Trotter's Takes

Jim Trotter

October 29, 2007

In 2005, his contract year, the Seahawks' Shaun Alexander scored 28 TDs and led the league in rushing, with 1,880 yards. This year, with his left hand wrapped in a cast, he hasn't crossed the goal line in his last five games, nor rushed for as many as 50 yards in his last three. Seattle fans are questioning whether Alexander (right) is running with the same intensity and purpose.... Scott Linehan, whose Rams are 0--7, deserves a mulligan this season because he has lost so many players to injury—nine starters have missed a total of 31 games.... Trailing 19--14 with less than two minutes left on Sunday, Baltimore had the ball at the Buffalo 49 and needed one yard for a first down; instead of turning to the hot Willis McGahee (114 yards on 19 carries to that point), coach Brian Billick called three passes. All fell incomplete, and Baltimore lost. When will coaches stop overthinking and just put the ball in the hands of their playmakers?