Seahawks still struggling to replace Marshawn Lynch
Marshawn Lynch still may make a comeback, because quirky superstars do strange things, but for now, the Seattle Seahawks still are trying to replace the retired running back.
And it's not gonna happen, Doug Baldwin says.
"We're not going to be able to replace him. Point blank," the wide receiver Doug Baldwin told reporters Friday. "Not his personality, his attitude, his leadership in the locker room and on the field. We're not going to be able to replace that."
Lynch retired at age 30 after missing most of last season with hamstring and abdominal injuries. And the Seahawks are trying to replace not only his leadership and attitude, but also his yards on the ground.
Thomas Rawls, who ran for 830 yards (and 5.6 per carry) in Lynch's place last year, has yet to practice this year. He underwent surgery after injuring an ankle against Baltimore in December, and was just activated this week. He might not play a down in the preseason.
So the Seahawks are searching for someone to step up, from a group comprised of Christine Michael and rookies Alex Collins and Zac Brooks — a combined 22 games of NFL experience.
The Seahawks may be able to compensate for their inexperience in the backfield with defense and Russell Wilson's heroics. Baldwin says that's where their strength now lies with Lynch gone.
"Who he was in the locker room, it's people like him that jel the team together. He was glue. He didn't speak out, he wasn't the guy to get in front and do rah-rah speeches but the few times he did, everyone shut ... up and listened because it was Marshawn Lynch," Baldwin said. "To that degree it is what it is. He wasn't the rah-rah leader, he wasn't always saying stuff, but when he spoke it meant volumes. We don't really have a guy like that who commands the respect and attention at that level. There are only a handful of guys in the league who do anyway. We have the leaders like Richard Sherman, like Russell Wilson that can still carry that weight across the team."
Maybe the Seahawks should take a look DaVonte Lynch. Marshawn's baby brother is a college senior and showed he has some Beast Mode in him.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
