SEATTLE — When it has come to the Seattle Seahawks’ running game this season, coach Mike Holmgren has made few promises.
There was the time when he effectively scratched the ground attack by announcing his team would throw the ball early and often. That strategy was such an overwhelming success that the Seahawks have won four games in a row.
Then there was last week’s statement that running backs Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris would share the load.
Let’s just say the jury is still out on that one.
Seattle’s two-headed running attack combined for 135 rushing yards, the team’s highest total since the opener, in the 28-24 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. Alexander (65 yards) and Morris (64) both had similar rushing totals.
But what failed to happen Sunday was the anticipated split in playing time. Seattle’s two-headed running attack looked eerily similar to the one-man show that has been the Seahawks running game for years.
Alexander had four times as many carries (20 to five) and snaps (36 to nine) as Morris on Sunday.
“It depends on the game plan,” Morris said with a shrug this week. “If something’s working, we’re going to stick with it.”
While it still remains to be seen what the Seahawks’ dual-threat running attack might look like, Holmgren is still planning on giving something resembling equal time to Alexander and Morris.
“I would like to get it so it’s rather interchangeable, but they are different athletes,” Holmgren said last week. “So you run the same stuff, or a good portion of it, then they have their strengths and I’ll try to play to their strengths.”
Holmgren met with both players individually and explained how and why the team is going to use both runners. It’s the first time since midway through the 2001 season, when Alexander and Ricky Watters split time for a few weeks, that the Seahawks have tried a two-headed attack.
Back then, Alexander was the young up-and-comer hoping to get some carries behind his veteran teammate. Now the shoe is on the other foot.
Alexander, who turned 30 in August, is back from a knee injury and splitting time with Maurice Morris. While it’s not a perfect scenario — any team would rather have an Adrian Peterson or LaDainian Tomlinson to carry the load — it seems to be working for the Seahawks.
“Our game plan is pretty much the same as it’s always been,” Alexander told the media last Thursday. “We always find plays for Mo (Morris) to run and things for him to do; that’s just how we play.
“(In past years) I think we got in grooves where the stuff that I did was working so well early that Mo’s sets of plays weren’t used as much. But the offense hasn’t really changed that much.”
Consistent with running backs who turn 30, Alexander has shown signs of age this season — particularly in his health. He has already suffered wrist and knee injuries that have affected him on the field.
Alexander said last week that the new, smaller protective device on his left wrist will allow him to do more things — like catch the ball and possibly carry it in his left arm.
“I think the biggest thing is the pain is just different,” Alexander said. “It’s not as bad as it was the first month of having it.”
Alexander has been in good spirits since talking to Holmgren about the new plan for rotating halfbacks. He said that he was willing to do whatever is asked of him — with a small caveat.
“As long as we’re winning, I’m going to be cool,” Alexander said. “And we’re winning.”
Morris is taking a similar approach.
“I don’t have expectations as far as carries,” he said. “I’m just going to do whatever I have to do to help the team win.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
