KIRKLAND — As if the Seattle Seahawks didn’t have enough incentive to get a win this weekend, there’s the possibility of a little R&R time.
Coach Mike Holmgren, who has given the players the entire bye week off in each of the past two seasons, said earlier this week that he will wait until Monday morning to decide when the Seahawks will practice.
If Holmgren is in a good mood after a win, it might mean a few days off. If he’s staring at a three-game losing streak, the players can all but block off their calendars with practices.
“I just told them, ‘We’re going to have a meeting Monday morning, and I’ll let you know at that time,’” Holmgren said.
The Seahawks (3-3) haven’t gone into a bye week with a losing record since 2002, when they were 1-3 at the break. They finished that season with a 7-9 mark and missed out on the playoffs, marking the last time they did not participate in the postseason.
Holmgren’s teams have a strange history with byes. The first seven years of his tenure, the Seahawks won their games heading into the bye. The Chicago Bears ended that streak with a 37-6 win last season.
Coming out of the bye, Seattle is 2-6 under Holmgren, with the wins coming in 2005 and 2006.
Right about now, the Seahawks can’t be worrying about history or the immediate future. The bye is next week’s issue. For now, Seattle is just trying to think about Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams.
“It’s business as usual,” said cornerback Marcus Trufant, a Tacoma native. “I’m not even worried about the bye. Other people might be thinking about it if they’re not from the area, but for me, I’m not thinking about it. When the bye comes, it comes.”
Who’s in, who’s out: Holmgren said that the only injured Seahawks ruled out of Sunday’s game are wide receiver Deion Branch (foot) and offensive lineman Ray Willis (knee).
That leaves two players in limbo for Sunday’s game. Wide receiver D.J. Hackett (ankle) and tight end Marcus Pollard (knee) are questionable.
Running back Shaun Alexander (wrist), cornerback Josh Wilson (foot) and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (groin) are expected to play.
The Rams (0-6) have a longer list of injuries.
Star running back Steven Jackson (groin) and kick returner Dante Hall (ankle) will not play in the game. Wide receivers Drew Bennett (hamstring) and Dane Looker (thigh) are questionable.
Starting wide receivers Torry Holt (knee) and Isaac Bruce (hamstring) are probable, along with defensive end Leonard Little (toe), starting center Brett Romberg (ankle), safety Corey Chavous (abdomen) and quarterback Marc Bulger (ribs).
Especially frustrating: The Seahawks’ special teams units have not exactly thrived under Bruce DeHaven, the team’s third special teams coordinator in four seasons.
While the coverage units have been more solid than in years past, the punt and kick teams have been plagued by mistakes. Last Sunday, a bad snap out of punt formation resulted in a New Orleans touchdown, and a field goal was blocked a few minutes later.
“Last week we had the two special teams mistakes that really cost us points and we can’t allow that to happen,” Holmgren said. “Usually when that happens, you lose.”
Punter Ryan Plackemeier, who has had two punts tipped by opponents this season, is among those looking for better results.
“Anytime you get a punt blocked, it’s frustrating,” he said. “Anytime you give up a touchdown on a snap, that’s frustrating. So, yeah, I’m frustrated. I feel like we practice well, but for whatever reason it’s not carrying over to the field.”
Carrying the gun: Holmgren said Friday that he has no plans to take the shotgun formation out of Seattle’s passing attack, even though it was largely ineffective when used last Sunday.
“It’s up to Matt, really,” Holmgren said, referring to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. “If he wants to run a play out of shotgun, he can. He’s always had that option.
“There are certain plays, certain things, (when) he feels a little more comfortable in it. So if you see it, it wasn’t because I called it necessarily. It’s because he wanted to do it that way.”
Quick slants: Told of running back Shaun Alexander’s comments earlier this week about getting back to his old style of play, Holmgren said: “The way he used to be, meaning gaining 200 yards a game? I’m for that. I’ll go for that.” … After the bye, the Seahawks will play six of their final 10 games on the road. Among those away dates are long trips to Cleveland (Nov. 4), Philadelphia (Dec. 2), Carolina (Dec. 16) and Atlanta (Dec. 30).
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