Updating the Seattle Seahawks Injury Status

by John Morgan on Sep 23, 2009 12:03 PM PDT

Danny O'Neil, infrequent criticism aside, my go to guy for Seahawks information, has compiled Jim Mora's comments on Seattle's multiple injuries. Here is the summary in inverted pyramid style.

Matt Hasselbeck: Everyone, including Hasselbeck, wants Hasselbeck to play this weekend, but we are no surer of if he will than we were yesterday. The Seahawks game against the Bears is being built up as an important win for Seattle. I am just heartened Hasselbeck is close. The initial reports sounded dire.

Walter Jones: Jones will practice. Mora procrastinated a decision on if he will start. It is noteworthy that Seattle has not made any moves to add depth at offensive tackle.

Brandon Mebane: Is not practicing today, but is described as feeling "much better".

Deion Branch: Branch is practicing with the team and is expected to play this Sunday. All discussion about his durability aside, Seattle is building a good pass offense. Branch could still be their best receiver.

Lofa Tatupu: Tatupu sounds doubtful as of now. After returning prematurely against San Francisco, I think Seattle is being more cautious with him. Some glaring misreads aside, I think Seattle can weather a week of David Hawthorne.

Chris Spencer: Spencer would be higher on the list, but zounds, Steve Vallos is playing good football. Funny the life of an analyst. I helped create Vallos' bad reputation, and now, after he snapped his way into the bad graces of Seahawks fans, I find myself defending him for what was a solid game despite the bush league snapping.

Travis Fisher: Fisher is important because he is a corner, and that is a position Seattle is very thin at. Fisher is also important because he is pretty dang talented. I think what I first wrote about Fisher still stands:

...Seattle's fourth best zone defender now that Jordan Babineaux is committed to safety...Once upon a time Fisher was a pretty good athlete, but it's anyone's guess how much of that's been lost to a rash of knee and groin injuries. But Fisher has a chance to make the opening day roster and should he, Fisher could surprise.

I don't know where to stash this sentiment, so this post will do. I was as realistic/pessimistic as anyone entering this season, but after two weeks, I see a team with real potential. Things fell apart on Sunday, but Seattle is building a very good pass offense. If it can stay healthy and get its weapons on the field together, Branch, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, John Carlson, Nate Burleson, Deon Butler, Julius Jones and Justin Forsett comprise a very talented group of skill position players. I could fill this post with my hope, but I'll keep it simple: The season is not over, Seattle has survived a scare or three, and if this team can get healthy, I have no doubt it is the most talented team in the NFC West.

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Comments

Optimism?

John, I swear sometimes I get whiplash by reading you over the course of a few days.

I wouldn’t really read that as a criticism though, that’s a fair assessment of where I’ve been, as well as a bunch of Seahawks fans. FEAR-DEATH-HOPE-DEATH-HOPE??

"Hey, guess what? Nobody cares who would win in a crazy fantasy fist-fight between Anne Frank and Lizzie Borden." The Monarch

by crushedoptimist on Sep 23, 2009 12:09 PM PDT reply actions

Wow, you beat me to it.

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Sep 23, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Because it's come to the point

where the most interesting analysis by far has become speculation on returns from injury, I’m gonna prognosticate. What does everyone else think?

I think Walt, Mebane, Branch, Giffith and Fisher return this week.

Spencer, Tatupu against Indy.

Hasselbeck, Branch again (no just kidding) against Arizona.

Probably all of Hill, Locklear, Wilson and Trufant won’t all return for Dallas, but possibly three of four.

by jacobstevens on Sep 23, 2009 12:14 PM PDT reply actions

You're darn right it's not over.

If you look at the first two games of 2005 we look to be in about the same shape as then (discounting injuries).

by LantermanC on Sep 23, 2009 12:14 PM PDT reply actions

You know...

the SF game reminds me a lot of that Jacksonville game. We were manhandled in that game, and I remember not having any major hopes for the season. Somewhere along the line (metaphorical, not offensive or defensive) something clicked and the team became special.

I can’t help but to not only hope, but believe with a grounded reasoning that it is not impossible for a similar thing to happen again.

