Losing sucks.

Steve Vallos sucks.

Neither will carry over to next season.

Seattle played fantastic. As LantermanC said, playing strong but losing is an ideal outcome. Seattle needs a young quarterback. Desperately. And getting the one they want is critical to the Seahawks future.

Game Ball:

Deion Branch: Crazy agility, fantastic body control and the heart of a goddamn warrior. A healthy Branch is a world class weapon. A military grade shotgun blasting ass-whipping, cut across the field for fifty more, cyanide tipped, hands like tractor beams, hips like Baryshnikov, game changing wide receiver play.

Seneca Wallace: You're not supposed to outplay Matt Hasselbeck. I hope someone who controls the purse strings is watching, because Wallace is an invaluable asset as a backup quarterback. Seattle needs a successor, sure, but a smart team finds a place for Wallace.

John Carlson: Concerns about his 40 time and pallor persist. Carlson, somehow, persists.

Baraka Atkins: Defensive ends take time to develop. Atkins had first round talent. Scouts, rightfully, questioned his desire. The Man who took the field today buried those questions under two tons of sacks and a hellrocious mean streak.

Brandon Mebane: Two quarterback hits and a sack. Yawn.

Tru: Seattle held Randy Effin' Moss, thenceforth know as Randy Moss, to 56 yards on nine targets. With Tru covering Moss, that's 23 yards on eight targets. Brian Russell and to a lesser extent Deon Grant have submarined Seattle's ability to stop #1 receivers. Seattle has allowed opposing #1 receivers to contribute at a 35.2% clip and have allowed the most yards per game in the NFL, 81.1. Marcus Trufant is paid. His team is awaiting the Phenobarbital. Tru played for pride and played like an All-Pro. Don't questions this man's heart. Don't question this man's skill. And don't question Tru is a cornerstone of the next great Seahawks team.

I thought I was a bit buzzed and missed the second half, but that was the second half. Not much to say as both teams looked resigned to their respective fates. The Cowboys suffering the malaise of easy victory; the Seahawks suffering the malaise of certain defeat. I remember perking up after the Marcus Trufant interception, but on second viewing why? Like most games this season, whatever the score, Seattle was getting beat, badly. Anyway, four dollars a pound.

By my count, Matt Hasselbeck threw eight passes over ten yards. In the first half, he completed a wobbler to Branch for 17. Branch had a spot between two defenders and the velocity didn't matter much. His next pass was a high arcing lob. Nice pass, but not what I'm looking for. In the second half, Hasselbeck showed some of that mid-range artillery he's famous four, uncorking a 22 yard out to Bobby Engram and a 17 yard out to John Carlson. That both were outs and both were thrown on a line is encouraging. Hasselbeck threw another zinger to Branch which was knocked away. He threw another nice fifteen yard out to Carlson in the waning seconds of the fourth. Again on a line and this time into a small and closing window. He had two true deep attempts. One was a desperation pass into double coverage intercepted by Terrence Newman. Little to fault Hasselbeck there, except, well, the decision making was pretty poor (as if it mattered) and, when was the last time Hasselbeck completed a pass that traveled 30 or more yards through the air?

Baraka Atkins recorded a quarterback hit. I think Seattle should run with its young ends and see who develops.

Josh Wilson is king of the empty blitz. All those diving misses matter though, because it forces premature passes. Now, if he could just wrap up occasionally.

With all the talk about the size mismatch enjoyed by Terrell Owens and Roy Williams over Josh Wilson and Kelly Jennings, it was Jason Witten who led Dallas in yards, DYAR, receptions and effective yards. Seattle doesn't defend tight ends and that's a bit Leroy Hill and equally, if not more, Deon Grant. Grant is mismatched in man coverage. And the why is almost too obvious.

Grant is a heady pass defender at his best reading the quarterback and breaking on the ball. He has the same habits playing man. In zone, that leads to coverage, pass defenses and interceptions. In man, that leads to blown coverage, big cushions and long receptions. Grant should be playing free safety. He's not a run stopper and he doesn't match well in man. He excels at the deep zone and is strong tackling downhill from the second and third level. The essence of good management is identifying, developing and enabling strengths. The last two seasons, Seattle has played Grant against his strengths for the sake of starting Brian Russell.

Hobbs looks like a keeper on special teams. He recorded the first tackle of the game, a one armed hook on Orlando Scandrick.

