BadCo

Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Cowboys and Seahawks. Now they're back with a second look.

• The Seahawks will sorely miss FS Ken Hamlin. He'll likely miss the rest of the season after being injured in a nightclub altercation after their win last Sunday. Hamlin was quickly developing into one of the better young safeties in the NFL. His replacement Marquand Manuel is a much better special teams player than anything else. Manuel is a box safety who struggles mentally in coverage. Look for Dallas to exploit the deep middle of the field this week, where the rangy Hamlin's presence will be missed.
• Seattle RB Shaun Alexander is in the mix to be the NFL player of the year. He is currently leading the league in rushing and is on pace for 1,907 rushing yards and an amazing 32 TD. He will face a Dallas defense that is ranked eight vs. the run this week. Look for Seattle to try to stretch Alexander vertically vs. a Dallas defense that does an excellent job of clogging up inside run lanes. While the Cowboys are very good against the run, they have given up some big runs this season.

• The injury to LOT Flozell Adams could be a devastating blow to the Cowboys' offense. The underachieving Adams was having an excellent season prior to the injury. With the immobility of QB Drew Bledsoe, Adams was doing a great job of protecting his blind side. His replacement, Torrin Tucker, has primarily played right tackle in his career and is just an average athlete.

Tucker, who started 13 games last season, has also had issues in terms of making too many mental mistakes. Look for Seattle to overload the left side of the Cowboys' line, and run some blitzes to confuse Tucker and get consistent pressure on Bledose. Dallas has done an excellent job of stretching the field vertically, but this injury is going to force Bledsoe to get rid of the ball a lot quicker than he would like to.

• RB Julius Jones (ankle) will be listed as questionable coming into this game. Jones missed the Giants game and the team said he will likely be a game-time decision. They really need to get him back this week to offset an explosive Seattle offense by controlling the clock.

While Marion Barber and Anthony Thomas are serviceable backups, they don't have the same type of explosiveness as Jones. The best pure runner the Cowboys have behind Jones is rookie Tyson Thompson. Thompson was expected to carry the load this past week, but had so many mental errors in their practice on Saturday leading up to the game that Parcells felt like he could not trust him.

• The up and down season for Roy Williams continued this past week. After forcing and recovering a Giants fumble down on the goal-line, Williams blew another coverage on the Jeremy Shockey TD that tied the game. There is a pattern developing here with Williams in terms of missed assignments.

While he has the potential to be a great NFL safety, the mental side of the game is continuing to hold him back. Teams are no longer scared to go after him in the passing game. Seattle is a very good play-action passing team, so if they have established their running game, look for them to go after the aggressive Williams down the middle of the field with TE Jerramy Stevens.

• While Seattle RB Shaun Alexander has received most of the attention for the success of the Seattle offense, more credit needs to be going to QB Matt Hasselbeck. He threw his first interception last week since Week 1. He's been extremely efficient in terms of moving this team through the air with a make-shift group of receivers that is missing No. 1 target Darrell Jackson. Hasselbeck will face a Dallas secondary this week that is doing a solid job of keeping opposing offenses' out of the end zone, but gives up way too many big plays. Look for him take some shots down the field this week.

• Former Bengals' receiver Peter Warrick made his first start this season with Seattle and promptly had 20-and 27-yard pass receptions to keep drives alive. Now that Warrick is comfortable in the offense, look for him to become one of QB Matt Hasselbeck's favorite targets.

While Joe Jurevicius is still the most consistent receiver on the team, Warrick gives the offense a little more of a big-play threat. Though Warrick does not have great pure speed, he is elusive and effective with the ball in his hands. The Seahawks have talked about wanting to get him the ball quicker, which would allow him to make more plays with the ball in his hands.

• This game will feature two outstanding young defenders that are vying for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Seattle MLB Lofa Tatupu and Dallas OLB DeMarcus Ware are two of the top four defensive rookie players this season. Tatupu has played a key role in the Seattle defensive resurgence that currently finds them ranked 12th vs. the run. Ware has recorded a sack in four consecutive games.

