If there’s a theme to the undefeated Seattle Seahawks first quarter of the 2013 NFL season, it may be “Takin’ care of business.” However, a better theme might be “Love the one you’re with.”
The Seattle Seahawks clearly took care of their business in jumping out to a 4 – 0 start. The nature of each victory is unique: Seahawks fans were served up a surprising, hard-fought defensive battle on the road in Carolina, a cacophonous beatdown of hated NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers at home, an easy shellacking of the outclassed Jacksonville Jaguars and a nail-biting, come-from-behind road victory over conference powerhouse Houston Texans.
Whew.
The only thing they haven’t done is beat the other No. 1 NFL team, the Denver Broncos (preseason doesn’t count, Hawks fans.) The marauding Broncos are not on the Seahawks schedule this year. Unless there is, by chance, a meeting at a neutral field in February. In New Jersey.
If you can’t be with the one you love …
Any 4 – 0 start is commendable. To do it with such significant problems along the defensive and offensive lines, is even more remarkable. Head coach Pete Carroll and company have been forced to play musical chairs on both sides of the line, due to an array of injuries and suspensions.
Get it together
The health report on Seattle’s offensive line has not been very pretty, in truth. Just last week against the Texans, the Seahawks were forced to take the field on offense without left tackle Russell Okung, center Max Unger and right tackle Breno Giacomini. Carroll had to love the ones he was with against the Houston Texans’ top-ranked defensive squad, led by all-world defensive disrupter, J.J. Watt. Subbing in for the banged-up starters were Lemeul Jeanpierre at center, Paul McQuistan at left tackle and rookie seventh-round draft pick David Bowie at right tackle.
Results were mixed, as expected, as Seattle’s patchwork line faced off against the Texans’ talented and athletic defensive front seven. The week five health report remains mixed: Okung and Giacomini are out; Unger is questionable.
Waiting for something to do
Seattle’s defensive front seven has been a veritable swinging gate of comers and goers. That was true before the season even started. The headline news at week five is that last season’s top two Seahawks sackers, Chris Clemons and Bruce Irvin, are now back in the fold. Clemons returned to play in week three against the Jaguars and produced a sack against the Texans. Irvin, off the Seahawks’ radar for the first month of the season due to a suspension, is now back at the VMAC.
In his Wednesday press conference, Coach Carroll stated his intention to not rush Irvin back into the lineup, but rather evaluate where he is. Early indications are that he is healthy and ready to go.
That’s good news, because the Seahawks injury woes along the front seven did not cease once the regular season started. New defensive end Michael Bennett suffered a scary neck injury in the Texans game and had to be wheeled off strapped to a backboard. The news is good so far for Bennett. He is back at practice and listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane is currently listed as questionable with a knee injury, but he has been ably spelled by underrated Clinton McDonald, who currently co-leads the Seahawks defense with 2.5 sacks (along with Bennett.) Rookie defensive tackle Jordan Hill remains out with a biceps issue.
Don’t be angry, don’t be sad
Key starters will remain out of action for the short term. However, the Seahawks are poised to turn the corner with respect to a handful of missing offensive and defensive linemen — just in time to face the 3 – 1 Indianapolis Colts this Sunday at Lucas Oil Field. Until then, love the one you’re with.
Julian Rogers is a freelance writer and communications consultant. Follow him on Twitter (@mrturophile), or connect with him on LinkedIn and Google+.
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