In the past week, he has been compared to Jerious Norwood of the Atlanta Falcons, former NFL and USFL star Gary Anderson, ex-Seahawk Chris Warren and even no running back at all.
Sunday,
“I guess people always want to compare you to what they’re used to,” Rankin said Thursday after practice. “It is a compliment. But at the same time, I kind of want to make a name for myself.”
The Seahawks liked Rankin enough – especially his speed – that they jumped on the former University of Washington back after the Oakland Raiders released him in September and signed him to their practice squad. He was signed to the 53-man roster three weeks ago, at the expense of Edgerrin James, then the leading rusher in the league among active players.
Rankin did not get a carry in his first game, as coach Jim Mora decided to all but abandon the running game in the first quarter of a storm-from-behind victory over the Detroit Lions. Last week, in a fall-from-ahead loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Rankin carried three times for 24 yards and also caught three passes for 24 more yards.
Sunday, against the 8-1 Vikings in Minnesota, Rankin should carry a bigger load because leading rusher
“I’m definitely excited for this game,” Rankin said. “We’re playing a good team, so I’m excited to see what I can go out there and do.”
Rankin also will return kickoffs. He averaged 20.5 yards on two returns against the Cardinals and 27.3 yards on three returns against the Lions.
“The more I can do the more I can help this team win games,” Rankin said. “I want to win every game, and I feel like the more I’m out there the more I can do to help the team win games.”
Rankin might be lacking in experience, but not confidence.
“I feel like every time I get the ball in my hands, there’s a chance I can score,” he said. “So the more touches I get the more the chances go up that it will happen.”
Rankin displayed his eruptive ability on one carry in practice Thursday, hitting the hole and exploding into the secondary before the defenders could react.
“With Louis Rankin, we’re talking about a guy who can get out there and at any given moment break the long run,” veteran fullback
But what about those comparisons? They’ve been coming in hot and heavy as Rankin has become a hot topic.
Mora: Norwood was part of the stable of runners that Mora had as the head coach in Atlanta, when the Falcons led the league in rushing for three consecutive seasons (2004-06). Another was Warrick Dunn, who is similar in stature to Forsett.
“When I go back and I look at those two guys, it reminds me of Atlanta with Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood. They’re very much the same,” Mora said. “Warrick Dunn was a shorter-in-stature, quicker-laterally-type of guy, where Jerious Norwood ran a little bit more upright, but had really great speed. Those two are very similar, in style at least, to what we had in Atlanta.
“So, yeah, I think you can use those two guys interchangeably and maybe keep the defense off balance a little bit.”
Tim Ruskell, president of football operations/general manager: Ruskell worked for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the old United States Football League and then Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Anderson was playing for those teams (1983-85 and 1990-93).
“Same body type, in that he was a long-legged guy that ran with high knees,” Ruskell said. “It’s a little bit of an awkward running style, but if you’re fast it’s also awkward for the defensive players because they can’t tell how fast he’s going – it’s hard to gauge the guy’s speed.
“You can see that already with Louis. It’s different, because he doesn’t run like anyone else. And it’s to his advantage. You can’t figure him out real quick, so you see people take poor angles while trying to tackle him.”
Will Lewis, director of pro personnel: Because Rankin also is returning kickoffs, Lewis made the comparison to Warren in the early part of his career with the Seahawks – before he became a feature back who rushed for 1,000-plus yards in four consecutive seasons (1992-95).
“Bigger guy. Deceptive speed. Ability to make people miss,” Lewis said. “I can see some of Chris Warren in Louis.”
Before Warren ripped off rushing totals of 1,017, 1,072, 1,545 and 1,346 yards, he averaged 20.8 and 22.6 yards returning kickoffs in 1990 and 1991.
Quarterback
“He’s got a different style,” Hasselbeck said. “He doesn’t really look like a running back. I heard he was maybe recruited to college at a different position, and it makes sense.
“But he’s doing a really good job. To not notice when he’s in there is a good thing, considering how short a time he’s been here.”
Sunday, Rankin wants to make people notice him, and not because he reminds them of someone else.
