Graham missing from Hawks offense
Used as decoy; one catch for 11 yards
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Where’s Jimmy Graham?
That’s the question the Seahawks seemed to be asking themselves throughout their disjointed first half Sunday night at Lambeau Field. As Seattle fell behind 10-0 and 13-3, quarterback Russell Wilson had targeted its star tight end one time: an overthrow down the sidelines incomplete in the first quarter.
That’s not much bang for the bucks the Seahawks paid New Orleans to acquire Graham in March: the stiff price of two-time Pro Bowl center Max Unger and a first-round draft choice.
Wilson found Graham for his only catch and 11 yards in Seattle’s 14-point fourth quarter, but that was the only time he looked the 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end’s way in the 27-17 loss that leaves the Seahawks 0-2 for the third time in a dozen seasons.
“We were kind of stagnant there,” Wilson said.
In the second half, the Seahawks used their $40 million tight end as a decoy from the Packers 5-yard line. They sent him in motion from outside right, then had him run a short out. Wilson looked Graham’s way, then threw back to the left hash mark to running back Fred Jackson inside the goal line for the former Buffalo lead back’s first touchdown for Seattle.
So Graham was a diversion that got the Seahawks within 13-10 in the third quarter, rather than the reason.
“I wish I could have gotten to him a couple more times,” Wilson said. “We’re looking for him, for sure. We had one that was play action, down the field, and they had him double-teamed I think there on that one. We got a positive outcome, a positive run out of it, a positive play. … It’s not one of those things you try to force, but you want to find him. He’s a great, great player.
“So we’ve got to find ways to get him the football – same with the rest of our guys.
“We’ve just got to play better. We’ve just got to play smoother. We’ve got to play better early. And we will.”