Tag: starter

Seahawks will ‘lean’ on running back Travis Homer Week 17 against 49ers

Despite the additions of Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin, Seahawks rookie Travis Homer is likely to see the most touches against the 49ers.

The Seattle Seahawks made a number of roster moves on Monday, including signing running backs Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin to bolster the position following season-ending injuries to Chris Carson and C.J. Prosise.

Before the additions, Travis Homer was the lone running back on the active roster. Despite being a rookie, he remains the option with the most familiarity with the playbook heading into Sunday.

“Travis is ready to go,” coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday. “He’s knows everything. He’s been through all of our system for the whole year. He showed that he was ready to play football and he did a good job in the game. We lean on him because of his background with us and his toughness and his speed and his playmaking. We’re pleased to have that opportunity. That’s good fortune to have him ready to go.”

Carroll did say that both Lynch and Turbin should get some time against the 49ers but he needs to see how both respond on the practice field, first.

“We’ll just fit the guys in,” Carroll explained. “Give me a couple days here. This is like the first day.”

The Seahawks have Wednesday off for the Christmas holiday, so Lynch and Turbin will have just days to get ready to battle San Francisco.

[lawrence-related id=53598]

Chris Carson remains the Seahawks starting running back

Despite the emergence of running back Rashaad Penny Week 12, Chris Carson remains the Seattle Seahawks starting running back for now.

Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson struggled last week against the Philadelphia Eagles while Rashaad Penny posted one of the better games of his career. But for now, it appears there is no starting running back controversy in Seattle.

“I mean, Chris is our guy,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Friday. “We know that. He’s playing terrific football as well. But, like what happened last year some, each week, sometimes different guys step up. It happens that way in the passing game. Different receivers step up. Happened in the running game.

“Of course, we want to get Rashaad his touches, get him in the game – in terms of forcing it to happen, we’re not going to do that.”

Against the Eagles, Penny finished the day with 14 carries for 129 yards and a career-long, 58-yard touchdown run.

Penny’s off-season work paid off for both him and the Seahawks and Schottenheimer has noticed a real difference in the second-year running back.

“I think he feels better, I think he feels like his conditioning is better” Schottenheimer explained. “I think that’s part of the confidence of a young player. Hey, I feel better. I feel like I can do more. It’s cool to see him get rewarded for that when he goes out and performs the way that he did.”

So for now, Seattle will continue to utilize the one-two punch of Carson and Penny, playing whoever is hot at the time. The Seahawks running backs’ next chance to square off is Monday night against the Vikings in primetime.

[lawrence-related id=51891]

Saints starting Patrick Omameh at left tackle in relief of Terron Armstead

The New Orleans Saints went with veteran NFL guard Patrick Omameh to start at left tackle in relief of injured All-Pro Terron Armstead.

The New Orleans Saints had a tough decision to make at left tackle, with injured starter Terron Armstead inactive after suffering a high-ankle sprain a week ago. His top backup, left guard Andrus Peat, was also inactive after having his broken arm surgically repaired a few weeks ago (veteran backup Nick Easton will get his third start in Peat’s place). The Atlanta Falcons sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees six times in their first meeting with Armstead and Peat both in the lineup, so the Saints obviously hope to turn in a better performance despite having to start multiple backups.

New Orleans had two options available between veteran guard Patrick Omameh and undrafted rookie Ethan Greenidge; facing that decision, the Saints went with the player who has the most NFL experience. Omameh has started full seasons in the NFL for several different teams at both left and right guard, but this game will be his first long-exposure look at left tackle.

Greenidge is active for the first time this year, and he figures to get on the field occasionally as a top reserve along with backup guard/center Will Clapp. Greenidge started 40-plus games in college at Villanova, largely at left tackle, so he does offer some experience in that role even if it’s been limited to the college game.

If worst comes to worst and the Falcons defensive front overruns all options (or, knock on wood, another injury strikes) the Saints can always call on all-star right tackle Ryan Ramczyk to flip back to his college position on the left side. But doing so would require someone else to step into Ramczyk’s spot, which would only introduce new problems and more instability across the board. It’s why the Saints gave Omameh the start and activated Greenidge. Here’s hoping the Saints can have this game well in hand soon enough that they don’t have to consider it.

[vertical-gallery id=23336]