Darrell Bevell's offensive plan for the Seahawks in 2014 might include less Marshawn Lynch. (USATSI)
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With the emergence of Christine Michael in Seattle, Beast Mode could be going into bench mode for parts of next season. Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said on Wednesday that the current plan for 2014 is for Michael to split carries with Marshawn Lynch.
"We are going to be running back by committee," Bevell said at a Seahawks town hall event. "We really like what Christine Michael is doing right now."
Michael has dazzled everyone during OTAs, including coach Pete Carroll, who said last week that Michael's an 'explosive talent.'
"We have very high expectations for him. He's going to get a ton of work," Carroll said. "He's just a million miles ahead of where he was in terms of understanding what we want scheme-wise, pass protection-wise, route-wise and we know he's a natural runner. He's got explosive talent and we just want to get him to fit in."
If the Seahawks move forward with their running back by committee plan, the benefit for Lynch would be fresher legs late in the season. Although fantasy owners might not be happy: Lynch was one of only two running backs in the league -- along with LeSean McCoy -- to get over 300 carries last season.
Lynch likely won't reach the 300-carry mark in 2014 though, mainly because Bevell sounds like someone ready to give some of those carries to Michael. The 2013 second-round pick only carried the ball 18 times last season.
"He's somebody we're really excited about," Bevell said of Michael. "We really like what he's doing right now with the quickness, the speed and the toughness he's shown. He's making great cuts. He has breakaway speed to finish a run and he has really quick moves in short areas."
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Seahawks planning a RB committee
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said his offense will use a "running back by committee." No. 2 RB Christine Michael received praise from Bevell, now in his fourth year with Seattle. "We really like what Michael is doing right now." Head coach Pete Carroll also piled praise onto Michael, noting he was a breakout candidate in 2014.
The wheels haven't quite fallen off for RB Marshawn Lynch. Hanging on every word spoken in early June will drive fantasy owners into rash decisions. Lynch is a first-round pick, perhaps a bit later into the first now. Seattle remains one of the most run-dominant teams in the NFL. Michael deserves an opportunity to play. He is athletic and dynamic. Lynch and Michael will be a formidable duo. This should push Lynch down a few picks in his average draft position. This news stokes the flames building for Michael as a possible "sleeper."
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