Seattle runs with its tandem
Carson, Penny give Seahawks ground game coach craves
When it comes to the foundation of what Pete Carroll wants from his offense, it ’s always based around the run.
It was that way in college when he was winning titles at Southern California. It ’s been that way during his 10 seasons at the helm of the Seattle Seahawks.
But even in the days of Marshawn Lynch carrying the load, the Seahawks have rarely had the one-two run game punch they showed in Monday night ’s 37-30 win over the Minnesota Vikings. From the time Seattle selected Rashaad Penny in the first round of the 2018 draft, Carroll has talked about the opportunity of Penny and Chris Carson combining to be a forceful backfield duo for the Seahawks.
Against one of the best run defenses in the NFL, it finally popped as Seattle (10-2) moved into first place in the NFC West.
Carson rushed for 102 yards. Penny added another 74. Both rushed for touchdowns and Seattle rolled up 218 yards rushing against a defense giving up less than 100 per game. It was the third time in Carroll’s tenure — and first since 2012 — the Seahawks had two running backs rush for at least 74 yards in the same game.
“They’re just playing. And when we see how the game goes, we might give a guy a few more here or a few more there. We don’t know, because they ’re both really good,” Carroll said. “We love them and we just play them. Chris is the starter, so he winds up getting some more carries, but they ’re playing as 1-2, and I don’t know who is one and I don’t know who is two. They’re doing great.”
The growth of Seattle’s run game in recent weeks has taken some of the offensive weight off quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson hasn’t been great the past few weeks, but Seattle’s offense hasn’t faltered because of the run game.
In the past four games, Seattle rushed for 145 yards against Tampa Bay when it was ranked No. 1 in the leag ue against the run; 147 vs. San Francisco; 174 vs. Philadelphia and capped the stretch with its performance against Minnesota.
“They have been great for us,” Wilson said. “It ’s an honor and pleasure to play next to them.”
What’s working
It ’s not the “Legion of Boom” and shouldn’t be compared to that group. That being said, Seattle’s secondary is playing very well. Take away a blown coverage that led to a 58-yard touchdown and Seattle didn’t allow a catch of longer than 19 yards by a Minnesota wide receiver or tight end. Stefon Diggs was held to four catches for 25 yards. Seattle cornerback Tre Flowers had a game-changing interception on the first play of the fourth quarter that allowed the Seahawks to take a 34-17 lead. Quarterbacks have a combined 75.7 passer rating against Seattle over the past three games.
What needs help
The Seahawks could be better at closing out games in the fourth quarter. Ten of Seattle’s 12 games this season have been decided by one score and Monday was another time the Seahawks let a late lead start to slip away. Seattle had a 17-point lead with 13:30 remaining and watched Minnesota pull within 3430 in the closing minutes. Seattle has just one win by more than eight points.