Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a former American football quarterback and current analyst for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. After a season on the practice squad and two seasons backing up Brett Favre, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and a Super Bowl. He was selected to three Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFootball Player
Date of Birth25 September 1975
CityBoulder, CO
CountryUnited States of America
We're a focused team right now. For the first time, you can say, hey, I know I can count on the guy next to me. That's definitely a good feeling.
That was fun n a little sloppy at times, but some of the most exciting plays I've seen all year. Coach Fox promised, by the end of the week, 'We'll put a smile on your face.' All the Seattle guys were smiling.
What you can learn from this guy is the thing people call intangibles like his leadership style and the way he motivates guys around him. The way he has the ability to intimidate the opponent without saying a word. He's one of a kind.
When I said that, whenever it was, two years ago, that's how it was, having fun with some good friends. It's just a sign of the friendship. There's a core group of guys when I played here. There was something special about that team.
I don't think anyone was really that surprised, at least in our locker room. I don't think anyone was really surprised how some of those guys did.
I wouldn't say we didn't miss a beat, it's not the same with those guys out. But we all had confidence in those guys that they would play well ... and those guys played great.
Obviously, when those guys are playing well, it makes my job easier. The system that we have here, it's just able to click when those guys are doing their jobs.
We weren't worried at all. All year we have had guys step up when players go down.
Throwing mechanics, shoulder posture, my drop ? little things like that. Right now in camp it still feels like I'm confined and working on stuff. My feeling is, hey, these guys know what they're talking about. I'm buying in 100 percent to what they're saying. Don't ask questions. Come September, your mechanics will be better, you'll be a more accurate passer, and because of that your team will be better.
We thought that maybe we would struggle a little bit more than we did, ... But those guys played great.
It's not something we're hung up on. I'm sure some of the coaches are aware of it. But a lot of our guys are young. They don't remember, and they don't really care.
It makes it easier for everybody. Coach Holmgren can just look at his call sheet and call plays he likes, get guys going, spread the ball around.
They could have brought in a bunch of different guys in 2001, (but) they chose me. I don't take that lightly.
That is probably not going to happen against these guys. These guys are very good defensively. I think we need to be ready to weather the storm a little bit in terms of not being as successful as we're used to being.