The Seahawks are the defending champs, and that means everyone has to take their game up a level...even rookies.
One of the biggest and most intriguing storylines for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason has been the running back room.
With Kenneth Walker now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, plus Zach Charbonnet out with an ACL injury as he continues his recovery, that leaves rookie Jadarian Price, George Holani, Emanuel Wilson, and Kenny McIntosh as the weapons for Brian Fleury.
Given that Fleury comes from the San Francisco 49ers, we know how much emphasis is placed on the running backs in Kyle Shanahan's system, and many think that Fleury will bring some of that to Seattle.
But it could be tough to get consistent production because right now, the Seahawks don't have a definitive starting running back.
With Price, by all reports, having a good start to the offseason, it feels like he will be the starter under Fleury, at least until Charbonnet is healthy.
And that brings a level of pressure, that Fox Sports' Ben Arthur, who named Price as Seattle's X-Factor, has to deal with.
"Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is now with the Chiefs, while Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the NFC divisional round," Arthur wrote. "It’s paramount that Price, the Seahawks’ top pick, is an RB1-caliber player from Day 1, so Seattle’s offense doesn’t lose a step."
We know that Price played backup to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame, but he was still very productive in his limited reps. In Seattle, there is a chance he'll get all he can eat.
Now, will it be Price getting 20+ carries each week? Not likely.
I feel that a running back by committee will take place early, as Price adjusts to the NFL game, and Wilson has skins on the wall as a running back, along with Holani, so the Seahawks won't have to go with just one back if they don't want to.
Of course, Price could prove at training camp he is capable of being "the" guy, but in an ideal world, Seattle would like to rotate through the stable of backs early in the season.
And if the Seahawks are to give themselves the best shot at repeating as NFC West and Super Bowl champs, Price will have to be productive early and often.
So yeah, no pressure.
