Seattle's Alexander begins comeback trail

By Michael Rushton Sep 11, 2007, 22:38 GMT

- It's tough to effectively gauge just how Shaun Alexander's foot injury impacted the Seattle Seahawks last season.

On one hand, it is impossible to replace a back as talented as Alexander in the lineup. The former first-round pick rushed for 1,880 yards and a then-NFL record 28 touchdowns -- including 27 on the ground -- during his MVP campaign of 2005.

However, a pesky broken foot limited his ability early in 2006 and eventually shut him down for six games. He did play the final seven games of the season, though, as Seattle finished 9-7 on the year and won the NFC West.

The Seahawks went 3-3 without Alexander in the lineup and benefited from a weak division.

So far so good for Alexander and the Seahawks this year, though, after the team posted a 20-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sunday's season opener. The 228-pound running back appeared to be 100 percent healthy versus the Bucs, rushing for 105 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries.

Most importantly, a healthy Alexander opens up the rest of the offense for the Seahawks. Case in point was Matt Hasselbeck's 34-yard touchdown pass to Alexander's backup, Maurice Morris, who's not exactly known for his ability to haul in passes out of the backfield.

'It always feels good to win, first of all, but to score points and have 100 yards rushing,' said Alexander. 'Any time the backs are catching balls and we threw some, to (Morris), that always makes it exciting.'

That touchdown was big, as it turned a seven-point lead into a 20-6 advantage.

In regards to Alexander, Sunday's game was just the first step towards recapturing the title as not only the best back in the NFC, but best in his own division.

While the three-time Pro Bowl selection limped to 896 yards to go along with seven rushing touchdowns in 2006, San Francisco's Frank Gore and Steven Jackson of St. Louis were busy ripping up the league en route to record- setting performances.

Still, to be the best, you have to beat the best. And Alexander isn't ready to be beaten yet.

'I thought he ran hard (Sunday), and I like it when he does that,' Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren said of Alexander. 'He wants to have a good year. He came into camp prepared to have a good year and in very good shape, I thought. If he could have a year close to his 2005 year, I think we will probably have a pretty good year as a team.'

DEFENSE MAKES A STATEMENT

Seattle made a handful of changes to its defensive unit this offseason, and the end result inflicted some punishment on Sunday.

It started when end Patrick Kerney, safety Brian Russell and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu combined to lay out Tampa Bay running back Carnell 'Cadillac' Williams in the third quarter, sending the back out of the game with a rib injury.

'Our guys came to play defense today,' said Holmgren after the game. 'They are still getting to know one another. We have some new people in there. I thought we were very physical, and I liked that part of it. I thought we rushed the passer pretty well and yes, our defense played a good game today.'

Kerney and Russell are both entering their first year with Seattle, as is free safety Deon Grant. Kerney had five tackles, four quarterback hits and 1 1/2 sacks, while Russell was credited with just the one tackle. Grant chipped in with three tackles and a pass defensed.

'I felt good this week,' Grant said. 'All the guys were together going over what we were going to do in the game. Once we got to the game we had a good turnout. I was just very anxious to see what it was going to be as a whole and I'm very comfortable with it.'

Kerney, meanwhile, had to work through some nerves in his Seattle debut, which came in front of the home crowd.

'Well, any game you have to calm down the nerves, and certainly a season opener, there is a lot of anticipation and a lot of fire out there,' said Kerney, who ended last season on Atlanta's injured reserve because of a torn pectoral muscle. 'It will take some time to settle into your own and start playing the way you're really capable of.'

Some old faces got into the act as well. Linebackers Julian Peterson and Leroy Hill temporarily knocked Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia out of the game in the third quarter, and Tatupu forced a fumble late in the fourth that sealed the win.

INJURY UPDATE: CAN'T HACKETT

D.J. Hackett, expected to fill the number two wideout spot behind Deion Branch this season, made just one catch before leaving the game with an ankle injury and is out indefinitely.

Hackett, who suffered his injury in the first quarter, is expected to be out at least a month.

'The plan going in was to platoon (Nate) Burleson and Hackett anyway, so when Hackett went down, Nate just played a lot more,' Holmgren said after the game.

Burleson ended with two catches for 41 yards, while Branch was held without a reception.

UP NEXT: TRIP TO THE DESERT

Seattle hits the road for a matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

The Seahawks have split 16 all-time meetings with the Cardinals and had won four straight over the club until a 27-21 setback on December 10 of last season.

Seattle ran that winning streak to four games with a 21-10 victory in the first 2006 meeting between the teams on September 17. Alexander scored his first touchdown of the season in that contest, which was Seattle's club-record 11th straight victory at home. Darrell Jackson, now a member of the San Francisco 49ers, caught five passes for 127 yards and a touchdown for the Seahawks.

The Cardinals then used a game-high 115 yards and a score from Edgerrin James to down Seattle in December. Hasselbeck threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns, while Alexander gained 76 yards on 22 carries.

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