Big-play Burleson's role set to change for Hawks

KIRKLAND -- During a 2005 season in which Jordan Babineaux made a habit of game-altering plays, his Seahawks teammates started calling the versatile defensive back "Big Play Babs."

They might want to expand the gesture to include Nate Burleson.

In 23 games with the team, the receiver/returner from O'Dea High School has scored seven times. But that's only part of Burleson's statistical story, because he has averaged 38 yards on those scoring plays.

The latest came in the Seahawks' pre-bye victory over the St. Louis Rams, when Burleson's 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half got what had been a 10-3 bout rolling toward a 33-6 rout.

"It was, like, the greatest thing ever," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said after the game.

There it is. Greatest. Great. "Great Play Nate."

That return -- which won Burleson NFC special teams player of the week honors -- actually was a rerun for the Rams. Burleson also burned them for a 90-yard punt return at Qwest Field last season, giving the Seahawks a 21-16 lead in the fourth quarter.

That punt return was the second-longest in franchise history. The kickoff return was the fifth-longest in club history.

Sprinkled among his two big returns have been five "smaller" touchdown receptions. In the team's 4-3 start this season, Burleson has caught touchdown passes of 24, 22 and 22 yards -- giving him the team lead in scoring receptions and total touchdowns.

"I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win," Burleson said. "Scoring touchdowns on returns is one way. Scoring them as a receiver is another way.

"Like I said, anything I can do to help the team -- returner, receiver, whatever."

The second part of his dual role is about to change, however, because starting wideouts Deion Branch and D.J. Hackett are expected to return for Sunday's game in Cleveland.

Burleson has been starting at split end since Hackett suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener.

Branch missed the past two games with a sprained foot and was replaced at flanker by slot receiver Bobby Engram.

If Hackett and Branch are able to pick up where they left off, that puts Engram back in the slot and drops Burleson into the No. 4 role.

"The other guys have been OK," offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. "But the more good players you have, the better off you are."

Despite his great-play prowess, and expanded role in the passing game, Burleson has 20 receptions -- two fewer than Branch and 14 behind team leader Engram.

Burleson was guilty of quitting on a route against the New Orleans Saints, which led to a Hasselbeck pass being intercepted in the Seahawks' 28-17 loss. He also continues to struggle with grasping the nuances of the passing game -- where tempo is everything, and begins with the receivers' ability to quickly get back to the huddle and then up to the line for the next play.

"Nate's had his moments," Holmgren said. "A little like our offensive team, we've had our moments and we've had some things where I didn't like it so much.

"Nate is a talented man. I'll stick with that. He has a lot of talent. Now, he's got to discipline himself to do it kind of the way we want it done all the time. Be a little more consistent that way."

The Seahawks should be able to throw the ball on the Browns. They are allowing an average of 270.7 passing yards, which ranks next-to-last in the NFL. Only Cincinnati has allowed as many touchdown passes as the Browns (18).

"The guys that have filled in have done a nice job," Hasselbeck said. "But if we get Deion back, if we get Hackett back, that would be huge because those guys have done a lot of hard work with us and they kind of fit in nicely."

Leaving even Burleson to ponder where he might fit in -- great plays and all.

HAWKS VS. BROWNS

WHEN/WHERE: Sunday, 1:05 p.m., Cleveland Browns Stadium

TV/RADIO: KCPQ/13; KIRO-AM/710

BROWNS RECORD: 4-3 after Sunday's 27-20 win over the Rams

WHERE THEY RANK: No. 6 on offense (14th rushing, 9th passing); No. 32 on defense (29th rushing, 31st passing)

SERIES: Seahawks lead 11-4, including a 34-7 win at Qwest Field on Nov. 30, 2003, in the last meeting.

STAR POWER: Braylon Edwards. When the Browns made him the third pick overall in the 2005 draft, they envisioned the big wide receiver from Michigan making big plays. It's finally happening this season, with Edwards tied for second in the NFL with nine touchdown receptions and averaging 18.1 yards on his 37 receptions -- the highest average in the league among receivers with more than 35 catches.

UNSUNG HERO: Joe Jurevicius. Just as he did with the Seahawks during their Super Bowl run in 2005, the veteran wide receiver is quietly getting it done with the Browns. Fifteen of his 20 receptions have come on third downs, which ties for third best in the league.

ON THE SPOT: The Browns. This 4-3 start is rarified stuff for a team that went 6-10 and 4-12 in its first two seasons under coach Romeo Crennel. So much so that Crennel is taking steps this week to make sure his players don't get too full of themselves. The Browns' four wins have come against opponents that are a combined 6-24. After the Seahawks, the Browns play at Pittsburgh (5-2) and Baltimore (4-3).

BURNING QUESTION: Romeo? Romeo? Why did thou wait so long to start Derek Anderson at quarterback? Remember, the Browns' starting quarterback in their opening-day 34-7 loss to the Steelers was Charlie Frye, now the Seahawks' No. 3 QB. Since then, Anderson is 4-2 as the starter. The former Oregon State player has thrown 17 touchdown passes to rank second in the NFL (behind only Tom Brady, 30) and fashioned a 95.5 passer rating to rank sixth.

FAMILIAR FACES: In addition to Jurevicius, there's backup running back Jerome Harrison, who played at Washington State.

THE LAST WORD: "Before we appoint him the next Johnny Unitas, it's important to temper the enthusiasm with reality. Derek's got a lot to learn. You measure success over the long period. We've got a long way to go this season and in the future." -- Rip Scherer, the Browns' quarterbacks coach, on Anderson.

-- Clare Farnsworth

GOING LONG

Nate Burleson not only has scored seven touchdowns since joining the Seahawks last season, the receiver/returner from O'Dea High School has averaged 38 yards on those scoring plays:

Yds.	Play	Opponent	W-L	Date
91	Kickoff Return	St. Louis	W	Oct. 21, 2007
90	Punt Return	St. Louis	W	Nov. 12, 2006
24	Reception	Arizona	L	Sept. 16, 2007
22	Reception	Cincinnati	W	Sept. 23, 2007
22	Reception	New Orleans	L	Oct. 14, 2007
12	Reception	NY Giants	W	Sept. 24, 2006
5	Reception	Arizona	L	Dec. 10, 2006