Seattle If Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy was hoping to get a gauge on how his defense was progressing in its second year under coordinator Dom Capers, he was flat out of luck Saturday night.
Due to injuries that have plagued the unit, he was left with just eight healthy linebackers, one of whom is tight end SpencerHavner, an occasional two-way player with limited time this year at inside linebacker.
McCarthy chose to leave starting inside linebacker Nick Barnett at home because Barnett has been having recurring soreness in a knee on which he had off-season surgery. Fellow starter A.J. Hawk made the trip but was inactive because of an ankle injury he suffered in practice Thursday night.
In addition, starting right outside linebacker Brad Jones was not there because he banged up his shoulder in practice Thursday.
Already sidelined were outside linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) and inside linebacker Alex Joseph (thigh).
So who was left to play?
The starters outside were Brandon Chillar (right) and Brady Poppinga (left) and inside were Desmond Bishop and Robert Francois. None of the four was a regular starter last year.
There were only four backups available, three of them long shots to make the team: first-year pro Cyril Obiozor (outside), undrafted rookie Frank Zombo (outside) and former indoor league player Maurice Simpkins (inside). Havner was expected to see all of his action on defense.
Inactive Saturday were S Atari Bigby (ankle), CB Charles Woodson (rest), RB Kregg Lumpkin (hamstring), RB JamesStarks (hamstring) and WR Donald Driver (rest).
In this corner: Noted wrestler Ric Flair gave the Packers one of his real championship title belts to fight over.
"It's studded with diamonds and everything," said tight end Jermichael Finley.
In training camp, the tight ends and linebackers lock horns regularly in a high-spirited, one-on-one blocking drill, and after each session one of the two groups is deemed the winner and the overall winner gains ownership of the belt.
This year, the belt has gone to the tight ends.
"We're going to put it in the tight end room and do it up nice," said Finley.
Blocking is something Finley seems to be taking very seriously lately.
"That's just something I've gotta do," said Finley. "In a game, you don't want defenses to be scheming for '88 is coming in the game, just throw out Cover 2.' So I have got to detail every aspect of my game right now."
That's exactly what tight ends coach Ben McAdoo is looking for in all his tight ends, including rookie Andrew Quarless. McAdoo said one of the things he's looking for in Quarless is to have that blocking tenacity carry over to the game. And then he wants to see reliable receiving.
"I want to see a complete player. I want to see a guy who is playing with tenacity," said McAdoo. "In the past game, we had a chance to go one-on-one vs. safeties or make a play - that's what we want to see - guys catching the ball, making a play with their hands, the right way, fundamentally sound."
The unit's best blocker is first-year pro Tom Crabtree, who has found a way to remain productive in practice despite playing with a cast to protect a sprained left wrist.
"He made a couple of catches the last couple of practices," said McAdoo. "He's really got to be focused on the football. You can't relax. Concentration is real critical. Sometimes it hits the cast on him and it's a real challenge, but he's shown he's been able to catch with it."
Tackling two positions: Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said he is happy with the progress of rookie lineman Bryan Bulaga at both left guard and tackle and was looking forward to seeing him play an equal amount of snaps at both positions against the Seahawks.
His main competition, Daryn Colledge, has not given in to the rookie's overtures at left guard even though the coaches inserted Bulaga into the competition fairly late in the game. Colledge said he's used to being challenged.
"Sadly, it's become a part of my story," he said. "But you know what - I keep finding a way to play. And I keep competing and I have more starts than anybody here. I'm always accountable, I'm always available.
"You know, things didn't go very well at left tackle for me last year. Obviously, that was a down time not just for me but the offense. But I had a great last half of the season."
Speed thrills: One of the players who has quietly impressed the coaches with his development is wide receiver JamesJones.
He has held off Jordy Nelson for the No. 3 spot by being more reliable.
"We think he's catching the ball a little more consistently than he has in the past," Philbin said of Jones. "I think he's playing faster. I don't know if that's a reflection of his attitude or his work ethic; he just seems to be moving faster, playing faster, catching the ball a little bit better. All those things add up."
Special considerations: The Packers will have to make some difficult decisions when it comes to trimming the roster, and there's no question special teams ability will weigh heavily in it all.
One of those making a case for himself is safety Charlie Peprah.
"(Peprah) has had a very solid camp in terms of special teams," special teams coach Shawn Slocum said. "Charlie's played a lot of different roles for us on special teams."