KIRKLAND — Mack Strong returned to the practice field with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday afternoon, and he was busting heads as usual.
Only this time, he was doing it while wearing a baseball cap and a whistle. And he wasn’t actually hitting anyone.
“He had me doing some burpies earlier, doing some jumping jacks,” running back Shaun Alexander joked after Strong helped the coaches at Wednesday’s practice. “I’m like: Darn it, this whistle thing is already going to his head.”
Strong announced his retirement earlier this week following the discovery of a herniated disc in his spinal cord. The injury doesn’t prevent him from day-to-day activity, but he could put himself in serious danger if he were to continue playing football.
Thursday marked the first time that he helped out at practice.
On Wednesday, coach Mike Holmgren said he hoped to tap Strong’s 15 years of NFL experience as an unofficial member of the staff.
“He’s a valuable guy, and I know there’s something he can do to help this team, still, this year,” Holmgren said.
Alexander is among the players who were affected by Strong’s retirement. In addition to the emotional toll that the news took on Alexander, the loss of his longtime fullback will bring adjustments to the running game because Leonard Weaver is taking over.
“We’ve probably watched more film since 2002 this week,” Alexander said, “just so I can make sure that the (offensive) line, Leonard and me — everybody — knows what I expect and what I want to see and how I want to see it.”
And about those so-called “burpies?”
“I did them anyway,” Alexander said. “It’s Mack.
“He’s just extra eyes. It’s weird to have somebody that was playing last week be the extra eyes, like a coach. But we’ll respect that because he’s so wise.”
No problem: Alexander continues to show confidence in the running game, even though the numbers have been generally unimpressive.
Seattle has been held to less than 100 rushing yards in three of its five games this season, and had just 102 in the win over Cincinnati. The Seahawks’ average of 91.2 rushing yards per game ranks 23rd in the league, while the team’s clip of 3.4 yards per carry is good for only 26th.
Alexander has 378 yards, including just 25 in last Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, but still ranks fourth in the NFC in rushing.
“I think I’m doing OK for the league,” he said, “and I think I’m doing a little bit below OK for me. But then I think, with the situation that I’m in, it’s not that bad.”
Alexander, whose current streak of three touchdown-less games marks the longest drought of his career, added that he’s not affected by any outside criticism.
“I’ve done a couple things that have been really exciting for this town,” Alexander said. “And I think that, at the end of the day, no matter what’s going on, I’m either third or fourth in the conference and 11th in the NFL.
“… I think that because we’ve been so hot and so good and so dominant for all these years, people take something that is not as good and make it seem bad. We’re not in a bad position at all. We’re just used to being better.”
Quick slants: Cornerback Josh Wilson (ankle) had full participation at Thursday’s practice and looks like he might be able to play against New Orleans on Sunday. … Defensive tackle Rocky Bernard (knee) and tight end Marcus Pollard (knee) are among the players who are still sidelined by injuries. The official injury report doesn’t come out until today.
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