What a difference a year makes. Before the start of the 2015 season, the Seattle Seahawks basically gave Christine Michael away to the Dallas Cowboys. Michael, a 2013 second-round pick and the subject of much hype (but not as much production) through his first two seasons, was sent to Dallas for a conditional second-round pick. Michael carried the ball 15 times for 51 yards for Dallas before being released in mid-November. He caught on a few days later with Washington's practice squad, but never appeared in a game.
After getting released again, Michael went back to the Seahawks, who were in need of another back after injuries to both Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls. Michael then received almost as many carries over the final three games of the regular season (39) as he did during his first two years combined (52). He also started Seattle's playoff win over the Minnesota Vikings, carrying the ball 21 times for 70 yards.
With Rawls still working his way back from his broken ankle and rookie C.J. Prosise nursing an injury of his own, Michael worked as the lead back for the Seahawks' 2016 preseason opener against the Chiefs. He took his seven carries and ran 44 yards with them, an average of 6.3 a pop. After the game, coach Pete Carroll showered Michael with praise for his work so far in camp.
"He's an NFL football player," Carroll said, per ESPN.com. "He really has made it clear to us about the work; he's serious about the consistency. He's taken great pride in the way he's brought it to practice -- day in and day out all throughout the offseason and camp. He's an explosive, dynamic athlete, so we're just going to keep going with him. When Thomas [Rawls] gets back out there, those guys give you a one-two punch that we're excited about. We'll see when C.J. [Prosise] gets back [this week] we'll see where he fits in there. I thought Christine did really well. I liked what he did."
There's an interesting development embedded in that quote, as Carroll refers to Michael and Rawls as a one-two punch he likes for the Seahawks when the latter returns from injury. It's been widely expected that Rawls would simply be the lead runner once he returns to the field, owing to his performance last season (147 carries for 830 yards, an NFL-high 5.6 per carry). Players typically don't lose their spot due to injury, but maybe Michael's "awakening" has changed something up in the Pacific northwest.
