Without Alexander, Hawks' offense is unholy mess

CHICAGO — Before we venture further into Life Without Shaun, one request:

Let us pray.

Pray like Shaun Alexander did to try to get his broken left foot healthy for Sunday's game. Pray like you're a hobbled Seahawks offensive lineman attempting to block a superior Chicago Bears defender. Pray like you have $200 in your checking account and a $2,000 mortgage due today.

Yes, the first game without the reigning NFL MVP was that bad for the offense. It's not just that the Seahawks produced only 230 total yards. The bigger problems are that they were physically manhandled, frustrated, confused and, in quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's opinion, so out of whack they didn't even communicate well.

While Alexander's presence would've had some impact, he couldn't have covered up all these issues. So his absence may have exposed the Seahawks' offense for what it is, at least at this point in the season.

The Seahawks are a team that, undeniably, misses guard Steve Hutchinson, who's now in Minnesota. They are a team struggling offensively because a retooled line already has one starter (Floyd Womack, Hutchinson's replacement) out, two others (Chris Gray and Sean Locklear) bothered by knee injuries and another, the most important piece (Walter Jones), looking worn down.

They are a team in danger of making Hasselbeck feel he has to do too much. They are a team that is turning one-dimensional because the run game has been absent, even when Alexander is playing. They are a team in need of this timely bye week.

"We knew what we had to do," Hasselbeck said after the Bears drubbed his team 37-6 at Soldier Field. "We just didn't show it."

Then Hasselbeck got into the big chemistry issue.

"The cause of it, I don't know," he said. "We did not communicate well at the line, in the huddle, on the sideline, at the chalkboard. I thought at times we were talking in different languages."

Chicago, which possesses the NFL's best defense, not only beat the Seahawks. It slashed right into their psyche.

It happens. The Seahawks wisely said they would take their beating, learn from it and move on. That's what good teams do, and one loss — even if it was the most lopsided defeat since a 41-3 wipeout against the New York Jets in 1997 — doesn't kick Seattle from the NFL's elite. The Seahawks still finished the season's first quarter at 3-1. Even with the offense's struggles, they look solid overall.

But they can't go the entire season without finding their offensive rhythm. The defense, as coach Mike Holmgren said, is "developing." It played brilliantly for all but one quarter in the first three games, but the Bears gained 362 yards on the Seahawks. Alexander wouldn't have been able to stop that, either.

Alexander is Mr. Prime Time. He lives for these big games on national television. He probably would've had his best effort of the season and kept Seattle from falling apart early in the game. Even if he didn't play well, the threat of him could've opened up some things on offense.

"When you miss that kind of weapon, it changes my approach in terms of how I want to attack them," Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera said. "We know that maybe some day this year we're going to face them again, hopefully in the playoffs, and we know it will be different because he'll be back."

The Seahawks fell behind early and never really had a chance to get the running game going. It's probably unfair to evaluate Maurice Morris' performance because of that, but he didn't look good when he got opportunities. Alexander's replacement finished with 11 rushes for 35 yards, 15 of those on one run. Then again, the line hasn't been run-blocking well all season.

"We all took turns," Holmgren said, meaning that everyone played a part in the loss.

Hasselbeck was sacked five times and harassed into two first-half interceptions, the turnovers leading to 10 Chicago points. The second interception was a horrible decision. On the run, he decided to throw across his body to an area where four Bears were. Ricky Manning Jr. intercepted the pass, which set up Thomas Jones' 3-yard touchdown run to give Chicago a 20-3 lead.

"I think frustration got the better of me," Hasselbeck admitted. "I was frustrated with so many three-and-outs, third-and-longs, and the game was getting out of reach.

"I tried to make something happen. I made something happen. It was dumb. I know better than that."

Hasselbeck has seven interceptions in four games. He had nine all of last season. In fact, he didn't throw his seventh pick until Nov. 13 last year. If need be, the Seahawks have the receivers to develop into a more pass-reliant offense, but turnovers and the threat of exposing Hasselbeck to more sacks could be the downside.

"I'm going to fix my stuff," Hasselbeck said. "I can promise you that."

He must. Otherwise, the Seahawks won't even have a prayer without Alexander.

Jerry Brewer: 206-464-2277 or jbrewer@seattletimes.com