Which is more worrisome: Alexander's low yardage or sore foot?
09/22/2006
By GREGG BELL / Associated Press
Shaun Alexander was watching his Seahawks practice in the rain. Instead of his uniform and helmet, he was wearing a hooded blue cape.
Even though the NFL MVP played like a superhero in 2005, even though he dressed like one Thursday, Alexander has not been super-heroic this season.
Not yet.
"We've come to expect special things from that young man all the time," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said. "And sometimes it's hard."
Like this month.
Alexander got banged in the head and left foot while rushing for just 51 yards on 19 carries in a season-opening, 9-6 win at Detroit on Sept. 10. Then last week in the Seahawks' 21-10 win over Arizona, Alexander gained 89 yards on 26 carries.
It was the first time in two years that Alexander had been held below 100 yards rushing in consecutive regular season games.
On Thursday, he missed his second consecutive practice with the still-painful left foot. The Seahawks are listing the defending league rushing champion as probable to start Sunday against the New York Giants.
Is it a bruise? A sprain?
"Whatever you want to call it. I'm not a doctor," Alexander said. "It's sore. And the good thing about soreness is, it does stop. It is a lot better today than it was the last two weeks."
Alexander has started 68 of the last 69 games, since the end of the 2001 season when he replaced then-injured starter Ricky Watters. His only missed start came on Sept. 21, 2003, when he helped deliver his first child, daughter Heaven, and arrived late to a game.
When asked what the chances are that he won't play Sunday, Alexander said, "None. This game is too big.
"It's the Giants. If you go 2-1 with the Giants, it lets them feel they could be the big dogs on the block. We know they are that good. We know they could be a Super Bowl team, just like we know we could. Everybody wants to fight to establish who they are as soon as possible. That's why this game is big."
Bigger so far than the still-percolating questions about Alexander's season. After all, it is way early in the 16-game regular season.
But the Alexander questions are part of a larger issue of Seattle's offense managing only three field goals in Detroit — and then going AWOL for the middle two quarters of the Cardinals win.
Meanwhile, Seattle's overshadowed defense has carried its offense, which led the NFL in scoring last season.
Alexander mentioned two theories for the lower numbers — he is 77 yards behind his two-game total of last year.
One is that defenses are crowding the line of scrimmage even more than they did last season.
"They've put more people in the box — but, you know, I think they should," Alexander said with a smile. "And I think the Giants will also. They'll find a way to put another guy in the box."
Holmgren, the Seahawks' play caller, said only that defenses are giving Alexander MVP-worthy attention.
"We have to try and use different formations, different combinations," to combat that, Holmgren said.
Alexander's second theory is change. Seattle isn't the same team as the one that helped create Alexander's 1,880 yards rushing and an NFL record 28 touchdowns in 2005.
Former left guard Steve Hutchinson signed a $49 million, free-agent contract with Minnesota last spring. His replacement, Floyd Womack, is out for perhaps six weeks with a left knee injury. Chris Spencer, drafted in 2005 as a center, is now Plan C there.
The Giants aren't falling for this woe-is-Alexander stuff.
"Shaun always makes it interesting," said defensive end Michael Strahan, a seven-time Pro Bowler who is consuming much of Seattle's offensive planning this week.
"He is a great running back. You know he's going to go out there and he's going to play well.
"We just have to try to shut him down ... I think that's going to be our first order of business."
