Notebook | Ailing Alexander sits out
Seahawks backup running back Maurice Morris did some good things in his first start of the season, replacing injured Shaun Alexander.
Morris ran for 87 yards and scored on a 6-yard touchdown run, the first scoring run for the Seahawks in seven games. But he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry.
Still, Morris did his part in helping a pass-first offense have some balance Monday night, and at the end of the game, the Seahawks had such a comfortable lead that they could pound the ball and improve Morris’ stat line.
“We got something going,” he said. “The main thing is to keep it up.”
If nothing else, Morris provided some energy to a previously listless running attack.
“He did OK,” coach Mike Holmgren said.
“We take pride in that, being at the end of the game having a chance to keep the defense off the field,” Seahawks right tackle Sean Locklear said. “We want to run the ball and get some yards, get Mo some yards.”
The Seahawks passed the ball well, which helped Morris. So did the Seahawks’ ability to spread the ball around the field.
Hundred for Hackett
Make that 101. Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett caught a season-high eight passes, tying a career high, for 101 yards in just his second game back from a sprained ankle.
“This week we knew that they’d be keying on Bobby [Engram] after the week that he had last week, so we knew that a lot of other people would be open,” Hackett said. “Their main focus was stopping him, so that left us a lot of the time with some one-on-ones and some good matchups.”
Engram had 14 catches at Cleveland.
D-Jack’s back
Darrell Jackson had no complaints about his reception in his first game at Qwest Field since being traded to the 49ers.
“They gave me a good ovation,” Jackson said. “I slapped a couple of high fives on the sideline with the fans … I gave them what I had while I was here. I think they respect me for that.”
His homecoming, however, could have been better. Jackson caught one pass for 4 yards. San Francisco fell to last in the league in scoring and was shut out for the second time in its past four games in Seattle.
Has he ever played on an offense this dysfunctional?
“Never,” he said.
Side to side
Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney’s injured right oblique didn’t keep him out of the lineup, but it did force him to switch sides. Kerney started at right defensive end, not the left where his injured oblique would prevent him from exerting the torque necessary rushing off the edge.
Kerney had one sack and forced a fumble in the first quarter after tight end Vernon Davis failed to block him. Kerney said it was the first time he went unblocked for a sack in his NFL career, which is now in its ninth season.
“You sit there and watch on film, you’d be surprised how many sacks are unblocked,” Kerney said. “When you watch them on film, all you think is, ‘Man, that never happens to me.’
“Now finally nine years in, I’ve got one.”
Pollard returns
Tight end Marcus Pollard didn’t start, but he was glad to be back after missing two games and three weeks to recover from minor knee surgery. Pollard had two catches for 19 yards.
“It felt good to get back out there and make a few plays,” Pollard said.
Alexander, Branch watch
Alexander never practiced last week because of a sprained left knee, and missed his first game of the season. Receiver Deion Branch also was inactive, his sprained foot deemed not well enough to risk further injury and forcing him out of his fourth consecutive game. Engram started in Branch’s place.
Also, Kevin Bentley started at outside linebacker for Leroy Hill, who missed the game with a hamstring injury. Other inactive Seahawks were linebacker Will Herring (hamstring), offensive lineman Ray Willis (knee), defensive tackle Howard Green, defensive end Baraka Atkins (ankle) and Charlie Frye, the third quarterback.
The Seahawks signed fullback David Kirtman from the practice squad and waived cornerback Kevin Hobbs. Kirtman saw action on the punt team and on offense in the fourth quarter Monday.
Coaching with a heavy heart
San Francisco coach Mike Nolan was on the sideline for the game despite the death of his father, Dick, a former NFL player and coach, on Sunday.
Mike Nolan spent Thursday and Friday with his ailing father, then joined the 49ers on their flight to Seattle on Sunday. Upon hearing the news of his father’s death, Nolan made the decision to coach in the game.
Since last season, Nolan has dressed in suit and tie for 49ers home games to pay homage to his father, who dressed up when he was San Francisco coach from 1968 to 1975. Dick Nolan was 75.
Re-Peterson
Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson left San Francisco before the 2006 season. He turned his back on the 49ers on Monday night, though, pointing to his name on his jersey after sacking quarterback Alex Smith in the second quarter. He sacked Trent Dilfer three times in the teams’ first meeting on Sept. 30.