Christine Michael was claimed off waivers by the Green Bay Packers after being surprisingly released by the Seattle Seahawks. It was a move that brought a lot of excitement to a Green Bay fan base that was in desperate need of something giving them energy once again. After three straight losses, an upgrade to one of the main positions of need was a welcome sign.
That being said, there are some differing opinions on what kind of role Michael will have in Green Bay.
Some believe that the Packers picked him up simply for depth behind James Starks and Ty Montgomery. Others think that Mike McCarthy and the Packers will end up starting Michael sooner rather than later.
Can Christine Michael take over the Green Bay running back job in the near future?
Christine Michael is happy to call Green Bay "home."
Meet the new #Packers RB 📰: https://t.co/KmrT1QYlLG#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/u3xuypwmNE
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 18, 2016
After Eddie Lacy went down with an injury, the Packers’ offense immediately started struggling. Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played bad football, but it has become obvious that he can’t carry the offense by himself anymore. Starks and Montgomery are solid running backs, but they are not a workhorse type of back.
Michael has been the starter in Seattle for the majority of the season. Unfortunately, the Seahawks decided to let him go now that Thomas Rawls is set to return and rookie C.J. Prosise is showing signs of being a special playmaker.
Throughout the nine games that Michael played with the Seahawks, he carried the football 117 times for 469 yards and six touchdowns. Nothing can be taken away from him when looking at those numbers. He averaged 4.0 yards per carry and has averaged 4.3 per carry throughout his entire career.
First look at new #Packers RB Christine Michael on the practice field. #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/z9snK02l1c
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 17, 2016
Green Bay has needed a running back that could bring a change of pace to their offense. Lacy was always the type of back that could pick up chunks of yardage in short-yardage situations and could break off a big run here and there. Michael is the type of lightning running back that can break a long run on any given play.
During the 2013 NFL Draft, many thought the Packers might be interested in drafting Michael. Instead, he ended up being selected by Seattle just one pick after Green Bay took Lacy. Since then, his career has been full of inconsistent playing time and signs of brilliance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipJ1KXFgvq0
Now, his time has come to prove to the Packers that he should get consistent playing time. Even before Lacy went down with his injury, weight was becoming an issue for him again. With the future of the running back position unsure in Green Bay, Michael has a serious chance to earn a long-term spot with the Packers.
To answer the question, there is no doubt that Michael has a good chance to become the starting running back this season. He is hungry to prove himself and the Packers obviously saw enough in him to claim him. Michael will be much more than a depth pickup and could end up being a Packer for years to come if he plays his cards right.
Expect to see him earn playing time immediately with the Packers and make an impact. Rodgers needs help and that help could come in the form of Michael.