Special Teams
The Cowboys' #3WR and return specialist Patrick Crayton injured his ankle and may be done for the season. The team is looking at newly acquired Peerless Price, Terrance Newman and Marion Barber as potential replacements as a returner. None of those guys give them the same big-play ability Crayton brought to the table. Both Seattle's kick and punt return games were anemic again last week in their victory over Houston.

Dallas PK Jose Cortez continues to be inconsistent. After missing a FG and having another one blocked, he hit the game winner last week. You can see everyone holding their collective breath every time they trot him onto the field, and that is not a good feeling. Seattle PK Josh Brown has been solid, despite a game-winning miss earlier in the year at Washington. Seattle has a big advantage in the kicking game this week.

Matchups
• Dallas ILB Bradie James or Dat Nguyen vs. Seattle RB Shaun Alexander
• Seattle DC Marcus Trufant vs. Dallas WR Terry Glenn
• Seattle MLB Lofa Tatupu vs. Dallas RB Julius Jones
• Dallas LOT Torrin Tucker vs. Seattle RDE Grant Wistrom
• Seattle LOT Walter Jones vs. Dallas ROLB DeMarcus Ware

Scouts' Edge
Though not a division game, this is a big conference game with both teams coming in at 4-2 and trying to remain atop their respective divisions. Offensively, Seattle has been able to pretty much run or throw the ball at will. Though not always explosive, they have one of the most consistent offenses in the NFL. Dallas on the other hand has not been consistent on offense. It is clear that their offensive success rests squarely on the offensive line and their ability to protect Drew Bledsoe.

When they give him time, he is able to pick apart opposing defenses, and, when they don't like last week, the Cowboys' offense tends to sputter and turn the ball over. With Seattle's offense being so diverse, Dallas will have to key on one area -- that will be trying to contain RB Shaun Alexander. Defensively, Seattle will bring extra defenders in an effort to chase Bledsoe around the pocket and force him to move his feet. This is a big game with both teams jockeying for



By Scouts, Inc.


Why To Watch
East meets West in the battle of NFC divisional leaders. The matchup that everyone wants to witness is Dallas RB Julius Jones versus Seattle RB Shaun Alexander, but Jones' status won't be determined until later in the week after he missed the last game with an ankle injury. If Jones cannot go, or if he is limited, coach Bill Parcells' Cowboys will have their work cut out in Seattle on Sunday. Dallas will be hard-pressed to escape with a win versus the opportunistic Seahawks if they make the same mistakes -- four turnovers -- that they made in their three-point home victory over the Giants last Sunday.
Seattle, on the other hand, will continue to rely on Alexander to shoulder a yard-churning, clock-guzzling load on the ground. But QB Matt Hasselbeck and his injury-riddled wide receiver corps must show improved timing in order to balance out the assault.


When the Cowboys have the ball
Rushing: The Cowboys rushing attack has failed to meet expectations so far this season, averaging just 111.5 yards per game on the ground. There are a few issues that can be pointed to as contributors to the problem. For starters, RB Jones has not played in the last game and a half. Secondly, the offensive line has failed to play with great communication and efficiency. This is a unit that has great size across the board but lacks experience playing with one another and also has marginal overall mobility. As a result, too many assignment errors are being made and the linemen are unable to use their feet to make up for it. Rookie ROT Rob Petitti continues to struggle, ROG Marco Rivera is an above average starter but is also a newcomer to the line, and to make matters worse, LOT Flozell Adams is lost for the season due to a knee injury he suffered last week.

Finally, because opponents typically look to attack immobile QB Drew Bledsoe with pressure, the Cowboys' already overwhelmed offensive line is faced with more eight-man fronts and more aggressive blitz-and-stunt schemes than most.

Some of the Cowboy's run-game issues would be solved if Jones could make a healthy return versus the Seahawks this week, but the team was not running the ball with great success prior to his injury, either. In his place, Anthony Thomas, Marion Barber and Tyson Thompson have been sharing carries. All three possess good size and strength as north-south power-type runners, but none of the above has the vision, burst and change of direction skills that Jones possesses.

Seattle's defense is not overly aggressive by nature. It employs a gap-control scheme along the defensive line with the emphasis on keeping blockers off of athletic LBs Lofa Tatupu (MLB), Jamie Sharper (LOLB) and D.D. Lewis (ROLB). However, after watching the Cowboys' issues along their offensive line, look for Seattle to turn the heat up a bit with more stunting, blitzing and eight-man fronts with SS Michael Boulware consistently cheating up into the box as a fourth linebacker on first and second down running situations.

