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Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks took step forward in running game’s efficiency

Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy will get the bulk of carries against the Redskins on Sunday. He has 108 yards on 42 carries this season. (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
By Bob Condotta and Stefanie Loh Seattle Times

SEATTLE – If the final numbers don’t necessarily pop off the page – 134 yards rushing on 32 carries – the Seahawks’ running game just seemed to look better during a 26-13 victory over Kansas City on Friday night than it had in the previous two exhibition games.

That was particularly true in the first half when it was Seattle’s starters against Kansas City’s starters, as the Seahawks gained 64 yards on 15 carries.

Seattle’s two main running backs, Chris Carson (eight carries for 46 yards) and Eddie Lacy (four carries for 21) combined for 67 yards on 12 carries, a 5.6 yards per carry average that is better than the individual average for any tailback coming into the game. As a team, the Seahawks averaged 4.1 yards per carry in the first two games, buoyed greatly by 65 yards on 10 carries from backup quarterbacks Trevone Boykin and Austin Davis.

“We had a lot of explosive plays in the run game,’’ said quarterback Russell Wilson.

That included a 15-yard run by Carson in the first half and an 11-yarder by Lacy on which he was tackled at the 1-yard line, setting up a Seattle touchdown.

“I was so close,’’ Lacy said. “I should have cut off a little sooner and I probably would have scored.’’

Lacy had 30 yards on 10 carries in the first games but said he felt the most comfortable he has this preseason Friday. Lacy played his first four years with Green Bay before signing with the Seahawks in March and is also coming off a season-ending ankle injury suffered in October.

“It’s definitely been a process,’’ Lacy said. “But I feel like I’m coming along good. Just being out there, being back on the field for the first time since October and just trying to get the nerves out and get past the mental part. … The first two games, I was kind of nervous. I kind of took more contact than I delivered it. Today I think I got past that.’’

Carson, meanwhile, appeared to further cement what has already appeared to be a spot on the 53-man roster – that he split time with Lacy with the starting offense spoke loudly.