The Seattle Seahawks 19 to 17 preseason loss to the Indianapolis Colts was what you would expect from a preseason game between two teams who faced an opponent for the first time. There were some positives and not so positive takeaways from the game.
After giving up a 12 play 60 yards that resulted in a 3-0 lead for the Colts, the Seahawks answered on their first possession of the game with a 12 play 75-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Nick Vannett that gave the home side 7-3 lead. The Seahawks rushed for 37 yards of the 75 yards accumulated in the drive. Chris Carson had three carried for 18 yards, Rookie Rashaad Penny had two for five yards and Russell Wilson accounted for the remaining 14 yards on two carries.
The drive gave some hope and confidence to a team that is desperate to improve on last seasons woeful running game. For Seattle running the football will be critical if the team is to improve from on last years 9-7 record and non-playoff appearance.
On Thursday the Seahawks finished with 195 total yards compared to the Colts 265 yards. While that is a difference of 70 yards the Seahawks will look to their 4.0 average yard gained for each rushing play as a major step in the right direction. The Colts averaged 2.3 yards per rushing play. That 4.0 yards gained for each rushing play was the same number of yards the Seahawks gained when they passed the ball.
In addition to bringing in a new offensive coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer and offensive line coach Mike Solari, the Seahawks used their first-round draft pick on running back Rashaad Penny.
Despite the small sample size Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carrol was pleased with his team effort in the run game.
” We saw some sparks. We got some spacing in there, We made a couple of mistakes, we got hit in the backfield on stuff but I thought Chris [ Carson] looked really good,” Carroll said after the game. ” I thought Rashaad [ Penny] had a chance and Mike [ Davis ] had a chance to do some stuff. When you’re looking at three and then four running backs it’s hard to get them enough touches but I thought they all showed like we’ve been seeing and I think it’s very promising.”