Passing: As has been the case for a good majority of the season, the Cowboys will likely be faced with a pass-to-setup-the-run situation in Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks will look to exploit the Cowboys' struggling offensive line and immobile quarterback with a wide array of blitz, "dog" (when you blitz and leave a deep zone open) and stunts up front. Without Adams anchoring the line at the LOT position, Seattle RDE Grant Wistrom could create a lot of problems in his matchup versus the athletically limited Torrin Tucker. If Jones is also unable to play, coach Parcells and his offensive staff will have their hands full trying to come up with a protection scheme and overall game-plan.

Dallas' biggest strength on offense is its ability to spread opposing defenses out. With the Seahawks looking to play a lot of eight-man fronts, the biggest key to this game could be the individual matchups between Dallas' receivers and Seattle's defensive backs. The Cowboys are doing a good job of limiting Bledsoe's seven-step drops in order to limit the time for opposing pass rushers. With three receiver sets and majority of three-and-five step drops, Bledsoe has the weapons in what has become a dangerous passing attack to defend.

WR Keyshawn Johnson has had his ups and downs, but he continues to provide adequate production as a possession receiver. He will need to use his size and experience advantages over Seattle RDC Marcus Trufant, because Trufant clearly is the faster and more explosive athlete of the two. WR Terry Glenn remains the fastest of the bunch and has the best rapport with Bledsoe, so there will be lots of pressure on LDC Andre Dyson to avoid mistakes when left on an island. Dyson is a playmaker in his own right and he possesses enough speed to turn and run vertically with Glenn, but Dyson cannot afford to get caught peeking in the backfield.

Look for Seattle to play a lot of "man-free" coverage with their cornerbacks locked on one-on-one versus Dallas' three receivers and with a safety playing the centerfielder's role over the middle. The athletic and instinctive Boulware should be able to handle his one-on-one matchup versus TE Jason Witten, which gives the Seahawks' a big advantage in this facet. However, if one of their cornerbacks becomes overwhelmed in his one-on-one assignment, it will force the Seahawks to completely adjust their scheme and to play a lot softer two-deep safety looks that will limit their aggressiveness in terms of run defense and the pass rush.

When the Seahawks have the ball
Rushing: This will be the most important facet of Sunday's matchup. Both teams thrive on time of protection and ball control. With so many injury problems among their wide receiver corps, the Seahawks have no choice but to continue to pound it out with Alexander on the ground. Seattle has had some trouble protecting Hasselbeck this season, but its offensive line is among the elite in the NFL in terms of opening holes for Alexander on the ground. After just six games, Alexander already has rushed for 715 yards and 12 touchdowns on 151 carries, while the unit as a whole ranks second in the NFL in total rushing.

The Cowboys run defense, however, presents one of the tougher challenges that the Seahawks have faced so far this season. It is a unit that continues to make strides on almost a weekly basis and is coming off perhaps its most impressive outing, holding RB Tiki Barber and the Giants typically explosive rushing attack to just 91 yards last week. The Cowboys are doing a good job of mixing in different looks up front with their hybrid 3-4/4-3 alignment, which makes blocking assignments extremely difficult to predict and execute. NT La'Roi Glover is by no means the prototypical massive two-gap nose tackle in the middle of this defense, but he uses his rare blend of athletic ability, initial quickness and upper body power to disrupt in the middle. OC Robbie Tobeck is a solid veteran, but he will need frequent double-team help from his guards in this game, which should help to free up Dallas' inside linebackers to pursue Alexander.

It is no secret that the strength of Seattle's offensive line is on the left side with OG Steve Hutchinson and OT Walter Jones, so look for the Seahawks to use that strength in order to attack the right side of the Cowboy defense (DE Greg Ellis and OLB DeMarcus Ware), which just so happens to be the weaker side of that unit.

