rookie Seneca Wallace ran the scout team.
Hasselbeck is expected to play Sunday and did not appear on the injury report.
Other players not practicing Wednesday included running back Shaun Alexander (ankle), defensive end Chike Okeafor (knee) and linebacker Chad Brown (foot). Alexander and Brown are expected to play, while Okeafor is listed as questionable for the game.
Quick slants: Holmgren said that defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who has been inactive in four of the nine games this season, will see more playing time down the stretch. … The Seahawks have a limited number of tickets remaining for Sunday’s game, which is expected to be a sellout.
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