Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is the team's unquestioned starter. No when is debating that, especially when Lynch is the only player in the NFL to rush for at least 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns in each of the last four seasons. But Lynch is 29-years-old and has led the league in carries over that same time frame. Sooner or later, his immense workload is going to catch up with him. When that happens, the Seahawks better hope they're ready.
That is why OTAs, training camp and the pre-season is such an important time for 2013 second-rounder Christine Michael. He wants to show the coaching staff that he'll be ready when called upon.
"This is his time," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said about Michael. "So we're going to push him in that regard and try to match up with his expectations. He wants to be a front-line back and he has tremendous talent. We'll see how it goes."
Michael has good size (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) for a running back but has yet to really make his mark at the NFL level. His is still the No. 3 back on Seattle's depth chart behind Robert Turbin and Lynch and has only carried the ball 52 times for 252 yards (4.9 yards-per-carry) in two seasons.
"This is a great time for him to settle in and get all the featured reps," Carroll said. "He'll have a camp that will call on him to take charge and he'll get all of the preseason work."
The Seahawks led the NFL in rushing last season with 172.6 yards per game and a 5.3 YPC average. What will it take for Michael to get on the field more and help contribute to those totals?
"Just consistency," Carroll said. "Have a good game and come back and have another one. Stay with the workload and handle the bumps and the bruises that come. He's an exciting back. He's so comfortable now that I can't believe we don't see him at his very best."