How dependent is Seattle on Olindo Mare? Seattle has allowed an average of 27.23 yards in the 31 kicks Mare didn't achieve a touchback. That puts "Seattle Opponent" a full yard ahead of Josh Cribbs (26.21). Mare won't be back next season.

Lawrence Jackson is beginning to show a little life. He's getting off the ball well and actually showing some fight against opposing tackles. Jackson is still with training wheels as a pass rusher, but then so is pretty much every rookie defensive end. Jackson trails only Chris Long in tackles and sacks among defensive ends selected in the first day of the 2008 NFL draft. On one play, Seattle attempted to stunt Jackson to the inside. He was S.L.O.W off the snap, flat and deliberate to the inside and ineffective on the inside rush. The skills aren't there, but it's been a while since I've seen Jackson really not try. There's reason to think the skills will develop.

On the second snap of the game, Owens pushed off Marcus Trufant and caught a pass for nine. Trufant stood stony, pantomiming "WTF?" I don't get why Owens gets the superstar treatment or how it helps the NFL, but fans across the league are surely sick of watching their corners play pushed-off coverage against Dallas.

These are the seasons that test our fandom. If you're still reading this site, you're obviously hardcore.

So what can we take from today?

Being fired up doesn't make a player play better. Sorry for the thousands who bought into some moronic revenge angle and started Julius Jones this week.

I'll leave the rest for another day. Happy Thanksgiving all.

Game Ball: John Carlson is an exceptional tight end. If he makes a second year jump typical of tight ends, he should contend for the Pro Bowl next season. When I watched him in college, I had no questions about his hands. So when he had a string of drops a few weeks back, I was sure it was a hiccup on the way to becoming a great tight end. Excluding a tip, Carlson converted six of six targets. His performance, especially in light of Seattle's terrible pass offense, is something special.

Feel Good Performance: Baraka Atkins with a tackle for a loss, a hustle tackle after eleven and hit on Tony Romo. He's coming along.

Discussion: Can Seattle properly give experience to and audition its young offensive talent with anyone under center other than Matt Hasselbeck?

Before I get any farther, happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate. I'm thankful for the Seahawks however bad, a job that allows me to do this and still support my family, and the fans who love this team and love football like I do. Thanks for reading.

We'll have a game thread up tomorrow, but I leave town on Friday. I can't promise much in the way of posts before Monday. Home teams do get calls, and I expect Dallas's holds to be forgiven and Seattle's interference to be flagged. I expect a better team getting healthy to pave its way to the playoffs through an inferior team playing out the stretch. And I expect Hasselbeck to play better or not make it through the contest. I'll explain why in a second.

Let's get to business.

Play Seventeen:

3-12-SEA 32 (5:23) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep right intended for 18-K.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 30-L.Landry [92-D.Evans] at SEA 48. 30-L.Landry to SEA 35 for 13 yards (20-M.Morris).

Seattle sets WR (Right), WR (Left), TE (Left), I formation.

Washington sets in a 4-3.

Washington blitzes six.

The blitz is mostly picked up, but Porkchop is struggling with Evans.

Matt Hasselbeck has three seconds in the pocket before he throws.

Carlson runs a square in.

Weaver runs into the flat.

Morris picks up Horton. (Good blocking game by Morris)

Robinson runs a curl.

The pocket is morphing left, Hasselbeck doesn't step up, but sidesteps and throws side armed.

The ball sails five yards in from Robinson.

Landry makes a diving catch for the interception.

Prognosis: An errant throw boomerangs as Landry shows his range with a diving interception. The weird side arm throw isn't new to Hasselbeck's arsenal. A superlative DB makes him pay.

Play Eighteen:

1-10-SEA 38 (3:19) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right to 20-M.Morris to SEA 42 for 4 yards (52-R.McIntosh).

Seattle sets 2 WR (Left), 2 WR (Right), Rb.

The receivers are bunched tight.

Washington sets in a 4-3.

Inside left receiver Engram runs into the flat.

Inside right receiver Carlson runs a ten yard out.

Outside right receiver runs a China.

Morris runs into the right flat.

Hasselbeck reads left, middle, right and then underthrows Morris.

Morris picks from his shoe tops and is tackled after a net gain of four.

Prognosis: Morris is wide open and the underthrow limits yards after catch.

Play Nineteen:

3-5-WAS 44 (:32) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right to 83-D.Branch to WAS 33 for 11 yards (22-C.Rogers).

