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Seahawks should start Chris Carson week one and here’s why

By Lee Vowell

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Chris Carson #32 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes for 4 yards against linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong #54 of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Running back Chris Carson #32 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes for 4 yards against linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong #54 of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of the game at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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The Seahawks drafted Rashaad Penny in the first round. He will be a start in the NFL. But week one of 2018, Seattle should start Chris Carson.

Chris Carson could have been on his way to having a 1,000 yard rushing season for the Seahawks in 2017. Last year was Carson’s rookie year and he had earned the starting position. But then he got hurt. In week four against the Indianapolis Colts, Carson broke his ankle and hurt his knee and missed the rest of the year.

But Carson deserves to get a shot to start in 2018. Sure, Rashaad Penny had amazing statistics in college. And heck, Penny may be more physically gifted than Carson. Maybe. But Carson did something no other Seahawks came close to doing in 2017: Making consistent productive runs when nothing else was there and averaging over 4 yards a carry.

I am in no way saying Penny cannot do this. Or that Penny should be saved for a later season. There are no real redshirt years in the NFL, of course. But Seattle has a good idea what they can get from Carson. And they might even get much more.

2017

In 2017, Carson started as a late round draft pick behind Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls. In preseason it became clear that Carson was going to be more productive – both in power and speed – than Rawls or Lacy. But still Seattle chose to start Lacy. They shouldn’t have.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Seahawks/status/915290365393080322

Then Carson got to start and was hurt. This offseason, Carson has worked himself back into possibly better shape than he was at the beginning of 2017. A healthy Carson, even without Penny, makes the running back room much more potentially productive than 2017 started. Add to that Mike Davis being decent enough at the end of 2017 in limited time, and Seattle’s run game looks ok.

Next: Should Seahawks sign Russell Wilson to an extension?

Rashaad Penny was drafted to be a star in Seattle for several years. Chris Carson was drafted in 2017 to be a supportive player. Carson showed he can be more than that in the NFL. And based on what he showed in 2017, he deserves to start over Penny in week one. Either way, Seattle should be in good shape to get back to a more run heavy offense with explosive running backs.

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