Seahawks’ offense stagnant again

Published on August 22, 2011 by     

At least the Seahawks hope not because their offense failed to score in the first half of a 20-7 loss to Minnesota at CenturyLink Field, the second consecutive exhibition game they were scoreless at halftime.

It’s not a question of who starts, either. At least not at quarterback because even after Charlie Whitehurst came out throwing third-quarter darts for a second consecutive week, coach Pete Carroll said he’s not reconsidering Tarvaris Jackson as the starter.

“I’m not in that mindset at all,” Carroll said. “I love that Charlie played well, and I think we need to give Tarvaris a chance to play well, too, with the guys around him. I felt like he was out there fighting for it, and he did a good job of competing.”

Well, he survived, which was an accomplishment given the near-constant strafing he took behind Seattle’s porous pass protection in the first half. He scrambled twice, was hit at least half a dozen other times and somehow managed to avoid being sacked.

All Whitehurst did once he replaced Jackson in the third quarter was complete his first seven passes and 10 of 11 throws for 79 yards on Seattle’s only scoring drive. His 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony McCoy on the first play of the fourth quarter cut Minnesota’s lead to 13-7.

About the only thing Whitehurst didn’t complete was Seattle’s comeback. The Seahawks had the ball at their own 25 with 3:49 left in the game, trailing by six. After two rushing plays totaled 15 yards, Whitehurst threw three consecutive incomplete passes, one of which was dropped, and the Seahawks turned the ball over on downs.

Minnesota scored less than two minutes later on running back Tristan Davis’s 35-yard run. Josh Portis, Seattle’s third-string quarterback, finished the game, but the discussion from this game will involve Seattle’s quarterbacks, specifically Whitehurst, who had the crowd beginning to chant his first name in the third quarter.

Whitehurst completed 14 of 19 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Jackson was 11 for 21 for 75 yards, and one of his passes went off Golden Tate’s hands — both of them — and was intercepted by Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels and returned for Minnesota’s first touchdown.

But numbers don’t tell a balanced story.

via Seahawks | Seahawks’ offense stagnant again | Seattle Times Newspaper.

Tags: Accomplishment, Charlie Whitehurst, coach pete carroll, Crowd, Darts, Exhibition Game, Fourth Quarter, Good Job, Half A Dozen, Josh Portis, mccoy, Mindset, running back, Seattle, Second Consecutive Week, Tight End, Touchdown Pass, Tristan Davis, Two Minutes, Yard Touchdown