Running game goes flat

  • Scott M. Johnson / Herald Writer
  • Sunday, December 9, 2001 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Scott M. Johnson

Herald Writer

DENVER – For one night at least, four legs were not better than two.

The return of Ricky Watters did not necessarily improve the Seattle Seahawks’ running game.

Seattle’s veteran running back has been out of action since Sept. 30, and coach Mike Holmgren hoped that he could alternate Watters and Shaun Alexander to keep teams off balance.

In Sunday’s 20-7 loss to the Denver Broncos, neither runner got going.

Alexander and Watters combined for 51 yards on 18 carries. Denver’s game plan was to shut down the running game, and the Broncos were overwhelmingly successful.

“I really didn’t get into a rhythm,” Alexander said after being held to 28 rushing yards. “I don’t think anybody on offense did.”

Alexander was on the field for 35 of Seattle’s 63 plays. Watters was on the field for 27, while the Seahawks ran an empty backfield on one play. The running backs never appeared on the field at the same time.

Holmgren said he hoped to get Alexander on the field for 40 plays to Watters’ 25, but the veteran seemed to see the bulk of the action in the first half.

“It was good to get back out there, but I wish it was under different circumstances,” Watters said. “We couldn’t find a rhythm.”

Despite his struggles, Alexander quietly went over 1,000 yards for the season during the game. He now has 1,009 rushing yards, making him the fourth Seahawks running back to eclipse the milestone in a season. The other three – Curt Warner, Chris Warren and Watters – have done it multiple times.

While Alexander started, Watters originally came on in passing situations. But he seemed to run the ball better early, and his role quickly changed. By the second half, both running backs were used in similar roles while alternating series.

Cornerbacks struggle: Rookie Ken Lucas was supposed to be the man who would replace suspended cornerback Shawn Springs, but on Sunday he looked like he still has a ways to go.

Lucas was beaten by Denver’s Rod Smith on numerous occasions, so much so that the Seahawks switched to Ike Charlton midway through the third quarter.

Lucas would not comment on the benching, but he said he would be ready when called upon again.

“I haven’t gotten an interception all year, so they keep testing me,” he said. “They keep coming at me, but I won’t back down.”

Holmgren refused to use youth as an excuse for Lucas’ struggles.

“Ken Lucas is the guy who’s out there playing,” Holmgren said. “If any team were out there, they’d be throwing at the rookie. It wasn’t Ken Lucas’ fault we lost the game.”

Lucas saw the bulk of the action against Smith, lining up across from him for 25 of the 40 plays when Smith was on the field.

Unfortunately for the Seahawks, Charlton didn’t fare much better. Smith finished with eight receptions for 66 yards despite playing on an injured ankle.

Line woes: The Seahawks’ offensive line played one of its worst games of the season, especially guards Chris Gray and Steve Hutchinson.

The running game never got going, and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was sacked five times – the highest total since Week 3.

“(The offense) moved the ball at times, but we had shots at the end zone and didn’t make it happen,” center Robbie Tobeck said. “We had almost 300 yards offensively (277), but seven points is not helping the defense out. We can’t expect to win 7-6 every week.”

Seahawk-wrecker: Denver running back Terrell Davis extended his streak of 100-yard games against the Seahawks.

Davis ran for 109 yards Sunday, his seventh consecutive game over the century mark against Seattle.

Davis has 1,021 rushing yards in nine career games against the Seahawks.

West coast awful: Neither offense looked dazzling Sunday, as both the Broncos and Seahawks played it more conservatively than in past years.

Denver threw the ball 37 times, but did not complete a pass of longer than 12 yards. Quarterbacks Brian Griese and Gus Frerotte combined to complete 21 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns.

Seattle opened things up a little bit more, with Hasselbeck throwing a career-high 37 passes.

“That’s probably more than I would like him to throw at this stage,” Holmgren said.

Griese leaves game early in third quarter: Griese left the game after taking a blow to the head early in the third quarter. Griese was injured on Denver’s first play from scrimmage in the second half while gaining 9 yards on a scramble. Seattle linebacker Levon Kirkland made the tackle on the play, landing hard on the fourth-year quarterback.

Quick slants: Seahawks defensive end Lamar King was held out for the third consecutive game due to a strained calf. … Kicker Rian Lindell has now missed four of his last five field goals from beyond 30 yards. … The Seahawks finished their 24-game history in AFC West games at Denver with a 4-20 record here. They have just one win here since 1989. Seattle will not return until 2006. … Gametime temperature was 38 degrees.

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