All signs are it’s still Chris Carson one, Rashaad Penny two in Seahawks’ backfield
Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny joked and talked casually at their neighboring lockers before practice.
Just like they always do.
Coming off Penny’s career rushing day and Carson putting the ball on the ground again, twice, last weekend at Philadelphia, how will those two running backs be in the offense’s hierarchy for the Seahawks (9-2) Monday night against Minnesota (8-3) at CenturyLink Field?
Just like they always are.
That is, if you believe all signs and words from Seahawks headquarters this week.
“I mean, Chris is our guy. We know that,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Friday.
Why? Because Carson has 2,030 yards rushing in his 25 games he’s played for Schottenheimer and the Seahawks the last two seasons.
Carson needs 121 yards to become the sixth Seahawk to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
This is even a question because Penny romped for a career-high 122 yards on just 14 carries last weekend at Philadelphia. Seattle’s first-round draft choice last year had the game-changing touchdown run of 58 yards to break a 10-3 logjam in the fourth quarter.
This is also a question because Carson leads all NFL non-quarterbacks with seven fumbles. He’s lost four and been involved in two more fumbles that easily could have been charged to him this season.
After Penny gave Seattle a 17-3 lead over the Eagles early in the fourth quarter last weekend, Carson fumbled in Seahawks territory when Philadelphia’s Rodney McLeod punched the ball out. Carson recovered.
Before the next snap, Carson did not get the audible call Russell Wilson made at the line of scrimmage to change a bootleg pass by Wilson to a hand-off to his running back. Wilson put the ball high on Carson’s chest. Carson never moved his hands into position to take the hand-off, and he never looked down from seemingly looking for a defender to pass block. The ball clanged off his chest for a fumble. Official statisticians credited it to Wilson, for a botched hand-off.
The Eagles converted that short-field opportunity into their only touchdown.
After the screwed-up hand-off, Wilson uncharacteristically yelled at Carson on their ways to the sideline. After the game, the quarterback went leader mode and took full responsibility for the fumble. Yet it was apparent Carson’s head was still on his latest fumble from the play before.
“We had a naked (bootleg) on and then we changed the play to a run. I just think I have to do a better job of making sure we’re really clear on what we’re trying to do there,” Wilson said.
“I’ll put it on me for sure.”
Through all that, three years of punishing running coach Pete Carroll loves keep Carson as Seattle’s lead running back. Fumbles are just going to be a part of that, it appears.
The Seahawks’ 20 fumbles in 11 games are fourth-most in the league. They’ve lost 12 of them.
Schottenheimer said Carson is “playing terrific football, as well.
“But, like what happened last year some, each week, sometimes different guys step up. It happens that way in the passing game. Different receivers step up. Happened in the running game.
“Of course, we want to get Rashaad his touches, get him in the game. In terms of forcing it to happen, we’re not going to do that.”
Expect Penny’s big day against the Eagles to earn him some more snaps and carries Monday night. More than three snaps Penny ad the game before his Philadelphia breakout. That was after he allowed a blitzing 49ers cornerback to knocked the ball from him in the backfield on a blitz Nov. 11.
Penny has yet to seize the opportunities he’s earned in his two seasons.
His one-cut, 37-yard touchdown run won the game at Pittsburgh in September. That same day, Carson and Wilson lost a fumble deep when a Steeler crashed in on a blitz. That put Pittsburgh briefly back in the game in the fourth quarter.
Penny was poised for more the following week against New Orleans. But he was in active for three of the next four games because of a strained hamstring. The Seahawks lost the Saints, one their two defeats this season.
After his previous career day last year as a rookie, 108 yards at the Los Angeles Rams in November, he finished December inactive for two of the last three games because of a knee injury.
These two seasons in the NFL have indeed been a huge challenge for college football’s rushing leader with more than 2,400 yards at San Diego State in 2017. He never missed a college game there, playing in 54 consecutive ones for the Aztecs.
“It’s been a big test,” Penny said. “But it’s me just staying poised, staying who I am and patiently waiting my turn. Just trying to prove that I can play. But we have a great running back in front of me in Chris. He shows it week-in and week-out, all last season and this season.”
All signs are Penny will remain second behind Carson, not just Monday night against Minnesota but for as long as any Seahawk can see.
“So, yeah, it gets kind of hard for me,” Penny said.
“But, then again, I just stay the guy I am, stay poised and wait for my turn and opportunity and just make the most out of it.”
