After agreeing with reporters (and fans) most of the year that Shaun Alexander has gone into decline, Mike Holmgren reversed course Monday and vigorously defended Alexander.
Shaun Alexander seems to be the lightning rod, and I am here to tell that there are times that there is nothing there. We are not blocking very well at this particular point, that must improve. (Alexander) has been a little unfairly criticized, in my opinion.Not to say that Holmgren's happy about the situation. He appears to have focused his ire on the Hawks' offensive line. Here he is bawling them out after Alexander failed to convert a 4th & 1 against the Rams last week.
Holmgren had what must be an ominous message for offensive line coach Bill Laveroni: "I’m trying to delegate a little bit, but after yesterday and after reviewing the film, it’s going to get a little tense around here if I don’t see some improvement."
Fix this or you're fired, is how I'd interpret that. Laveroni coached high school ball with current Hawks OC Gil Haskell, and joined the Hawks in '02 as assistant offensive line coach. He was promoted in '04, so he coached that all-world line in '05. But that line was mostly veterans, and the Hawks have surely not seen the improvement they were expecting from recent draft picks Chris Spencer and Rob Sims, both of whom are now starters.
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