Mancrushed. Jake Locker for Heisman 2010.

by Tyler Jorgensen on Sep 23, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions

It was the victory over Atlanta that gave me the most doubt

After 2004 I was sick of come from ahead losses. So sick of not being able to put an opponent away defensively. Just squeaked that one away, after looking pretty good. The Jacksonville loss and near win against Washington, still to me reflected our potential.

But I think like a lot of people, it was the New York game that made me realize, we were special that year. I knew we stole from both Dallas and New York. Stole. But we stalemated them, more or less, and just faded in the end against New York. Regardless, I knew we could handle the bulk of the remaining games, pretty much expected the #1 seed after that.

by jacobstevens on Sep 23, 2009 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions

If Fischer is out, who plays nickelback?

by LantermanC on Sep 23, 2009 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

They could let Babs do it and put Milloy at safety.

by MFAN on Sep 23, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see the problem here

It’s so easy, a caveman could do it

by dlinsley on Sep 23, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Babineaux or Milloy

It came up in the Mora Press conference, I believe he said Babineax, but that today was nickle day and they’d figure it out then

by B.B.Finnegan on Sep 23, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

"if this team can get healthy,"

Agreed, but I’ve gotten a severe cognitive injury waiting for that day. My damaged brain vaguely remembers a Seahawks Super Bowl team many years ago. That was twelve ankles, six groins, twenty knees, two ribs, and countless beers ago. I just hope I live long enough to gaze upon the fabled healthy Seahawks.

by Santolina chamaecyparissus on Sep 23, 2009 12:32 PM PDT reply actions

"if this team can get healthy," ?

man, when someone comes back healthy, two will go out with injuries. its a hard thing to swallow.
i feel like we’re always gonna have a decent injury list. never getting maximum potential with our lineups.

i hope i can be proven wrong sooner than later.

go hawks!

by GriffinNW on Sep 23, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I swear this is Groundhog Day...

by rex92 on Sep 23, 2009 12:42 PM PDT reply actions

Wet Blanket Alert

The injury profile of this team is the thing that limits its upside. It isn’t just missed time. It’s the ability to develop continuity and timing, especially on the offensive line.

In most respects I really like this team. I like what we have. But this team is one of those teams that seems destined to have guys in and out all the time—kinda like Indianapolis. When you have a transcendent talent like Peyton Manning you can play through a lot of turbulence because the baseline offensive performance is so high. Seattle lacks that transcendent talent.

Although I don’t think it’s a throwaway season, and the NFC West is still there, we’d need some very unlikely breaks for things to fall our way. This season is mostly about getting the core in place for next year. On the plus side, I like the way the right side of the o-line seems to be coming together with Unger and Willis.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Sep 23, 2009 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

The 49ers are about to get their teeth kicked in

by the Vikings and the Falcons in the next three weeks. As long as we can steal one of the next two games, we won’t be far behind.

Cards have a tough schedule as well playing the Colts and Texans in the next two weeks.

I wouldn’t count our season as over, but winning the division definitely will be difficult.

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Sep 23, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Wildcard probably won't come out the West

you never know, but not likely. If memory serves Football Outsiders—admittedly not the last word on all things football pegged Seattle as 9+ wins. I don’t know if that gets a wildcard this year. 10 wins might take the NFCW though.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Sep 23, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Still early to even say it's not likely, I think

At most, 5 teams have established themselves in the NFC. Saints, Vikings, Giants. Maybe the Packers, but they were quasi-crowned early, with the preseason dominance. And Falcons, who I expect to fade.

Eagles, Cowboys, Bears, Cards, 49ers, could be and kind of should be good, but they have yet to establish themselves.

by jacobstevens on Sep 23, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions

I bet the 9ers beat the Falcons

And our next three weeks is tougher than the Cards’ is. But yeah I expect the 9ers to get their teeth completely kicked in by the Vikings.

But we can stay in it, you’re right. We’re still well within the division race.

by jacobstevens on Sep 23, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions

JM, glad you're noticing Vallos' improved play.

He’s been so much better than last season. I thought he played even better at Guard in the preseason, so there’s good depth there when Spencer comes back.

by Groundhog on Sep 23, 2009 1:09 PM PDT reply actions

Anyone else notice

That Hill had groin surgery on Friday? Apparently it does not materially impact his time away. [TNT]

by m_b on Sep 23, 2009 1:15 PM PDT reply actions

Spencer and Vallos on the field at the same time?

