Forsett, Jones have roles in Mora's plan

Renton - Should reserve running back Justin Forsett's recent success be that much of a surprise?

The shifty, second-year runner out of California has appeared to be a godsend for a Seattle Seahawks running game needing a jolt of energy. And Forsett has jump-started Seattle’s offense, rushing for more than 100 yards twice in the past three games.

But if you’re searching for a reason for Forsett’s success, look no further than his familiarity with offensive coordinator Greg Knapp’s zone blocking scheme.

Forsett has been working in that system since his freshman year playing for the Golden Bears, so it’s no wonder he dips and darts through holes like he has already seen them before.

In essence, he has.

“I came from the zone blocking scheme from Cal so I’ve always been comfortable in it, and I think it suits me well,” Forsett said. “And we’re starting to get it rolling now, so it feels better.”

How well has Forsett got it going? So much so that Seahawks fans are shouting from the mountaintops that he should be the starter over injured running back Julius Jones, who has missed the past two weeks with a bruised lung suffered during the first quarter of the Arizona game.

And they have a point. For the season, Forsett has 385 yards on 68 attempts for a 5.7-yards-per-carry average. He’s also fourth on the team in receptions with 29 for 246 yards.

“Any time you get your hands on the ball you want to make something happen,” Forsett said. “I just want to be a sparkplug. As many times as they give me the ball I want to be able to do something with it, and I’ll be productive.”

Jones has rushed for just 392 yards on 107 carries for a 3.7-yards-per-carry average.

However, most of Jones’ carries came behind a makeshift offensive line earlier in the season, while Forsett has benefited from a healthy offensive line being together the last three games. So the Seahawks brass would like to see how a healthy Jones would do under the same conditions.

Seattle also has to determine what it will do at the position in terms of personnel moving forward. Thee Seahawks already spent $4 million on two running backs in T.J. Duckett and Edgerrin James who are no longer with the team. Jones is signed through 2011, and will earn $5.25 million in the next two years if he remains with the team.

So the Seahawks need to figure out if a Jones-Forsett tandem could be the running back duo of the future.

“I understand that you can’t deny Justin has had a couple of really good games with Julius out,” coach Jim Mora said. “I think you are right – we certainly need to evaluate that position and find out exactly what he is, but I don’t think that means you just completely eliminate Julius Jones either. We still need to evaluate him as well.

“We’re going to try and continue to run the ball with whoever is running the ball well that day.”

Trufant struggling

Cornerback Marcus Trufant continues to struggle after his return from a disc issue in his back beginning in training camp.

Trufant has seven defensive penalties and is among the league leaders in pass interference calls despite playing in just five games this season. Trufant missed all of training camp and the first six games of the season, as the team placed him on the physically unable to perform list at the beginning of the regular season.

“Some of those calls from my vantage point and in reflections in getting stuff back from the league maybe could have been called another way,” Mora said. “Regardless of that, what you see with cornerbacks typically when they get pass interference, defensive holding calls is that their technique is off a little bit and they’ve gotten in positions where they have to grab. That’s kind of what you’ve seen with Tru.”

Trufant generally stays after practice to work on his technique and footwork.

“It’s tougher than any of us really think, especially at that position where you have to be so finely tuned because you are protecting such a valuable asset, which is the end zone,” Mora said.

“It’s harder than we think. Sometimes we assume that because a guy’s been a good player and has the skill set that he’ll just step right in and be OK. I don’t think that is always fair to the athlete. He was out a long, long time. But it’s coming for him.”

Extra points

Defensive lineman Cory Redding (concussion), defensive end Lawrence Jackon (groin) and linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Running back Julius Jones (bruised lung) and center Chris Spencer (thumb) were full participants in practice. ... The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve will have representatives at Qwest Field to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program during the Seahawks game against San Francisco on Sunday. Volunteers will be collecting new and unwrapped toys or donations at various gate locations throughout the stadium. There will also be a collection booth inside Touchdown City located in the Qwest Field Event Center. Donated toys will be distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children in the Seattle community.

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437

eric.williams@thenewstribune.com

blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks/