Washington quote on Alexander

[Luxorreb]

“Everybody talks about Shaun Alexander like he’s Superman,” Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington said. “But I don’t know. The MVP came out there today and when the Riddles got to poppin’, he went to the sideline to get an extra week or whatever.”

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/footba...hside15ww.html

Resilient Seahawks find a way to keep winning

By CLARE FARNSWORTH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Eight minutes into the biggest game of the Seahawks’ best season, there was Shaun Alexander face down on the turf, his mind cloudier than the skies that poured rain on Qwest Field all afternoon.


SEAHAWKS 20, REDSKINS 10

- Photos: Game | Fans
- Seahawks-Redskins game in review
- How they scored | Box score
- Grading the Seahawks

How could the Seahawks possibly compensate for losing their All Pro running back, who was voted the NFL’s most valuable player after scoring a league-record 28 touchdowns and rushing for a league-best 1,880 yards during the regular season?

It was a concussion that could have prompted the unthinkable: The Seahawks losing their divisional playoff game to the Washington Redskins on Saturday.

“For a second, you’re like, ‘Damn’,” All Pro left guard Steve Hutchinson said after the Seahawks had outlasted the Redskins 20-10 to advanced to next week’s NFC Championship game against the winner of Sunday’s Chicago-Carolina matchup.

Rather than be damned, the Seahawks refused to concede their season was over. Instead, they continued what has been a season-long trend.

It started even before the regular season did: Whenever a starter was injured, someone was there to not only step in, but step up.

Sean Locklear did it in the preseason when right tackle Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack strained a triceps. Jerramy Stevens did it when tight end Itula Mili was hospitalized the week of the season opener. Joe Jurevicius did it when starting receivers Darrell Jackson (nine games) and Bobby Engram (four games) were sidelined with injuries. Marquand Manuel did it when free safety Ken Hamlin received season-ending head injuries in an altercation outside the Seattle nightclub at midseason. Jordan Babineaux did it while cornerbacks Andre Dyson (four games) and Kelly Herndon (four games) were out. Rookie linebacker LeRoy Hill did it when veteran Jamie Sharper was lost for the season.

Saturday, it was Maurice Morris, and Matt Hasselbeck, and Jackson, and fullback Mack Strong who helped replace the statistical void left by Alexander’s absence.

Hasselbeck passed for one touchdown – to Jackson – and ran for another. Jackson caught nine passes for 143 yards. Morris carried the ball 18 times – after getting 71 in 16 regular-season games. Strong broke the longest run of his 13-year career when it was most needed – on a third-and-6 play in the fourth quarter.

“We’ve learned a great deal about losing guys this year,” Hasselbeck said.

Lesson One: Don’t give up, no matter how valuable the player that has been lost.

“Mo stepped up against a tough defense and got some tough yards for us,” center Robbie Tobeck said.

Morris sensed it was his turn to be the super-sub as soon as he saw Alexander go down.

“From the sideline, the way Shaun got hit by those two guys, I kind of figured that was a tough one,” Morris said. “I’ve had a concussion before and I know how they are.”

The Redskins didn’t give Alexander a lot of respect, before or after he was injured.

“Everybody talks about Shaun Alexander like he’s Superman,” Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington said. “But I don’t know. The MVP came out there today and when the Riddles got to poppin’, he went to the sideline to get an extra week or whatever.”

Alexander received a concussion on a second-and-6 carry on the Seahawks’ fourth possession of the game. He ducked under linebacker LaVar Arrington, but ended up with three Redskins on top of him. After being down for several minutes, a woozy Alexander was helped to the sideline.

Teammates said Alexander was “out of it,” which forced him to sit out the rest of the game. Alexander did not talk to reporters after the game.

But after a recovery period, Alexander remained a part of this historic game. He was the first one to greet Hasselbeck on the sideline after the Seahawks quarterback had scored on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. As Strong broke his long run on the fourth quarter drive that allowed the Seahawks to burn some clock and extend their lead with a field goal, Alexander leaped from the sideline, did a little dance and waved his arms.

Because his teammates were there to fill the void created by his loss, Alexander’s season is not over. He is expected to be ready next Sunday, when the Seahawks host a conference championship for the first time in their 30-year history – and play in one for the first time since after the 1983 season.