What about it? Any chance they put Spencer at LG, Vallos at Center, Sims at RG and sit Unger? Unger got toasted a few times last week and Spencer still hasn’t played with this line and in this system. Seems like it would disrupt whatever continuity is left by pulling Vallos off the field if he’s doing ok. Plus, they may want to get Vallos more experience at Center since I expect Spencer is gone next year.

by lordtd on Sep 23, 2009 1:24 PM PDT reply actions

Sims is playing really well, I don't think it would be a good idea to move him to RG.

by MFAN on Sep 23, 2009 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed.

And Vallos, improved, is still not among our 5 best linemen even with Locklear out.

by jacobstevens on Sep 23, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions

What about Julius Jones?

Was he injured Sunday, or not? I haven’t seen the game, but understand Forsett looked good. Was he getting the snaps because Jones was injured, or for some other reason? If it was because Jones was injured, what is his status for this coming Sunday?

by Hawksince77 on Sep 23, 2009 2:46 PM PDT reply actions

I think they'll rotate a bit all year

Jones was okay as far as I know.

We all love Force, and he had some tough runs—but some were of the third and long variety where he comes up just short of the needed yardage. Having said that, when he gets the ball on a screen or dump off in the flat you do sorta feel like this guy is good for 15-20 yards at any time. He’s a tough runner. I haven’t seen him get lit up.

There’s nothing wrong with Jones. He’s like a guy with a slider-speed bat. He’s not going to hit an elite fastball but if a pitcher hangs one he can still take it out of any park. Jones isn’t going to do much to make anyone forget Shaun Alexander’s 2005 but he’s competent—at times very good.

If anyone is going to lose carries going forward it’s Edge. He might be good in short yardage, and as a receiver but the burst seems gone.

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Sep 23, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know what everyone else thinks,

but I want to see Forsett get at least 30% of the carries/touches. As far as I’m concerned, he’s almost as good as either Julius or Edge at running, if not better. I think he’s better than both at catching, though I’m happy with both James’ and Jones’ catching ability. The only concern I have is that I think both Jones and James are good blockers, though Forsett showed in preseason that he has the will to learn, and is a capable blocker who may or may not blossom into a good one, hard to tell because it’s easy to dismiss little guys as bad pass blockers, but if you can’t pick up a blitz, or seem to have no desire to block a la SA37, then it doesn’t really matter.

by LantermanC on Sep 23, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

I've like Force since Cal...

but I think he’s perfect where he is, other than reducing Edge’s touches even more. Compared to Jones, Force lacks a gear that Jones can still reach every now and then. Relative to each other, I think the current mix seems about right.

There is such a thing as too much Force :)

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on Sep 23, 2009 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed on this.

Forsett has looked good when he’s had the ball, but I doubt with his size and running style (very hippy-jippity, for a technical term) he’d survive getting more than ten touches a game on a regular basis. I think he’s a good change of pace.

Also, with Matt hurting and the o-line not quite solidified (but looking OK) I’d prefer we have guys in the backfield that are experienced, consistent pass-blockers. Forsett did pull off that beauty cross-backfield block the other day, but I haven’t seen a lot of that and his size certainly limits him there.

by djafrot on Sep 23, 2009 4:43 PM PDT up reply actions

I'll drink that kool aid

While I am nervous to see how badly our MASH-unit defense may perform against Chicago, I am getting a little bit excited to see what the Seneca-led offense might possibly look like. Especially after Justin Forsett’s performance last week.

Ordinarily, I cringe when thinking of the Seneca-led Seahawks. But that image is of Seneca coached by Holmgren to try and emulate Matt Hasselbeck. This week may be very different. When I think back to what Mora and Knapp did in Atlanta with Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, and Algae Crumpler, and then I think about them designing a game plan with Wallace, Forsett, and Carlson, I think this could get interesting.

I hope that Knapp will put aside his Hasselbeck playbook and think a little differently about his offense this week. If he does, and he puts Forsett and Wallace together in the backfield, they just might give the Bears more explosiveness than they are expecting on Sunday.

"Football players are temperamental. That's 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental." - Doug Plank

by Stevo's on Sep 24, 2009 12:12 AM PDT up reply actions