Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch recorded nearly 1,700 total yards and 17 touchdowns during the regular season. He also helped Seattle overcome a horrendous start in the NFC Championship game this past weekend to earn a second straight Super Bowl appearance.
While Lynch didn’t have the best statistical season among running backs in 2014, New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork indicated on Friday that he’s the NFL’s No. 1 running back (via NFL.com).
It seems like he’s been getting better and better. The more and more he plays the game, it seems like he kicks it to another gear. And that’s the sign of a great football player. He’s hands down the best back in the game because he can hurt you anytime he has the ball in his hands.
Being that Lynch is the only top running back still playing in the Super Bowl (sorry LeGarrette Blount), we can definitely understand Wilfork’s comments.
In four seasons since arriving in Seattle, Lynch has put up stellar numbers. He has averaged an amazing 1,339 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns per year, along with averaging 4.52 yards per carry. Lynch also forced 101 missed tackles in 2014, which was the most by any running back since 2007 when Pro Football Focus began tracking this data.
Lynch’s postseason numbers speak wonders as well. He has posted five 100-plus yard performances with eight touchdowns. Currently, Lynch plays with one of the three top rushing offenses in the history of the NFL. Should the Seahawks win a second consecutive Super Bowl with Lynch being the primary focus on offense, he could out-seat Shaun Alexander as the best running back in franchise history.
If this isn’t sufficient bargaining material for Lynch to plead his case for a bigger pay day from Seattle, then I don’t know what is.
Photo: blog.seattlepi