Seattle Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy was a featured back on the field the first four seasons of his NFL career. He lived up to that status before injuries took a toll, resulting in him topping 1,100 yards his first two seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
Now with the Seahawks, Lacy's role is different. In Seattle, Lacy joins his first running back committee, which is definitely a crew the team will utilize this upcoming season. There's Thomas Rawls' explosiveness, C.J. Promise's versatility on the ground and through the air and Alex Collins' physicality. There are also new backs such as rookie Chris Carson and veteran Mike Davis, too. Lacy is prepared for the competition that lies ahead in the backfield and is looking forward to the challenge.
"We're all going for the same thing, especially with me being new here," Lacy said following Day 3 of Organized Team Activities. "There's no confrontation, there's no tension in the room. We all understand it's a business, but nothing is given to nobody. We've got to come out, we've got to play and earn it."
Lacy is unable to do everything at the moment during workouts after an ankle injury placed him on Injured Reserve last season on Oct. 20. He did note that his workload will increase over time, however.
"I'm still limited," Lacy said. "I'm able to do a lot more, though, and it's steadily progressing. As long as I continue to get better, I'll just continue to do more and whatever they allow me to do."
The Seahawks had a down year running the ball last season following the one-year retirement of Marshawn Lynch and because of tough injuries to Rawls and Prosise. Seattle dropped to 99.4 rushing yards per game and not being able to provide balance on offense at times prevented the offense as a whole to really establish a rhythm.
"We lost 100-something runs last year," Carroll said on 710 ESPN Seattle last month. "That was basically the story; that was basically the tale of why everything came about as it did. The defense had to do more stuff, we had to throw the ball more, we had to pass protect more and all of that because the running game got knocked up with the quarterback being a mess and the running back situation, everybody being banged up, we were just unable to find it. I think we're going to come roaring right back at it."
There's little doubt that if Lacy fully recovers from his injury and regains his vintage form — a form that rightfully earned him 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year honors — his addition could greatly help Seattle re-establish that physical style of play Carroll likes.
"I think this should be the most competitive camp we've had depth wise and that's just a tribute to what happened in the draft and our guys coming back off the injuries and the guys we've been able to acquire," Carroll said Friday. "It should be a really hard-nosed, tough camp for us."
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The Seahawks held their third of seven Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Friday, June 2 at Renton's Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
