Pete Carroll, Tarvaris Jackson discuss game plan

By Liz Mathews

The starters on both sides of the ball are expected to see considerable play time come Saturday in Denver. Pete Carroll announced earlier in the week that the starters will likely play well into the third quarter of the Seahawks’ third preseason game.

“We want to take the guys through the stages of the game plan, so that we have to work with them,” Carroll said after practice on Thursday. “It’s a mock plan, so the guys can understand the days and the timing and how we take the information from the film to the field and all that, that’s important stuff for us. So it is a game plan as far as the players are concerned, but it’s about half of it.”

Tarvaris Jackson remains the starting quarterback and Carroll discussed the chemistry he is beginning to develop with the wide receivers.

“I think Tarvaris coming back with Mike (Williams) for a second week where he really got to work — Mike has really been hampered a little bit, so it’s been two good weeks for them working, Carroll said. “Ben Obomanu for the first time is really working seriously. Those are things that are going to help us.

“That’s that chemistry issue and that role issue that we’re talking about. We’re going to have to keep racing to get these guys out there. Hopefully in this game we’ll get to hook those guys up, too. Ben will get his first full speed action in this game. Those are things that are important to us right now.”

Obomanu is expected to play on Saturday after missing the first two preseason games while recovering from offseason shoulder injury.

“We’ll have him in and out the whole first half and into the second half,” Carroll said. “Ben has looked great. We’ve had him out here quite a bit, but just not steady with going full speed with everybody, so you get kind of glimpses of him”.

As for the linebackers, both Aaron Curry and Leroy Hill returned to practice on Thursday and will see some action in Saturday’s game. David Hawthorne will not play, and rookie K.J. Wright will start in his place.

“This is an exciting opportunity for him and for us to see him play with the first group,” Carroll said of Wright. “He had a terrific week of practice. He really stepped it up and tried to play up with the fellas. It’ll be interesting to see how he does.”

Defensive end Chris Clemons is also set to play on Saturday, although Carroll is uncertain how much time he will see in the game. Clemons has missed considerable practice time recovering from the ankle surgery he had in the offseason.

“He had a few complications, but he’s back now and feeling great about it, so we’re just going to ease him back in,” Carroll said.

Regarding the players on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List — Roy Lewis, Deon Butler, Cameron Morrah, and Colin Cole — Carroll said the group is “doing fine,” but not up to “full speed.”

“Right now we’re just being real patient with that and don’t expect those guys to make it by the first game at all,” Carroll said. “It’s going to be awhile. I don’t think any of those guys are going to make it back by then.”

News and notes

Walter Thurmond is going to play in the nickel position at the minimum on Saturday according to Carroll, and the goal is just to get him back out on the field.

Kam Chancellor, Dexter Davis and Pierre Allen did not practice on Thursday and are not expected to play on Saturday.

You can listen to the Tarvaris Jackson interview
here.