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Wristy Business for Seattle Superstar

Wristy Business for Seattle Superstar

By Rob Longley

The Super Bowl appearance two seasons ago is disappearing into the rear-view mirror as fast as Shawn Alexander used to burst through a hole.

So are the Seattle Seahawks done as serious contenders in the NFC?

A 2-1 start has done little to confirm nor deny the suggestion as the ‘Hawks have looked good, not so good and so-so in three outings to date.

But at age 30 and with injuries dogging him for parts of the past two seasons, it is fair to suggest that if the Seahawks are going to return to the league’s elite, they will need a healthy output, if not complete health, from Alexander.

A foot injury in 2006 essentially took the prospect of a return visit to the Super Bowl out of the equation. The Seahawks offence struggled and never really mounted any momentum after Alexander returned.

When Alexander suffered a wrist injury in the 2007 season opener, then, it wasn’t too soon for Seahawks fans to panic.

After last week’s victory over Cincinnati, it was revealed that the bone in his left wrist has a small crack prompting head coach Mike Holmgren to implore fans and media not to over react.

“This is not the same deal (as last year’s broken foot),” Holmgren said. “It’s not preventing him from playing. It’s not going to prevent him from playing. He’s just going to get used to wearing the cast.”

Easy for the coach to say, especially after the fumble two weeks ago, which was more a result of a broken play than a broken bone, cost the Seahawks a chance of a winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals.

Still, with 275 rushing yards in three games, Alexander is third in the NFC and on pace for another big season, one that should be productive enough to give the Seattle offence the balance it needs.

“The guy’s playing with one arm and he’s making guys miss, getting yards,” Seahawks receiver Marcus Pollard said.

“We’re 2-1 and our best days are ahead of us,” added fullback Mack Strong. “Our best running days are ahead of us.”

Most encouraging for the ‘Hawks has been Alexander’s performance late in games.

In the fourth quarter, when game-winning and/or clock eating drives are often the order of the day, Alexander is averaging a beefy 5.1 yards per lug.

“My whole career has been like that,” said Alexander, who landed on the even century mark in the crucial 24-21 over the Bengals, the 37th time in his career that he’s reached triple digit rushing yards.

“I don’t know if I quite get better, I thing things just start to work better for us.”

How much with the cast affect him? Let’s just say every time he lands funny, bobbles a handoff or doesn’t hit a hole as hard as fans would like, there will be questions.

“You watch him run and you watch him fall,” Holmgren said. “It’s just he’s a little reluctant. He’s aware of it being there.”

Seahawks fans know are well aware of it as well and especially cognizant of where their bread is buttered. Frustrated with Alexander’s costly fumble the week previous, the boo-birds came out early last week at Qwest Field when the running game stalled.

“I think they were reading my mind,” Alexander said. “No one will ever be more frustrated than I will be when it comes to our running game.”

BORDER CROSSINGS:

Don’t look now but the Detroit Lions have the NFL’s No. 3-ranked offence, averaging 413 yards and 25.7 points per game through three weeks. Quarterback Jon Kitna has a league-high 980 passing yards heading into Sunday’s test against the tough Chicago Bears defence .... Ford Field fans will see a familiar face leading the Bears offence: former Michigan star Brian Griese is finally taking over from beleagured starter, Rex Grossman ... The 0-3 Bills return to Orchard Park for a divisional contest against theNew York Jets and the injuries continue to mount. Rookie linebacker, Paul Pozluzny broke his forearem in last week’s blowout loss to the New England Patriots and is likely done for the season. And rookie Trent Edwards gets the start in place of struggling J.P. Losman, who suffered a knee injury against the Pats ... Edwards will be the first of six quarterbacks drafted this year to get a start. “Those guys drafted ahead of me are great football players,” Edwards said. “I have a lot of respect for them but I’m just focussed on my task at hand.” ... Kitna said the Lions didn’t get too high on themselves after a 2-0 start before being slammed back to earthy with a 56-21 loss to Philadelphia. “It’s not because we were arrogant or cocky,” Kitna said. “They took it to us. They played a perfect game and we didn’t.” ... The biggest challenge for the Seahawks this week will be slowing San Francisco running back Frank Gore. The powerful runner shredded the ‘Hawks defence for 212 yards in one meeting last year.