Seattle sets 2 WR (Left), WR (Right), TE (Right), Rb.

Washington sets in a 4-2 nickel.

Engram, slot left, calls out opposing corner Springs' blitz.

Springs blitzes.

Washington blitzes five.

Taylor (Left) and Branch (Right) run slants.

Hasselbeck makes one read and delivers a strike to Branch's outside shoulder.

Branch catches, first down.

Prognosis: Hasselbeck makes his read, sees Branch's step and delivers a perfect pass where only Branch can catch, but where Branch can catch it without acrobatics.

Play Twenty: The "Wobbler"

1-10-WAS 33 (15:00) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete deep middle to 83-D.Branch (22-C.Rogers).

Seattle sets WR (Left), WR (Right), TE (Right), I formation.

Washington sets in a 4-3.

Weaver runs into the flat.

Carlson runs a post.

Robinson runs a go.

Branch runs a twenty yard square in.

Weaver is wide open in the left flat.

Branch has a half step on Rogers.

Hasselbeck looks off left, throws middle.

Matt Vasgersian calls it a "wobbler".

The ball does in fact wobble twice.

Rogers comes over top Branch and swats the ball away.

Prognosis: It's tight coverage and an incompletion isn't a huge failure, but the pass is disturbingly slow. Hasselbeck throws from the 46. Branch is at the 14. It's a 32 yard pass to the center of the field; a pass an NFL quarterback should be able to make.

Play Twenty One:

2-10-WAS 33 (14:54) 22-J.Jones up the middle to WAS 31 for 2 yards (48-C.Horton). 

Seattle sets 2 WR (Left), WR (Right), Split backs.

Washington sets in a 4-2 nickel.

Weaver runs into the flat

Jones runs a center curl.

Branch runs a square in.

Engram runs a post.

Hasselbeck reads right, center, left, center and passes.

The throw wobbles once but finds its mark; Engram for 21.

Prognosis: It works, mostly  because Engram runs a pristine route, but for the second play Hasselbeck's throw hardly inspires confidence.

Play Twenty Two:

2-17-SEA 31 (8:03) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short left to 86-C.Taylor to SEA 37 for 6 yards (24-S.Springs).

Seattle sets WR (Left), 2 WR (Left), SB.

Washington in a 4-2 nickel.

Washington blitzes McIntosh from the left and Smoot from the outside right.

Linebacker Blades buzzes right (offensive left).

Taylor (Left), sees the blitz, stops and awaits Beck's pass.

Beck underthrows Taylor.

Springs, playing safety, sprints from the third level and tackles Taylor.

Prognosis: The undethrow again limits yard after catch.

Play Twenty Three:

3-11-SEA 37 (7:22) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short right to 84-B.Engram [48-C.Horton].

Seattle sets 2 WR (Left), 2 WR (Right), Rb.

Washington sets in a 4-1 dime.

McIntosh and Horton blitz from the offensive right.

No one picks it up.

Horton hits Hasselbeck.

Hasselbeck throws it kinda near Engram.

Horton low bridges Spencer.

Spencer falls on Hasselbeck.

Prognosis: Not sure how they missed that blitz. Horton comes untouched without anyone missing an assignment. Horton plays linebacker via safety, so it's not like his intention were obscured.

Play Twenty Four: The End

1-10-SEA 22 (1:28) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep left intended for 18-K.Robinson INTERCEPTED by 24-S.Springs at SEA 44. 24-S.Springs to SEA 44 for no gain.

Seattle sets 2 WR (Left), WR (Right), TE (Right), RB

Washington sets in a 4-2.

Inside left receiver Engram runs into the flat.

Branch runs a China.

Carlson runs a corner route.

Morris runs into the right flat,

And Koren Robinson...

Prognosis: It's hard to know exactly what route Robinson was running, because he hadn't run it at the time of Hasselbeck's pass. Robinson looks befuddled and entirely unready. Hasselbeck stares down Robinson from the snap, and it's little wonder someone was ready to jump the route. This is play call confusion, and no matter how dire the outcome, not very telling of what's wrong with Seattle's offense or what's wrong with Seattle's quarterback.

