RENTON, Wash. (AP) -Matt Hasselbeck desperately wants to end the 2009 season on a positive note.
For only the third time since coming to Seattle via trade in 2001, the Seahawks are destined to finish with a losing record. The team is in the midst of a downward spiral, losing their last three games by a combined 106-24 margin – the worst stretch in franchise history.
To end the season with a win would give the team a rare success to feel good about heading to the offseason.
“I can’t imagine (the urgency) could be any greater,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s always important. You always want to play your best, especially at home, but just given how the things have gone this year, how the season has gone, I think it’s just more important to go out and play your best and get a win. Really that’s the biggest thing, just get a win.”
through one of the most trying stretches of his career.
Prior to this season, Hasselbeck had thrown four interceptions in a game only once in his entire career. Now he’s done it in back-to-back games.
“As a quarterback there is a fine line between cutting it loose and making plays and also being careless or forcing things, being desperate with the ball,” Hasselbeck said. “You’ve really got to protect it and when you let it go you’ve got to let it go confidently or it’s not going to work. Those are some lessons but you can’t go out there and play timid either or scared. You’ve just got to be aggressive and at the same time be smart.”
Despite Hasselbeck’s struggles, head coach Jim Mora appreciates the fire Hasselbeck continues to play with. After tossing four picks against Tampa Bay two weeks ago, the 12th-year veteran was in the building early the following morning going over film and trying to figure out what went wrong.
“Being the quarterback you bear the burden,” Mora said. “You have the ball in your hands every play and you’re expected to do something with it. I think just knowing Matt and the way he is, how serious he is about this thing, at times certainly he’s going to try and make a throw.”
t back. He’s thrown eight interceptions in the last two weeks and he wants the next pass. Give me the ball again and I appreciate that.”
Hasselbeck said that Wednesday’s practice was one of the best of the year for the Seahawks. They probably need to string together a full week of practices like that to keep pace with a Tennessee Titans team averaging 28 points per game since starting the season 0-6. The Seahawks are losing games by an average of 20 points per game.
“It would feel great,” Hasselbeck said.” It would feel great. It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be tough. There’s a lot of challenges for us this week but winning a game would be huge. I think we would all feel good about it.”
NOTES: LB Leroy Hill (knee) returned to practice after sitting out Wednesday with a swollen knee. LB Aaron Curry (shoulder), RB Julius Jones (rib) and CB Josh Wilson (hip) did not practice. Curry is doubtful to play, Jones and Wilson are questionable. … TE Jason Pociask was added to the practice squad. … Hasselbeck was awarded the Steve Largent Award by the team. The award was first given to Largent in 1989 and is presented to the player who “best exemplifies the spirit, dedication and integrity of the Seahawks.”
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