This is an unedited version of my game story that will appear in tomorrow's News Tribune:

By Frank Hughes
Frank.hughes@thenewstribune.com

MINNEAPOLIS – If there was ever a doubt about where exactly the Seattle Seahawks currently resided in the hierarchy of talent among NFC teams, they assuaged at least some of those concerns with their 34-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings Friday night.
From the strikingly efficient play of starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to the inspired appearance of Seneca Wallace to the bucket full of fumbles created by the defense, the Seahawks turned Mike Holmgren’s last first preseason game into a somewhat celebratory occasion.
Not that Holmgren would feel that a meaningless loss was particularly lamentable. But walking out of the Metrodome with their second consecutive preseason victory over the Vikings in as many years certainly validates the hard work both the players and coaches have put in during training camp -- and confirms that they remain the favorites to win a fifth consecutive NFC West title.
“You like to win the first game, they feel pretty good, and we did that,” Holmgren said. “But they can’t feel real great because they made a number of errors that we can coach to. But that’s kind of what you want in a first game; win the game but also correct some things in some meetings.”

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Mike Holmgren said this game was the perfect outcome: it was nice to get a win but also a good teaching tool because there were a lot of mistakes that were made that need to be worked on. Holmgren sounded as if he was not pleased with coverage by the defensive backs, especially the first unit; he also said there were some communication issues with the coaches that hurt the team during the game. He said he thought the running game did very well, center Steve Vallos did well and he liked the tempo of the first-team offense led by Matt Hasselbeck.

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I have to start writing right now, but I wanted to touch on the kicking competition before I start hammering the keys. For this game, Bruce DeHaven allowed Mare to handle the field goals and extra points and Coutu to do the kickoffs. Besides a lame opening kick that fluttered and landed at the 10, Coutu has done a reasonable job of getting the ball near the goalline. Unfortunately his teammates have not done such a great job bringing down the runner. But all his kicks after the first have been inside the 5, and the one that was returned to midfield was two or three yards deep in the end zone. Mare was solid on his attempts.

Seneca Wallace just completed a one-yard TD pass to Joel Filani, allowing the Seahawks to take a 31-17 lead. It looked like the formation was messed up on the scoring play because both Owen Schmitt and T.J. Duckett were in a split backfield on the right side. I've never seen that one before. I think Schmitt was confused.

The score was setup by a fumble recovery, caused by safety Jamar Adams on Maurice Hicks. Lance Laury recovered. David Hawthorne also was there for the hit and was celebrating, but it looked to me like Adams had the initial contact. It seems like Hawthorne virtually won a job tonight. This place is starting to empty out now.

A fortuitous turn of events allowed Seneca Wallace to find wide receiver Trent Shelton for a seven-yard TD pass, giving Seattle a 24-17 lead. The Seahawks probably should have not had the ball after T.J. Duckett fumbled and Minnesota recovered, but the officials said Letroy Guion had a facemask penalty before Duckett put the ball on the ground, giving it back to Seattle. Two plays later, Seneca snapped his pass to Shelton.

Incidentally, the Seahawks got the ball in the first place because David Hawthorne put a wicked hit on Albert Young, forcing a fumble that Kevin Hobbs recovered.

The intensity of the game has dropped now that the starters are out, and the score is tied at 17 now that Minnesota has kicked a field goal just before the half. It'll be interesting to see if Mike Holmgren decides to go with Seneca or Charlie Frye in the second half. Incidentally, Julius Jones was very upset after getting stopped on a third and 1. He stomped off the field and then ripped off his helmet and gloves as he stood on the sideline. You kind of get the impression that he wants to do something to prove himself to his new team, but Mo Morris got the start and all the runs with the first line and now Jones is relegated to playing with the second line.

The first team has officially given way to the backups, at least on offense. We'll see what the defense does.

Chester Taylor scored on a one-yard run, which was set up by Marcus Trufant's interference call in the end zone. Trufant already got beat by Bernard Berrian for a big game, missed a tackle that allowed another big gain and then had the interference call.

Julian Peterson was very upset about the TD run. He felt the Seahawks stopped Taylor, who tried to jump over the pile and get the ball across the goal line. Peterson met him at the top of the leap and sent him backward. I couldn't tell on the replays if Taylor actually got across. Either way, the Seahawks now lead, 17-14.

Though he said he didn't want to wear it, it appears to me that middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu is wearing the speaker in his helmet. He has the green sticker on the back of his helmet indicating he has the device.

