Seattle Seahawks: How should Pete Carroll use his running backs?

Another poor start in 2018

This year with the first round selection of halfback Rashaad Penny, there was the idea of Seattle going back to the “Beast Mode” days of running the ball early and often. In the first two games against Denver and Chicago, the Seahawks threw more than they ran. A total departure from what head coach Pete Carroll said he wanted, and what 12s were expecting. Most thought they would establish the run before throwing the ball. Actually, they could have established the throw before the run, but eventually even the plays out between both of them.

Seattle drafted Penny early with the hope there would be competition between him and Carson for the starting spot. In the first game against Denver, Carson ran the ball seven times for 51 yards which included a long of 24 yards. Penny, in the same game, ran seven times, as well, but for a very poor eight yards. The ground game was sputtering so Russell Wilson threw 33 passes completing 19 for 298 yards, scoring three touchdowns. On the downside, Wilson was picked off twice to along with getting sacked six times.

Against Chicago, the Seahawks did about the same thing as the week prior. This time Penny had 10 attempts for 30 yards, while Carson had six attempts, gaining 14 yards. Wilson threw the ball 36 times with 22 completions picking up 226 yards passing for two touchdowns. Although he cut his interceptions to one (a pick-six), and he was sacked six times once again, in another loss.