Is it time to give significant consideration to Justin Forsett as the future at the starting running back position?

Forsett’s 123-yard-one-touchdown performance on the road against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday put him within 146 rushing yards and one touchdown of tying regular starter Julius Jones for the team lead this season at 392 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

With Jones missing at least a week due to what is being called a bruised chest, Forsett will get the opportunity to prove to head coach Jim Mora Jr., general manager Tim Ruskell and the rest of the Seahawks’ head brass that Forsett, despite his small stature, really could be the everyday feature back for the team.

Should he do enough while Jones is out to officially take over the running duties for the rest of the year, Forsett could shine thanks to several favorable matchups in the final seven weeks of the 2009-2010 season.

Week

Team

League Rank vs. Run

Avg. YPG Allowed

Avg. YPR Allowed

TDs Allowed

11

at Minnesota

6

94.6

4.2

2

12

at St. Louis

28

142.3

4.5

13

13

San Francisco

3

87.7

3.3

8

14

at Houston

14

108.7

4.7

12

15

Tampa Bay

31

167.3

4.9

10

16

at Green Bay

4

93.1

3.5

3

17

Tennessee

16

109.3

4.4

8

*Courtesy of NFL.com.

What intrigues me the most about Forsett isn’t what he can do when the football is handed off to him; it’s what he can do when it’s thrown to him.

He’s thus far been used in short screen packages and is averaging over seven yards per catch.  This element of the passing attack has been missing for a few years now and it has really hurt quarterback Matt Hasselbeck because, instead of being able to confidently and routinely check down to a running back in the backfield or out in the flat, Hasselbeck has had to take numerous sacks and throw too many passes away to the sidelines.

With all of this in mind, it’s time to return to the question I led off this week’s column with, is it time to give significant consideration to Justin Forsett as the future at the starting running back position?

Or, do you still spend a draft pick, which right now looks like it’ll either be a first rounder or a second, on one of this year’s top collegiate backs?

Seattle is a team that is aging and becoming increasingly more injury prone, if you give Forsett the job, you save a valuable draft choice and its corresponding cap space so you can use it to address these age and injury issues at other positions.

However, the Seahawks do have an additional first round selection this year so they do have the ability to pick up a top running back prospect and still have one other first round choice in addition to the team’s second round pick to address other positions that need upgrading.

Seahawks Nation, you’re general manager for a day, what do you do?  If you draft somebody, who is it and why?