Hasselbeck keeps goals in mind

RENTON, Wash. – It’s doubtful anyone would balk if Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck decided to shut it down for 2009 and start the recovery toward next season.

He broke his ribs in Week 2 and missed only two games. He strained his shoulder a month ago making a tackle after throwing an interception and never missed a beat.

Last week against Houston, playing behind an offensive line that couldn’t keep him upright, Hasselbeck took six recorded quarterback hits and was sacked another three times. And now Seattle faces three meaningless games to close the regular season after its already slim playoff hopes were quashed in Houston.

But to Hasselbeck, these games do have a purpose, including trying to rediscover the identity of an offense once considered among the league’s elite.

“We’re fighting for a lot of things right now. We’re playing for a lot of things,” Hasselbeck said Thursday. “Obviously we have a game Sunday, but our goals right now are probably bigger than getting a win this Sunday. We’re trying to re-establish something that was here. We’re trying to re-establish that and we’re trying not to let this thing slip away.”

The Seahawks’ impenetrable home field now sees a few empty seats in it on Sundays with the Seahawks’ slide and their 5-9 home mark the last two seasons. Seattle’s offense, once among the league’s elite, ranks 23rd in the league entering Sunday’s game.

And there is Seattle’s control of the NFC West for four straight seasons earlier this decade that has decidedly shifted south to Arizona.

With the team sitting at 5-8 this season, Hasselbeck disagrees that there seems to be nothing left to play for this year.

“I think that is really important right now, especially since it’s a difficult time. We’re going through a rough time, a rough patch here, but it’s kind of when you find out what people are made of and who you want to stick with and who you want to go into Sundays with,” Hasselbeck said.

This Sunday it will be Hasselbeck learning about how his offensive line reacts to harsh criticism. Seattle’s line was chided by coach Jim Mora after Sunday’s loss, then challenged by the coach again Wednesday to bring a grittier attitude to their jobs. That included a shift of rookie Max Unger from right guard to center and the combo of Mike Gibson and until-now Seattle center Chris Spencer playing at right guard.

“It’s pretty significant, but I think it indicates that we’re serious about trying to find out who can help us win football games and find out what we’ve got,” Mora said. “And so that’s what we’re going to do.”