Seattle Seahawks: 5 burning questions in 2018

2. Will the running situation improve?

Last season, Russell Wilson led the team in rushing. Yes, Wilson is incredible and often makes the most of bad situations by using his feet. And yes, the injury bug definitely struck the Seahawks’ backfield. But a quarterback leading the team in rushing is not a recipe for success. And perhaps more importantly, it is not sustainable. In order to find success next season, the Seahawks desperately need to find the answer to the rushing woes.

Last season, Eddie Lacy was slated to be the starter but he only managed 179 yards in nine games. Chris Carson, Mike Davis, Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise, and J.D. McKissic all tried their hand and all came up short. Lacy and Rawls are no longer with the team, which leaves the other four plus rookie Rashaad Penny. Perhaps taken a little too early, the Seahawks showed supreme confidence in Penny to draft him in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. As it stands, Penny is truly the only absolute lock to make the roster.

That leaves Carson, Davis, Prosise, and McKissic to fight for the final two or three spots. Of them, Carson is the safest bet to make the final cut as head coach Pete Carroll loves him and frankly, he looked like the most competent and confident runner. After Penny and Carson, things are rather up for grabs. Prosise adds a lot of value as a receiver, but McKissic is no slouch in that regard either. Davis showed a lot of promise as well, but it is unlikely that the team carries all five into the season.

Position competition is a good thing to have. When guys need to fight to earn their spot on the team they work harder than usual. After training camp there will be a much clearer picture of what to expect heading into Week 1, but until then, who makes the cut is anyone’s guess. The only certainty is that the Seahawks need to find their answer out of the backfield. My bet is that Penny is the answer to their prayers.