“You sigh for a minute,” Hutchinson said of seeing Alexander and all his touchdowns and yards sprawled on the field. “But then you’ve got to take a breath and say, ‘Hey, it’s early in the game. We’ve to perform. We’ve got to win this game.’.”

The Seahawks didn’t just say it, they found a way to do it.

Clare Farnsworth can be reached at 206-448-8016 or clarefarnsworth@seattlepi.com.

[redrock-skins]

Kind of a strange comment, but not really that off base. Seattle may want to consider that before throwing a ton of money at Alexander next year. They did just fine without him. Shaun will demand a lot of money too and would not be surprised if he left.

[LongTimeSkinsFan]

As far as Alexander is concerned he warrants a legitimate superstar contract. Would I make him the highest paid back in the NFL? Hell NO. As far as I'm concerned, the guys that deserve the top $$$ are the ones that bring the rings home, and Shaun has yet to prove to anyone that he can be a clutch player. He was shut down in Redskins vs Seahawks V.1 and watched 90% of the game from the sidelines yesterday. Yes he was the NFL rushing champ; yes he broke the record for TDs scored, but when you play teams like Arizona, SF, and St Louis twice each you're bound to rack up some astronomical numbers. Hell I wish Portis could have enjoyed a schedule like that!

[That Guy]

seattle's oline made ours look like trash during that game... i was shocked how good they were playing compared to the other 17 games we played (obviously including our first game). Their skill players are soft though. We knocked DJ out 9 games and engram out 4, and we sent DJ out again for a while this game as well as knocking SA out very early (he fumbled in his limited time as well).

with that oline and that QB they could draft a 2nd-3rd round RB and still be alright.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by That Guy

seattle's oline made ours look like trash during that game... i was shocked how good they were playing compared to the other 17 games we played (obviously including our first game). Their skill players are soft though. We knocked DJ out 9 games and engram out 4, and we sent DJ out again for a while this game as well as knocking SA out very early (he fumbled in his limited time as well).

with that oline and that QB they could draft a 2nd-3rd round RB and still be alright.

You don't need superstar back's to win championships, what you need is superstar O-linemen, they will make an ordinary back look great.

Our line is overated, it's that simple.

How on earth Raymer gets tossed into the mix at guard is beyong me, I can't believe we have no one else to fill in at guard, we could have probably pulled someone out of the stands who could have done better.

[PSUskinsfan11]

Looks like the Auburn v. 'Bama rivalry comin back between those guys.

[MTK]

Alexander is soft and a stat hog. I don't blame the Seahawks for not giving him a monster contract.

[redrock-skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Alexander is soft and a stat hog. I don't blame the Seahawks for not giving him a monster contract.

I dare him to come to the NFC east. He wouldn't last a season.

[dgack]

Alexander's numbers are all fine and good but people who think he's better than Tomlinson are on crack. Run the numbers and check the rankings of the run D's he's faced this season (and let's be honest, most of his career) and it's no wonder he's setting records.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by That Guy

seattle's oline made ours look like trash during that game... i was shocked how good they were playing compared to the other 17 games we played (obviously including our first game). Their skill players are soft though. We knocked DJ out 9 games and engram out 4, and we sent DJ out again for a while this game as well as knocking SA out very early (he fumbled in his limited time as well).

with that oline and that QB they could draft a 2nd-3rd round RB and still be alright.

Its hard to compare a team who rested it players for two weeks to ones that had to play lights out for six with no rest. I'm not making an excuse but we do need to keep that in mind.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Let's be just a bit analytical here for a moment.

Shaun Alexander played 6 games this year against some pretty mediocre defenses in the NFC West; that's not open to debate. But every RB with good stats played some soft defenses this year. LT got to play the Raiders and Chiefs twice each. Tiki Barber got to play the Chiefs and the Cardinals and the Saints and the 49ers and the Raiders. Even Clinton Portis got to feast on the Cards, Chiefs, 49ers, Rams and Raiders.

But to say Alexander's soft when he led the NFL in rushing this year and missed leading the NFL in rushing last year by one-yard has to be a bit of an exaggeration.

When you say that he's good because he has a wonderful OL in front of him that makes him sound like a "system back". If someone said that about Clinton Portis, people here would be apoplectic and say that just isn't so.

And by the way, if the Skins OL is so "questionable" on this thread, why is everyone so willing to cut them slack and point out how good Dockery is on the poll about the Skins' biggest need in the offseason?

