Scouting report

The Seahawks have everyone confused, from their fans to the media to ... themselves.

By Stephen F. Holder
Published December 31, 2006

THE BASICS: The Seahawks have everyone confused, from their fans to the media to ... themselves.

"What you saw out there was a team giving its absolute best and still not be good enough to win," defensive end Bryce Fisher said after last week's 20-17 loss to San Diego on a last-minute touchdown.

That's how it has been for the Seahawks, losers of three straight. They have shown flashes of the team analysts believe they can be but then come crashing back to Earth. They beat Denver on the road but were swept by San Francisco.

Today, it's hard to determine what to expect considering the Seahawks are locked into the No. 4 seed for the playoffs.

They are looking for sharper play, particularly on defense. During the skid, Seattle has allowed 358.3 yards per game, including 390 to San Francisco on Dec. 14, and gotten one sack. Against the 49ers, the Seahawks allowed 228 rushing yards despite having Pro Bowl linebackers Lofa Tatupu and Julian Peterson.

On offense, the Seahawks have not hit their stride largely because of injuries to their marquee players: running back Shaun Alexander (foot) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (knee).

Alexander is coming off a 140-yard game against the Chargers. Last month against the Packers, his second game back after missing six, he ran for a season-best 201. But he hasn't been the dominant runner like last season, when he was named the league's most valuable player.

Hasselbeck, who missed four games, has a longer way to go. Against the Chargers, he completed just 45.9 percent of his passes with two interceptions and no touchdowns. His rating the past two weeks: an unsightly 48.8.

More bad news for Hasselbeck: Leading receiver Darrell Jackson (a Tampa Catholic graduate) is expected to miss his third game because of a toe injury.

INJURIES

Bucs: Out - Defensive end Julian Jenkins (ankle), cornerback Alan Zemaitis (shoulder). Questionable - Cornerback Juran Bolden (quadriceps), guard Davin Joseph (knee), safety Jermaine Phillips (wrist), tight end Alex Smith (back), running back Cadillac Williams (foot), linebacker Jamie Winborn (knee), defensive tackle Ellis Wyms (ankle).

Seahawks: Doubtful - Jackson (toe), cornerback Marcus Trufant (ankle). Questionable - Guard Chris Gray (thigh). Probable - Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (foot), linebacker Niko Koutouvides (ankle), center Robbie Tobeck (hip).

BUC BEATER: In the last meeting, a 10-6 Seattle win Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Grant Wistrom had seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. This season, Wistrom has four sacks, including two in a 16-0 win over Oakland on Nov. 6.

SERIES: The Seahawks, who entered the league with the Bucs in 1976, lead 5-1. Five games have been decided by seven points or fewer. The exception was a 16-3 Tampa Bay victory at Seattle on Nov. 28, 1999.

KEEP IN MIND: Jet lag should not be a concern after Seattle arrived Friday, giving it one more day than usual to adjust.

Key matchups

Walter Jones vs. Dewayne White: Jones, recently named a Pro Bowl starter at left tackle, has helped keep quarterback Matt Hasselbeck clean for five season. But in 2006, he has been sacked 33 times in 11 games, including six last week. The Bucs end should find a way to get pressure.

Kelly Jennings vs. Joey Galloway: Jennings, a rookie cornerback from Miami, will make his first start in place of the injured Marcus Trufant. Maybe the Bucs receiver can get 61 yards he needs for 1,000 after all, if Jon Gruden can get him isolated.

Julian Peterson vs. Michael Pittman: Pittman is expected to make his second straight start in place of injured running back Cadillac Williams. So the job of helping against the blitzing linebacker falls to him. Peterson leads Seattle with a career-high nine sacks.

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 23:34:07]