Defensive end Calais Campbell blocks a field goal in Washington last weekend.
Patrick Peterson felt like he was close to blocking the Redskins' game-winning field goal last weekend. So too did Calais Campbell.
The two did get a hand on the field-goal block earlier in the game – Peterson said he tipped it before Campbell swatted it away for the third field-goal block of his career. Going back there again was much tougher.
"They wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get there," Campbell said. "I still had a chance to get my hands on it. I got close. Blocking field goals is hard. They almost have to block bad for you to get one. You have to capitalize on mistakes, because when they block well it's hard to get back there no matter how you are."
Special teams coach Kevin Spencer said the Cards saw something early from the Redskins they wanted to exploit, which they did on the block. Rookie David Carter provided some penetration to open a door for Campbell, and veteran Clark Haggans also plays a key role on field goal block playing on the rush spot just outside of Campbell.
"You always want to put your best people out there to take advantage," Spencer said. "(Darnell) Dockett is an unsung hero too. He'll be the kind of guy, 'Hey I knocked this guy back and I said something to him so he fired out at me.' There are some mind games out there."
The other growing factor on field-goal block will be Peterson, who has taken over the rush edge spot formerly manned by Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Spencer said Peterson isn't as effective as DRC yet, but he thinks it will happen.
"I did do it a lot in college, but on this level, everything is much faster," Peterson said. "The kicker gets the ball off faster, the linemen are stronger and have more extension. But I'm going to get it.
"That last one … I was killing it the end the whole game. I wanted to get it and get the win."
BEANIE HURTS HAMSTRING
Running back Beanie Wells was added to the injury list with a hamstring problem Thursday, limiting his work. No word on the severity, but without Wells the Cards would be thin at the position, with only veteran Chester Taylor and the inexperienced Alfonso Smith healthy. LaRod Stephens-Howling (hand) remains limited.
Wells tweeted out in the afternoon, "I'm all good, just needed to rest my wheels and maybe change a tire lol."
Linebacker Daryl Washington did return to some limited work in practice for the first time since hurting his calf in the season opener.
A SECOND SHOT AT T-JACK
Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will get his second start against the Cardinals Sunday. His first came during the Cards' 2008 Super Bowl season, when the pre-Favre Vikings visited University of Phoenix Stadium. In that game, Jackson lit up the Cards, completing 11-of-17 passes that accounted for only 163 yards but four touchdowns (with no turnovers) in a 35-14 Minnesota win.
"I haven't really thought about it," Jackson said. "It's a different defense, a different team. I'm on a different team. I'm just trying to get ready for the Cardinals' defense in 2011."
The Cards do have a different defense – that was three defensive coordinators ago – but more importantly, Jackson no longer has the weapons around him on offense, specifically running back Adrian Peterson. The Seahawks have just 95 yards total rushing as a team through two games.
