Alexander Takes Center Stage Quick Start Turns Spotlight On Seahawks’ Top Draft Pick

Shaun Alexander’s debut was a smash.

Nearly 6 yards a pop in 10 carries Saturday night and two 11-yard bursts for touchdowns in the Seahawks’ 28-16 win over the Colts.

Suddenly he’s Alexander the Great, ringed by media as he walked off the practice lot Monday at Eastern Washington University.

The first-round draft pick from Alabama is comfortable in front of an audience, be it a half-dozen reporters in training camp or 68,000-plus in Husky Stadium.

So compare your first TD in the pros to your first touchdown at Alabama.

“My first touchdown in college was my first carry of the Kentucky game,” Alexander said. “My first one here was on fourth-and-one. I think fourth-and-one is a little bit harder to get. This one was more special.”

When games start to count - the regular-season opener is Sept. 3 in Miami - the scores he rolls up will mean even more.

But as imposing as he’s looked, in practice and in Game One of the preseason, he remains No. 2 on the depth, behind Ricky Watters.

“Ricky’s going to carry the ball, more than anybody,” Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said after his team zipped through a Monday morning practice in “shells” - helmets, shoulder pads and shorts.

“And then Shaun, we’re going to play him in the games,” the coach added. “That was the plan and we’re probably going to stick with it.”

Isn’t it hard, Holmgren was asked, not to get caught up in what seems to be the complete package, a big, quick, instinctive, intelligent game-breaker? Holmgren was even asked if he saw things that make him, well …

“Giddy?” the coached finished. His interjection drew smiles, and a serious response.

“He’s a good player,” Holmgren said. “We knew that when we picked him. But there’s so much to learn.”

First-year running backs such as Edgerrin James of the Colts are the exception. For every James’ success story there are two Ricky Williams, who have to do too much too soon and are still trying to prove themselves.

“It’s tough at running back,” Holmgren said. “We’re in a great situation. Shaun has a great one in front of him. He has a chance to learn from Ricky. He’ll get a chance to play and show, like he did (in the opener).

“But I’m going to wait. I get excited about our players but they have a long ways to go,” Holmgren said. “Particularly the rookies.”

Asked how he thinks opportunity will be divided, Alexander side-stepped controversy as he might a linebacker.

“I don’t worry about that,” he said. “It’s not my job.”

The real test, of course, is the regular-season opener Sept. 3 with the Dolphins. “It would be more important against Miami,” Alexander said. “Hopefully I get one in that game.”

Notes

Rookie defensive tackle Chris Watson suffered one of the strangest injuries of camp Monday - a puncture wound in the knee area from an exposed piece of a blocking sled. The injury wasn’t considered serious… . Saturday’s 28-16 win over the Colts was as good as it looked.“I’ve coached first pre-season games that looked like you never practiced,” coach Mike Holmgren said. “They got ugly. I don’t think this game was like that. We functioned pretty well.” … Prime objective in Saturday night’s game with the Cardinals in Phoenix: a better start from the first offense. Holmgren said he was unimpressed with the work of his starting receivers early in Saturday night’s game… . All three quarterbacks - Jon Kitna, Brock Huard and Glen Foley - had their moments Saturday night. “Huard “played much better than he practiced,” Holmgren said. “I was encouraged by that.”

Notes, take two …

Despite allowing too many third-down conversions, particularly by the second unit, the overall grade of the Seahawks defense was close to a solid B. “We have good team speed on defense,” Holmgren said. “They played physically and they played fast. The only thing I want to see a little more of is a pass rush from them.” … Linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski (cramps) and defensive tackle Riddick Parker (ribs) practiced Monday after suffering minor setbacks Saturday night… The status of most of the walking wounded isn’t likely to change this week. Receivers Sean Dawkins and Karsten Bailey, tight end Christian Fauria and cornerback Shawn Springs aren’t expected to play Saturday night, Holmgren said. “We might get Corey (Walker) back as a running back (but) I don’t see that list changing a whole lot,” he said. “It’ll probably change next week.” … No movement was detected over the weekend in stalled negotiations with rookie holdout tackle Chris McIntosh… . An offer to sign former Packers D-lineman Gilbert Brown remains on the table, Holmgren said. Brown is an unsigned free agent who was impressive in spots for Holmgren in Green Bay.