By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

What to Watch Answered: Seattle

1. Who’s Catching On?

THE SITUATION: Much like the Rams offensive line of 2007, the Seahawks receiving corps has been absolutely decimated by injury.

In the first two weeks, the Seahawks were without Bobby Engram, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and others.

“It is very unusual, it has never happened to me before,” Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. “You get thin at a position and that happens. You lose a really fine player and that happens. Our top six wide receivers, we lost them and it has been an unusual start to the year but the spirits around here are still good. We are a little disappointed in how we started, but it is a long season.”

The Seahawks picked up Keary Colbert by trade and brought back troublemaker Koren Robinson to fill out the depth chart at the position.

As the season has gone on, the Seahawks have started to get healthy with as Engram has come back to be one of quarterback Seneca Wallace’s top targets. Branch has also returned and chipped in.

Rookie tight end John Carlson has emerged as Seattle’s go to receiver but the Seattle passing game is still in flux.

THE ANSWER: Carlson made a couple of big plays in the first half that was about it for the Seattle offense in that part of the game. but it was a pair of big completions on coverage breakdowns that ultimately hurt an aggressive, blitzing Rams defense. Carlson and Branch each had 76 yards and a 45-yard completion to Branch in the waning moments set up the game winning field goal.

2. A Jones for Running

THE SITUATION: Seattle signed running back Julius Jones in the offseason after jettisoning Shaun Alexander.

After a disappointing start to his career in Dallas, Jones got his opportunity when. Maurice Morris was out because of a knee injury.

Morris has returned and become the top rusher on the team but that doesn’t mean Jones won’t get opportunities against the Rams.

Jones rushed for 140 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown in the first meeting with the Rams this season.

“He’s a smaller back, quicker, great vision, he can find the holes,” defensive tackle La’Roi Glover said. “It’s going to be important for us as a defense to be where we’re supposed to be and get the guy on the ground.”

Beyond Jones and Morris, the Seahawks also added powerful back T.J. Duckett. Duckett is the thunder to Jones’ lightning and will get plenty of opportunities in Jones’ stead.

Duckett ran for 79 yards and two scores against the Rams in the first meeting.

THE ANSWER: The Rams run defense was outstanding in the first half, holding Seattle to 31 yards on nine carries in the first 30 minutes. But the Seahawks got going a bit in the second half, rushing 18 times for 94 yards with a touchdown. Morris led the way with 15 carries for 86 yards.

3. Front Seven Feast

THE SITUATION: The Rams have already faced a many formidable front sevens such as the Giants and the Eagles. But things aren’t getting any easier this week as Seattle consistently puts forth one of the best defensive lines and linebacking groups in the league.

End Patrick Kerney leads the pass rushing charge for a defense that posted eight sacks against the 49ers last week and leads the league in sacks.

“They’re good up front, as usual,” quarterback Marc Bulger said. “Kerney is one of the best. They’ve got a good linebacking corps and corners are good, so sometimes there are coverage sacks. I know San Fran threw the ball a ton last week and I know they got eight sacks or something like that so I think that’s probably why they lead the league, but I don’t want to take anything away from them. They’re good and they’ve played together a long time.”

The onus falls on the Rams to protect Bulger, something that hasn’t been much of a consistent area for most of the season.

Beyond the front four, the Seahawks have middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu leading the way. Tatupu is one of the fastest, best sideline to sideline ‘backers in the league and the Rams must know where he is at all times.

“You know he is going to bring a lot of energy,” running back Steven Jackson said. “He’s a guy that is always around the ball and he’s been to the Pro Bowl ever since he’s been in the NFL so he’s definitely an impact player. He’s a guy I think that gets that defense going.”

THE ANSWER: Seattle got gashed in the first half but buckled down, especially against the run in the second. The Rams offensive line had another solid performance, keeping Bulger relatively clean by giving up just one sack.

4. Wallace Worries

THE SITUATION: With Matt Hasselbeck ailing, the Seahawks have turned to Wallace to handle the quarterback duties.

On the surface, that would seem to be good news for the Rams considering Hasselbeck’s usual output against St. Louis.

But while Wallace doesn’t throw as well as Hasselbeck, he provides plenty of problems of his own because of his ability to scramble and make plays on the run. In fact, Wallace is such a good athlete that Seattle has been known to use him as a wide receiver.

“He will scramble if things break down and he has nobody open but he usually makes his reads, makes his progressions and puts the ball on the money,” Rams starting strong safety Todd Johnson said.

Wallace replaced Hasselbeck last week against the Patriots and nearly led the Seahawks to a surprising upset of the defending AFC champions, throwing for 212 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and adding three carries for 47 yards.

 “He played a very fine football game against New England,” Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. “He really did. I could not ask any more from him than he played in that game. He did a great job. If Matt could not play for the rest, and I’m not saying that that’s going to happen, but if that were to happen, I would hope Seneca could stay healthy and just finish the year really strong, building on what he did last week against New England.”

It’s up to the Rams to maintain containment and not allow Wallace to get out of the pocket to make plays.

THE ANSWER: Wallace had an up and down day, but made the plays necessary to win the game. He finished 15-of-25 for 226 yards but never got loose in the running game. He did, however, lead a pair of scoring drives late to get Seattle a victory.

5. Jack is Back

THE SITUATION: Jackson is the guy who makes the Rams offense go. When he was out with a quad injury earlier in the season, the offense went stagnant and struggled to piece together drives.

Upon his return, Jackson immediately has sparked the Rams. And Jackson seems to be rounding into form as he pursues another 1,000-yard rushing season.

Despite a two-fumble outing last week against Arizona, Jackson is excited about the opportunity to get back on the field and make amends for his errors.

Jackson has had some big games against the Seahawks in the past and will look to improve on the first game against Seattle this season when he posted 128 yards from scrimmage.

THE ANSWER: Jackson had a big first half and seemed poised for a 100-yard game but Seattle’s loaded up run defense and second half adjustments limited him just 10 yards in the second half. A blow to the head left Jackson light headed and he missed a portion of the fourth quarter because of it. He finished with 24 carries for 91 yards with a touchdown and caught four passes for 36 yards.