Seattle Seahawks: Defending Rashaad Penny’s week one performance

Seattle Seahawks rookie running back, Rashaad Penny, didn’t have a good performance in his NFL debut against the Denver Broncos. Some would argue that he’s not a first-round talent. I’m here to convince you otherwise.

Rashaad Penny, of the Seattle Seahawks, rushed seven times for a total of eight whole yards. Most fans say he’s a bust, that obviously he doesn’t have the power to make it in this league.

Sure, Penny might not be a hulk like Marshawn Lynch, but fans need to stop looking for another Lynch. They have to realize that not every running back is like him, Lynch was a physical specimen. Not every running back can run with an entire defense on his back.

Both Penny and Carson got seven carries a piece, which isn’t enough to show anyone what they have. From the beginning of preseason, Chris Carson has been thought of as the starting running back and that Rashaad Penny would back him up.

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In 2017, Rashaad Penny racked up 2,383 all-purpose yards for San Diego State. That’s an amazing season, even if it is on a collegiate level. He was the 2017 Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Additionally, Penny was an All-American and placed fifth in last year’s Heisman Trophy voting. It’s a very strong resume.

Why are Seahawks fans so quick to judge based on one performance by a rookie in his first game? To be honest, I don’t know. Rashaad Penny broke his finger after the first preseason game and missed the next three weeks of practice.

The rookie came back one week before the season opener against Denver splitting time with the other running backs in practice. He then played at Mile High Stadium, where the heat and the altitude alone had players on the sidelines throwing up and reaching for the oxygen masks.

Penny wasn’t just playing against the Denver Broncos top- three defensive line, he was rushing against the elements as well. It’s unfair to judge a player for having a poor performance considering all those the obstacles, after having only a week of practice. He definitely has a lot to prove. The Seattle Seahawks can’t afford for him to be a draft bust.

Is he a dud or a stud? We don’t know yet. His value remains to be seen. Is he worth the same as the name on the back of his jersey or will he one day be worth to be a featured running back? I have a feeling we will know the answers to these questions by the end of the season. However, I’m hoping to see a sneak peek of his upside this week against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.

On a side note, Russell Wilson has a 6-1 record on Monday Night Football, winning six in a row and then falling short to the Atlanta Falcons last year after kicker Blair Walsh missed a game-tying field goal. Monday, Penny will again be tested playing against Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd.

This season is far from over. Let’s see if the Seahawks can bounce back from a close loss to the Denver Broncos. Let’s also hope Rashaad Penny can help them do it.