Gunzlingr
03-05-2008, 02:16 PM
DETROIT -- T.J. Duckett (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5904) is heading to the Seattle Seahawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sea) with a five-year contract, the free-agent running back told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.
Duckett, who played for the Detroit Lions (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=det) last season, has 2,642 career rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. When he wasn't slowed by injuries, Duckett was productive in limited opportunities in Detroit's pass-happy offense. Last season, he carried the ball 65 times for 335 yards.
How Duckett fits with the Seahawks will have to be determined. Seattle has recommitted to improving its running game this offseason, signing former Carolina Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4498) and hiring former Kansas City offensive line coach Mike Solari as offensive line coach.
Both moves were made in the hopes of sparking a running game that has significantly fallen off since Shaun Alexander (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5048) was the league MVP after rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns in leading Seattle to the Super Bowl in 2005.
Seattle averaged just 4.0 yards per carry in 2006 and 3.8 last season. The struggles have been most notable in short-yardage situations. That's where Duckett's bullying running style could help. But he is likely to be stuck behind Alexander and Maurice Morris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5940) on the Seahawks' depth chart unless additional changes are coming.
more... (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3277080)
Duckett, who played for the Detroit Lions (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=det) last season, has 2,642 career rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. When he wasn't slowed by injuries, Duckett was productive in limited opportunities in Detroit's pass-happy offense. Last season, he carried the ball 65 times for 335 yards.
How Duckett fits with the Seahawks will have to be determined. Seattle has recommitted to improving its running game this offseason, signing former Carolina Pro Bowl guard Mike Wahle (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=4498) and hiring former Kansas City offensive line coach Mike Solari as offensive line coach.
Both moves were made in the hopes of sparking a running game that has significantly fallen off since Shaun Alexander (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5048) was the league MVP after rushing for 1,880 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns in leading Seattle to the Super Bowl in 2005.
Seattle averaged just 4.0 yards per carry in 2006 and 3.8 last season. The struggles have been most notable in short-yardage situations. That's where Duckett's bullying running style could help. But he is likely to be stuck behind Alexander and Maurice Morris (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5940) on the Seahawks' depth chart unless additional changes are coming.
more... (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3277080)