Locklear struggled at left tackle
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Since getting pushed into the starting lineup two weeks before the season opener, offensive lineman Sean Locklear has proven that he has what it takes to be a quality NFL right tackle.
In his first start at another position Sunday, Locklear showed that he might not be quite as suited for left tackle.
Locklear gave up two sacks in Seattle’s 23-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers, matching the total he had allowed in the first 15 games of the season.
“I didn’t play the best game of my career,” Locklear said afterward. “I think it might have been the worst game. But things happen.”
Locklear changed positions because the team did not want to risk injury to Pro Bowler Walter Jones in a game that had no bearing on playoff positioning. Green Bay’s Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila provided a number of reminders that Jones was missing, with two sacks and a number of other pressures on Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
While Locklear has filled in for Jones at left tackle during the latter stages of blowouts this season, Sunday marked the first time he spent an entire afternoon playing that position.
“There’s no excuse,” Locklear said.
Rough day for cornerbacks, too
The injury-depleted secondary had another rough outing that saw fill-in starters Jordan Babineaux and Jimmy Williams struggle.
Even Kelly Herndon, who returned after missing four games with a knee injury, couldn’t provide much help.
“The best thing we can come back and work on this week is our mistakes throughout the season and look at some of the ways teams attacked us throughout the year and prepare for our first playoff game,” Babineaux said.
Help is on the way, with both starters expected to be back in time for the Seahawks’ first playoff game. Marcus Trufant’s back injury isn’t very serious, while Andre Dyson could come back from a high ankle sprain next week. Dyson has missed the past three games.
During the first 13 games of the season, Seattle’s pass defense allowed an opposing team to average more than 5.5 yards per pass in only two games. In the past three weeks, the Seahawks have done it three times – including the Packers’ mark of 6.2 yards per pass play on Sunday.
Wallace can’t finish
After leading the Seahawks to a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half, backup quarterback Seneca Wallace couldn’t get his team into the end zone again.
Wallace completed all four of his passes for 31 yards on the first drive of the third quarter, hitting Joe Jurevicius for a 5-yard touchdown in the process.
The rest of the second half, he was just 5 of 12 for 67 yards, with one interception.