Subscribe
Follow Us
Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Rashaad Penny has had a hard time getting playing time this year, and head coach Pete Carroll says that's making the first-round pick very frustrated, though that's exactly what Carroll likes to see.
Penny was taken with the 27th overall pick and, usually, when a running back is taken that high they see a lot of playing time early. But Penny only has 29 rushing attempts on the season and didn't receive any carries in the 33-31 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“He’s handling it but he’s frustrated and that’s exactly what I want,” coach Pete Carroll told reporters on Tuesday, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk. “I want him to be frustrated, I want him to be anxious to get out there, I want him to be unsatisfied with what’s going on right now. That’s fine. I think that’s the only way he should be. He’s classy and he’s for the team and every time he would say anything, he would always talk about the team first so he’s got his priorities in line and I expect him to keep battling.”
Chris Carson and Mike Davis currently sit in front of Penny on the depth chart, and it doesn't look like that pecking order will be changing anytime soon. Penny suffered a finger injury in August, costing him valuable time to prepare for the season.
Carroll knows Penny wants to be out there and thinks there could be chances for him as the season goes on.
“He’s just looking for his opportunity, he’s dying to get in there,” Carroll said. “He’s just scratching, clawing to get back out there and get more turns. There just wasn’t enough [opportunities], but this is a long season, there’s a lot of carries, there’s a lot of running to be done. I can’t wait to see him get in there and get going too. He’s done nothing but good stuff for us.”
When Penny does get back on the field, expect him to be ready to make the most of the opportunity and add to the Seahawks' backfield.