Passing: This is very much a run-first offensive unit for the Seahawks, but Hasselbeck and his receivers will have to help keep Dallas honest on Sunday. The Cowboy's defense is at its best when it can play man-coverage on the perimeter and cheat hard-hitting SS Roy Williams up as an eighth-defender in the box. However, Dallas has to be cautious in doing so because Williams can be over-aggressive versus the run at times and lacks the fluid hips and top-end speed to recover if he takes to many false steps. The other problem Dallas' defense has is that FS Keith Davis is a marginal starter that has been beaten deep on a few occasions already this season. With that in mind, look for the Seahawks to use their strong running game as a means to sett up the play-action passing game. Hasselbeck is at his best working off the play-action and he should do a good enough job with his play-fakes to freeze Williams and Davis from time-to-time.

The big question is where the production will come from in the passing game for Seattle. For starters, Seattle needs TE Jerramy Stevens to play a bigger role as a pass catcher this week, as his size and speed over the middle will help to exploit the Cowboys' coverage issues at the safety position. In terms of the perimeter, Hasselbeck is working with a lot of unfamiliar faces in WRs Peter Warrick, D.J. Hackett and Joe Jurevicius. Hackett and Jurevicius have great size as perimeter possession receivers and Warrick is a quick slot receiver that can make something out of nothing after the catch. However, none of the three possess a threat vertically. RDC Anthony Henry has the size to match up versus Seattle's big wide outs and nickel DC Aaron Glenn has the quickness and savvy to keep Warrick in check. Look for Seattle to attack the somewhat smaller Terence Newman at the LDC position with 6'3" Hackett and 6'5" Jurevicius.

Finally, pass protection should not be a huge issue for Seattle in this matchup. The Cowboys' pass rush continues to improve as the season progresses, but its best pass rushers are on the right side of the field and should be kept in check by Hutchinson and Jones. Ordinarily the right side of the Seahawk offensive line is at risk in pass pro, but LDE Kenyon Coleman and LOLB Al Singleton do not pose a huge threat to OT Sean Locklear and OG Chris Gray.

COWBOYS OFFENSE VS. SEAHAWKS DEFENSE

Dallas quarterback Drew Bledsoe (1663 passing yards, 11 TD, 4 INT) continued his 2005 resurgence last week, when the veteran completed 26-of-37 passes for 312 yards, a touchdown pass, and an interception in the win over the Giants. Bledsoe ranks among league leaders in most NFL passing categories, carrying an impressive 100.4 passer rating into Week 7. The veteran's favorite target in Week 7 was Keyshawn Johnson (27 receptions, 3 TD), who caught eight balls for 120 yards in the contest. Terry Glenn (29 receptions, 3 TD), another of the club's experienced contributors, had six catches for 64 yards in the game. Third wideout Patrick Crayton (18 receptions, 2 TD) had four catches for 46 yards before suffering an ankle injury that could render him out for the season. In Crayton's absence, former Buffalo Bill and Atlanta Falcon Peerless Price (1 reception) will be counted on to make an impact. Tight end Jason Witten (28 receptions, 2 TD), who is second on the club in sacks, had five grabs for 56 yards and the only Dallas touchdown of the day against the Giants. Protecting Bledsoe will be a Cowboy line that will be without left tackle Flozell Adams (knee) for the remainder of the season. Third-year pro Torrin Tucker will replace Adams. Dallas has allowed Bledsoe to be sacked 13 times on the year, including three times last week. The Cowboys are sixth in the league in passing offense (261.7 yards per game).

The group attempting to slow Bledsoe and the Dallas passing attack will not include free safety Ken Hamlin (26 tackles), who suffered a fractured skull in an altercation outside a nightclub on Monday morning and is out indefinitely. Marquand Manuel (10 tackles) is expected to take over for Hamlin this week. Shadowing Johnson and Glenn will be the responsibility of cornerbacks Kelly Herndon (31 tackles, 1 INT) and Marcus Trufant (20 tackles, 1 sack), who helped hold the Texans to 160 passing yards last Sunday. Herndon was credited with six solo tackles in the game. Seattle has 18 sacks on the year, including three of Houston's David Carr a week ago. Tackle Rocky Bernard had one sack to boost his team-leading total to 4.5, while end Grant Wistrom (15 tackles, 1 sack) notched his first sack of the 2005 campaign. Seattle ranks 16th in the league in passing defense (201.2 yards per game) heading into the Dallas contest.

