Shaun Alexander Is Old

Filed under: Seahawks, Seattle

Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is averaging 3.9 yards per carry through two games this year, which would be the second-worst mark of his career — second only to last year. Football Outsiders says he’s basically been a replacement-level player this year, which is what he was last year, too. The former league MVP isn’t playing like a star anymore.

So what’s wrong? He’s old. He turned 30 in August. That might not seem old, but for an NFL running back, it is.

Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times notes today that Alexander is the fourth-oldest starting running back in the NFL. Alexander says he feels “Like a little rookie,” but that doesn’t disguise the fact that both the stats and the eyeball test say he just plain isn’t the same player he was a couple of years ago.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren says, “To me, he’s the same guy,” but if Holmgren really believes that, he’s delusional. Alexander is old, and he’ll never be the same guy.

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