Hawks off and running

MINNEAPOLIS – The Seahawks spent several months and millions of dollars overhauling their running game this off-season.

On Friday, it was a player who has been here since 2002 who carried that momentum.

Make that Mo’mentum.

Maurice Morris carried six times for 62 yards in the first quarter of Seattle’s exhibition game at Minnesota as the Seahawks ran out to an early lead in their 34-17 victory over the Vikings at the Metrodome.

“It’s his moment in the sun,” said Kasey Dunn, Seattle’s new running backs coach. “He’s kind of been in the shadows for a while. This is his opportunity, and he needs to make the most of it.”

Shaun Alexander is gone, released after the Seahawks signed free agents Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett. Friday was the debut of Seattle’s new backfield, but it was an old name that turned in a headline performance. Jones carried four times for 15 yards, but that wasn’t by design.

“Julius didn’t quite get the opportunities we wanted, the way the game worked out,” Dunn said. “We wanted to see him run the football, but it didn’t work out that way.”

It was about the only thing that didn’t go according to plan for Seattle’s offense, which rushed for 95 yards in the first half and 67 in the second. Seattle’s quarterbacks combined to pass for four touchdowns with no interceptions.

Matt Hasselbeck was nearly perfect in the two series he played, completing seven of his eight passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Seneca Wallace was just as impressive, completing 15 of 20 for 165 yards.

But quarterbacks aren’t the question on this team. The Seahawks’ passing game was perfectly adequate last season. It was on the ground that they stumbled.

Duckett came in for a short-yardage situation in the first quarter when the Seahawks needed 1 yard on second down. Duckett gained 7. The Seahawks needed 2 yards on third down in the second half. This time, Duckett gained 5.

Things weren’t perfect. Duckett lost two fumbles, but Seattle got the ball back each time. Seattle failed to convert a third-and-one in the first half when Jones was stopped for no gain.

“We have a ways to go,” head coach Mike Holmgren said. “Overall, I think I’m going to like what I see, but it’s really early.”