RENTON – With starting running back Julius Jones likely out with a bruised lung for this week’s game against Minnesota, the Seattle Seahawks will turn to the running back tandem of Justin Forsett and Louis Rankin to carry the load Sunday.

And if last Sunday’s game against Arizona is any indication, the Seahawks should be just fine, as they get a chance to evaluate the two young runners who may provide a glimpse into the future for the team’s ground game.

After Jones went down in the first quarter against the Cardinals, Seattle’s running game, which had been struggling to find any cohesiveness all season, suddenly kicked into high gear with the infusion of Forsett and Rankin.

Seattle churned out 164 total yards on the ground. Forsett carried 17 times for 123 yards, including an 11-yard score, while Rankin chipped in 24 yards on three carries. The two also combined for eight receptions for 50 yards, with both regularly making defenders miss in open space.

“There was a buzz on our sideline (Sunday) when those two guys got rolling, something that we have not felt this year,” coach Jim Mora said during his Monday news conference. “Football teams love to run the football. Defenses love to see (their) offense running the football. … There was an enthusiasm that that created on our football team.”

Mora went on to say that the duo reminded him of the running tandem he had during his final year in Atlanta. Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood combined for 1,773 yards in 2005, and along with quarterback Michael Vick’s 1,039 yards, they helped the Falcons lead the league in rushing.

“They’re very much the same,” Mora said. “Warrick Dunn was a shorter-in-stature, quicker-laterally type of guy, where Jerious Norwood ran a little bit more upright, but had really great speed.

“Those two are very similar, in style at least, to what we had in Atlanta. So, yeah, I think you can use those two guys interchangeably and maybe keep the defense off-balance a little bit.”

Forsett has shown flashes of being a productive runner for Seattle, particularly during the preseason in 2008, when he rushed for 248 yards, including a 15-carry, 136-yard performance against Chicago. However, at 5-foot-8, 194 pounds, there is some question about his durability as an every-down back in the NFL.

Mora said that question could be answered in the upcoming weeks, as Forsett will get an opportunity to handle the lion’s share of the running load with Jones out.

“We’re going to find out, because he’s going to be carrying the ball a lot this week,” Mora said. “Whether it’s in the screen pass game, or run game, or things like that, check downs, he’ll get the ball.”

Extra points

The Seahawks released running back Devin Moore and added running back Xavier Omon to the practice squad. Oman, a Northwest Missouri State product, was a sixth-round choice by the Buffalo Bills last season. He played in five games this year before Buffalo let him go last week.

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

eric.williams@thenewstribune.com

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