Alexander is not the best RB in the NFL, but he's certainly in the top 10 and probably in the top 5. The problem with signing him is that he's about to turn 30 and most - but certainly not all - RBs over the age of 30 tend to regress in their careers. I would not pay him huge money nor would I sign him to any 5-7 year deal in order to amotize a huge signing bonus. But right now - and probably for a year or so - he's a damned good RB.

And Marcus Washington's comments were a bit out of place. Usually Washington is a thoughtful and insightful kind of guy so I'm surprised to hear him say this. The fact that the opposition lost their "Superman" and yet was able to win the game handily would make the opposing defense look like it might have been - - overrated. I don't think that's the message he meant to convey, but it is certainly a conclusion one might draw.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

And Marcus Washington's comments were a bit out of place. Usually Washington is a thoughtful and insightful kind of guy so I'm surprised to hear him say this. The fact that the opposition lost their "Superman" and yet was able to win the game handily would make the opposing defense look like it might have been - - overrated. I don't think that's the message he meant to convey, but it is certainly a conclusion one might draw.

John Riggins did the game for Westwood One and he later echoed Washington's statements - and I don't think he had read those statements either - on his afternoon show on Sirius. He basically said that Alexander looked like he had tunnel vision in the early going and pointed to the fact that he basically just dropped the ball on the Seahawks first drive. He even went so far as to say that the 'Hawks might have been better off without Alexander that day because it looked like he was tightening up in the big game. He also said that had it been him he probably would have found a way to get back on the field. I think Riggo is a pretty insightful guy and he doesn't usually get caught up in a lot of bravado so I take his comments pretty seriously. That Washington - another player whose opinion I respect - says the same thing also makes me wonder. Add to that the fact that Seattle was willing to deal Alexander in the offseason for a 3rd round pick and it has got to make you wonder a bit. You can't argue with the numbers he put up this season, but just some food for thought. I guess we will have to see how he fares against that very good Panthers D in the NFC Championship.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Let's be just a bit analytical here for a moment.

Shaun Alexander played 6 games this year against some pretty mediocre defenses in the NFC West; that's not open to debate. But every RB with good stats played some soft defenses this year. LT got to play the Raiders and Chiefs twice each. Tiki Barber got to play the Chiefs and the Cardinals and the Saints and the 49ers and the Raiders. Even Clinton Portis got to feast on the Cards, Chiefs, 49ers, Rams and Raiders.

But to say Alexander's soft when he led the NFL in rushing this year and missed leading the NFL in rushing last year by one-yard has to be a bit of an exaggeration.

When you say that he's good because he has a wonderful OL in front of him that makes him sound like a "system back". If someone said that about Clinton Portis, people here would be apoplectic and say that just isn't so.

And by the way, if the Skins OL is so "questionable" on this thread, why is everyone so willing to cut them slack and point out how good Dockery is on the poll about the Skins' biggest need in the offseason?

Alexander is not the best RB in the NFL, but he's certainly in the top 10 and probably in the top 5. The problem with signing him is that he's about to turn 30 and most - but certainly not all - RBs over the age of 30 tend to regress in their careers. I would not pay him huge money nor would I sign him to any 5-7 year deal in order to amotize a huge signing bonus. But right now - and probably for a year or so - he's a damned good RB.

And Marcus Washington's comments were a bit out of place. Usually Washington is a thoughtful and insightful kind of guy so I'm surprised to hear him say this. The fact that the opposition lost their "Superman" and yet was able to win the game handily would make the opposing defense look like it might have been - - overrated. I don't think that's the message he meant to convey, but it is certainly a conclusion one might draw.

Good post, I agree with most everything you have said. Alexander is not the best in the NFL, at all, but is definately in the top ten. I do however agree with most people in this thread, that he is overrated because of this monster year. The key about the softness arguement is that other backs, such as CP had good games agaisnt good teams as well. He takes more of beating that Alexander, and in that sense he is tougher. In-conference games are some of the most important games, because the level of toughness and competition within those games. In general backs that succeed in hard conferences, play in very tough games, that are more demanding and physical than any ordinary game. Backs that peform well in these games, can generally be accepted as better and more reliable than backs that peform well in weak conferences. The main point being good backs in tough conferences are better backs.