This game is why Seneca Wallace always has been sheltered as the back-up to starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Now we’ll see if it’s been worth it.

It’s a game, against a good Philadelphia Eagles team, that the Seahawks (2-5) probably shouldn’t win but need to desperately if they wish to sustain any long-range hopes that last week’s win over San Francisco may have sparked.

And to do it, they need Seneca Wallace to make plays, to avoid turnovers, and to elevate the offense from the ranks of the league’s worst.

Is he up to it? Hey, in some ways, this might be the perfect game for Wallace, who is expected to lead the Seahawks until Hasselbeck recovers from a back injury that has had him on the shelf for several weeks.

The Eagles’ defense is noted for its blitzing and ball-hawking (23 sacks, eight interceptions and seven fumble recoveries). Fortunately for Seattle, Wallace is noted for his ability to skitter away from that kind of pressure.

The problem Wallace fought in his first start this season, in a loss at Tampa Bay, was inaccurate passing. When he started off shaky again on Sunday against San Francisco, he retreated to the sideline with a message for a concerned coach Mike Holmgren: Don’t panic. Stay with me.

Holmgren calmed down. Wallace settled down. And after fullback Leonard Weaver turned a couple of short passes into long touchdowns, Wallace came away with an impressive 115.8 passer rating.

“That goes hand in hand with (the fact that) he just felt more comfortable,” Holmgren said of Wallace. “He handled the game very well.”

Wallace said an earlier calf injury is now completely healed. Good thing.

“They have a great blitzing package and they like to use it. It’s no secret to anybody and it’s one of the things you really have to prepare for,” Holmgren said. “So, the fact that Seneca can move a little bit helps the situation.”

Wallace started four games in place of Hasselbeck in 2006. He went 2-2. He’s now 1-1 the past two weeks. Going .500 won’t get the Hawks back into the race.

But the fact is, six years into his career, Wallace is still a work in progress.

Nobody really can say if he’s a top-notch quarterback just waiting for the right opportunity or if he’s a nimble guy who knows the offense and is valuable as an insurance policy.

In practices, Wallace has shown the capacity to throw a nice ball, especially deep. This offense is built on timing, though, and that’s what he has to develop, that synchronization with a patchwork receivers corps.

No one can argue one element Wallace offers: Quickness. It may present itself in the ability to scramble for a first down when everybody’s covered. More importantly, it’s a weapon that allows him to shake the first threat and buy more time for a receiver to break free.

Wallace’s backup, Charlie Frye, has spent considerable time in meetings and film study with Wallace, and is convinced of his talents.

“He knows the offense very well; he knows where to go with the ball,” Frye said. “The big thing he can do is buy time to make big plays, and that’s something the defense has to be aware of. Even if everybody is covered, we still have an answer, and that’s Seneca. It doesn’t have to be him running it, but creating chances with his feet. He hit Bobby (Engram) on a big play that way, and another one went to Weaver for a touchdown.”

Wallace is understated. He said he’s got plenty of room for improvement, but the San Francisco game represented some positive steps.

Seasons of sitting left him a bit out of sync, and at a loss for the right timing, he admitted. “You’re not just going to jump off the bench and all your timing and everything’s going to be perfect,” he said. “You just have to keep grinding, getting through the weeks and staying positive. Good things will happen.”

The Seahawks need it. As doctors continue to examine Hasselbeck and his return gets delayed, Wallace will be the team’s most critical player.

“We don’t know how long he’s going to have to play,” Holmgren said. “But he’s our quarterback right now.”

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

Dave.boling@thenewstribune.com