Thursday, May 26, 2016

Seahawks and the Running Back


We know the biggest question going into the new season for the Seahawks is the offensive line. Of course the Seahawks drafted several and we will see how that works out. Another question is the running back position since Marshawn Lynch retired and Thomas Rawls is coming back from injury.

At this point we will have to see where Rawls will be in the lineup. If he is able to recover from his injury he would be the number one running back in no question however if he is not ready to go who will be the next in line and be the number two if he is ready to go. The Seahawks are concerned because they did draft three running backs and will they go after getting a veteran running to come in to compete if Rawls is not available.

The first running back the Seahawks drafted was C.J. Prosise out of Notre Dame in the third round. Pete Carroll projected him to be the running back on third downs because of his experience in catching passes as well as running the ball. At Notre Dame he started out as a receiver so this is the reason the Seahawks are comfortable with him being the 3rd down back. We hope with the new offensive line the Seahawks will be in a lot more short yardage situations than they were last year.

The second running back the Seahawks drafted was Alex Collins out of Arkansas and they took him in the fifth round. He looks more like in the mold of Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls so the Seahawks could give him more of a look to be in the backfield on first and second down either to start if Rawls is not ready to go or spell him.

The third running back the Seahawks took was Zach Brooks out of Clemson. He is considered in the same mold as C.J. Prosise so the odds are against him in sticking. If he makes the club would be C.J. Prosise be out and the chance of that happening is unlikely.

The last running back in camp is returnee Christine Michael who the Seahawks brought back after being traded during last training camp to the Dallas Cowboys who later let him go. He was the primary running back at the end of the season when Rawls was injured. Hard to know if he is still being in contention for the running back position or not; I am sure being a veteran the Seahawks will give him a chance. Those are all the running backs on the roster right now. They do have two full backs on the roster to which are rookies U of Washington’s Taniela Tupou and Brandin Bryant out of Florida Atlantic. Hard to know who the leading candidate to be the number one full back; there is a possibility they keep both but with the formations the Seahawks play they likely will not play a lot. Most often it will be on third down on short yardage. They may only keep one and have one of their tight ends or offensive lineman be an extra tight end on running plays.

This week the Seahawks have their OTA’s going but will not be completed until mid-June. Most likely no one will have an edge at running back until they are into the regular training camp. Like I say Thomas Rawls will have the edge if he is ready to go. We hope as the 12th man this is the case. Go Seahawks.

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