Seahawks to continue using rotation along offensive line
KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) - Everyone involved admits a rotation on the Seattle Seahawks' offensive line is not the preferred option.
Yet that's the direction coach Mike Holmgren is going. And the beneficiary is Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack.
Holmgren said Wednesday the rotation along the offensive line that was used in Philadelphia last week will continue Sunday against Arizona and potentially for the rest of the regular season. That means Womack and second-year guard Rob Sims will split time at left guard.
"I think the plan will be to let those guys share that position for the rest of the season," Holmgren said.
For Womack, this is the chance he missed out on back in training camp when he was hampered yet again by leg injuries that have plagued his career.
Womack was expected to compete for one of three spots on the offensive line during training camp. But in the first week, he injured a hamstring muscle and saw his opportunity slip away. The hamstring problem came after offseason arthroscopic surgery in both knees.
"Pork Chop has been ready to go for a long time, and he's just been standing around watching," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "So I think the fact that he's gotten some snaps definitely helps us make that transition pretty nicely. It was a good thing."
Last week, Womack was inserted into the lineup against Philadelphia, part of a shift in the line, that was partially planned and partially due to injury.
Holmgren has wanted to get the veteran on the field since Womack returned to full health. Against the Eagles, Womack played briefly at tackle after Walter Jones sat out a couple of plays. He also was inserted at both guard positions - as planned for Sims and when center Chris Spencer strained an oblique muscle and right guard Chris Gray was shifted to center.
"I don't think I'm competing. I'm just taking shifts, that's it," Womack said after the game.
Seattle's offensive line has struggled all season with consistency in the running game, but its pass blocking has been strong, giving quarterback Matt Hasselbeck time to find receivers downfield.
Despite the running game problems, the line has remained consistent. Inserting Womack for some plays was hinted at a few weeks ago - something Sims didn't seem pleased with - and is the first significant change.
"I have always said continuity in the offensive line is very, very important, and I still believe that as long as you are not having too may errors. That is the negative," Holmgren said. "The positive is that you have a veteran player who wants to play, who has prepared himself to play and when he plays he does a good job."
Holmgren equates the situation with Womack and Sims a little to that of his running backs. With Shaun Alexander now healthy, the plan is to have a rotation with Alexander and backup Maurice Morris, who played well while Alexander missed three games with a sprained knee.
"Both guys are good guys and handling it well, so I'm hoping it is a positive for us," Holmgren said.
Notes: The Seahawks made a couple of roster moves, signing CB Kevin Hobbs from the practice squad and RB Josh Scobey, and releasing FB Fred McCrary. Scobey was brought back to help on special teams, specifically kick coverage. "He was outstanding on special teams ... I'm talking about his coverage ability and how he disrupted things. We need that," Holmgren said. Seattle also placed SS C.J. Wallace on injured reserve and signed Omowale Dada to the practice squad. ... Holmgren said WR D.J. Hackett (ankle) is progressing quicker than expected. ... Hasselbeck said if he talks this week to his brother Tim, a backup QB for Arizona, there won't be much football talk. "I've got nothing to gain by talking football to him right now. It's a dangerous situation," Hasselbeck joked. "I can't even tell my mom about injuries because it goes right down the chain."
Yet that's the direction coach Mike Holmgren is going. And the beneficiary is Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack.
Holmgren said Wednesday the rotation along the offensive line that was used in Philadelphia last week will continue Sunday against Arizona and potentially for the rest of the regular season. That means Womack and second-year guard Rob Sims will split time at left guard.
"I think the plan will be to let those guys share that position for the rest of the season," Holmgren said.
For Womack, this is the chance he missed out on back in training camp when he was hampered yet again by leg injuries that have plagued his career.
Womack was expected to compete for one of three spots on the offensive line during training camp. But in the first week, he injured a hamstring muscle and saw his opportunity slip away. The hamstring problem came after offseason arthroscopic surgery in both knees.
"Pork Chop has been ready to go for a long time, and he's just been standing around watching," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "So I think the fact that he's gotten some snaps definitely helps us make that transition pretty nicely. It was a good thing."
Last week, Womack was inserted into the lineup against Philadelphia, part of a shift in the line, that was partially planned and partially due to injury.
Holmgren has wanted to get the veteran on the field since Womack returned to full health. Against the Eagles, Womack played briefly at tackle after Walter Jones sat out a couple of plays. He also was inserted at both guard positions - as planned for Sims and when center Chris Spencer strained an oblique muscle and right guard Chris Gray was shifted to center.
"I don't think I'm competing. I'm just taking shifts, that's it," Womack said after the game.
Seattle's offensive line has struggled all season with consistency in the running game, but its pass blocking has been strong, giving quarterback Matt Hasselbeck time to find receivers downfield.
Despite the running game problems, the line has remained consistent. Inserting Womack for some plays was hinted at a few weeks ago - something Sims didn't seem pleased with - and is the first significant change.
"I have always said continuity in the offensive line is very, very important, and I still believe that as long as you are not having too may errors. That is the negative," Holmgren said. "The positive is that you have a veteran player who wants to play, who has prepared himself to play and when he plays he does a good job."
Holmgren equates the situation with Womack and Sims a little to that of his running backs. With Shaun Alexander now healthy, the plan is to have a rotation with Alexander and backup Maurice Morris, who played well while Alexander missed three games with a sprained knee.
"Both guys are good guys and handling it well, so I'm hoping it is a positive for us," Holmgren said.
Notes: The Seahawks made a couple of roster moves, signing CB Kevin Hobbs from the practice squad and RB Josh Scobey, and releasing FB Fred McCrary. Scobey was brought back to help on special teams, specifically kick coverage. "He was outstanding on special teams ... I'm talking about his coverage ability and how he disrupted things. We need that," Holmgren said. Seattle also placed SS C.J. Wallace on injured reserve and signed Omowale Dada to the practice squad. ... Holmgren said WR D.J. Hackett (ankle) is progressing quicker than expected. ... Hasselbeck said if he talks this week to his brother Tim, a backup QB for Arizona, there won't be much football talk. "I've got nothing to gain by talking football to him right now. It's a dangerous situation," Hasselbeck joked. "I can't even tell my mom about injuries because it goes right down the chain."