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Seahawks Slant
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
WHAT'S NEWS
At first, it sounded like Mike Martz was buttering up the Seahawks like a Thanksgiving Day turkey.
"Obviously it's a divisional game, and that carries a great deal of weight for both teams," the Rams head coach said during a telephone interview from St. Louis, where Martz is preparing his team for a game Sunday against the Seahawks at Qwest Field.
"The other challenge is, I know how well coached that football team is on both sides of the ball," Martz added. "I have the greatest respect for Mike (Holmgren, the Seahawks coach) and his staff and what they do, and I know that they've got good players. That organization, at this point, they've really built that team up and they're a powerful force in the NFC. There's no question."
The longer Martz talked Wednesday, the more apparent it became he was speaking his mind -- and the truth. It's a blend that hasn't always served him well since taking over the Rams from Dick Vermeil in 2000.
Martz acknowledges shortcomings that have surfaced during the Rams' 2-2 start, and can't mask his assessment of what he sees while studying video of the 3-0 Seahawks.
"This team is growing. I don't know what we're going to be," he said. "There is no question that Seattle is the team to beat (in the division). There's no question about that."
OFF THE FIELD
Former University of Washington coach Don James will raise the 12th Man flag in the south end zone prior to kickoff. James watched yesterday's practice with ex-Huskies quarterback Brock Huard, who is on the injured reserve list, and club vice president Gary Wright.
Aptly named fullback Mack Strong will be featured in The Mayne Event on ESPN's two-hour pregame show, which begins at 8 a.m. Sunday. Kenny Mayne, a former UNLV, Wenatchee Valley Community College and Thomas Jefferson High School quarterback who went to training camp with the Seahawks in 1982, was at team headquarters Wednesday to tape the segment for his quirky weekly feature.
INJURY UPDATE
DE Chike Okeafor (sore hip) and MLB Orlando Huff (sore hamstring) were added to the injury report and listed as probable. Okeafor did not practice yesterday, but is expected to start.
Rams LB Pisa Tinoisamoa did not practice because he went to the hospital with an infection in his elbow. He is listed as probable. RG Scott Tercero (sprained wrist and hand) returned to practice and worked with the No. 1 line after sitting out Wednesday. MLB Robert Thomas (sprained ankle) did not practice for the second consecutive day, but is listed as probable and is expected to play. CB DeJuan Groce, who missed last week's game with a sprained knee, practiced and will start. Also missing practice were G Chris Dishman (sprained knee), the player Tercero is replacing, and two players who will not play against the Seahawks -- CB Travis Fisher (broken forearm) and DT Jimmy Kennedy (broken foot).
OUT AND ABOUT
Defensive end Grant Wistrom is scheduled to sign autographs from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Seahawks Pro Shop at Qwest Field. ... Wistrom is holding a Halloween party to benefit his foundation Oct. 25 from 7-11 p.m. at the Stagecoach (formerly Club) Restaurant at Qwest Field. Information is available at www.grantwistrom.net. The change of the restaurant's name in the south end zone is part of a multiyear sponsorship agreement with Wells Fargo.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Rams' Isaac Bruce is the first NFL/AFL player to begin a season with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Charley Hennigan of the Houston Oilers in 1963.
QUOTE UNQUOTE
"We really haven't mentioned it that much, and I didn't even know about it until I read it in the paper. So it hasn't been brought up amongst the defense. I haven't heard anyone talking about it. So right now, it really doesn't matter." -- Wistrom, on the Seahawks' defense being ranked No. 1 the league
-- Clare Farnsworth
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
WHAT'S NEWS
At first, it sounded like Mike Martz was buttering up the Seahawks like a Thanksgiving Day turkey.
"Obviously it's a divisional game, and that carries a great deal of weight for both teams," the Rams head coach said during a telephone interview from St. Louis, where Martz is preparing his team for a game Sunday against the Seahawks at Qwest Field.
"The other challenge is, I know how well coached that football team is on both sides of the ball," Martz added. "I have the greatest respect for Mike (Holmgren, the Seahawks coach) and his staff and what they do, and I know that they've got good players. That organization, at this point, they've really built that team up and they're a powerful force in the NFC. There's no question."
The longer Martz talked Wednesday, the more apparent it became he was speaking his mind -- and the truth. It's a blend that hasn't always served him well since taking over the Rams from Dick Vermeil in 2000.
Martz acknowledges shortcomings that have surfaced during the Rams' 2-2 start, and can't mask his assessment of what he sees while studying video of the 3-0 Seahawks.
"This team is growing. I don't know what we're going to be," he said. "There is no question that Seattle is the team to beat (in the division). There's no question about that."
OFF THE FIELD
Former University of Washington coach Don James will raise the 12th Man flag in the south end zone prior to kickoff. James watched yesterday's practice with ex-Huskies quarterback Brock Huard, who is on the injured reserve list, and club vice president Gary Wright.
Aptly named fullback Mack Strong will be featured in The Mayne Event on ESPN's two-hour pregame show, which begins at 8 a.m. Sunday. Kenny Mayne, a former UNLV, Wenatchee Valley Community College and Thomas Jefferson High School quarterback who went to training camp with the Seahawks in 1982, was at team headquarters Wednesday to tape the segment for his quirky weekly feature.
INJURY UPDATE
DE Chike Okeafor (sore hip) and MLB Orlando Huff (sore hamstring) were added to the injury report and listed as probable. Okeafor did not practice yesterday, but is expected to start.
Rams LB Pisa Tinoisamoa did not practice because he went to the hospital with an infection in his elbow. He is listed as probable. RG Scott Tercero (sprained wrist and hand) returned to practice and worked with the No. 1 line after sitting out Wednesday. MLB Robert Thomas (sprained ankle) did not practice for the second consecutive day, but is listed as probable and is expected to play. CB DeJuan Groce, who missed last week's game with a sprained knee, practiced and will start. Also missing practice were G Chris Dishman (sprained knee), the player Tercero is replacing, and two players who will not play against the Seahawks -- CB Travis Fisher (broken forearm) and DT Jimmy Kennedy (broken foot).
OUT AND ABOUT
Defensive end Grant Wistrom is scheduled to sign autographs from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Seahawks Pro Shop at Qwest Field. ... Wistrom is holding a Halloween party to benefit his foundation Oct. 25 from 7-11 p.m. at the Stagecoach (formerly Club) Restaurant at Qwest Field. Information is available at www.grantwistrom.net. The change of the restaurant's name in the south end zone is part of a multiyear sponsorship agreement with Wells Fargo.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Rams' Isaac Bruce is the first NFL/AFL player to begin a season with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Charley Hennigan of the Houston Oilers in 1963.
QUOTE UNQUOTE
"We really haven't mentioned it that much, and I didn't even know about it until I read it in the paper. So it hasn't been brought up amongst the defense. I haven't heard anyone talking about it. So right now, it really doesn't matter." -- Wistrom, on the Seahawks' defense being ranked No. 1 the league
-- Clare Farnsworth
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