In each of the last 4 seasons, the Seattle Seahawks have finished in the Top 4 of the league in rushing offense. And now we’ll be seeing more of a player that hopes to live up to the promise he showed in 2015.
Now that Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has skittled into the sunset, head coach Pete Carroll is hoping that the player that actually led the team in rushing yards this past season will be ready to carry the load in 2016.
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And while Carroll appears very confident that 2015 undrafted free-agent find Thomas Rawls can pick up where he left off last season before suffering a season-ending injury in the middle of December, general manager John Schneider is taking a somewhat different point of view when it comes to simply handing the job to the rookie standout this past season.
“We look at it like we’re going to try to add as many guys to that position as we can, much like we are offensive line or…we’re just going to keep bringing in as many guys as we possibly can,” said Schneider to Gregg Bell of the News Tribune. “You hear me talk about being in as many deals as we possibly can. That doesn’t necessarily mean being in specific negotiations. It’s just an avenue of acquisition.”
The 5’10”, 217-pound Central Michigan product totaled a club-high 830 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 147 carries in 13 games before fracturing his ankle in a Week 14 tilt with the Baltimore Ravens. Rawls ran for 100-plus yards four times during the season, including a season-best 209 yards and a score on 30 attempts, and also caught three passes for 46 yards and a touchdown in the team’s 29-13 win over the 49ers in Week 11.
In terms of competition currently on the roster, there really isn’t much to speak of and we won’t mean that in a derogatory way. Christine Michael returned to the club after a short stint with the Dallas Cowboys but is a restricted free agent. Veterans Fred Jackson and Bryce Brown are slate to hit unrestricted free agency in less than two weeks. Brandon Cottom and Cameron Marshall are the roster as well.
As for Carroll, he seems confident that Rawls will be ready and qualified to inherit the work load.
“I just saw him two days ago. He’s in really good shape right now,” said Carroll to Bell at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. “He’s getting ready for it. It’s going to be a haul for him, but he’ll make it for camp and be ready to go. And we’ll expect a lot out of him.”
That’s understandable considering the lofty standard of the Seattle running game in recent seasons. Only two teams in the NFL rushed for more yards than Carroll’s club in 2015 – that after the Seahawks led the league in rushing the previous year. Carroll’s squad, led primarily by “Beastmode,” ranked third in the NFL in rushing in 2012 and fourth the season after that.
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This season, barring something unforeseen, we’re getting ready to see a large dose of Rawls. And while some will miss Lynch and those memorable runs through defenses, Thomas could be quite the replacement if last season’s performance was any indication.