Rams-Seahawks Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Running game, tight ends key for Seahawks against RamsThis game features two teams that have started slowly and are looking to start digging themselves out of an early-season hole. The Rams have been put on warning by ownership that changes are coming if the team doesn't improve. Seattle knows this is Mike Holmgren's last season as head coach of the Seahawks. Seattle is coming off an overtime loss to division rival San Francisco and has an extremely limited receiving corps. The Rams have been overwhelmed by the Eagles and Giants in their first two games. This is a crucial early-season game for both teams as they try to stay in the hunt in the NFC West.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
STL	2-14	232	465	1-7	1-7	0-6	2-10
SEA	4-12	294	392	2-6	2-6	3-3	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

St. Louis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Bulger 56.7 1469 5 6 Boller 57.0 481 2 3

Seattle Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Hassel... 60.1 1853 11 7 Wallac... 65.0 676 3 2

St. Louis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 215 1031 4.8 3 Darby 11 57 5.2 0

Seattle Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones 107 392 3.7 2 Forset... 45 255 5.7 2

St. Louis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Avery 30 418 13.9 4 Burton 25 253 10.1 0

Seattle Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Burles... 51 662 13.0 3 Houshm... 54 618 11.4 3

Full Player Stats: St. Louis | Seattle

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	STL	287.0
	SEA	274.0
Yards Passing	STL	184.2
	SEA	163.6
Yards Rushing	STL	103.1
	SEA	110.5
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	STL	371.9
	SEA	378.0
Pass Yds Allowed	STL	217.2
	SEA	259.3
Rush Yds Allowed	STL	154.7
	SEA	118.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Seattle leads 10-5
Nov 25, 2007	STL 19, @SEA 24
Oct 21, 2007	STL 6, SEA 33
Nov 12, 2006	STL 22, SEA 24
Oct 15, 2006	STL 28, @SEA 30
Nov 13, 2005	STL 16, SEA 31
Oct 9, 2005	STL 31, @SEA 37
Jan 8, 2005	STL 27, SEA 20
Nov 14, 2004	STL 23, @SEA 12
Oct 10, 2004	STL 33, SEA 27
Dec 14, 2003	STL 27, @SEA 22
Sep 21, 2003	STL 23, SEA 24
Dec 22, 2002	STL 10, SEA 30
Oct 20, 2002	STL 37, @SEA 20

A rash of injuries to their wide receivers has forced the Seattle Seahawks to bring back a talented player with a checkered past. They not only hope Koren Robinson has truly turned his life around this time, but that he can help them avoid their first 0-3 start in six years.

After apparently conquering his personal demons once again, Robinson leads the injury-wracked Seahawks against the inept St. Louis Rams on Sunday in a matchup pitting the NFL's two worst defenses.

Seattle has already lost six receivers due to injury, including Nate Burleson, Ben Obomanu and Logan Payne for the season. Veterans Deion Branch and Bobby Engram have yet to play, and are not expected to return until after the bye week later this month. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace -- pressed into service as a receiver -- will miss the next month after injuring his calf last week during pre-game warmups.

To shore up the position, Seattle acquired Keary Colbert from Denver for a reported fifth-round draft pick on Tuesday. The Seahawks then agreed to a one-year contract with Robinson, who immediately becomes quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's top target again.

From 2001-04, Robinson averaged 53 catches for almost 792 yards and three touchdowns per season.

Before rejoining the team that selected him ninth overall in 2001, Robinson had to prove he's changed since they released him in 2005 because of repeated alcohol issues.

"Just because of the terms and circumstances I left Seattle on, I never thought I'd be back," said the 28-year-old Robinson, who said he's been sober for 25 months thanks in large part to a new marriage and family. "I'm grateful for this chance. I think it can be a good story -- for me and the team."

Robinson said the final incident that caused him to change came just over two years ago. Police said Robinson, then with Minnesota, led them on a car chase at speeds more than 100 mph, and that his blood-alcohol content was found to be well above the legal limit of 0.08.

Robinson was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading down to a charge of fleeing police. He also was sentenced to three months in jail for violating probation on a separate drunken-driving case in Kirkland, Wash., in 2006.

He was reinstated in October, and played nine games with Green Bay last year, but this clearly is Robinson's last chance: If he violates the league's substance-abuse policy again, he faces a lifetime ban.

"I guess what I care about more is that he grew up and really matured and got his life turned around in the right direction. ... I'm proud of him," Hasselbeck said.

Apart from their roster issues, the Seahawks (0-2) also must tighten up on defense, which features 11 returning starters and four Pro Bowlers. After giving up 34 points in a Week 1 loss at Buffalo, the Seahawks returned home and allowed journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan to pass for 321 yards in a stunning 33-30 overtime loss to San Francisco last week.

"Look, we just have to regroup," coach Mike Holmgren told the Seahawks' official Web site. "We can't feel sorry for ourselves, fix the things we can fix, hopefully, and get ready for the Rams next week."

Given St. Louis' poor start to 2008, the Seahawks may not have to work that hard. Though the Rams have been outscored 79-16 in a pair of blowout losses, third-year coach Scott Linehan made a bold prediction.

"In my mind, we're going to beat Seattle," he said. "I'm not making any guarantees. In my mind we're going to beat Seattle and we're going to right this ship, OK, because we don't have a choice. I don't have a choice and neither does anybody else around here."

The Rams followed a 38-3 loss to Philadelphia in their season opener with a 41-13 thrashing by the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants last week in which Marc Bulger was sacked six times.

Perhaps the only bright spot during last week's game was that defensive end Chris Long, selected second overall in the 2008 draft, recorded his first career sack.

St. Louis has given up nearly 1,000 yards of offense while managing less than 400 so far this season. The team has yet to run a play inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

"I think it's a fragile group and we've got to stay the course," offensive coordinator Al Saunders said. "I'm disappointed, certainly. I'm not discouraged about these guys, because I know what we can do down the road."

Steven Jackson, a three-time, 1,000-yard rusher who ended a lengthy holdout last month by signing a long-term deal, has rushed just 27 times for 93 yards so far. He's found the end zone in each of his last three games versus the Seahawks, but has yet to have a 100-yard game in his career when facing them.

The Rams have lost six straight meetings with the Seahawks.

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