Conclusions: Matt Hasselbeck's ability to throw short and mid, once the foundation of his arsenal, has declined so quickly it almost defies explanation. The short pass has haunted Hasselbeck all season. The mid range pass has been spotty, but never this bad. Hasselbeck is making some bad reads, but the greater problem is he's not completing the right reads he makes. He can no longer make "all the throws". Declining arm strength might explain his lacking velocity on mid range throws, but underthrowing receivers short could be rust or simply an aberration.

Mike Holmgren implemented a pared down playbook for much of the contest. It kept Seattle competitive. Did Holmgren do so to protect Hasselbeck? And if Hasselbeck is not fully healthy, why would he start for a 2-9 team?

I think Hasselbeck's lost touch and arm strength are symptomatic of his ailing back. If he's recovering, that will begin to return to normal over the remainder of the season. If it's not, and I don't see how playing football would expedite recovery, defenses will slowly narrow their coverage to where Hasselbeck can throw. Dallas should saturate the middle of the field, the half circle that extends twenty five yards in all direction from the pocket, and challenge Hasselbeck to beat them deep and on the edges. If they do, and, well, there's no guarantee they will, Hasselbeck could further decline. His effective range taken away, Hasselbeck will be forced to throw into coverage or take hits. For Seattle,the alternative is a continued emphasis on the short passing game. Dallas is superficially weak defending receiving running backs. If that's the lone weapon Seattle has, they will not continue to be.

Through eight passes, it's clear Matt Hasselbeck is playing poorly. What is not yet clear is how Hasselbeck played worse than his numbers. The next eight evidences how.

Play Nine:

1-10-SEA 28 (4:27) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right to 20-M.Morris to SEA 30 for 2 yards (54-H.Blades).

Seattle sets 2 WR (Right), WR (Left), TE (Left), Rb.

Washington sets in a 4-3, linebackers shaded left.

Matt Hasselbeck runs a play-action to Morris.

Seattle's wide receivers appear to "clear". That is, they run deep, but without observable patterns.

Morris slips into the right flat.

He's well covered by Blades.

Hasselbeck targets Morris for two.

Prognosis: The first in a disturbing series of nerfed pass plays. The play looks designed for Morris and though he's well covered, Hasselbeck dishes it to him.

Play Ten:

Image 1

2-8-SEA 30 (3:47) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short middle to 18-K.Robinson to SEA 44 for 14 yards (27-F.Smoot).

Seattle sets 2 WR (Right), 2 WR (Left), Rb.

Washington sets with five defensive linemen, one linebacker.

Washington, surprise, rushes five. Seattle picks it up ably.

Taylor and Engram each run go routes.

Branch, running from the right, runs a square in after 10.

Weaver runs into the flat.

Robinson, running from the left, runs a post route after 10.

Hasselbeck reads right, left, right.

Hasselbeck passes to Robinson. The ball is overthrown. Robinson makes a great diving catch (Image 1).

Prognosis: Hasselbeck's second longest pass play of the game was overthrown. Nevertheless, every quarterback gets a few bailouts from his wide receiver. Not an indictment of Hasselbeck, but further evidence that Hasselbeck's achievements were largely not his own.

Play Eleven:

1-10-WAS 22 (1:53) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short left to 43-L.Weaver to WAS 14 for 8 yards (52-R.McIntosh).

Seattle sets TE (Left), TE (Right), 2 WR (Right), Rb.

This is a rare unbalanced formation in Holmgren's offense.

Washington sets in a 4-2 nickel. Fred Smoot is walked up along the right defensive end (offensive right). Washington is playing sides of the field rather than individual receivers. Perhaps an indication they foresee something tricky in the works from Holmgren.

At the snap, Seattle's tight ends and wide receivers again "clear".

Hasselbeck looks right, left and then passes.

Leonard Weaver runs a "stop" to the left. A stop is a route where the running back runs out and around the tackle and then curls some short yardage past the line.

Hasselbeck's pass connects with Weaver. Weaver runs for four.

Prognosis: Another nerfed pass play, which, combined with four play action passes in eleven pass plays makes one wonder what really separates the Seneca Wallace training wheels playbook from the Matt Hasselbeck professional quarterback playbook.

Play Twelve:  

1-8-WAS 8 (:44) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short left to 89-J.Carlson to WAS 4 for 4 yards (27-F.Smoot).

Seattle sets WR (Left), 2 WR (Right), TE (Left), RB.

Washington in a 4-3.

Branch (left) motions in.

At the snap, Carlson blocks in.

Engram runs from the slot runs into the flat.

Robinson runs a slant.

