SEATTLE — After an injury-shortened 2008 season, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was eager to start the 2009 campaign on the right foot.
It didn’t happen.
Hasselbeck, who played in just seven of 16 games a year ago, threw his first pass into the end zone after a Seahawks fumble recovery on the opening kickoff. The pass was nearly intercepted by the St. Louis Rams.
His pass to the end zone on the very next play was intercepted.
His third pass fell incomplete.
And his fourth pass to wide receiver Nate Burleson was completed for an 11-yard gain — except Burleson fumbled and the Rams recovered.
Four passes, two turnovers, and three Seattle offensive possessions that went nowhere.
Hasselbeck did complete three passes on the next drive, but his fourth pass was again intercepted. And there were still three minutes to play in the first quarter.
“Not the way you want to start,” Hasselbeck acknowledged later.
Very true, but being a successful NFL quarterback means having the confidence, poise and determination to shrug off early adversity. And on Sunday Hasselbeck did exactly that, eventually passing for 279 yards and three touchdowns in Seattle’s 28-0 victory over the Rams at Qwest Field.
“If that was a young guy in his first year of starting, then you’d worry,” said Seattle defensive end Patrick Kearney. “But we weren’t worried at all about (Hasselbeck).”
Despite the shaky start, “Matt was even keel,” said tight end John Carlson. “He’s always even keel, and that’s why he’s such a good player.”
If Hasselbeck’s first quarter was a train wreck, his final three quarters were dazzlingly precise. The Seahawks had two possessions in the second period and scored two touchdowns, both on Hasselbeck passes. He threw his third TD pass midway through the third quarter and by then Seattle had the game in hand.
“It was a funny start to the game, rhythm-wise,” said Hasselbeck, who ended up completing 25 of 36 attempts. “But I think I settled down a little bit. I got into a rhythm, figured out what (the Rams) were doing defensively, and played a little bit better after that.”
Hasselbeck was at his best on Seattle’s third-quarter scoring drive. After St. Louis punter Donnie Jones backed the Seahawks up inside their own 1-yard line, Hasselbeck guided the team on a seven-play, 99-yard scoring march. He completed all four passes on the possession for 84 yards, including a 33-yard scoring strike to Carlson.
“I love playing with Matt,” said Seattle’s second-year tight end. “He’s such a smart player. He does little things that the average fan doesn’t realize that really help the offense. Things like snap count and cadence and checking plays at the line of scrimmage.
“He had a couple of run checks today that got us big yards, and he does that on the fly. He’s a great player, and I’ve learned a lot from him.”
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