Renton – The Seattle Seahawks’ leading receiver from a year ago is having trouble getting his touches of late.
Second-year tight end John Carlson finished with just one catch last week against Arizona – although it was a 31-yard reception up the seam for a touchdown.
In the last three games, he has 10 receptions, and with 34 catches for the season, Carlson is the team’s third-leading receiver behind wideouts T.J. Houshmandzadeh (50) and Nate Burleson (45).
So what gives?
“It’s kind of a combination of a lot of things,” said Seahawks coach Mora. “(We’ve been) keeping him in some protection more than maybe we had earlier in the year. Our wideouts are playing pretty effectively. Our screen game’s coming along. Those things take touches away from him.”
Carlson will have a homecoming of sorts on Sunday when the Seahawks travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings. The second-year tight end out of Notre Dame grew up in Litchfield, Minn., a small town of about 6,500 people about 60 miles west of Minneapolis.
Both Carlson’s parents teach at the local high school. His dad, also John, was his offensive coordinator in football and remains the head basketball coach at Litchfield High. Carlson helped lead his high school to three state championships in basketball, and considered playing college basketball at nearby St. Cloud State, where his older brother Alex starred.
Carlson said he expects more than 200 family and friends to attend Sunday’s game.
“It’s a real small town, a farming community,” Carlson said. “It was a great place to grow up. The townspeople are really involved in the school and supportive of athletics and activities and stuff. So it was a great place to grow up, and it’s exciting to go back and play in front of friends and family.”
Carlson said he was a Vikings fan growing up, and occasionally attended pro and University of Minnesota games. He played in Seattle’s preseason game at Minnesota last year, but this will be his first opportunity to play there in a regular-season contest.
As far as the lack of touches, Carlson said he’s more concerned about the dearth of wins for Seattle.
“One game I might have six catches, the next game I might not have any,” he said. “As long as our offense is doing what we need to do, that’s the most important thing. Obviously I want to make plays. I want to catch the ball. But the team’s first, and if we’re scoring points and moving the ball I’m all for it.”
Hasselbeck: Stuff happens
The incident between Matt Hasselbeck and Arizona defensive end Darnell Dockett was handled on the field, according to the Seattle quarterback.
Dockett was caught on tape pushing his elbow on Hasselbeck’s throat while getting up after a sack.
Hasselbeck said he confronted Dockett about the play later in the game.
“We talked,” Hasselbeck said. “I brought it up to him. I said, ‘Hey man, what was that all about?’ And he apologized and said he didn’t realize he had done it. Stuff like that happens from time to time, unfortunately. I’m going to try and stay out of piles – the bottom of piles anyway. It’s a bad place to be.”
Hasselbeck said the elbow to the throat affected him for just a short period of time. Dockett responded to questions about the incident on Wednesday.
“I would never hurt Matt Hasselbeck,” Dockett said. “I have a lot respect for guys who come in, play week-in, week-out, broke ribs, play hurt. I take my hat off to him and I would never try to do that. It’s kind of disappointing what the coach (Mora) thinks.”
Asked if he experienced anything like that before, Hasselbeck said not in that area.
“Other places, dark places,” he joked. “The Baltimore game comes to mind. It was fourth and 1, it wasn’t good.”
Hasselbeck said the Baltimore player in question is injured with a knee injury. A look at the Baltimore Ravens’ injury report brings linebacker Terrell Suggs’ name to the surface. “I think it was him, but I’m not really sure,” Hasselbeck went on. “That’s the thing –you never really know who it is.”
Milloy making his mark
Veteran safety Lawyer Milloy played the most snaps all season defensively against Arizona last week, as the Seahawks went with more six and seven defensive back sets against the pass-oriented Cardinals.
“Lawyer Milloy plays the game the way the game is supposed to be played,” Mora said. “He’s hard. He’s physical. He’s tough. He’s passionate, and he takes it very seriously. And we’re always trying to get guys like that on the field and create roles for them. And we were able to do that last week.”
Mora went on to say the four-time Pro Bowler has accepted his role as a part-time player for the Seahawks,
As a competitor, Mora understands that Milloy wants to be on the field, and the Tacoma native has earned more time.
“I was pretty clear when I signed him that his role was to come in and be a backup safety and play special teams,” Mora said.
“And be there if and when we needed him in whatever role, and he said ‘I’m fine with that.’ And he continues to be. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to be on the field, because he does.”
Extra points
Cornerback Marcus Trufant (concussion) returned to practice and was a full participant. Defensive tackle Craig Terrill (shoulder) and cornerback Josh Wilson (concussion) missed practice for a second straight day. Center Chris Spencer (thumb/back) was a limited participant in practice. Spencer missed the last five games of last season with a disc issue in his back.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
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