Healthy Hasselbeck ready to reclaim his place

By Chris Cluff  |   Monday, August 13, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Seattle Seahawks
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Almost nothing went right for Matt Hasselbeck in 2006, and the reputation he had built over the previous three and a half seasons seemed to crumble along with his offensive line and his health.

So it was both cathartic for the quarterback and reassuring for the Seattle Seahawks that he was able to come out in the team's first preseason game and display the poise and accurate passing that had defined him since he claimed the starting position for good in 2002.

With many wondering whether Hasselbeck was healthy enough to play and whether he could move the ball without departed receiver Darrell Jackson, the quarterback put those doubts to rest with one excellent series that conjured memories of the efficient Seattle offense that led the NFL in scoring in 2005. In one series against San Diego on Sunday night, Hasselbeck completed 4 of 5 passes for 65 yards, finishing off a 79-yard drive with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch, the guy who is expected to pick up the slack from Jackson's departure.

Before finding Branch over the top for the long touchdown, Hasselbeck hit new tight end Marcus Pollard and old security blanket Bobby Engram. And he also had some good fortune when one of his passes was deflected into the arms of left guard Rob Sims, who turned it into a 16-yard gain.

As the Seahawks seek to rebuild the offensive confidence that was shattered by injuries last season, Hasselbeck performed with the precision to which coach Mike Holmgren has become accustomed - and did it quickly.

"That's kind of what I hoped for," the coach told reporters of Hasselbeck's short and successful series, in which the quarterback compiled a perfect passer rating (158.3).

It was a reassuring performance by Hasselbeck, who was derailed by injuries in '06. He never regained his rhythm after missing four midseason games with a sprained knee, and he finished with his worst statistics since his first year in Seattle (2001). He also played the final two months with broken fingers in his left hand, and then he had surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder this offseason.

The shoulder surgery had some wondering whether Hasselbeck was ready to play in a game; and after his efficient performance on Sunday, Holmgren said he would probably keep the quarterback's appearances brief the rest of the preseason.

That's fine, because in one preseason series, Hasselbeck served notice that he is ready to reclaim his spot in the Pro Bowl and take the Seahawks' offense back to the heights it reached in 2005.

His reputation, like his health, is about to be rejuvenated.

Get original Seattle Seahawks coverage at RealFootball365.com
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Chris Cluff

Chris Cluff spent 10 years as an editor and sportswriter for The Seattle Times. He was a key figure in the newspaper's coverage of the Seahawks, particularly during their Super Bowl run in 2005. He also has written two books on the Seahawks: "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Heart-Pounding, ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report