KIRKLAND — Julius Jones had heard the question so many times that it’s become as familiar as his surname.
“I’ve been asked about that I-don’t-know-how-many times,” Jones said earlier this week when a reporter inquired as to how he feels about the Seattle Seahawks using co-starters at the running back position. “I don’t care. That’s been my whole career.”
True enough, there are a lot of things familiar about the Seahawks’ decision to feature both Jones — a former Dallas Cowboy who spent the past three seasons splitting time with Marion Barber III — and Maurice Morris as the team’s halfbacks.
It’s just not that common in Seattle, where the Seahawks have gotten used to workhorse backs over the years.
From Curt Warner to Chris Warren to Ricky Watters to Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks have been pretty predictable when it came to starting halfbacks. But this time around, Seattle is going with a two-headed attack that will make its debut in tonight’s preseason opener at Minnesota.
“My hope is, if both of them can play halfback, that over the course of the season I can maintain they’re health,” said head coach Mike Holmgren, who added that he might go as far as to alternate starters from week to week. “They’ll help each other that way. There will be stories (in the newspaper) about who’s starting, and who’s this and who’s that. They’re both starting.”
For Jones, the split duty is nothing new. He had a breakout year while sharing the load with veteran Eddie George in 2004, then saw Barber get more and more playing time in each of the past three seasons. Jones started all 16 games for the Cowboys last season but had a career-low 164 rushing attempts.
He’s not looking at tonight’s game as an opportunity to win the job as Seattle’s feature halfback but as another chance to share the load.
“I’m just trying to improve myself as a complete back,” he said. “I’m trying to do everything — blocking, catch the ball, everything. I want to prove myself as an elite back. And whatever happens happens. All that other stuff is out of my control.”
Morris, a backup for most of his six-year career, has seen his share of carries over the past two seasons because of Alexander’s failing health. He has carried the ball 301 times over the last two seasons, as compared to 171 over the first four.
“I’m going to continue to work as hard as I have since the first day I got here,” the soft-spoken Morris said. “But it’s kind of different. I’ll be playing a lot more. Now I get a chance to get the reps, not only in practice but also on game day.”
Morris said he understands why the Seahawks are featuring two backs instead of one.
“If you look around the league, a lot of teams are heading that direction,” he said. “The teams that are winning use that situation. It keeps the backs fresh. You can go 100 percent and not worry about anyone getting tired.
“There’s always somebody fresh. And there’s always a competitive situation.”
While there are other candidates to get carries — diminutive rookie Justin Forsett is a good candidate to become a preseason fan favorite, fullback Leonard Weaver is an accomplished runner, and veteran T.J. Duckett looks like the short-yardage back — the bulk of the workload will fall upon Morris and Jones.
“Right now I think it’s a great idea because you have two very good runners,” offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. “They both are going to get a chance to play, and whoever takes over takes over. They’ll both play though, because they’re both very good players.”
Notes: If this week’s practices are any indication, the punt-return roles will be handled by wide receiver Ben Obomanu and running back Justin Forsett. Nate Burleson was the Seahawks’ primary return man last season, but he is slated to be a starting receiver. … The Seahawks will take Saturday off and return to the practice field on Sunday.
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