Patience required with star runner
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Fans who might get frustrated by Shaun Alexander’s boom-or-bust running style are not alone. Even Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren sometimes finds it difficult to watch his Pro Bowl running back.
“Let me put it this way: I probably have to control my own emotions more,” Holmgren said Wednesday when asked if Alexander’s style dictates his play-calling. “If I make the conscious effort, ‘I’m going to stay with the run,’ I’m staying with the run.”
Holmgren’s patience paid off last week, when Alexander bounced back from a four-carry, 3-yard effort in the first quarter to finish with 144 rushing yards and a score.
The performance was typical of Alexander, with nine of his carries going for 1 yard or less and another eight going for 9 yards or more. Just seven of his 28 carries went for between 3-5 yards.
“He’s the type of runner that, you get 1 (yard), 1, 30,” Holmgren said. “You can probably say that about a number of guys in the league. Then you have the guys that (run for) 3, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3.”
Asked which running back he preferred, Holmgren took Choice C.
“I’d rather have a guy that scores 20 touchdowns a year, which (Alexander) does,” he said. “Our guy does that. He gets down to the red zone, and he wants the ball.”
Looking for more from Trufant
Although he is only 24 years old, cornerback Marcus Trufant has more NFL starts as a Seahawk (32) than any other current defensive starter. So Holmgren expects him to play better than he has so far this season.
“My expectation level for him is high,” Holmgren said. “Anytime he falls short of that – fair or not fair – I will talk to him about it.”
Holmgren did just that last week, when he was so disappointed in Trufant’s opening-game performance that he brought him into his office for a one-on-one meeting.
“It wasn’t really a scolding,” said Trufant, out of Washington State University. “It was just one of those things where he expects a lot out of me, and he just wants me to go out and have a great year. He just wants me to play great football.”
Mili returns to field
For the first time since suffering a painful intestinal disorder two weeks ago, tight end Itula Mili was back at practice.
“It’s nice to run around in pads,” said Mili, who lost 15 pounds from his 260-pound frame during the ordeal. “I don’t feel like quite the same person yet.”
Mili started experiencing sharp pains a few days before the season opener, eventually causing him to go to the hospital.
Doctors found a blockage in his intestine that, according to Holmgren, was later determined to be a result of Mili having his appendix removed as a child.
Injury update
Neither Mili nor wide receiver D.J. Hackett (knee) was on Seattle’s injury report, meaning they are both expected to be available for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The only Seahawks listed on the injury report are offensive linemen Wayne Hunter (hamstring) and Floyd Womack (triceps), both of who will miss the game.