The Cowboy running game could get a jolt this week if Julius Jones (407 rushing yards, 3 TD, 12 receptions), who missed last Sunday's game with an ankle injury, is able to suit up. Jones is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest, and if he can't go, some combination of veteran Anthony Thomas (61 rushing yards) and rookies Marion Barber III (31 rushing yards) and Tyson Thompson (127 yards, 2 receptions) would have to fill in again. Thomas carried 21 times for 47 yards in his first extensive action as a Cowboy last Sunday, and Barber added 30 yards on 11 carries in the game. Dallas is 16th in the league in rushing offense (111.5 yards per game) as Week 7 begins.

The Seahawks shut down the Houston run last Sunday, limiting the Texans' Domanick Davis to 40 yards on 18 carries in the game. Linebacker Jamie Sharper (30 tackles) had a team-high seven stops while battling his former team, and fellow LB Lofa Tatupu (38 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT), added five tackles to increase his team-leading total in stops. The third member of the linebacking corps, D.D. Lewis (27 tackles) is listed as questionable for this week with a knee injury. The Hawks have received strong production from their tackles this season, including Bernard (15 tackles), Marcus Tubbs (15 tackles), and Chuck Darby (9 tackles). Wistrom (15 tackles) led Seattle linemen with four tackles from his end slot last week. The Seahawks rank 12th in the league in rushing defense (101.5 yards per game) at present.

SEAHAWKS OFFENSE VS. COWBOYS DEFENSE

Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (1495 passing yards, 8 TD, 3 INT) is enjoying a strong season so far, and enters Week 7 with an outstanding passer rating of 96.5. Hasselbeck was an efficient 14-of-20 passing for 168 yards, a touchdown, and an interception last Sunday, also rushing for 40 yards in the victory over the Texans. Still out for Seattle are starting receivers Darrell Jackson (knee) and Bobby Engram (ribs), meaning Joe Jurevicius (19 receptions, 4 TD), Peter Warrick (5 receptions) and D.J. Hackett (5 receptions) will be asked to step up again this week. Jurevicius had three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown against Houston, Warrick contributed three grabs for 53 yards in his best game as a Seahawk to date, and Hackett, who played well against the Rams in Week 5, played sparingly due to injury. Hackett is expected to play a more significant role on Sunday. Tight end Jerramy Stevens (17 receptions, 2 TD) has been a lynchpin of the Seattle passing attack all season, and had two grabs versus the Texans. The Seahawk line allowed three sacks last Sunday, and has now given up 13 on the year. Seattle is ninth in the league in passing offense (241.2 yards per game).

Dallas did a good job keeping Giants quarterback Eli Manning from hurting the team last week, holding the youngster to 215 passing yards while sacking him four times, intercepting him once, and causing a fumble against the second- year pro. Cornerback Anthony Henry (32 tackles, 2 INT) had seven tackles in the game and made a couple of huge plays - intercepting Manning on the Dallas 1-yard line and forcing a Plaxico Burress fumble - that led directly to the Cowboy win. Henry was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Also coming up big for "America's Team" was strong safety Roy Williams (32 tackles, 2.5 sacks), who had six tackles and both forced and recovered a Brandon Jacobs fumble that nearly sealed the win for Dallas in the waning moments. The Cowboy pass rush came up with four sacks, including two for tackle La'Roi Glover (12 tackles, 3 sacks). Outside linebacker Demarcus Ware (17 tackles, 4 sacks) and end Greg Ellis (11 tackles, 3.5 sacks) also had sacks in the game, and are 1-2 on the team in that category. Dallas has 20 sacks through its first six games, and is 14th in the league in passing defense (198.2 yards per game).

Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (715 rushing yards, 12 TD) comes off a huge week against the Texans, as the Pro Bowler scampered for 141 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries in the blowout victory. Alexander is now averaging 5.5 yards per carry and leads the NFL in rushing and touchdowns. With the game in hand last week, backup Maurice Morris (124 yards, 1 TD) was given a chance to play extensively and managed 104 yards on eight carries, including an 11-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Third-stringer Leonard Weaver carried for 21 yards on five carries, and fullback Mack Strong (11 receptions) had three catches in the triumph. Seattle ranks second in the league in rushing offense (166 yards per game), behind only Atlanta.

