Seahawks fans have high expectations for Rawls

Seahawks fans on twitter believe Thomas Rawls is ready to make his first Pro Bowl as he takes over for Marshawn Lynch as Seattle’s featured running back.

In this week’s Tweet of the Twelves, we asked Seattle Seahawks fans who was most likely to make it to their first Pro Bowl this season. There was a resounding favorite in the poll, proving once again that Seahawks fans love their running backs.

The choices in the poll all have a chance of making a huge impact for the team and even in the league. Frank Clark, Jeremy Lane, Paul Richardson, and Thomas Rawls seem to be poised to make the turn to a Pro Bowl level of play.

However as many of us know, making it to the Pro Bowl isn’t always about talent level. Depth at position, popularity of a player, and the persistence in voting by a fan base often has a lot to do with a player getting in.

Defensive end/linebacker Frank Clark is poised to take Bruce Irvin’s spot on the outside and could make some serious noise on a defense full of stars. Head coach Pete Carroll has said they expect Clark to be a premiere rusher. If he racks up enough sacks, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at the Pro Bowl.

Cornerback Jeremy Lane, who many thought would end up leaving Seattle as a free agent for bigger money elsewhere, could be a monster member of the Legion of Boom. Talent for days, the only question will be if he can stay healthy. With his ability to knock the ball out of receiver’s hands and the fact that QBs still seem to avoid Richard Sherman, Lane could be this year’s LOB standout.

Wide receiver Paul Richardson was the golden child of 2014. Injured in the post season that year, he didn’t start the 2015 season until week 10, where almost immediately he injured his hamstring.

Much like Lane, Richardson’s history with injury could limit him, but if he picks up where he left off his impact in Seattle’s receiving corps could be huge. Sadly for him, yet good for Seahawks fans, he will have lots of competition at the position.

During Richardson’s absence, the Seahawks drafted Tyler Lockett. Lockett was an All-Pro kick returner, and worked his way into the starting lineup as a rookie. Richardson will have to earn his playing time within a much deeper position group than the won he left in 2014.

That brings us to running back Thomas Rawls who, as you can see, was the overwhelming winner of our poll. A fan favorite ever since he took over for an injured Marshawn Lynch, Rawls most likely would have run right past the 1,000 yard mark if not for a broken ankle toward the end of last season.

Although right now it looks as if the Seahawks are going to try running back by committee, if Rawls can repeat the success of his short rookie season, he will quickly step into the #1 RB position and maybe into the Pro Bowl.

Next: Frank Clark Poised for a breakout season

Next week Tweet of the Twelves will look at two vets who left the flock, but who’ve returned and hope to make an impact.