Branch runs what looks like a "China": The receiver starts a drag but after 3 or 4 steps stops and turns towards the quarterback.

Floyd Womack and Walter Jones pull.

Carlson disengages the pile, turns towards the quarterback and takes two sweep steps offensive left.

Hasselbeck passes, Carlson overruns his blockers, the reception goes for four.

Prognosis: Another screen pass.

Play Thirteen:

2-4-WAS 4 (:35) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short left to 20-M.Morris for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Seattle sets 2 WR (Left), WR (Right), TE (Left), RB. There's that imbalance again.

Carlson is positioned wide a ~yard outside Walter Jones.

Engram is within but recessed behind the resulting gap.

Deion Branch motions from outside left to the inside, creating a brief trips-like bunch on the left.

Snap.

Robinson runs a lazy route on the right.

Branch slants in, blocks.

Carlson pulls up, blocks.

Engram runs a "mean it" route left, blocks.

Morris runs up behind the line, curls left, receives Hasselbeck's pass and-

Runs behind a dominant block by Floyd "Porkchop" Womack?

You better believe it.

Chris Spencer falls, but Womack saves the day running a defender into the ground. Defender's name withheld to protect the victim. (Double agent Brian Russell, is that you?)

Morris lowers his shoulder and drives it into the end zone.

Prognosis: Another screen pass. Robinson's lazy route is all about the play call, no knock on his effort. Engram is the only receiver who really leaves it all out there on the route and block.

Play Fourteen:

1-10-WAS 45 (14:50) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short right to 84-B.Engram to WAS 32 for 13 yards (24-S.Springs).

Seattle sets 2 WR (right), WR (left), I formation.

Left receiver Robinson is in the slot.

Washington breaks in a 4-3, left defensive end and tackle spaced wide, left outside linebacker challenging the resulting gap.

Engram is uncovered.

Play action.

Robinson runs a laggard shallow cross. I'm not thrilled with Robinson's route running or the consistency of his effort.

Branch runs deep.

Hasselbeck rolls out.

Engram runs a quick out.

Engram is uncovered.

Defensive end Demetric Evans pursues Hasselbeck.

Hasselbeck passes to Engram, Engram receives and runs for an additional eight.

Prognosis: Again, not an indictment of Hasselbeck, but he's asked to do the bare minimum on this play. Hasselbeck rolls right in vintage Alex Smith fashion and finds his Arnaz Battle, Bobby Engram, wide open.

Image 2

Play Fifteen:

1-10-WAS 32 (14:18) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short middle to 89-J.Carlson.

The route (Image 2):

Washington sets in a 4-3.

Late pass to Carlson.

London Fletched lays the wood, incomplete.

Prognosis: Hasselbeck never looks away from Carlson. Washington's linebackers drop into the natural short zones of a Cover 2. The only hope for this pass is a quick, decisive delivery. Why Hasselbeck stares down Carlson before slow-delivering despite not being under pressure is a mystery to me. Carlson does his best to come back to the ball, but this play is hopeless.

Play Sixteen:

I'm not counting sacks, so we'll skip ahead...

2-12-SEA 32 (5:29) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short right to 18-K.Robinson.

Seattle breaks WR (Left), WR (Right), TE (Left), I formation.

Washington breaks in a 4-3 with Chris Horton walked into the box for some reason.

Redskins blitz five.

Play action.

Morris attempts to get into the flat but is caught in the wash.

Weaver run blocks Horton for some reason.

Carlson runs a ten yard square in.

Robinson runs a beauty of a quick hitch: snappy, disguised and clean. Carlos Rogers falls attempting to defend it.

Beck makes one read, sees the down defender, delivers a strike and Robinson drops it.

Prognosis: That's nice. End on something positive. Tomorrow, Interceptions! Intrigue! The "Wobbler!"

What if I told you Matt Hasselbeck played worse than his numbers indicate? He did through the first half. After all, six for eleven for 38 yards and a score isn't that bad, it's positively Trent Dilfer-esque. But the writing was on the wall. Hasselbeck was playing very poorly and it was only a matter of attempts before he results caught up with ability. As you'll soon see, his successes were largely not his own, but he owned every failure.

This is a break down of the first eight passing plays. Twenty four passing attempts, three days until Dallas, eight attempts a day - makes sense, right? I've done my best to provide as much relevant information as possible.

Play One:

2-4-WAS 44 (12:47) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete deep left to 18-K.Robinson (24-S.Springs).