Behind Seneca Wallace, the Seahawks crafted a nine-play, 71-yard drive, capped by Wallace hitting tight end Jeb Putzier on a crossing pattern, allowing Putzier to waltz into the end zone. Seattle leads, 17-7. Seneca was 3-for-3 on that drive for 33 yards.

Just like the first preseason game last year, Matt Hasselbeck got in two series and is done for the night, replaced by Seneca Wallace. The rest of the offense appears to be the same, including Walter Jones at left tackle. Hasselbeck finished the game 7 for 8 for 70 yards and a TD.

Aided by a 53-yard kickoff return that allowed the Vikings to start at midfield, Minnesota just scored on a six-yard TD pass from Tavaris Jackson to Thomas Tapeh. There seemed to be a miscommunication on coverage on a big pass play to Bernard Berrian, who got away from Marcus Trufant. It looked like Trufant thought he was getting help.

Leroy Hill, Lofa Tatupu and Brandon Mebane all triple-teamed Vikings wide receiver Visanthe Shiancoe to force a fumble, recovered by Deon Grant, after which Mo Morrs ripped off his second big run of the night. The drive stalled one yard short of a first down on the 3, leaving Olindo Mare to kick a 21-yard field goal. The Seahawks are dominating so far.

Well, that was easy. The Seahawks raced down the field in seven plays and scored on an 18-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Jordan Kent, who beat Cedric Griffin to the back corner of the end zone. Minnesota was called for two penalties on the scoring play, but it didn't matter.

A couple things: The Seahawks came out in their regular formation, with Leonard Weaver and Mo Morris in the backfield and Will Heller as the starting tight end. On the scoring play, they were in their four-wide set, with Kent, Courtney Taylor, Nate Burleson and Ben Obomanu.

#8 was 4-for-5 on the drive for 53 yards.

CB Marcus McCauley

TE Garrett Mills

DE Brian Robinson

Referee John Parry
Umpire Carl Madsen
Head linesman Derick Bowers
Line judge Ron Marinucci
Field judge Craig Wrolstad
Side judge Keith Washington
Back judge Perry Paganelli
Replay Jim Blackwood
Video Ken Dollar

It was odd being here on a warm day. Because I covered the NBA for so long, I was always in Minneapolis on frigid winter days and normally never even went outside, using the skywalks to get around town. It made me always have a pretty skeptical view of the city. But today was around 70 degrees, affording the opportunity to take a run down by the Mississippi River. The city revealed itself as very pleasant -- though there are UFC bouts here this weekend and those fans are walking all over town with a bit of a maniacal look in their eyes. I keep waiting for a fight to break out in the middle of the street. BY the way, the bridge that collapsed here about 18 months ago is almost rebuilt.

Here is the list of the walking wounded who will not play tonight:

Ryan Plackemeier

Logan Payne (which is a shame since he went to University of Minnesota)

Jordan Babineaux

Will Herring

Chris Spencer

Nu'u Tafisi

Samuel Gutekunst

Floyd Womack

Red Bryant

Deion Branch

Marcus Tubbs

Chris Cooper

Larry Tripplett

Patrick Kerney

As I did last season, I will be blogging from the stadium's press box during the game, trying to fill you in on stuff that you might not see on the television broadcast or giving general impressions. I plan on getting to the stadium around 3 o'clock Pacific time and will blog throughout.

Only a little over seven hours before game time. Tonight's game will be broadcast at 5 p.m. on KONG. If you're not close to a TV you can also listen to the game on 710 KIRO or 97.3 FM. And as usual, we'll have updates throughout tonight's game here. Here are some links to tide you over until then.

Seattle Seahawks

Frank Hughes talks to Julius Jones, who is ready for some action. Hughes also offers some things to look for in the Seahawks’ preseason game against Minnesota today.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald addresses Seattle’s running-back-by-committee approach to this season, which will get its first look today.

Some of the focus of tonight’s game will be on Seahawks’ center Steve Vallos, who goes up against two of the best defensive tackles in the league in Minnesota’s Pat and Kevin Williams.

Former Seahawk and current Minnesota left guard Steve Hutchinson says his team’s chemistry compares favorably to the tight-knit locker room Seattle had during its Super Bowl season.

Rick Alonzo of the St. Pioneer Press says the focus for the Vikings will be at quarterback, with starter Tarvaris Jackson, along with Gus Frerotte, Brooks Bollinger and John David Booty all possibly getting some snaps.

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