Hawks forced to rebound against Titans
Seattle coming off a loss for first time this season
SEATTLE – A first loss of the season is always a mortality check.
The Seahawks, considered one of the best teams in the league, start the sixth week of the season with a new set of circumstances. After being 4-0 for the first time in franchise history, Seattle has to regroup following Sundays’ 34-28 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
“This is just like coming off a big hyped opener or another big win or whatever. All of those have an effect – how much we listen to the hype and how much we let conversations get away from what’s really at hand,” head coach Pete Carroll said. “That can happen.
“So we handled last week well, that didn’t bite us. And we’ll deal with this too. I don’t want to get real good at this – at playing well after losses – but we need to handle it well.”
Help is coming in increments.
Carroll said he expects Pro-Bowl center Max Unger (triceps) to participate in practice, with an aim to play him Sunday against the visiting Tennessee Titans (3-2). Unger was inactive last week for the second consecutive week.
In two weeks, the Seahawks could have a new toy on offense. Wide receiver Percy Harvin is in Seattle for the first time since having hip surgery at the start of August. Harvin, who has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of his four seasons in the league, is running and working toward the next step in his rehabilitation.
Harvin can’t come off the injured reserve list until Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Harvin will be an extra and dynamic part. The more basic pulley-and-lever operation of the offensive line is an ongoing concern.
The Seahawks were just 2 for 12 on third down Sunday a week after going 3 for 14 against the Houston Texans.
The offensive line, with rookie Michael Bowie at right tackle and Paul McQuistan at left tackle in place of Pro-Bowler Russell Okung, has been porous the past two weeks. Yet, the personnel is not going to change soon.
Okung (toe) can’t come off injured reserve until Nov. 17 versus the Vikings. Right tackle Breno Giacomini was back in Seattle after having knee surgery last week. Carroll said he is still “hobbling around.”