Holmgren stresses progress

Shaun Alexander had one of the most productive seasons in NFL history last year, he picked up numerous postseason awards and he’s on the cover of Madden 2007. He spent time with LeBron James and Lance Armstrong at the ESPY’s and he has a book coming out next month.

That’s a heady streak of success, but the reigning league MVP heard the same message from Mike Holmgren as every other player on the roster at the coach’s pre-training camp address Friday night.

“I said everyone in this room must get better and I pointed him out,” Holmgren said. “I said we have the MVP, who set the touchdown record, but I don’t care. You can get better. Now, it is up to the player how he is going to do that and in what areas but I expect the coaches and players to improve.”

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has heard Holmgren’s speech so many times he could probably serve as its ghost writer. But that doesn’t diminish the message.

“It’s the same talk every year, but this year it was a little different,” Hasselbeck said following practice Saturday afternoon. “I have almost five pages of notes from that meeting and what was said and some of the highlights. Whether you’re Shaun Alexander, last year’s MVP, or Walter Jones, probably the best player in football, you can get better. All of us can get better.”

Hasselbeck said he wants to lower his interception total. He threw nine last season, a drop from 15 in 2004 and 15 in 2003.

“More than half of them were dumb mistakes, things I can definitely correct,” Hasselbeck said.

Alexander has improved his rushing totals by 184, 261 and 260 yards, respectively, the last three seasons. He set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns last season.

“It’s definitely possible (to improve), there are more numbers,” he said. “You say (29 touchdowns) and we can try to go for it.”

Injury update

As expected, several key players were essentially spectators on opening day as they recover from injuries or surgeries, including receiver Darrell Jackson, defensive ends Grant Wistrom and Joe Tafoya, defensive tackles Rocky Bernard and Marcus Tubbs, cornerback Jordan Babineaux, safety Michael Boulware and tight end Jerramy Stevens.

Jackson missed 10 games last season after having knee surgery and he had another operation in March.

“It’s a little concerning since he had the surgery a long time ago and for the numbers typically on that type of surgery it should be a little farther along,” Holmgren said.

Holmgren anticipates everybody will be available by Seattle’s final preseason game.

Receiver Peter Warrick encountered travel delays from Florida and missed the morning practice. He arrived in time to watch the afternoon session. Tight end Brock Edwards had perhaps the most unusual entry on the injury list.

“I heard he had the mumps,” said Holmgren, setting up his own punch line. “Now that’s the first case of mumps in the United States in the last 32 years.”

On a serious note, Holmgren said he’ll try to limit the physical contact in camp whenever possible to keep players healthier.