KIRKLAND – He’s already fielded the question three times, and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren can expect to hear it again.
If the Seahawks lock up home-field advantage, would he rest his starters?
Holmgren answered it again Monday and was just as indecisive as ever. But he did hint that he won’t be swayed by a player’s personal statistics – i.e., Shaun Alexander’s quest for the NFL rushing title.
“We all have to be careful – coaches included – of getting too sucked into the numbers thing,” Holmgren said. “The most important thing is that we win the game.
“We have players on our team who are shooting for some very nice individual things. … Those types of things are nice, and they’re written about, and players get excited about them. But I think the way we’re going right now, if we can continue to balance the numbers, that means we’re probably winning.”
The Seahawks (11-2) could clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs as soon as this week, when they travel to Tennessee to face the Titans. A win, combined with a Chicago loss to Atlanta, would wrap up a first-round bye. A Seattle victory and losses by both the Bears and Carolina would give Seattle the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
But Holmgren’s not saying what he might do if or when the top seed is wrapped up – no matter how many times he’s asked.
“I hope I have the decision at some point on who to rest and all those things, because that means that we have earned the next goal, which is home playoff games and the next bye,” he said. “Until that happens, we’re full speed and going.”
Jackson ready to play: Holmgren said that wide receiver Darrell Jackson will take part in practices “full-go” this week and probably start in Sunday’s game against Tennessee.
Holmgren did, however, caution that Jackson will see less plays than a typical starter because he’s missed the past 10 weeks with a knee injury.
Jackson could start in place of Joe Jurevicius, although it’s just as likely that both could be in the starting lineup as part of a three-receiver set.
There was other good news on the injury front as well Monday, when Holmgren said cornerbacks Kelly Herndon (knee) and Andre Dyson (ankle) and safety John Howell (hamstring) have been progressing “a little bit ahead of where we thought they’d be.”
Howell could return for the Indianapolis game on Christmas Eve, while Herndon’s target date is the Jan. 1 regular season finale. Holmgren said that Dyson might be available for Seattle’s first playoff game, if the team earns a first-round bye.
Linebacker D.D. Lewis, who suited up for Sunday’s game but did not play because of a sore knee, should be available this weekend.
Hammer in the house: Safety Ken Hamlin was on the sideline for Sunday’s win over San Francisco. It marked the first time that Hamlin attended a game since a high-profile incident that left him hospitalized for almost a week in October.
“He sounded good, (and) looked good” on Sunday, Holmgren said. “Heck, he looked like he could put on a uniform and play.
“He wanted to come to a game three or four weeks ago, but the doctors said that wouldn’t be a good idea (at the time). But now, obviously, he got the clearance to do that. I think that’s a real positive sign.”
Hamlin is on injured reserve due to the head injuries he suffered in the Oct. 17 incident outside of a bar in Pioneer Square. He’s not eligible to play anytime this season, and Holmgren is still uncertain about the possibility of a return next fall.
“Nothing has been talked about yet,” he said. “But I was encouraged by how he felt (Sunday). He said he felt great.”
Proud of Robinson: Holmgren said Monday that he has been “rooting for” Koren Robinson, the former Seahawks receiver who has helped the Minnesota Vikings go on an improbable six-game winning streak.
“I’m very, very happy for him,” said Holmgren, who released Robinson over the summer after the receiver was charged with driving under the influence. “And I said this all along, and I think I was pretty consistent with it, is that he was a good guy, a competitive guy who cared about winning and had some battles he had to fight off.
“He was never disrespectful, the guys liked him. It was just he had to deal with these other issues I thought before he could even begin to become the player he should have been.”
Quick slants: In so many words, Holmgren admitted Monday that he had to serve a two-week probation with the NFL because of comments he made about the officiating in the win over the New York Giants. Holmgren reportedly was not allowed to discuss any officials’ calls with the league during the past two weeks. … After giving up just 113 yards on Sunday, the Seahawks’ defense moved all the way up to 11th in the NFL in yards allowed (303.9) per game. Seattle ranks second in offense (375.3) behind the Indianapolis Colts.
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