Seattle sets 2 WR (left), 2WR (right), RB. All four receivers are tight.

Inside receivers run flats, outside receivers run corner routes.

Koren Robinson beats Shawn Springs.

Hasselbeck underthrows.

Springs defenses the pass.

Prognosis: Hasselbeck has little deep strength. Add in the additional distance to the sideline and this ball is sorely underthrown.

Play Two:

Image 1

3-4-WAS 44 (12:42) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short right to 83-D.Branch.

Seattle sets WR (left), 2 WR (right), I formation.

Washington in a 4-2 nickel.

Robinson runs a go.

Bobby Engram runs into the flat.

Deion Branch runs a fifteen yard square in.

Hasselbeck throw.

Hasselbeck overthrows (Image 1).

Prognosis: Well, Branch is hardly Randy Moss, so it's not exactly hard to overthrow him, but Hasselbeck needs to bring the ball down. The pass also has a ton of zip behind it. The combination makes for a very hard catch.

Image 2

Play Three:

2-10-WAS 16 (7:35) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete deep right to 84-B.Engram [99-A.Carter].

Seattle sets WR (left), 2 WR (right), TE (left), Rb.

Washington has four DL, it looks like a 4-3, but it's unclear.

Washington blitzes six.

Engram and Koren Robinson are running crossing routes (Image 2).

Matt Hasselbeck takes a five step drop, fakes play action to Morris, and overthrows a wide open Bobby Engram running to the right corner of the end zone.

Engram is covered by Shawn Springs.

Robinson's route is a little lax.

Hasselbeck targets Engram almost immediately after the play action. It looks like a designed play. Play action, no read and pass.

Hasselbeck is hit by Carter after the pass, but his throw is unaffected by pressure.

Prognosis: Hasselbeck overthrows a wide open Engram costing Seattle a touchdown.

Image 3

Image 4

Play Four:

3-10-WAS 16 (7:29)8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete deep right. PENALTY on SEA-8-M.Hasselbeck, Intentional Grounding, 10 yards, enforced at WAS 16.

Seattle sets 2 WR (left), 2 WR (right) Rb.

Washington is in a 3-2 Dime. The linebackers are in the "A" gaps and the corners are walked up outside the defensive ends.

Washington blitzes the nickel and dime cornerback, but drops both linebackers and the nose tackle. It's a four man pass rush. (Image 3)

Seattle's pass routes look like this (Image 4):

They're mirrored.

Washington doesn't attain pressure.

Hasselbeck throws it out of the right side of the end zone and is flagged for intentional grounding.

Prognosis: The Redskins call the right coverage, the Obejectivist doesn't look for an open man and throws it away. Seahawks charged for intentional grounding on a throw away.

Play Five:

3-13-SEA 30 (1:50) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short left to 43-L.Weaver to SEA 36 for 6 yards (96-C.Griffin).

Seattle sets 2 WR (left), 2 WR (right) Rb.

Washington in a 4-1 Dime.

The receivers clear, all running deep.

Walter Jones pulls left.

Leonard Weaver fakes block and curls under Jones.

Floyd Womack does not release from his defender.

Hasselbeck dishes to Weaver, Weaver follows Jones, but is caught from behind by Griffin.

Prognosis: Conservative play call almost works.

Image 5

Play Six:

1-10-SEA 20 (11:51) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short right to 83-D.Branch.

 Seattle sets 2 WR (right), 1 WR (left), I.

Washington in a 4-3.

Play action.

Routes (Image 5 (Koren Robinson not pictured)):

One read, pass targets Branch (?), but is five yards wide right.

Prognosis: Wildly errant throw.

Play Seven:

2-10-SEA 20 (11:46) PENALTY on SEA-8-M.Hasselbeck, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at SEA 20 - No Play.

Seattle sets 2 WR (left), 2WR (right), RB. All four receivers are tight, right inside receiver is tight end John Carlson.

Washington breaks in 3-2, with Jason Taylor defensive left, standing.

Skins show a bunch of presnap looks. Walk the strong safety down, position London Fletcher over the left "A" gap and also drop Taylor down into a three point.

Seattle motions outside-right receiver Deion Branch wide right. Then it moves Carlson into a true tight end position offensive right. Inside-left receiver Koren Robinson is most the way into motioning wide left when Seattle is called for a delay of game.

