For the past seven years, the Seahawks haven't had to worry about their running game. Shaun Alexander was the guy and occasionally someone else would get a carry or two.
But as we know, that's not the case anymore.
Seattle released Alexander after bringing in Julius Jones from Dallas and T.J. Duckett from Detroit. Along with holdover Maurice Morris, all three will play a role in replacing the former MVP, who was the Seahawks regular starter from 2001-07. It's how the duties are shared, however, that still needs to be figured out.
All signs point to Jones being the starter, Morris playing on third downs and passing situations and Duckett getting short-yardage carries while also seeing time at fullback. Coach Mike Holmgren recently indicated that's how each running back will be used.
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T.J. Duckett would like to get more carries with his new team, but that seems unlikely.
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"The running back position, Julius and Mo will both play," Holmgren said. "I have to kind of see how we are going to use Duckett. That is what I am looking at right now -- fullback, halfback. He has been a halfback, but I would like him to move into fullback a little bit."
That isn't what Duckett wanted to hear. Listed at 6-0, 254 pounds, Duckett is built like a fullback and runs with a bruising style. But he would rather be considered an every-down back and see more carries.
He knows that will be hard in Seattle, where Holmgren is high on Jones and has faith in Morris. All Duckett wants is a chance to get some additional carries and show what he can do.
"I hate to be labeled as a short-yardage guy," Duckett said in a recent interview with CBSSports.com. "I can be a full-time guy. I accept the challenge of trying to prove that, and I look forward to every challenge from the Seahawks."
Duckett's never been given much of a chance to be a full-time guy. He's started just 14 of the 77 games in his six-year career and only 11 times has he gotten more than 15 carries in a game.
In those games he's averaged only 70 yards a contest, but he did score seven touchdowns. He has 36 touchdowns in his career, and unfortunately his best success has been in short-yardage situations.
"You want to have the carries and be a feature back," Duckett said. "I just want to get into the game and perform. That's all I want to do."
Duckett was a promising back and solid Fantasy option his first four seasons in the league. He averaged nearly eight touchdowns a season from 2002-2005 with Atlanta and gained more than 500 rushing yards in three of those four seasons.
Duckett was traded to Washington in 2006 and was rarely used and became a free agent in 2007, which is when the Seahawks first tried to sign him. Instead, he chose to sign with the Lions to be closer to his Michigan hometown.
Duckett didn't get much of a chance with the Lions since then-offensive coordinator Mike Martz favors smaller backs, and Duckett was behind Kevin Jones and Tatum Bell on the depth chart.
"It was frustrating because I wanted to play more," Duckett said.
He hopes that will change in Seattle. But it's hard to imagine Duckett getting more than short-yardage carries.
Jones thus far has been impressive in minicamp and offseason workouts, and Fantasy owners should consider Jones a No. 2 option worth drafting somewhere in the third or fourth round. Like Duckett, Jones is out to prove he can be a feature back after sharing time in Dallas with Marion Barber.
Morris would be the likely handcuff and should be considered a late-round selection in Fantasy leagues. If Jones gets hurt, Morris would be expected to start.
Duckett is also worth drafting with a late-round pick, but his best value might come in touchdown-only leagues. He could find the end zone a lot for the Seahawks, but he might not get many yards.
Along with Fantasy owners, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is looking forward to how it all shakes out. This is a new era of running backs for the Seahawks.
"I think all the guys that we added, they look really good," Hasselbeck said. "(The running game) has been a point of emphasis, definitely. We kind of had a wholesale change there at that position. So I think the competition, the new wrinkles, it is going to be fun and exciting to watch and probably more successful."
