Huard: Seahawks’ Thomas Rawls never makes same mistake twice

Seahawks rookie running back Thomas Rawls has another special quality to be excited about beyond his speed, production and overall ferocity.

BY ERIC MANDEL

Dec 7, 2015, 10:39 AM Updated: 11:06 am

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Despite his first career fumble, Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls finished Sunday's win over Minnesota with 101 yards on 19 carries. (AP)

(AP)

There are plenty of reasons to feel gung-ho about Thomas Rawls’ prospects as the future for the Seahawks’ backfield.

There’s his speed, vision, production, pass-catching ability and overall ferocity, to name a few. But 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard said one of the undrafted rookie’s most overlooked qualities is his propensity to never make the same mistake twice.

To illustrate the point, Huard pointed to Rawls’ first-drive fumble in Sunday’s dominant 38-7 win over Minnesota.

“You know what that would do to a lot of rookies? Put them in a shell,” Huard said during the “Blue 42” segment of “Brock and Salk” on Monday. “‘I can’t fumble twice. Oh my gosh, here’s this stage, I better not screw this thing up.’ No, he doesn’t. He just gets back to fundamentals, puts two hands on the ball. He still runs with incredible fury and rage. But that’s why he’s doing what he’s doing and he’s only about 70 yards behind (Rams’ rookie running back) Todd Gurley.”

Despite his first career fumble, Rawls finished with 101 yards on 19 carries, plus three catches for 22 yards. On the KIRO Radio postgame show, Rawls credited veteran running back Fred Jackson for advising him about moving on after the fumble, and he also received support from his teammates on the defensive side.

“It was a lot of defensive players coming up to me after the fumble that said, ‘Don’t worry about it, we got you. We got your back.’ And they just made me feel so comfortable,” Rawls said. “It’s a blessing.”

With four games of at least 100 yards rushing and 786 yards on the ground total for the season, Huard notes Rawls is setting himself up for 1,000 in his rookie campaign.

For Huard’s co-host Mike Salk, who “jokes” that Rawls might be the best running back in football, Rawls’ ascension to greatness is a touchy subject because of his affinity for Marshawn Lynch.

“I confess to feeling like I’m cheating on a player that I’ve loved,” Salk said. “Because I am head-over-heels for Thomas Rawls.”