By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – Let the debate begin. And this time it has nothing to do with BCS rankings.
For the next 24 hours, the topic at hand is whether Shaun Alexander or Ricky Watters should be the Seattle Seahawks’ starting running back for the remainder of the season.
Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that he will choose one or the other to be his primary back after not being satisfied with the results when both runners split time against Denver on Sunday. Holmgren expects to name Alexander or Watters as his feature back by Wednesday.
“The best way to do it, I think, is to pick one,” Holmgren said Monday, after the duo combined for just 51 rushing yards in a 20-7 loss to the Broncos. “I just hope the other fellow understands what we’re doing. And they’re both good guys. They’ll understand.”
Watters entered the season as the starter, but suffered a cracked bone in his right shoulder during a Sept. 30 loss at Oakland. Alexander stepped into the lineup and has run for more than 1,000 yards.
They essentially split time Sunday – 35 plays for Alexander, 27 for Watters – with neither gaining more than 30 rushing yards.
Both have proven themselves as NFL starters, but Holmgren gave no indication which way he was leaning.
“One of them is going to play,” Holmgren said. “The other one is ready if the one guy gets tired or whatever. He’s a backup.
“They’re both starters. Ricky has started a long time; Shaun got his chance to start. They’re both starters, but I think we’re doing the team an injustice and to a certain extent, both players. It’s too hard to do that. You don’t get in the flow of the game if you’re a big-time running back.”
Holmgren added that he has no plans to feature both runners in the same backfield. One of the running backs can expect to get 25 or so carries per game, while the other will have to settle for 10 or fewer.
Alexander has more game-breaking ability, but has struggled at times to get the tough yardage – which is one of Watters’ specialties.
“Shaun is one of those backs that thrives on carrying the ball a lot,” Holmgren said. “He’ll go 2 (yards), 3, 1, 40.
” … What happens is, you have to be able to convert third-and-8 or second-and-9, throwing the ball in many cases. It’s pretty important that you gain more than 1 or 2, the way we’re going right now. At some point, it might not be as important, when we get the way to be playing the way I expect us to play. It’s a factor.”
Status quo: Other than a possible change at running back, Holmgren does not expect to shuffle his starting lineup despite some obvious struggles Sunday.
The offensive line gave up five sacks and struggled in run blocking, but Holmgren said he won’t make any changes there. Rookie cornerback Ken Lucas will remain the starter despite eight catches by Rod Smith in Sunday’s game. And defensive end Michael Sinclair, who has disappeared at times this season, won’t be replaced either (although Holmgren admitted that Matt LaBounty could see more time in a rotation with Sinclair).
Sinclair’s struggles go beyond this season, as he has just 11 1/2 sacks over his past 43 games after piling up an NFL-best 16 1/2 in 1998.
Holmgren admitted Monday that Sinclair has lost a step, partially due to the move from the speed-friendly Kingdome.
“I don’t think you’ll see numbers like that again” from Sinclair, Holmgren said.
Gutting it out: The coach said what the quarterback could not Monday: Matt Hasselbeck has been playing through pain.
Holmgren said a lingering groin problem and an injury Hasselbeck suffered to his left shoulder on Sunday affected the quarterback’s performance against the Broncos.
Hasselbeck, who throws right-handed, shrugged off the injuries.
“You have to play hurt,” said Hasselbeck, who completed 17 of 37 passes with two interceptions in the loss. “You can’t make an excuse. They don’t say, ‘You lost, but this guy was injured.’”
Say what?: Dallas wide receiver Joey Galloway has completed one pass this season, for minus-1 yard.
Yet his quarterback rating (79.2) is almost nine points better than that of Hasselbeck (70.4).
Quick slants: Defensive end Lamar King could be back this week after sitting out the past three games with a strained calf. … John Randle had two sacks in Sunday’s game, marking his first multi-sack game in more than a year. He has 8 1/2 sacks, the most in the NFL by an interior lineman. … Only about 6,300 tickets remain for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, meaning there is a chance it could be the first home sellout of the season. Tickets can be purchased by calling 206-622-HAWK.
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