RB Shaun Alexander is taking steps toward becoming the kind of runner the Seahawks might consider signing to a long-term deal. The team has made no statements on the matter, but Alexander is running harder and doing more of the little things this season.
The 28-year-old runner carried 22 times for 140 yards during a 37-12 victory over Arizona on Sunday. He ran hard throughout the game. He got in the way of pass rushers just enough to spare QB Matt Hasselbeck from unnecessary damage. And when the goal line neared, Alexander did what he does best: score touchdowns.
Alexander's four rushing TDs tied the team record he already shared with former Seahawks RB Curt Warner. Alexander also recorded his 24th game with at least 100 yards on the ground, tying former RB Chris Warren for the franchise record. Warner did it 23 times.
The highlight Sunday came on one of Alexander's non-scoring runs. He ran to the right on a sweep, then cut back to the left for a 45-yard gain after Arizona sniffed out the initial play.
"This was supposed to be a sweep around right end," FB Mack Strong said, "and normally nobody can ever cut those back all the way."
Alexander finished a yard short of the NFL rushing title last season. He did become the only player in NFL history to score 15 touchdowns in four consecutive seasons, and he is already one-third of the way to making it five years in a row.
If this keeps up, the Seahawks will have to decide whether to reward Alexander with a big-money contract. The team signed him in July to a one-year franchise deal worth $6.32 million with the understanding that management would not slap him with the franchise tag in 2006. The arrangement gave Alexander additional incentive to play well.
A week ago, Alexander broke from his usual style by lowering his shoulder and running over a safety to pick up the needed yardage on third-and-1. The trend continued against Arizona.
"Right from the beginning, I thought he ran real hard," coach Mike Holmgren said. "I thought he slammed it up in there pretty good.
"Now, he made a couple plays by doing what he does and that's starting over there and coming back over this way. I've said it many times: I don't want to take that away from him because he makes plays.
"But there were times in there when we called plays basically up the gut on short yardage situations or second-and-2 and he was running it like he wanted to get the two yards. That's a good thing."
Alexander's pass protection still needs work, but he does at least seem more willing in that department.
"He is working harder at that, he really is," Holmgren said. "And it's the least fun thing to do for a running back. But he is improved.
"He and I have been down the road a few times. I can tease him about that a little bit. But it's nice to see him do that because he is capable and it helps everybody out when he does that."
NOTES, QUOTES
—The Seahawks rolled out the red carpet Sunday while inducting former coach Chuck Knox into their Ring of Honor. The occasion gave current coach Mike Holmgren a chance to remember the days when Knox took him under his wing. The year was 1992 and Holmgren had just been named coach of the Packers. Knox was coaching the Los Angeles Rams.
Knox took Holmgren aside while the two were scouting college players at the Senior Bowl. Knox talked to the new coach about what to expect.
"I remember going home that evening and thinking, 'He didn't have to do that, at all,'" Holmgren said.
When the Rams visited Lambeau Field later in 1992, Holmgren showed up on the sideline wearing only a sweater despite frigid conditions in an effort to appeal to Knox's tough side. "They were all dressed like the Michelin Man with masks, so I couldn't even find him in the beginning," Holmgren said. "As soon as I hit the field, I knew I had made a huge mistake." When the two finally met, Knox said, "Mike, you're cold, aren't you?"
—Former Seahawks DE Chike Okeafor made a lot of noise when he signed with Arizona in the offseason. Okeafor bad-mouthed his former defensive teammates for having a losing attitude. He later criticized Seahawks management for the way contract negotiations were handled. Okeafor fell silent when the Cardinals and Seahawks played Sunday. He never came close to a sack while working against Seahawks RT Sean Locklear. Okeafor's replacement, DE Bryce Fisher, collected a 9-yard sack among several impact plays. "I believe that I am good enough to be a starter in this league, and be a playmaker," Fisher said. "Hopefully we can keep things going." Fisher, a free-agent addition from the Rams, ranks tied for fifth in the NFL with three sacks in three games.
