There is a problem with Zach Miller's role on this team.

That is evident by looking at his receptions. He has 11 of them.

Now, this is a player who has never caught fewer than 40 passes in any season since entering the NFL. He has caught 182 passes in the last three seasons alone, which is seventh-most of any tight end in the league.

There are currently 37 tight ends in the NFL with more catches than Miller.

"That's not on him," coach Pete Carroll said. "It's on us to get him the football. He's been a terrific factor blocking and helping us in pass protection. He had a great game last week for us, but not in the numbers way that you would see."

He has become the team's third offensive tackle, and the fact that Dallas had only a single sack on Sunday is proof that he's pretty effective.

"Zach's our ace in the hole as a blocker in terms of protection, in terms of the run game," said Darrell Bevell, Seattle's offensive coordinator. "He can do some good things in the pass game because we usually end up sending the other guys out and leaving him into block because he's so good at it. That's definitely something we need to look at and balance."

Anthony McCoy, Seattle's backup tight end, has nine receptions this season, and he actually has been targeted just as much.

Now, saying there's a problem is different from complaining. From the beginning of the season, Miller said that he could look at the team's situation with so many new linemen and know he would be called upon to block more.

"His attitude is perfect," Carroll said, "and his habits and mentality are perfect, but everybody wants to do more."

For now, he's facing the same reality that stymied John Carlson's production last season as pass-protection needs have cut into his ability to receiving opportunities.