Seahawks will have best rushing attack in NFL in 2014
The Seahawks have been known for a few years now as having one of the top running games in the league.
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Last season, led by Marshawn Lynch, the team finished fourth in the league in average rushing yards per game with 136.8.
The only teams the Seahawks trailed in that category were the San Francisco 49ers (137.6), Buffalo Bills (144.2) and Philadelphia Eagles (160.4).
This year, with the help of Christine Michael and an upgraded offensive line, the Seahawks will once again have one of the best running games in the NFL.
In fact, because of the 1-2 punch of Lynch and Michael, they have potential to have the best rushing attack in the league.
Last year the Seahawks rushed the ball 509 times, second only to the Bills’ 546 attempts. With Michael ready to take on a bigger role in the offense, and Robert Turbin also available in the backfield, that number will be matched (if not increased) in 2014.
While the team did use the NFL Draft to upgrade at receiver (i.e. Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood), they also picked up little-known fullback Kiero Small to improve an already impressive rushing attack.
At 5-foot-8, 244 pounds, Small is a tremendous athlete who has the potential to be an impact player as a lead blocker in the backfield alongside Spencer Ware.
Seattle’s receivers are talented across the board and defenses know the Seahawks can do just as much damage with Russell Wilson throwing the ball, as when Lynch runs it.
The result?
Defenses may try to cheat by backing up ever so slightly to keep an eye on the likes of Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, etc.
With an upgraded offensive line set to block in 2014, that should mean big yards for Lynch or Michael on first and second downs.
In 2013, Seahawks rushers broke 112 tackles, best in the league. Lynch broke an NFL-high 59 tackles by himself. And the Seahawks showed great ball protection which should carry over into 2014.
In 509 rushing attempts last year, the Seahawks only fumbled the ball six times and they only turned the ball over twice out of those six fumbles.
And remember that Wilson is just as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arm.
Last year, Wilson had the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback with 539. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 96 attempts, second only to former Raider and now-Seahawk Terrelle Pryor.
And Harvin showed what he can do on running plays in Super Bowl XLVIII.
What does all of this mean?
It means the Seahawks are absolutely stacked with players who can run the pigskin well enough that defenses will be off balance for 60 minutes.
The Seahawks will have the best rushing attack in 2014 because of their talent and the way the offensive system is set up.
Forget the Eagles, the best rushing game in the league is in Seattle.