Rams-Seahawks Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Rams-Seahawks

SCOUTING REPORT

Rams-Seahawks: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Rams-Seahawks matchup. 1. St. Louis needs to establish a ground game: The Rams' most potent offensive weapon is RB Steven Jackson, and they need to get him untracked early. Once Seattle has to focus on stopping the run, St. Louis will have more time to take some shots downfield. Look for Jackson to get 15-20 touches in the first half.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
STL	1-9	113	270	0-5	1-4	0-3	1-7
SEA	3-7	196	233	3-2	0-5	1-3	2-6
· 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 11-5
Dec 14, 2008	STL 20, @SEA 23
Sep 21, 2008	STL 13, SEA 37
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

The Seattle Seahawks had unprecedented success during their 10 years under Mike Holmgren, but the coach's tenure ended on a sour note with an injury-plagued 2008 season.

Though his team is already dealing with injuries to key players, first-year coach Jim Mora expects Seattle to do a better job of withstanding them in 2009.

The Seahawks look to bounce back from their first losing finish since 2002 as they try to continue their recent dominance of the NFC West rival St. Louis Rams in both teams' season opener Sunday.

Seattle advanced to the playoffs a team-record five straight years from 2003-07, a streak that included the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance after the 2005 season.

The run ended in Holmgren's final year at the helm in 2008, when the Seahawks went 4-12 in large part because of injuries to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, receiver Deion Branch and the entire starting offensive line.

That line is banged up again. Seattle released starting left guard Mike Wahle at the start of training camp after the two-time Pro Bowl selection failed a physical following shoulder surgery. Nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones (knee) and starting center Chris Spencer (quadriceps) won't play in the opener but could return for next week's game at San Francisco.

Seattle's patchwork line for the opener includes Sean Locklear at left tackle, Ray Willis at right tackle, Steve Vallos at center, Rob Sims at left guard and rookie Max Unger at right guard.

"I'm comfortable with the starting five. I think that they will perform very, very well," said Mora, who also will have former Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Trufant sidelined for the first six games with a back injury.

The holes in the line aren't ideal for protecting Hasselbeck, who played in a career-low seven games in 2008 because of a bad back. But the three-time Pro Bowler is coming into the season healthy and showed he could take a hit during the preseason.

Hasselbeck has a new target in receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, signed as a free agent in the offseason to replace departed veteran Bobby Engram.

Houshmandzadeh, a Pro Bowler in 2007, caught 92 passes for 904 yards and four touchdowns in 2008 in a weak Cincinnati offense that lost quarterback Carson Palmer early in the season. He's caught 372 passes over the last four seasons, most in the league.

Mora said during the preseason he could see a bond forming between Hasselbeck and his new No. 1 receiver.

"My observation is that it's certainly growing," Mora said of the trust between the two. "Watching it, it looks like he feels pretty good about throwing the ball to him. ... It seems like they're doing well."

Hasselbeck is 23-10 against NFC West rivals since Seattle joined the division in 2002. He's helped Seattle win all eight meetings with St. Louis over the last four seasons by an average of 10.5 points. In 2008, the Seahawks cruised to a 37-13 home win over the Rams on Sept. 21 before pulling out a 23-20 comeback victory in St. Louis on Dec. 14.

The Rams lost a franchise-record 14 games last season, including all six within the division. They totaled 232 points, fewest in the NFC and the franchise's lowest mark since 1993.

First-year Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo doesn't expect to change that overnight, but he does like the team's mental approach heading into the opener after finishing preseason play with a 3-1 record.

"I think we got a bunch of hungry guys. I think it's good to be hungry," he said. "... (The preseason) doesn't matter now. We're moving on. I'm perfectly aware that all of this is a honeymoon period. The real challenge is upcoming."

The Rams will likely be better prepared for that challenge if starting quarterback Marc Bulger can be healthy in time for the opener. Bulger took direct snaps Wednesday for the first time since breaking his right pinkie in practice. He said he'll be ready to play and won't use the injury as an excuse.

Steven Jackson is the other key to the Rams offense. Despite missing four games to injury last season, he topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fourth consecutive season.

Jackson has rushed for at least 100 yards 16 times in 69 career games, but he hasn't reached the century mark in nine meetings with Seattle.

Rams QB Bulger out 3-6 weeks with broken leg

St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger will be sidelined 3-6 weeks with a fractured left leg sustained in Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

Scouts Buzz: Stafford growing up fast

Scouts Inc. examines Matthew Stafford's development, the Vikings' dynamic offense and more.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Warner hurt, but early play holds up for Cards

Kurt Warner threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns while building a 21-3 cushion, and the NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals hung on late, remaining unbeaten on the road with a 21-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

St. Louis Rams coach Spagnuolo mum on sale talk

If coach Steve Spagnuolo has any thoughts on the sale talks that suddenly are swirling about his new team, he wasn't interested in sharing them Tuesday after practice at Rams Park.

Rams keep focus on the job

The focus on the fields Tuesday at Rams Park was dealing with the first real heat during a practice this offseason, while also finishing preparations for the team's third, and final, spring minicamp later this week.

Video: If sold, will the Rams stay in St. Louis?

Dierdorf says, "It's going to be the Cowboys new $1.1 billion dollar stadium that's opening this year in Dallas.

As sale looms, Rams fans can do their part

If the Rams eventually move from St. Louis, it won't be because of the fans. The customers have stayed loyal during hard times, buying up about 95 percent of the seats at the Edward Jones Dome over the last two seasons.

Vobora now seen as relevant for Rams

A year ago at this time, Rams linebacker David Vobora was irrelevant, as in "Mr. Irrelevant," the last player taken in the draft.

Walter Jones 'was able 2 get in football stance 2day'

That's the twitter shorthand from the mountain of a man that has been a fixture at the left edge of Seattle's offensive line.

Tyler Roehl suffers torn anterior-cruciate ligament

Tyler Roehl, an undrafted free agent fullback signed by Seattle in April suffered a torn knee ligament during a non-contact practice on Monday, according to reporter Jeff Kolpack of The Forum, in Fargo, S.D. Roehl confirmed that it was his left knee that was injured.

Seahawks work on short-yardage, goal-line situations at practice

That's the description offered up by Matt Hasselbeck via his Twitter account. Of course, he used cool acronyms: SY and GL practice today.

Hasselbeck looks healthy, learning new Seattle offense

Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck looks healthy after being limited to seven games last season.

Seahawks rookie out to prove he's just the right size

Working with the Seattle Seahawks defensive line group, Nick Reed looks like a boy among men.