we'll go as far as they take us.&quot

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"All of us that have been watching closely thought we saw a little bit different effect when Russell was playing," coach Pete Carroll said. "So it's what a really good player should do: He should help guys do well around him."
But the Seahawks are 5-4 and on the brink of getting the line configuration they've been aiming for since Week 3 with [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] at left tackle and Pitts at left guard. Are things about to stabilize up front?
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] has done that. At least he has for the six quarters he has been able to play. On the 48 rushing plays with [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] on the field, Seattle gained an average of 4.4 yards. Without [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], the average is 3.3.
"The offensive line did a great job," said offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates. "They really fought. We did more seven-step drops in that game than we have over the whole season ... I've said it before, we'll go as far as they take us."
Add the four other players who started at left tackle last season, and the Seahawks have had seven different starters there over the past 25 regular-season games. No other NFL team has had more than four different LT starters in that time.

[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]'s ankles have continued a carousel trend at left tackle. Seattle has started three different players at the spot this season: [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Tyler Polumbus — who belonged to three teams in August — and Chester Pitts, who had not started at that position since 2005.
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] back to stabilize Seahawks' offensive line
Last year, the uncertainty on that side destabilized Seattle's entire season. The Seahawks never recovered when Walter Jones wasn't able to come back from knee surgery. This season, Seattle has weathered the storm of uncertainty up front, standing with a winning record and with lots of room for improvement.
[link widoczny dla zalogowanych] was selected to be a cornerstone at left tackle. A piece of bedrock to build around. That is why the Seahawks chose him with the sixth overall pick in the draft last April, and it's the reason there is such anticipation for his return from his second ankle injury of the season.
"We're still on the verge of getting to the best that we can be," Carroll said, "and it's going to take Russell a few weeks to get back in action to help and to work and get together with everybody."
With [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] about to return, it's fair to wonder just how far this team might go.
"Well, things were stable about three other times," Valero said. "So you never know."
But those six quarters have been sandwiched between separate ankle injuries. He suffered the first one in August, an injury to his right ankle that kept him out until October. His left ankle was hurt Oct. 24, and this is the first week since then he has been able to practice without limitation.
Injuries are the sport's biggest variable, but even without [link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Seattle placed a great deal of faith in its pass protection last week in Arizona. The Seahawks constructed a game plan that emphasized throwing the ball downfield,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], resulting in Matt Hasselbeck's highest passing total in three years.
There have been rough patches like the eight sacks allowed in Oakland — the most the Seahawks had given up in any single game since 1992. Seattle is averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Only two teams are averaging fewer.
"We can be better," said Art Valero, Seattle's offensive line coach. "Continuity is the key, and that's one thing that we've got to make sure we do, but there are no excuses."
Carroll hopes [link widoczny dla zalogowanych] can play Sunday in New Orleans, but his status might be in question all the way up until game time.