Opportunity Today

Being a very good team playing a very bad team presents a real challenge and a test of character for coaches and players.

Good teams sometimes play down to the level of inferior opponents. Great teams never do.

Today's game against the hapless Jaguars presents an opportunity for Seattle to show that it is a great team.

In the regular season marathon, every milepost matters. Every victory helps, and every loss hurts. Any misstep can make the difference between missing and making the playoffs, between backing in as a wild card or busting in as division champions, between a first round battle for survival or a hard-earned bye, between scrapping for wins on the road or locking up home field advantage and hosting playoff games in the House of Pain backed by the world's loudest crowd.

If I were Coach Carroll, I would deactivate Marshawn Lynch and split carries between Robert Turbin and Christine Michael. We know Turbo can handle the load, but we need to see what that kid from A&M can do. Give the Beast a week to heal and hunger, and then unleash him upon the Texans next week.

Let Russell Wilson run the offense and find the rapport with his receivers that has proved elusive thus far this season. Let the O-Line establish some chemistry without its cornerstone, Russell Okung. Score early and often, build a lead, and then let T-Jack play the second half. Sit Paul McQuistan and Breno Giamcomini and give some work to rookie tackles Alvin Bailey and Michael Bowie; we need those kids to grow up fast. Let Lemuel Jeanpierre relieve Max Unger at center.

Do the same thing on defense. Crush Jacksonville with your starters, and then let the reserves keep them buried in the second half.

If the starters take care of business, then this can be a fifth preseason game and a half-bye for our starters.

Go, Hawks!