Seahawks Three-Headed Monster pt. 3: C.J. Prosise
By Ben Renner
The Seahawks have three running backs on the roster who could all see significant time in the starting backfield alongside quarterback Russell Wilson. C.J. Prosise is probably the most unpredictable of the three.
Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell probably wakes up several times a night after dreaming about the fun he’s going to have calling run plays this fall. With free agent Eddie Lacy joining a healthy Thomas Rawls, the backfield has never caused so much excitement and high expectations since Marshawn Lynch was around.
Head coach Pete Carroll has said throughout the offseason that the Seahawks will return to the offensive formula that took them to two Super Bowls: running the rock. Based on what we know and have seen from both Rawls and Lacy, it’s wise to assume they will be handling most of the between-the-tackles work, but when it’s time to get creative, that’s where second-year player C.J. Prosise comes in.
You might remember Prosise for his starring role in the Seahawks 31-24 victory over the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots last season. He appeared in only six games last year, missing action for a variety of ailments, including a painful shoulder injury he had surgery on this offseason. In those six games, however, Prosise looked like a cheat code. He caught 17 of the 19 passes thrown to him for 208 yards, or 12.2 yards per reception. As a runner, he gained 172 yards on 30 carries, or a 5.7 yards per carry average.
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Prosise is the wild card of the three-headed running attack in Seattle. Lacy and Rawls have had their own struggles with injuries, but we’ve seen too little of Prosise to determine if his injury history is bad luck and bad timing or a result of his playing style.
Before being drafted by the Seahawks last year, Prosise had had his injury problems at Notre Dame. He missed three games his last season in South Bend.
Prosise appears to be coming into this season fully recovered from his latest bouts of injuries. If he can maintain that health throughout all or most of the season (hopefully at least the second half and playoffs), he gives Wilson a Danny Woodhead/Darren Sproles/Shane Vereen-type receiver out of the backfield, and Bevell an effective change-of-pace back more slippery than the pounding styles of Lacy and Rawls.
Next: Seahawks Three-Headed Monster pt. 2: Thomas Rawls
A healthy trio of Lacy, Rawls, and Prosise is a scary combination for the Seahawks. Combine another year of maturation for Wilson as an elite quarterback, and Seattle’s offense could catch up to its defense this year.