Seahawks Blog
Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.
September 22, 2008 2:51 PM
Branch, Engram and Morris expected to be available vs. Giants
Posted by Danny O'Neil
When the Seahawks return from their bye week, coach Mike Holmgren is expecting to have Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and Maurice Morris all back.
"They're telling me these guys are coming back," Holmgren said Monday. "The check's in the mail, but until I see it, I'll reserve judgment. But they're telling me I get them back, and from there I don't have to worry as much about our depth as I did before."
Instead, he will get other things to worry about. Like which wide receivers will be active against the Giants assuming Branch, Engram and Koren Robinson each were added to the pool of available players.
Or how about the running back position where Julius Jones has rushed for more than 100 yards each of the past two games and is averaging more than 5 yards a carry. He was sharing a role with Morris up until Morris injured his knee in Buffalo. Will Morris resume a co-headlining role if he's available?
"I'm not prepared to answer it right now," Holmgren said. "I've got a week to think about it. Mo', prior to his getting injured, was playing well, making plays and making good runs and doing fine."
Throw T.J. Duckett into that question, too. He rushed for 79 yards and became more effective as the game wore on.
"There is probably a place for Duckett," Holmgren said. "Late in the game, some time, there's a place now. And he earned that yesterday. But how and how many snaps and percentages, I don't know. Sometimes, it will just have to be a gut feeling."
The other question the Seahawks will have to sort out is the right side of the line. Sean Locklear returned on Sunday, but played only as a third tight end in two goal-line situations. Ray Willis played well at right tackle in Locklear's absence.
Holmgren said the Seahawks essentially have two jobs for three people at right guard and right tackle with Locklear, Willis and Floyd Womack. Holmgren said he doesn't know how that will sort itself out, either.
Womack's hamstring tightened up on him late in Sunday's game, but he should be fine. The Seahawks players reported to the headquarters on Monday morning, but were gone in the afternoon. The same schedule will hold for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the players will have what amounts to a very unregulated practice each morning and then be off in the afternoon.
Holmgren gave his team the bye week off the past three years though he did ask the players to continue conditioning and lifting weights in that time. The rash of injuries this season has forced some personnel changes, making additional practice time more valuable.
"A couple of extra days of work can help," Holmgren said. "I would ask them to condition anyway if I gave them the whole week off I would ask them to condition or lift. I'm just adding one more little thing to that."
Holmgren said the coaches will be "in and out" this week. So they will be getting a lighter schedule than most weeks.
Dec 23, 08 - 11:42 AM
Jets coach Eric Mangini says not enough was done about snowballs at Qwest Field
Dec 23, 08 - 11:16 AM
Shaun Ellis, fined $10,000 for proving he had the biggest snowball
Dec 22, 08 - 03:28 PM
Shaun Ellis' snowball is bigger than yours
Dec 22, 08 - 03:15 PM
Matt Hasselbeck not ruled out, but unlikely to play in regular-season finale
Dec 22, 08 - 12:30 PM
Video: Mike Holmgren's final lap at Qwest Field

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