Hawks Notebook | Alexander focused on finding patience

KIRKLAND — Shaun Alexander is going back to being who he is, in hopes of improving the NFL's 22nd-ranked rushing offense.

He said Thursday he needs to be a more patient runner. Then he explained himself.

"I haven't allowed my team to go do their thing," Alexander said. "I think that part of me is just to kind of go back and be me instead of trying to hit every hole and be perfect instead of just letting everybody play. That's one of the things I've been working on this whole week, is going back to what I used to do and stop trying to make every play perfect."

Alexander has taken plenty of criticism from observers and fans about his running this season. He has rushed for 60 yards over the past two games — both losses — and the theories for why are a dime a dozen.

Alexander said he has hit more holes opened by his blockers this season than ever before in his career, but that his signature style of being patient and waiting for a lane to open might be the best way to improve the run game.

"None of us are in a panic mode, none of us are worried or anything," he said. "We're just saying, 'OK, football's a fun sport and it should be.' "

Alexander said he has been more focused this year on staying on the play called, but that he feels that has "chained my own self down."

Going bye-bye

By this time next week, the Seahawks will be spread out all over the country or just staying in town and relaxing, taking advantage of the bye weekend.

The question is, will they get to start that mini-vacation earlier in the week, or have to go through a few workouts before coach Mike Holmgren sends the players on their way?

"I haven't made up my mind yet," Holmgren said. "We're coming off a loss, two tough losses. I've done that all different ways on the bye week and most recently I've given them the time off. There's more than one way to do it. So I just said let's just wait and see."

The Seahawks have been given the week off heading into the bye the past two seasons. They won three in a row before the bye in 2005 and were crushed 37-6 at Chicago last Oct. 1.

Holmgren said he won't decide on how long the Seahawks will have off until next Monday morning.

"It doesn't matter to me," linebacker Julian Peterson said. "We're still going to have a couple of days off no matter how he cuts it. Obviously, some guys want to get off a little bit early because they have family on the East Coast, but the biggest thing we have to do is get prepared for this week."

"Hack" is back

While it remains to be seen whether wide receiver D.J. Hackett will play against St. Louis on Sunday, the good news is that Hackett is able to do some work with his teammates in practice.

Hackett, who opened the season as a starter, has missed the past five games with a sprained ankle. The plan is to do what he can in practice this week and then see how much pain he's in, if any, from day to day.

Note

• CB Josh Wilson appeared to injure his lower right leg while covering a receiver in practice. He left and did not return.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com