SEAHAWKS NOTEBOOK
Rhodes Less Visible, but Still in Charge
Tuesday, January 10, 2006; Page E07
KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan. 9 -- It might appear that the Seattle Seahawks' defensive improvement from 26th to tied for 16th had very little to do with former Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes. Now Seattle's defensive coordinator, Rhodes wasn't even with the team on many Sundays this season because of health problems.
But according to acting defensive coordinator John Marshall, nothing could be further from the truth.
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MULTIMEDIA Todd Collins gets a chance to earn the No. 2 quarterback spot by starting against the Ravens. The Redskins take to the field to begin preparing for the 2007 season as training camp begins at Redskins Park. REDSKINS INSIDERThe Post's Jason La Canfora updates the latest Redskins' news -- only on washingtonpost.com. E-MAIL NEWSLETTER Looking for Redskins coverage you can't find anywhere else? Sign up for our free e-mail newsletter. NFL INSIDERThe Post's Mark Maske on all things NFL -- only on washingtonpost.com. |
"This is Ray Rhodes's scheme," Marshall said this season. "He still has his hand on it -- tightly, I might add. And it's the players. The players are out there playing hard and making plays.
"I don't deserve any credit, really. The whole staff and the players, those are the people who deserve the credit."
Rhodes, 55, has attended just seven games since suffering a mild stroke in September and having a reoccurrence of symptoms on Nov. 4. His hours have been severely cut, and he doesn't attend practices.
Yet Rhodes continues to get credit from coaches and players for a defense that has given up an average 34.5 fewer yards per game from the 2004 season.
"Even though it's been in a more limited capacity, Ray has still had his fingerprints on this defense all year long," defensive end Grant Wistrom said. "He's still around the building, and he's still breaking down film and making suggestions.
"I know John's [coordinating], but John would be a fool not to listen to a guy like that."
Rhodes started experiencing health problems after Seattle's preseason finale on Sept. 2 and checked himself into a hospital the following day with dizziness and a lack of energy. Tests revealed he had suffered a mild stroke, and Rhodes did not attend the team's regular season opener at Jacksonville on Sept. 11.
Rhodes returned to practices the next week and fell into a typical schedule -- with the notable exception of game days, when he sat in the booth while Marshall made the calls on the sideline with Rhodes's input -- before entering the hospital again. Rhodes was given a clean bill of health following that incident, but Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren forced him to cut back his hours and stop attending practices.
Because Saturday's playoff contest is a home game, Rhodes will probably assist Marshall from the coaches booth.
Not K icking Himself
Seahawks place kicker Josh Brown appreciates another opportunity to face the Redskins, but he's not looking at it as a chance to atone.
