Holmgren keeps Seahawks working during bye
RENTON, Wash. (AP) - They can blame the schedule. They can blame their injuries and mostly poor play.
Wherever the Seahawks point their fingers during this bye week, it won't be toward their cherished vacation spots of the past three years.
Coach Mike Holmgren is having the Seahawks (1-2) practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings before he gives them this weekend off - and he said most players are going to stay in town then, too. In each of the previous three seasons, he gave the players the entire bye week off.
"The bye is early. You know, we haven't gotten off to the best start," Holmgren said Monday. "A couple of days' work can help.
He said the number of inexperienced fill-ins playing for injured starters makes the extra practices necessary.
That's fine with Brian Russell, a veteran free safety who was still smarting over the defense's play in the first two games even after Seattle's 37-13 steamroll of St. Louis on Sunday. It was the first victory of the season for the four-time defending division champions, who previously allowed Buffalo 34 points and San Francisco 33
"We're not going to hide from what we've done for the past couple of weeks. We didn't show up and play good enough football," Russell said. "We have some accountable guys, and we can fix that."
They'll be doing the fixing during their off week this year before a road test at the New York Giants (3-0) on Oct. 5, beginning a schedule gauntlet that includes the Packers, consecutive road games at Tampa Bay and the 49ers, and then a home game against the Eagles.
The bye gives Seattle no advantage over the defending Super Bowl champions. The Giants are off this weekend, too.
The Seahawks had the entire bye week off in 2005, then went 10-1 en route to their only Super Bowl appearance. They got seven days off again after a blowout loss at Chicago in early October 2006 and again in late October last year after a blowout win over St. Louis.
Seattle is 2-1 in games following bye weeks.
Beyond player-led practices this week, the Seahawks anticipate the return of key players whose injuries are finally starting to heal.
Holmgren said receivers Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and Koren Robinson will apparently make their season debuts against the Giants. Running back Maurice Morris will be available for the first time since spraining his knee in the season-opening loss at Buffalo. Right tackle Sean Locklear also is ready after playing some behind Ray Willis on Sunday, his first game since injuring a knee five weeks ago.
Engram has been out with a broken shoulder since the first preseason game on Aug. 8. Branch, who had reconstructive knee surgery 7½ months ago, hasn't played since January's playoff loss at Green Bay. Robinson, reacquired last week when six receivers were hurt, hurt his knee in his first practice.
"They are telling me those guys are coming back," a chuckling Holmgren said of the team's medical staff. "Until I see it, the check's in the mail."
The only new injury is to Floyd Womack. He hurt his hamstring in the second half Sunday but said after the game he was OK. Holmgren said Womack should be ready for New York. He is the third option at right guard this season with Rob Sims on injured reserve and Chris Gray forced into retirement by a back injury.
The Seahawks have decisions to make in the next dozen days at running back, wide receiver and on the right side of the offensive line.
Morris' return could mean Holmgren goes back to his original plan of Morris sharing the lead running role with Julius Jones, but Jones ranked third in the NFL with 312 yards rushing as of Monday. The deposed Cowboy has gained 127 and 140 yards in his first two starts with Seattle, his first two 100-yard games since 2006.
What will Holmgren do with Morris and Jones against the Giants?
"That's a good question," he said. "I'm not prepared to answer that right now."
The return of three injured receivers, plus Billy McMullen and Keary Colbert - both of whom have arrived in the last two weeks - playing well against the Rams suddenly has that previously decimated position overflowing with options.
Holmgren also said he will use the bye week to decide between Willis, Womack and Locklear on who will start at right guard and right tackle.
Wherever the Seahawks point their fingers during this bye week, it won't be toward their cherished vacation spots of the past three years.
Coach Mike Holmgren is having the Seahawks (1-2) practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings before he gives them this weekend off - and he said most players are going to stay in town then, too. In each of the previous three seasons, he gave the players the entire bye week off.
"The bye is early. You know, we haven't gotten off to the best start," Holmgren said Monday. "A couple of days' work can help.
He said the number of inexperienced fill-ins playing for injured starters makes the extra practices necessary.
That's fine with Brian Russell, a veteran free safety who was still smarting over the defense's play in the first two games even after Seattle's 37-13 steamroll of St. Louis on Sunday. It was the first victory of the season for the four-time defending division champions, who previously allowed Buffalo 34 points and San Francisco 33
"We're not going to hide from what we've done for the past couple of weeks. We didn't show up and play good enough football," Russell said. "We have some accountable guys, and we can fix that."
They'll be doing the fixing during their off week this year before a road test at the New York Giants (3-0) on Oct. 5, beginning a schedule gauntlet that includes the Packers, consecutive road games at Tampa Bay and the 49ers, and then a home game against the Eagles.
The bye gives Seattle no advantage over the defending Super Bowl champions. The Giants are off this weekend, too.
The Seahawks had the entire bye week off in 2005, then went 10-1 en route to their only Super Bowl appearance. They got seven days off again after a blowout loss at Chicago in early October 2006 and again in late October last year after a blowout win over St. Louis.
Seattle is 2-1 in games following bye weeks.
Beyond player-led practices this week, the Seahawks anticipate the return of key players whose injuries are finally starting to heal.
Holmgren said receivers Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and Koren Robinson will apparently make their season debuts against the Giants. Running back Maurice Morris will be available for the first time since spraining his knee in the season-opening loss at Buffalo. Right tackle Sean Locklear also is ready after playing some behind Ray Willis on Sunday, his first game since injuring a knee five weeks ago.
Engram has been out with a broken shoulder since the first preseason game on Aug. 8. Branch, who had reconstructive knee surgery 7½ months ago, hasn't played since January's playoff loss at Green Bay. Robinson, reacquired last week when six receivers were hurt, hurt his knee in his first practice.
"They are telling me those guys are coming back," a chuckling Holmgren said of the team's medical staff. "Until I see it, the check's in the mail."
The only new injury is to Floyd Womack. He hurt his hamstring in the second half Sunday but said after the game he was OK. Holmgren said Womack should be ready for New York. He is the third option at right guard this season with Rob Sims on injured reserve and Chris Gray forced into retirement by a back injury.
The Seahawks have decisions to make in the next dozen days at running back, wide receiver and on the right side of the offensive line.
Morris' return could mean Holmgren goes back to his original plan of Morris sharing the lead running role with Julius Jones, but Jones ranked third in the NFL with 312 yards rushing as of Monday. The deposed Cowboy has gained 127 and 140 yards in his first two starts with Seattle, his first two 100-yard games since 2006.
What will Holmgren do with Morris and Jones against the Giants?
"That's a good question," he said. "I'm not prepared to answer that right now."
The return of three injured receivers, plus Billy McMullen and Keary Colbert - both of whom have arrived in the last two weeks - playing well against the Rams suddenly has that previously decimated position overflowing with options.
Holmgren also said he will use the bye week to decide between Willis, Womack and Locklear on who will start at right guard and right tackle.