Renton – Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora preached balance offensively before the season started. But with his team’s struggles in establishing a consistent running game, you might see some more games with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck flinging it 51 times downfield, as he did in Seattle’s win over Detroit on Sunday.

“Our No. 1 objective is to win,” Mora told reporters during his Monday news conference. “Whether it’s our first year or our 10th year, it’s to win. It’s to find ways to move the ball downfield and put it in the end zone, put it through the uprights.

“You know, you’re stubborn to a point, but not to the point of hurting your football team.”

Seattle offensive coordinator Greg Knapp has been successful running the ball everywhere he has been, finishing in the top 10 in rushing in stops in San Francisco, Atlanta and Oakland.

But this week Seattle ranks 30th overall in rushing offense, averaging 84.5 yards a contest. Seattle’s coaching staff points to the juggling bodies on the offensive line as a major reason the team has not gotten any consistency running the ball with the team’s new zone blocking scheme. Seattle started five different lineups along the offensive line in the first half of the season.

But Seattle had the same starting lineup on the line for the second straight week against Detroit, yet still struggled to run the ball, finishing with 55 yards on 18 carries for an average of 3.1 yards per carry.

Even though running back Julius Jones finished with just 36 yards on 16 carries, Mora said he awarded Jones the offensive game ball. Jones finished with his first rushing touchdown since the opening game. He also had six receptions for 78 yards, as Seattle used more screens against Detroit’s blitzing defense as a way to get the ball into the hands of its running backs in open space.

For the second straight game Jones had a big play catching the ball out of the backfield. He had a 49-yard catch and run against the Lions on Sunday, and a week earlier got loose for a 31-yard reception against Dallas.

“I think there’s been some real improvement in Julius that’s not necessarily evident to the naked eye when you’re watching the game for any of us – coaches on the side, fans in the stands or you guys in the press box,” Mora said. “But when you go back and look at the film you notice some things that he’s doing a lot better, and he’s starting to pick up the scheme.

“He’s seeing things much better. I think he’s understanding where the cuts are going to be much better. I feel like he’s gaining more yards after contact than he was earlier in the year. So those are some of the things that I think he’s doing well. And then his pass protection has improved.”

With Seattle struggling to get a push up front, expect the Seahawks to continue using the short passing game as a way to keep the chains moving.

“I think, really, in the long term, you have to be able to run the football,” Mora said. “But I want us to have some success. If success means giving the ball to Matt, and saying, ‘Hey, here you go. Go make plays,’ then that’s what we’ll do.”

Extra points

On the injury front, Mora said the team came through the game OK. Hasselbeck banged up his shoulder, and Mora said he had to manage his way through the game, hence the awkward throws and lack of deep balls Sunday. Mora went on to say that Hasselbeck probably will not practice Wednesday, and perhaps the team will limit his throws Thursday and Friday. However, Mora did say Hasselbeck will play Sunday. … Josh Wilson is the starting cornerback for now opposite Marcus Trufant, with Ken Lucas coming in on nickel situations. But Mora wouldn’t confirm if that will be the plan for this week against Arizona. Lucas had some issues with his neck and his ulnar nerve against Detroit, so Mora decided to go with Kelly Jennings in nickel situations. … Mora also said he’s not sure if Sean Locklear will supplant Damion McIntosh at left tackle, and that the coaches will discus what to do up front over the next two days.

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

eric.williams@thenewstribune.com

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