Sports

POSTED: Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Boling: Seahawks' accounting starts with subtraction

RENTON – Jim Mora is broadcasting the appropriate message. Status quo for the 2-5 Seattle Seahawks is unacceptable.

His tone may make an immediate difference, if only because the Seattle Seahawks’ next opponent is Detroit (1-6).

Beyond that? Depends on the players.

If you think the team’s roster moves after Sunday’s loss to Dallas – the fifth in six games – were minor, consider that one older player had to be “put down.”

Mora said Wednesday that to make room for young back Louis Rankin, the Seahawks had “to put someone down.” Veteran running back Edgerrin James, an aging warhorse, was the victim. Actually, he was released from the roster, and not “put down” in the Barbaro or Marley-and-Me sense of the phrase.

At one point on Sunday, in a game that was revealing of so many weaknesses, James took a screen pass behind the blocking of tackle Ray Willis. It looked like a tortoise racing a glacier.

Rankin is young and fast. Presumably he’ll be hungry for action.

And that is what Mora needs to see more of. The sight of James – 10th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list – packing up his bags, has to send a message to the survivors.Pick it up or pack it up.

At practice Wednesday, Mora was very hands-on, jumping into both huddles to demand plays be re-run to correct mistakes. As it stands, the Seahawks don’t have the talent to win games while making mistakes.

“What I sense is that they’ve accepted the challenge to refocus, and accept accountability,” Mora said. “That’s what I’m trying to get, every day, that’s what I’m trying to build, is a sense of accountability; personal accountability, peer-to-peer accountability, accountability to this team, accountability to this organization, accountability to the fans. My general sense, after spending what little time I have with them today, is that they’re understanding what I’m looking for.”

If you weren’t counting, that was seven accountabilities. I’m guessing that was probably up at least two accountables from last week’s press conference.

Rankin looked fast to the edge on running plays at Wednesday’s practice. He’s expected to be active and see action against Detroit. “Louis adds the element of speed,” Mora said. “The man is extremely fast and shifty. On a daily basis, we watch him go out there (on the scout team) and give our defense a real test. We’re going to use him as a kickoff returner, as well.”

The move with Rankin, too, reminds all that a losing team offers opportunities for some.

“This means everything,” Rankin said of the chance to see action with the Seahawks. “I’ve been waiting for this and I’m going to try to take full advantage of it.”

Safety Jamar Adams and cornerback Roy Lewis were brought up to the active roster from the practice squad, too.

Lewis, Mora said, brought “a real jolt of energy to this team; he has the reputation of being a very good special teams player. He’s gone out every week and prepared as if he was going to play even though he wasn’t. I respect that in a guy.”

The meaning? Don’t take your job for granted, especially if somebody is outworking you.

“It’s big; it’s time for me to make the most of my opportunity,” said Lewis, like Rankin, a University of Washington product. “I’m here to play; I’m here to make plays.”

Mora said he didn’t have to push any buttons with his coaching staff, which he believes is already driven by self-motivation and harsh self-assessment.

But nobody out there is immune. Two high-profile receivers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch had visits with Mora this week. Each made comments or gestures in Sunday’s loss that could be interpreted as showing fissures in the team’s unity.

Mora didn’t elaborate on the dialogue, but made it clear that issues had been addressed.

And well he should. Certainly he sees that this awful season – his first as head coach of the Seahawks – could get away from him entirely without a firm hand at this point.

The energy infused by the young players might provide a spark … or at least an effective threat to some veterans.

“We’ll come in hungry,” Lewis said. “We’re like sharks with blood in the water.”

The problem so far this season has been that most of the blood has been the Seahawks’ own.

Dave Boling: 253-597-8440

dave.boling@thenewstribune.com