Prognosis: Hasselbeck is playing spooked. Jim Zorn has his number.

Play Eight (A):

Image 6

False start Leonard Weaver.

Prognosis: Why the hell is Weaver in the slot?

Play Eight (B):

Time out.

Prognosis: Seattle is split in a rare five wide. The Redskins are in a 4-2 nickel with wide splits between the tackles and ends, the linebackers walked into those splits and the strong safety challenging the outside right. Hasselbeck sees blitz and calls time out. That's...troubling.

Play Eight (C):

3-10-SEA 20 (10:28) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete short right to 83-D.Branch.

Seattle switches out of that zany five receiver set and instead splits 2 WR (left/right), TE (left), split backs.

Washington breaks in a 4-2 nickel with the nickelback challenging outside left.

Left WR Deion Branch motions in.

Snap.

Here's the routes (Image 6).

Springs blitzes, Weaver throws a nice block.

Branch runs a drag, good shallow route, maintains speed while working through traffic.

He has about a half a step on DeAngelo Hall.

Branch is five yards before the first down marker.

Hasselbeck throws the ball to Branch's back shoulder, Branch slows, attempts to catch, Hall closes and Branch cannot hold on.

Punt

Prognosis: Bad read, bad throw; Branch drops a pass that wouldn't have converted the first.

Here's what I noticed about today's game: Thank God Stump Mitchell left town. Sorry Clinton Portis, this looks like your last great season.

Okay, so who will be Seattle's starting quarterback in 2010? The draft offers some interesting options.

If Seattle wants to go early, Sam Bradford looks like the prototypical quarterback of legend. He's a perfect guy to stash for a season and then suffer through growing pains with in 2010. The knock on Bradford is that he's only a two year starter and is surrounded by excellent offensive talent. Still, love his low sacks, high completion percentage and good athleticism. Bradford would require a top ten pick, so that would hurt Seattle's versatility and force them into an exorbitant contract. Too risky; not wild about this option. He could slide a little if Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy declare, but I doubt both will. I also doubt Mark Sanchez declares, because USC won't likely win the national title and because ten trillion dollars isn't better than being the man at Hollywood U. If he's there, I really like Sanchez and think Tim Ruskell would target him.

If Seattle's willing to slide a little, Curtis Painter make a pretty safe if a little less sexy pick in the mid to late first.

Beyond that, it gets interesting. There's a lot of rational reasons to love Chase Daniel. He's played insanely well in the tough as hell Big 12. He's the drafts best non-Tim Tebow athlete at quarterback, and he destroys the Lewan projection system: three year starter plus a fourth season playing off the bench and a 68.5% completion percentage. But there's also some quasi-rational red flags. He's short, probably shorter than his listed 6'0". He's also playing in a spread offense. Current head coach Gray Pinkel has been with the Tigers since 2001, and none of Daniels' predecessors touched Daniels passing stats. I'm leaving this one up for debate before I do a little more research, but another something, something HUGE, in Daniels' favor is that he's not a first round pick. For as much as a second rounder and as little as a second day pick, Daniels provides a potentially huge return and If he doesn't work out, the team's not crippled. That's not something you can say about Bradford, Stafford, Tebow or Sanchez. That first round pick could instead go to something more stable, offensive line, defensive line or safety.

A couple more names out there worth looking into: Cullen Harper, a good looking talent on a terrible team. Rhett Bomar - no thank you. Dan LeFevour, who I don't know much about, but has played mostly against inferior competition. Hunter Cantwell, who's a bit of a faded prospect.

However this works out, Seattle needs a developmental quarterback. I'm not saying all of today's passing follies were on Matt Hasselbeck, but even if he accounts for half, that's the worst he's ever played. There's some small chance he bounces back, but it's no longer an option to coast with one viable quarterback. Seattle needs to build for the future, and that doesn't include Charlie Frye.

Game Ball: Maurice Morris. If Seattle reloaded on the line, kept Morris, Jones and Duckett, found a coach willing to split the carries three ways, they'd already have a very good rushing attack. You couldn't find three more complimentary backs, but Mike Holmgren refuses to evenly distribute the carries. Morris is the best receiver and is good in the open field. Julius Jones is the best pure rusher, a good pass blocker and can receive. T.J. Duckett is more than a short yardage back, no matter how NFL teams have stubbornly pigeonholed him. Seattle has very little money and only one draft pick invested in the three. That's huge. They represent something to build around.