It has been a month of "real life" for Michael Bennett as he recovered from knee surgery that caused him to miss Seattle's last five games. Instead of sacking quarterbacks or hitting running backs in the backfield, the Seahawks defensive end has stayed busy taking his three daughters to school, cleaning the kitchen and even "painting my daughters' nails and stuff like that. You have to do daddy stuff when you're at home."
Bennett was back on the practice field Wednesday, however, and is expected back for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, and while that might be bad news for the Bennett girls' nails, it's very good news for the Seahawks defense.
"It's going to be great that he's back," said defensive end Cliff Avril. "He's a leader, just his presence, people respect him, so it's definitely going to help us out overall."
Avril has not only been one of the league's best pass-rushers in Bennett's absence, he has also had to take on a little bit more of a vocal role in the defense, one he says he'll gladly give back to Bennett.
"I had to be a little more vocal," Avril said. "I'm usually the quiet guy. Directing the D-line from left end or right end is harder than for somebody who's in the middle, so he can direct it a little easier. And he's the more vocal guy, so he makes things happen. It's great to have him back.
Avril could also have a little easier time rushing quarterbacks now that teams will again have to put more energy into stopping Bennett.
"You get a little more attention, I guess," Avril said of playing without Bennett. "Hopefully they might pay him a little more mind and leave me one-on-one or something. We'll see."
While the Seahawks would certainly have preferred to have had Bennett all season, they might be better off in the long run for having to play five games without their Pro Bowl defensive end. In Bennett's absence, second-year defensive end Frank Clark went from being a situational player to a starter who in recent weeks has led Seattle defensive linemen in playing time, and Cassius Marsh has also seen his role increase with Bennett out.
"I think it definitely has (helped Clark and Marsh)," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "I think we're very fortunate that Frank was able to step into that spot. We saw Frank play really good football, and with more exposure, he just showed up more. It gives us a really good opportunity for rotation and it was a good thing for us. I think anybody who gets to play midyear like this, who hasn't been playing much, is a benefit for our team, as well as the individual."
And the way Clark, Marsh and others stepped up in Bennett's absence is just one example of how the Seahawks, and their defensive in particular, have leaned on their depth this year and seen those players come through to the point that the Seahawks once again lead the NFL in scoring defense despite playing games without Bennett, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, DeShawn Shead, Mike Morgan and others.
"I think we've seen our guys keep their style and we haven't lost our style of play," Carroll said. "… The philosophy is in hand, and the guys stepped in and they did their job to maintain it. I thought there was some tremendous illustrations of that. Steven Terrell played really good last week, it was great to see Neiko (Thorpe) play like he did, Frank stepping up in Mike's role, he did a beautiful job. There's other guys who have contributed, and that's just a good sign for us. We're real happy that the depth came through for us."
Between washing dishes and painting nails, Bennett watched his teammates play in his absence and came away equally impressed.
"I think Frank has played good," he said. "Cliff and Frank are playing really good. Cliff is playing at a defensive MVP level. Both guys have done really well. I think defense has done really well. Everybody is playing pretty good. We just have to keep playing good."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares exclusive behind-the-scenes images from the Seahawks' Week 12 road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
University of Washington grad Jermaine Kearse is all smiles on his way to the bus after the Huskies won the Apple Cup over the rival Washington State Cougars.
Seahawks fans line the sidewalk in Seatac as the convoy of buses makes it's way to the airport for the trip to Tampa Bay on Friday afternoon.
Head coach Pete Carroll is the first to board the Delta charter for the flight to Tampa.
On Saturday, linebackers K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner make their way to from the buses to a local practice field for walk thru.
Seahawks punter Jon Ryan turned 35 on Saturday, and the oldest player on the roster was brought to the center to break the team down at the end of walk thru. Teammates Garry Gilliam and Troymaine Pope also share the same birthday.
Cornerback Richard Sherman relaxes at the back of the bus on the return trip to the team hotel after walk thru.
On Sunday afternoon, quarterback Russell Wilson wears his Bose headphones as he makes his way to the bus for the ride to the stadium.
Young fans were on hand to greet the team buses as they arrived at Raymond James Stadium for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
Tight end Jimmy Graham smiles in the Florida sunshine as he warms up before the game.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin takes in the scene as he stretches at Raymond James Stadium.
Seahawks defenders Kam Chancellor, Dewey McDonald, Tyvis Powell, Kelcie McCray, and Jeremy Lane walk from the locker room to the field for pregame warmups.
Quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll share a word as the team stretches during pregame.
Back in the locker room before kickoff, Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett and Russell Wilson focus in the moments before kickoff.
Linebacker Jordan Tripp shakes hands with teammate Will Tukuafu in the locker room.
Head coach Pete Carroll through the locker room prior to kickoff.
Quarterback Russell Wilson leads the Seahawks onto the field for the game against the Bucs.
Safety Kam Chancellor and teammates stand in their show of unity during the national anthem.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson greets Tampa Bay captain Russell Shepard at midfield prior to the opening coin toss.
Seattle's K.J. Wright and Steven Terrell stop Tampa Bay's Doug Martin on a first quarter carry.
Rookie center Joey Hunt calls out protections during the first start of his N.F.L. career.
Seattle's Frank Clark signals for a safety after he was held in the end zone by a Tampa Bay lineman. The safety resulted in two points for the Seahawks.
Quarterback Russell Wilson scrambles during the first half.
Steven Hauschka hits a 43-yard field goal that accounted for all of the Seahawks offensive points against Tampa Bay.
In a play that symbolized Seattle's frustrations all afternoon, defensive backs Jeremy Lane and Steven Terrell collide and lose a would-be interception that falls incomplete.
Offensive line coach Tom Cable instructs offensive tackle George Fant on the sideline between series.
Offensive players listen as assistant head coach Tom Cable gives halftime instructions in the visitors locker room.
Receiver Paul Richardson has the ball knocked away on a deep route in the third quarter.
Receiver Tyler Lockett couldn't quite get to this pass just out of his reach in the third quarter.
Doug Baldwin looks for extra yards after a catch in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham is upended and fumbles after looking for extra yards in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Russell Wilson was sacked six times by the Buccaneers including this play in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Russell Wilson helps bring down Tampa Bay's Bradley McDougald after an interception late in the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll walks off the field after the game.
Receiver Tyler Lockett listens to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell as they leave the field after the game.
In the locker room, head coach Pete Carroll talked to his team.
Pete Carroll faces the media in the tunnel just outside of the visitor's locker room.
Once on the plane for the trip to Seattle, linemen Mark Glowinski and Germain Ifedi were already reviewing game video with line coach Tom Cable.
Back in Seattle just after midnight, receiver Doug Baldwin was the last leave the Delta charter.
