Friday, September 28, 2001
The NFL season is two weeks old, and the Seattle Seahawks haven't scored a touchdown yet. Mili’s role increases
for Seattle in red zoneBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comYou'd think it would weigh heavy on a touchdown-minded tight end like Itula Mili, but he puts his full trust in new Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
"(Hasselbeck) brings something special -- that unity, that feeling that you can count on this guy in times when you're struggling," Mili, the former Kahuku High School and Brigham Young standout, said. "He has leadership ability and that ability to run around, stay alive and make things happen. It's black and white compared to last year."
Now that's what you call faith. The Seahawks have a total of 12 offensive points -- four field goals -- in a 9-6 victory over Cleveland and a 27-3 loss to Philadelphia.
But Mili isn't alone in backing Hasselbeck. The Seahawks brass is standing by him, too. On Monday, coach Mike Holmgren told reporters he hasn't lost confidence in Hasselbeck "one little bit."
And if the Seattle quarterback rebounds from the tough times, that could bode well for Mili, whose chances of being inserted into the game increase the closer the Seahawks get to the end zone.
"I see my role as a pass-catching tight end, and mainly as a red-zone specialist," said Mili, who is in his fifth NFL season. "When I go in, I'm thinking, 'it's touchdown time, let's take it to the bank.' I can make touchdowns. I can make big plays, so when the red zone comes around, I'm ready to snap on the chin straps."
Mili spent his rookie season (1997) on injured reserve, and he has improved each year since he played his first game in 1998.
He caught his first touchdown pass in 1999, when he started two games, and last year he snared three touchdown passes and started six games while first-string tight end Christian Fauria was injured.
"That is probably the highlight of my career, having the chance to start," Mili said. "It's not the way you want to become a starter -- when someone else is hurt -- but this is a business and the window of opportunity to be a starter is only so big. You never know if or when you're going to get another chance, so you make the best of it."
Mili caught two passes for 21 yards in the opener against the Browns and made a special-teams tackle in the second game against one of the most feared kick returners of all-time -- the Eagles' Brian Mitchell.
But Mili, who has played in all 32 regular-season games and a playoff game for the Seahawks the past two years, said the small things sometimes matter the most.
"In training camp, I worked on little things that make a difference when it comes to game time," Mili said. "And little things are what we overlook sometimes. The coaches are always reminding us to look at the more subtle details of how you run your routes and techniques in blocking. I've always been good at running routes, but I'm still trying to gain an edge because I can still be better."
The major knee injury that kept Mili out in 1997 happened in his final collegiate game, and it almost cost him a job in the NFL. But, after reconstructive surgery and a second surgery to repair scar tissue, the Seahawks drafted him, and he was able to pursue his career.
The pull of becoming a full-time starter is always there for the 28-year-old, 6-foot 4-inch, 258-pound veteran.
"I'm pleased with my efforts," he said. "I've made some touchdowns and a couple of big grabs (in my career), and that has shown the coaches that 'Hey, this guy is capable of starting.' Right now, I'm the backup, it's a different focus. Some people get frustrated being a backup. For me, it's calming, because all (the coaches) need to know is that they can put me in and can count on me."
Trust. A necessary ingredient in winning football. Mili shows the coaches they can trust him. Mili trusts Hasselbeck. And maybe that type of trust will lift the Seahawks up after a slow start.
Holmgren is in his third year since leaving Green Bay, and Seattle is trying to prove it had an off year when it went 6-10 after going 9-7 and making the playoffs two years ago.
The team will try to bounce back Sunday with a tough divisional test at Oakland.
And if you're tuning into the Seahawks on TV this year, watch for Hawaii's North Shore boy wearing blue, green, white and silver, especially when they're in the red zone.