After last week's draft wrapped up, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider fielded questions about the team's haul, specifically the three running backs they selected.
The Seahawks spent a third-round pick on C.J. Prosise, a fifth-round selection on Alex Collins and a seventh rounder on Zac Brooks. In between discussing the rookies, Carroll made sure to let everyone know where he stands on second-year player Thomas Rawls.
"Thomas gives us a great element in his style of play," Carroll said. "We love the way he is physical and aggressive and tough. So, you see C.J. come off because he really has special qualities that he can add to the third-down aspect to our offense. We’re hoping that the other guys can complement what we’re already getting from Thomas. Each guy has his stuff. We think we can fit that together.
"We’ll come to appreciate that even more, but I think the message of who we are and what we’re about has been Thomas. We’re really excited to continue to see that, and we’ll see if we can fit it together in a really special fashion. They are unique. These guys are not from the same mold, which we really appreciate."
Who we are and what we're about. Carroll's message was clear: Assuming health, Rawls is the Seahawks' primary ball-carrier.
He piled up 830 yards as a rookie, leading the NFL in yards per carry (5.65) and average yards after contact (2.68). That's key and part of what made Marshawn Lynch so special. Even if the blocking isn't great and Rawls is getting met in the backfield, he can still create positive yardage.
In the six games that Rawls started and finished, he averaged 21 carries, and he showed the coaches everything they wanted to see in his first season: Vision, toughness, smarts and ball security.
So why did the Seahawks draft three running backs, then?
One reason is what Carroll mentioned. They are different backs and will serve different roles. Prosise, for instance, was picked to be the third-down back and will spell Rawls on passing downs. It's the same setup as last year, except that Prosise replaces Fred Jackson.
Then there's the aspect that will be of interest to fantasy owners once August rolls around: Rawls' health. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in December, and while the team expects him to be full-go by the time Week 1 rolls around, the Seahawks need a contingency plan. Last year, they had to play guys such as Bryce Brown and DuJuan Harris late in the season.
If Rawls suffers a setback or goes down with a different injury during the season, the Seahawks should have options. Prosise would probably see a bigger role, and Collins would get a chance to carry the bulk of the load depending on how the competition plays out this summer. Brooks and Christine Michael will likely be competing for roster spots.
Only two teams ran the ball more times than the Seahawks (500 attempts) in 2015, and that was with Russell Wilson leading the league in passer rating. Rawls' recovery from the ankle injury will be a major story line to watch this spring and summer, but if he's healthy, he's going to be the bellcow. And physically, if Rawls is close to where he was last season, he should be in store for a monster year.