Alexander will be working against a Cowboy defense that ranks eighth in the league against the run (95 yards per game). Dallas limited the Giants to 91 rushing yards last week, including just 64 for leading New York rusher Tiki Barber. The win came without the services of inside linebacker Dat Nguyen (25 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) who missed the game due to a neck stinger but is probable for this Sunday. Fellow ILB Bradie James (25 tackles) had three stops in the triumph, and Ware led Dallas linebackers with four tackles in the game. Up front, end Chris Canty (15 tackles, 1.5 sacks) leads Dallas linemen in tackles, and had two a week ago. Glover is second on the unit with 12 stops in 2005.

GAME PLAN
Protecting Drew Bledsoe is even more a focal point with Torrin Tucker in for the injured Flozell Adams at left tackle. Look for the Cowboys to try to control the ball and the game with a heavy dose of runs. Defensively, they must contain Seahawks tight end Jeremy Stevens.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Cowboys run defense vs. Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander. The Cowboys have been strong against the run in 2005 but they have not been tested like they will be against the Seahawks, who are averaging 166 yards per game on the ground. Alexander leads the league in rushing with 715 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson will have to shore up the middle of the defense.

Seattle LT Walter Jones vs. Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware. Ware has been coming on with a sack in each of the last four games. However, he will be hard-pressed to have success against Jones, who may be the tackle in the league. If Jones can handle Ware, the Seahawks can use another lineman or back to double on another Cowboys defender.



GAME PLAN
Seattle's coaches need to provide players with the tools to handle the Cowboys' various blitzes and defensive tactics. QB Matt Hasselbeck took too many hits last week for a quarterback whose team rushed for 320 yards. Houston had three sacks against Seattle after getting four in its first four games. Dallas already has 20 sacks. Rookie LB Demarcus Ware has four of them. Hasselbeck must get rid of the football quickly, and coaches must arm the offensive line with solid blitz-pickup schemes.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Seahawks RDE Grant Wistrom, who has one sack in six games, vs. Cowboys LT Torrin Tucker, who is playing only because starting LT Flozell Adams is out for the season with a knee injury. Wistrom has been getting closer to the quarterback in recent weeks, but he still has to do a better job finishing plays. The Cowboys will surely chip at him with a running back. They'll likely send the tight end his way. Wistrom needs to maximize his one-on-one matchups, and the players next to him on the line need to take advantage when Wistrom is doubled.

Seahawks FS Marquand Manuel, making his first start for the Seahawks, vs. Cowboys WRs Terry Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson, who are enjoying solid seasons. Manuel is a heady player, but the Cowboys' receivers won't be looking over their shoulders. Simply put, Manuel lacks the big-play ability of FS Ken Hamlin, the man he is replacing in the lineup. This matchup favors the Cowboys.



Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview

Cowboys
1st, NFC East
Record: 4-2 at Seahawks
1st, NFC West
Record: 4-2

How much will Flozell Adams' season-ending knee injury impact the Cowboys? A lot.
We know Drew Bledsoe won't be the same quarterback without his Pro Bowl left tackle. Now, with Adams not protecting his blind side, will Bledsoe get happy feet and rush his throws like he did last year in Buffalo when the Bills' offensive line couldn't protect him? Those are the kinds of concerns the Cowboys will have without Adams.

Ken Hamlin's absence will affect the Seahawks because they'll no longer have their enforcer on defense. There has to be an emotional impact as well due to the way they lost him. It wasn't as if he got injured in a game; players expect injuries. What you don't expect is to have your teammate get beat up at a nightclub the night after a victory.

Prediction: Seattle. I think the Cowboys will be a little tired against the Seahawks offense, which is ranked first in the NFL (407.2 yards per game). Dallas had very physical games the last two weeks against the Eagles and Giants, and I believe the Cowboys will start to feel a little sluggish. They'll be on the road, too.

Seattle is a very physical football team and it should be able to take the ball straight at Dallas' 3-4. The Seahawks' running game, featuring the NFL's leading rusher in Shaun Alexander, will give the Cowboys' defense problems.