The Seahawks are getting back to the run and that is awesome
By Luke Allen
The Seahawks rushed 34 times for over 170 yards a rush on Sunday. That is good for over 5 yards per carry.
Much of the off season, Pete Carroll was preaching to the media about getting back to the run game on offense after straying away from it for a few seasons. He hired offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, hoping to bolster the run. Seattle even spent a first round pick on running back Rashaad Penny. The Seahawks also brought in a mauling guard in DJ Fluker via free agency.
Through two games, it looked like the running game was still dead. However, the last two games have been great in terms of rushing and maybe the run game is revived.
In the Seahawks home opener against Dallas, Chris Carson rushed 32 times for 102 yards and a score. While the yards per rush may not be that impressive, it is an encouraging sign to see a back get 32 carries and over 100 yards rushing. To put that into perspective, Russell Wilson only attempted 26 passes.
Sunday in Arizona, amid the injuries and theatrics that followed, Mike Davis quietly had himself a big game with Carson out with a hip injury. Again, Wilson only attempted 26 passes compared to 21 rushes from Davis, who finished with over 100 yards and 2 touchdowns. Penny also looked good in his 9 carries for 49 yards.
Even Wilson found himself in the rush column with 4 carries for 21 yards, including pulling the ball in a read-option for the first time all year.
Yes, it is nice that the coaches are finally calling run plays in a large volume and the backs are putting up big numbers, but it does not happen without solid play from the offensive line.
The interior of the line – JR Sweezy, Justin Britt, and DJ Fluker – have been awesome. Those three mammoths have completely controlled the line and have gotten great pushes and opened wide open holes for the backs to gash through.
Aligning the interior line with an improving Germain Ifedi, who has been much better in pass protection, and trusty left tackle Duane Brown, the offensive line has been a bright spot so far in the first four games of the year. Hell, even Russell Wilson was throwing some lead blocks in Arizona.
Seahawks grades on offense versus Cardinals. dark. Next
Next week, the vaunted Rams defensive line will be a tough test for this upward trending line, and we all hope they are up for the challenge.