Whitehurst answers his skeptics

SEATTLE – The pressure was more than just a metaphor during Charlie Whitehurst’s first possession in his first game for the Seahawks.

The Tennessee Titans’ defense was front-loaded at the line of scrimmage, baring its teeth for a blitz.

Whitehurst wasn’t fazed. Not by the Titans. Not by the fact this was his debut for a team that traded away a draft pick for the right to sign him to a new contract this offseason even though he had never attempted a regular-season pass.

Whitehurst altered the play at the line of scrimmage, changing receiver Mike Williams’ route via hand signal. The result: a 51-yard touchdown pass to Williams and a postgame nod of acknowledgment.

“Really, hats off to Charlie,” Williams said. “He recognized it.”

Yes, indeed. Five months after his acquisition was greeted with skepticism, he passed for 214 yards and both of Seattle’s touchdowns after replacing starter Matt Hasselbeck in the second quarter of a 20-18 victory over Tennessee at Qwest Field in coach Pete Carroll’s preseason debut.

Whitehurst was 8 of 12 in the second half. He threw a 36-yard pass to Deon Butler on fourth-and-2 and then capped that drive with the touchdown that gave Seattle the cushion it needed.

Now, before anyone gets too carried away, it was only an exhibition game – the first of four, Whitehurst himself pointed out. And he wasn’t perfect, having a pass intercepted in the second quarter after driving into Tennessee’s territory.

But there were some things worth noting about the Seahawks’ performance.

Left tackle Russell Okung acquitted himself well despite having only a week of practice. Olindo Mare kicked two field goals of more than 40 yards.

Seattle’s pass defense began Saturday’s exhibition game a lot like it ended last season: hemorrhaging yards. Tennessee’s Vince Young completed all four passes he attempted on Tennessee’s first drive, accounting for 70 of the Titans’ 79 yards on the drive.

Pass pressure is the biggest question mark on Seattle’s defense, and defensive end Chris Clemons and linebacker Dexter Davis each had a sack, and Red Bryant continued to thrive after his switch to end.