Seahawks: Thomas Rawls back in action

Today was Thomas Rawls’ first practice since going down with a season-ending ankle injury in week 14 of last year.  It was great to see him running around again and hear his excitement during his press conference after practice.

To say Thomas Rawls was enthusiastic to be on the football field today would be an understatement.  To finally get off the PUP list was something truly special to him.

He was passionate and exuberant when talking about his rehab to the media during his press conference after practice.  His road back from injury wasn’t an easy one, but adversity is nothing new to Thomas Rawls.

Rawls grew up in Flint, Michigan and often talks about his home town to describe his ability to overcome adversity, including his recovery from season-ending injury.  Rawls was undrafted and most of us know of his remarkable season last year.  He ran for 830 yards in only 7 starts, and consistently made opponents regret trying to tackle him.

When you look at the character traits that Rawls possesses, it’s everything that Pete Carroll and John Schneider are looking for.  He’s passionate, gritty, tough, energetic and determined.  Rawls is someone that you want to build your running game around.  He’s young (only 23) and is talented with a ton of potential.

When Rawls described to the media what it meant to be a Seattle Seahawks running back, you could sense the emotions he was feeling.  His passion was undeniable and you know he meant every word.

Adjectives he associated with being a Seahawks running back were relentless, toughness and passion.  No doubt I wasn’t the only fan who wanted to strap on the pads and hit a linebacker after hearing Rawls inspirational talk.

Another thing we learned from his press conference was how Rawls takes care of his offensive line.  Rawls praised the linemen and talked about how he feels comfortable in the backfield with them blocking for him.  He spoke about how he bought the offensive line massages last year and realized the importance of building a personal relationship with them.

We should all expect big things from Rawls this season as he has a year under his belt and has already shown that he is one of the best running backs in the NFL.  There is no telling how far he can take his talents and year 2 is just the beginning of a very promising career in the league.

As we get ready for NFL football to start and a very fun Seattle Seahawks season to get underway, you can be sure to put your faith in running back Thomas Rawls.  Replacing Marshawn Lynch is impossible, but Rawls is up to the task and will do an admirable job in his place.

Next: Seahawks ready for championship season

Rawls is a young man who has battled adversity his whole life and will be able to lead the running back squad with his no nonsense approach.  He has a bright future, and during this season he will continue to show that he is a man on a mission: to be the best person he can be, both in football and in life.