—RB Shaun Alexander has tied the franchise record for 100-yard games. He now has 24 in five-plus seasons with the team, matching former RB Chris Warren and surpassing former RB Curt Warner (23). Alexander rushed for 140 yards Sunday, his second 100-yard game of the 2005 season.
—K Josh Brown had not attempted a FG before Sunday. He made both attempts during a 37-12 victory over Arizona. Brown made 23 of 25 last season. He is an accurate kicker.
—RB Josh Scobey averaged 28.5 yards on his kickoff returns Sunday, helping Seattle enjoy improved field position. Field position had been a problem in the first two games.
—CB Andre Dyson will return this week after missing playing time due to illness.
—CB Kelly Herndon should return this week after suffering a stinger Sunday.
—RT Floyd Womack will not return until the St. Louis game. Current starter Sean Locklear will return to the bench at that time.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
REPORT CARD VS. CARDINALS
PASSING OFFENSE: B — Three dropped passes prevented a perfect grade here. Everything else worked almost to plan. QB Matt Hasselbeck completed 20 of 31 passes for 242 yards and an 88.4 rating. He missed a few throws but did not take a sack. WR Darrell Jackson dominated against a rising young CB for the second week in a row. Arizona's Antrel Rolle was in coverage much of the way as Jackson caught eight balls for 125 yards. Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall didn't fare any better a week earlier. The Cardinals had to respect TE Jerramy Stevens down the middle of the field, creating opportunities for the receivers.
RUSHING OFFENSE: A — RB Shaun Alexander ran with determination once again and the Cardinals had no answer for him. Alexander's running allowed Seattle to put together four 80-yard TD drives, and Alexander finished each one with a rushing TD. FB Mack Strong did a nice job clearing out the Cardinals' LBs and DBs. Seattle also continued to get outstanding blocking from its receivers. WR Joe Jurevicius is a big guy (6-5, 230) and a willing blocker downfield. Alexander's best run was one coaches did not draw up. He reversed field to the left for a 45-yard gain after the Cardinals shut down an attempted sweep to the right. Alexander is not a burner, but he showed surprising speed in accelerating away from defenders.
PASS DEFENSE: B — The pass rush was outstanding. Seattle pounded Cardinals QB Kurt Warner from the beginning. Warner left the game in the first half and did not return. DE Bryce Fisher got three hard hits on Warner early in the game. Seattle still suffered from the occasional lapse in pass defense, as when FS Ken Hamlin blew a coverage and Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin escaped for a 45-yard reception. That play was the exception, however. Seattle continued to improve its blitzing. SS Michael Boulware helped seal the outcome by sacking QB Josh McCown and forcing a fumble the Seahawks recovered at the Arizona 1. The pass rush was hugely important because Seattle lost CB Andre Dyson (illness) and CB Kelly Herndon (concussion).
RUSH DEFENSE: B — The Cardinals gained only 90 yards on the ground and 40 of that was not by running backs. DT Marcus Tubbs and DT Chuck Darby dominated against the Cardinals' shaky interior line. Both men found their way into the backfield repeatedly. DE Grant Wistrom was also disruptive. He nearly took the handoff from McCown on one play, knifing through to drop RB J.J. Arrington for a 2-yard loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C — The punting game remains a concern. P Leo Araguz ranks 23rd in the league for net average after the Seahawks allowed a 15-yard return Sunday. K Josh Brown attempted (and made) his first FG tries of the season. RB Josh Scobey averaged a healthy 28.5 yards per kickoff return as Seattle improved its starting field position. The punt-return game remained shaky as WR Peter Warrick averaged only 4.7 yards per return. CB Jimmy Williams gained no yards on his only punt return of the day.
COACHING: A — The plan was simple. Run the ball and punish Warner. The Seahawks accomplished both goals. Coach Mike Holmgren gets credit for going with a quick-passing game that helped hold the Cardinals without a sack. Holmgren also stuck with the running game, a smart tactic given the Cardinals' problems with Alexander in recent matchups. Alexander now has seven rushing TDs in his last two games against the Cardinals. Holmgren wisely stuck with what was working best. The defensive plan was to pressure and punish the QB. Seattle did a nice job unveiling blitzes that Arizona could not handle.
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