SAN FRANCISCO (AP)
— As usual, Matt Hasselbeck started out in splendid August form.
Still, Mike Holmgren says his new
franchise quarterback has plenty to learn about the season's tougher months.
Hasselbeck, in his first game since
signing a multi-year contract, led the Seahawks on three straight touchdown
drives to open Seattle's 28-18 exhibition victory over the San Francisco
49ers.
The Seahawks (1-2) got all the points
they needed for their first exhibition victory in the opening 12 minutes,
as Hasselbeck completed eight of his first 10 passes for three scores.
"You try to take the good and the
bad from the game," Hasselbeck said. "(The start) was good. We had some
drives that sputtered after that."
After Seattle jumped to a 21-0 lead,
Hasselbeck finished the first half 10-for-15 for 116 yards, never again
getting the Seahawks into the end zone.
Holmgren wasn't happy with Hasselbeck's
tendency to try to make every play on his own — just like Holmgren's last
superstar, Brett Favre. Clearly, the long mentoring process between Holmgren
and Favre already has begun in Seattle with Favre's former backup.
"He had a good start, but he started
getting a little reckless," Holmgren said. "You can't make a living running
around like he did tonight. One, he's going to get ripped up. Two, interceptions
and bad things happen."
Hasselbeck has never started a regular-season
NFL game, but he got a huge deal from the Seahawks largely on his potential
— and several impressive exhibition performances during his two seasons
as Favre's backup with the Green Bay Packers, who traded him to Seattle
in the offseason.
"(Hasselbeck) is going to be a great
football player," said Trent Dilfer, who may have solidified his spot as
Hasselbeck's backup with six completions for 80 yards and a score. "I'm
learning from him. I'm probably learning more from him than he is from
me."
Charlie Rogers beat 49ers rookie
Rashad Holman in the end zone for a 21-yard TD reception just 89 seconds
into the game. Moments later, Hasselbeck led the Seahawks on a 90-yard
drive culminating in Darrell Jackson's 12-yard TD catch.
After San Francisco punter Chad
Stanley fumbled a snap to give Seattle the ball at the 49ers' 14, Hasselbeck
hit Shaun Alexander for a 14-yard score with 3:28 left in the first quarter.
The 49ers (1-2) had discouraging
performances on both sides of the ball. San Francisco's first-string defense
couldn't slow down Hasselbeck - and also roughed Hasselbeck for two of
the 49ers' seven first-half penalties.
"We made too many mistakes," 49ers
coach Steve Mariucci said. "Seattle scored on the first three possessions,
(and) we can't dig holes like that. We need to get better and clean those
things up.
Ricky Watters got the night off for
the Seahawks, but Alexander filled the void with 62 yards rushing and 37
receiving. Dilfer threw a 26-yard TD pass to tight end James Hill in the
fourth quarter, while Brock Huard — the other candidate to be Hasselbeck's
backup — didn't even get into the game.
Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens hooked
up for another touchdown, with Owens making a difficult 29-yard reception
early in the second quarter for San Francisco's first points.
Garcia finished with five completions
in eight attempts for 72 yards, while Tim Rattay got much more work than
Rick Mirer in the battle for the 49ers' backup spot, completing 13 of 21
passes for 136 yards.
Owens had five catches for 77 yards.
J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets, expected to be the 49ers' top receivers behind
Owens, both missed their third straight exhibition games with injuries.
"I feel like I messed up some plays,"
Owens said. "I'm really bummed I fumbled. We've just got to get better.
I think we'll be OK when J.J. and Tai get better."
Garrison Hearst's two-year comeback
from a broken leg continued to gain steam as the San Francisco running
back saw his most extensive action of the preseason. Hearst rushed nine
times for 35 yards in the first half; he also caught three passes for 25
yards, though he dropped two passes and fumbled on the Seahawks four-yard-line
as well.
Kevan Barlow saw his first preseason
action for the 49ers. The rookie running back from Pittsburgh was impressive,
rushing for 66 yards and scoring on a one-yard run with 10 seconds to play.
"Me and Garrison would be a good
1-2 punch," Barlow said.