Horrid Hawks Try To Measure Losses In Degree
Use this as a rule of thumb.
When teams start measuring their progress by the margin of defeat, there’s a problem.
The only real yardstick in professional sports - coldly inflexible as it is - is whether you win or not.
So, when several of the Seattle Seahawks and head coach Dennis Erickson all voiced disappointment over Sunday’s loss to San Diego, but saw improvement because it wasn’t a blowout like the opener - well, it’s not a good sign.
Better play by the offensive line provided a bright spot, yes, and the 14-10 loss to the Chargers wasn’t nearly as bad as the 34-10 thrashing the Hawks took from Kansas City in the opener.
But the Seahawks’ two losses have proven that some of the players clearly aren’t catching on to the new system.
Last week, running back Chris Warren turned the wrong way on a pass route that could have been a key, early touchdown. And safety Robert Blackmon bit like a rookie on a simple play-action fake that turned into a touchdown pass.
This week, quarterback Rick Mirer forced the ball into coverage several times, and had at least six throws that were dramatically off the mark - either because he misfired or the receiver had lost his way.
While Mirer steps forward to take the blame, the unstated hint was that all the Seahawks aren’t in-step.
“There’s some things we need to iron out,” Mirer said. “But that probably should stay within the people who are calling the plays and running the plays; there’s a few things we need to get on the same page about.”
Translation: I’m not the only one jazzing this thing up.
“Myself and other guys, we make it harder than it has to be sometimes,” he said. “I feel like I need to make better throws, to give guys chances, and make better decisions. But it’s not time to go in the tank; this thing is going to take some time.”
An interesting comparison exists, though. Sunday, early in his third season, Mirer had a game against San Diego that was far inferior, statistically, to the first game of his career at San Diego.
Mirer’s debut came at San Diego in 1993, and he completed 20 of 27 attempts for 154 yards and one interception. Sunday, he connected on just 13 of 29 attempts for 127 yards and two interceptions.
This is not improvement.
“Rick made some good throws and he made some bad throws,” Erickson said. “I really think that’s just a matter of time and experience. Everything is new to him.”
Mirer, admirable in his willingness to take the fall, pointed an accusing finger at himself when asked about a crucial delay-of-game penalty that cost the Hawks a third-period touchdown.
On the previous play, Mirer thought he had scored on a quarterback draw, only to have officials rule him down at the 1.
“I think I was probably spending a little too much time telling (the officials) that they missed one,” Mirer said of the tardiness in getting the play initiated. “I probably should have called timeout, but it was too late.”
A couple of veteran Seahawks were tougher on the team and their teammates - and also higher in their expectations.
“This is where you’ve got to be professional,” center Jim Sweeney said. “You can’t keep making mistakes in critical situations. We didn’t make any big plays and that has to change, because there’s too much talent in this room for big plays not to happen.”
Linebacker Duane Bickett, who came up with an important forced fumble in the fourth quarter - which the offense did not turn into points - also scoffed at the notion that a young team like the Seahawks has to learn what it takes to win.
“That’s a bunch of baloney,” he said, except that he used a common barnyard term instead of baloney. “It’s not something you learn; you just have to make the plays. You just have to have the confidence that you’re going to score when you get the ball on the 1, and when you have a chance on defense, you make the play.
“I think that’s what we’re lacking; maybe we’re just not sure we can do it. We have the people, we have the players, we just don’t have the confidence to put it together.”
Former NFL linebacker Nick Buonoconti predicted on HBO last week that the Seahawks would go 0-16 this season.
No way.
Let’s remember that last year at this time, we all believed that the 2-0 Seahawks were destined for the playoffs, only to watch them hop on a greased chute to the AFC West cellar.
As it was too early to make assumptions then, it is likewise rash to develop any nagging sense that this season is slouching toward irreversible doom.
But narrow losses won’t satisfy anyone.
Defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy may have stated it best in the locker room.
“Until we win a game, we’re still sick in the stomach.”
And for the 300-pound Kennedy, that is an illness of vast proportions.
Chargers 14, Seahawks 10
Seattle 0 7 3 0 -10
San Diego 7 0 0 7 -14 First Quarter
SD-Martin 5 pass from Humphries (Carney kick), 6:23.
Second Quarter
Sea-Fauria 20 pass from Mirer (Peterson kick), 4:29.
Third Quarter
Sea-FG Peterson 23, 4:31.
Fourth Quarter
SD-Harmon 15 pass from Humphries (Carney kick), 1:19.
A-54,420. TEAM TOTALS Sea SD First downs 15 25 Rushes-yards 22-82 36-146 Passing 127 251 Punt Returns 3-0 3-23 Kickoff Returns 3-50 3-60 Interceptions Ret. 1-9 2-1 Comp-Att-Int 13-29-2 23-35-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 1-0 1-9 Punts 4-50 4-39 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-1 Penalties-Yards 9-57 6-65 Time of Poss. 25:32 34:28 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHINGSeattle, Warren 16-56, Mirer 3-19, Smith 3-7. San Diego, Means 26-115, Fletcher 3-19, Culver 4-17, Humphries 2-(minus 2), Harmon 1-(minus 3).
PASSINGSeattle, Mirer 13-29-2-127. San Diego, Humphries 23-35-1-260.
RECEIVINGSeattle, Fauria 4-41, Galloway 3-26, Blades 2-28, Warren 2-21, Thomas 1-8, Smith 1-3. San Diego, Martin 13-163, Seay 4-43, Jefferson 3-31, Pupunu 2-8, Harmon 1-15.
MISSED FIELD GOALSNone.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo