Christine Michael has played very sparingly over his first two seasons after being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Michael was frequently inactive as a rookie and appeared in just 10 games for the team last season. He has just 52 carries for 254 yards in two years with the team. While playing behind Marshawn Lynch can make it difficult to get on the field, Michael has struggled to force the issue as well.
With Lynch expected to receive his traditionally light preseason workload and backup Robert Turbin recovering from offseason hip surgery, Michael has a chance to show what he can do with more opportunities.
“This is a fantastic time for him. This is his time,” head coach Pete Carroll said on Tuesday. “We’re going to push him in that regard and just match up with his expectations. He wants to be a front-line, first-line back and he’s got tremendous talent and we’re just going to see how it goes.”
Michael is a very talented player when he has the ball in space. However, he has struggled with some of the finer points of learning the running back position. Some immaturity has factored in as well. Michael will get the majority of the work this preseason and Carroll hopes Michael will show he can be more consistent.
“Have a good game and come on back and have another one,” Carroll said. “Stay with the workload, and handle the bumps and the bruises.”
“You can see his assignments and his consistency here but until we start playing (real) football, at that position, you can’t evaluate.”