Hawks Under Construction Seattle Follows Erickson Plan In Turnaround

Seattle followed its game plan in defeating Oakland 45-34 Sunday. The Seahawks have followed coach Dennis Erickson’s master plan while building a 5-3 record halfway through the season.

This is how Erickson envisioned it would be. Veterans preventing younger teammates from losing confidence, despite trailing on the scoreboard. Talented rookies making an immediate impact. Guard Pete Kendall and defensive tackle Sam Adams, former first-round picks, gradually improving.

“It takes time to develop the type of team you want,” the third-year coach said. “We’re getting closer.”

Seattle has the NFL’s No. 1 offense after Sunday’s 554-yard explosion, only 5 yards below the franchise record. The Seahawks are fifth in total defense, despite being singed the first two games of the season.

Quarterback Warren Moon is becoming comfortable in Erickson’s spread offense.

“What we’re doing is what he likes to do and what I like to do and that’s throw the football,” Erickson said. “Our offense is pretty much built for him because we’re going to get the ball off quickly and throw it down the field. You don’t have to be real mobile to do that.”

Not that Moon is a slug. One of his more impressive throws against Oakland was an improvised rollout in which he chucked a strike to James McKnight, who broke three tackles enroute to a touchdown.

“Everybody was yelling, ‘Throw it away, throw it away,”’ Erickson said.

Defensively, the front four is sustaining pressure and the secondary has been more consistent.

Especially pleasing to Erickson has been the development of rookies Walter Jones and Shawn Springs, and the locker room presence of free-agent acquisitions Moon, Chad Brown, Bennie Blades and Willie Williams.

“What you’re seeing is a team coming together,” receiver Mike Pritchard said. “Three times (in five wins) we’ve been down at half. Anytime you can come back and win it’s a confidence builder,” Erickson said. “The leadership is extremely good. We believe in each other and the chemistry is really good.”

The Seahawks are still a work in progress and several sore spots remain. Despite having gained the most yards in the NFL, Seattle is 15th in points scored, a testament to sputtering inside the red zone. Defensively, Seattle’s been soft against the run. Kickoff coverage is one of the weakest in the NFL.

All those downfalls surfaced in a second-week loss to Denver. The rematch is Sunday at Mile High Stadium.

“We’ve got to continue to win,” Adams said. “They’re all going to be big games from here out.”

Injuries mount

Injuries continue to stack up. Sunday’s wounded: Offensive lineman Jones (sprained ankle), receiver Joey Galloway (aggravated turf toe), Blades (aggravated pinched nerve, back spasms), Pritchard (aggravated knee injury) and guard Derrick Graham (pinched nerve).

“Those (players) are basically questionable; we’ll know more by Wednesday,” Erickson said.

Pritchard had fluid drained from his knee, but felt he lacked mobility and pulled himself at halftime.

Raiders of the Lost Heart

Oakland might need to hire a therapist. The chemistry-impaired Raiders are stocked with offensive weapons and a host of defensive stars, but invent ways to lose games.

At 3-5, they’re one of the NFL’s biggest disappointments. And they seem to be in denial.

“We need to think ahead, not what could be,” quarterback Jeff George said. “It seems sometimes that we are going for the big play everytime. Our defense also is talented, but you can’t blame either squad.”