By Scott M. Johnson
Herald Writer
KIRKLAND – What a difference $47 million makes.
The Seattle Seahawks defense, which ranked at the bottom of the league last season, is the 11th-best defense in the 31-team NFL through four games.
Last year’s unit gave up an average of 399.4 yards per game, but opponents have been held to a respectable 295.8 yards per game this season. Opposing teams had 100-yard runners in 10 games last season, while that has yet to happen in 2001.
The Seahawks gave up 153.4 rushing yards per game last season, compared with 85.5 this season.
“You’ve got to tip your hats to them,” coach Mike Holmgren said Monday. “You go from dead last against the run, by a lot, to seventh. … That’s good. We can build on that.”
The Seahawks actually ranked 28th against the run in 2000, but 31st overall.
Free-agent additions like Chad Eaton, John Randle, Levon Kirkland and Marcus Robertson, whose potential combined salaries could exceed $47 million, have been major factors in the improved play. Eaton provides the Seahawks with an inside presence that was missing last season. Kirkland and Randle have drawn attention from opposing blockers, allowing Chad Brown to pass rush more, while Anthony Simmons has been able to make more plays near the line of scrimmage. Robertson is the biggest hitter on the defense, and excels against the run.
“They can’t double everybody,” cornerback Willie Williams said. “It makes offenses re-think their thinking process. You can’t double Randle and Chad Brown and Chad Eaton and (Michael) Sinclair and Kirkland and Lamar King.”
Return woes: For all the offensive problems the Seahawks have had this season, some of the blame can be pinned on field position.
Fifteen of the Seahawks’ 50 drives this season have started inside their own 20.
Seattle, which statistically has the best kickoff coverage unit in the AFC this season, ranks last in kickoff returns. The Seahawks’ average starting point for a drive is just across their own 23-yard line.
Charlie Rogers, one of the top return men in the NFL during his first two seasons, is not among the AFC’s top seven in kickoff or punt returns. He has also fumbled in each of the past two games and has muffed a punt.
Alexander, the great debut: Running back Shaun Alexander registered the fifth-best rushing day in team history with his 176 yards on Sunday.
Alexander’s breakout game propelled him ahead of Ricky Watters on the Seahawks’ rushing chart. Alexander now has 203 yards this season, 12 more than Watters.
Alexander has three rushing touchdowns, which puts him on pace to become the first Seahawk to hit double digits in that category since 1995.
Mojo rising: Just about everyone, it seems, is getting caught up in Mariner fever. Several of the Seahawks players will probably tune into Game 1 of the AL Division Series during their off day today, and even coach Mike Holmgren admitted he might sneak a peak.
“I’m working, but I’ll turn on the TV while I’m looking at film and cheer a little bit for them,” Holmgren said.
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