Seattle Seahawks to use running back committee
By Bryan Rose
Just a few weeks ago, rumors swirled suggesting that Seattle Seahawks ‘backup’ running back Christine Michael would soon be the beneficiary of more playing time, possibly being named as the team’s feature back in 2015.
More from NFL
- Packers training camp news: Jordan Love struggles, Bakhtiari schedule, position switch
- 3 Cowboys who won’t be on the roster after training camp
- Packers: Aaron Rodgers reached out to Jordan Love this offseason
- Damar Hamlin is a ‘full go’ at Bills training camp
- NFL rumors: Eagles RB1 hint, Bryce Young shows out, C.J. Stroud slow play
What many didn’t expect was for the Seahawks to employ a running back by committee approach this season, but according to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, that’s exactly what the Super Bowl Champions plan to do.
“We are going to be running back by committee,” Bevell said at a Seahawks Town Hall event Wednesday night. “We really like what Christine Michael is doing right now. … He has breakaway speed and power behind his pads.”
While it might be a little odd to see a team with so much recent success turn to the RBBC approach (especially given a starting running back like Marshawn Lynch), it’s likely in the best interest of the Seahawks given the ability to get Michael on the field and keep Lynch healthy throughout the season.
Keep in mind, Lynch is coming off a league high 1,002 carries in the past three seasons combined so there’s an understandable fear that he could face some regression, especially come the latter portion of the schedule.
As for Michael, who is likely to get the vast majority of the carries not given to Lynch, not only has he been praised by head coach Pete Carroll but also general manager John Schneider, who earlier this offseason suggested the running back was among the Seahawks most explosive players.
Bevell did not break down how he envisions the back’s splitting carries.