When it came to picking a new team, running back Eddie Lacy saw a perfect fit in the Seattle Seahawks, who when at their best in recent years have featured a running game that is equal parts explosive and punishing.
"They definitely fit the way I run," Lacy said Wednesday after officially signing his contract with the Seahawks.
"I've always favored Marshawn Lynch's running style, and that's something Pete Carroll definitely likes. I'm going to come in and do my best impression of him and just bring my hard work and my hard running style to the table."
Lacy's comments align with what Carroll said a day earlier when he talked about Lacy's signing being a move that will help the Seahawks be more physical on offense.
"I like that we're bringing in a big, tough guy who's going to send a message with the way he plays the game," Carroll said on 710 ESPN Seattle. "… We went all those years with Marshawn (Lynch), and everybody knew what we stood for and the style of play, so I'm hoping to just continue to add with Eddie and the way Thomas (Rawls) brings it, that's a great one-two punch sending a message about playing tough and physical. That's who we are and that's who we want to continue to be, so that's why we made this move."
While Lacy admired Lynch's game, he said he isn't here to fill the shoes of one of the retired back, but rather to "just want to come out and showcase what I can do, prove that I'm not a fluke, that I can do what I do and do it really well."
Lacy uses the word "fluke" because he's motivated to prove that he's still the back who rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Green Bay Packers, and not the player who was limited to only five games in 2016 because of an ankle injury.
"I'm very motivated to prove myself," he said. "I know what I'm able to do, but I just want to go out and show everybody that I can do it and will do it. I just can't wait to get my chance."
Lacy joins a backfield that includes Thomas Rawls, who led the NFL in rushing yards per carry as a rookie in 2015, C.J. Prosise, who was a dynamic threat as a runner and receiver when healthy last year, and Alex Collins, who came on strong late in his rookie season, and the former Packers starter doesn't come to Seattle assuming anything about his role with his new team.
"Whatever the coach needs me to do," he said. "However he wants to use me, however he wants to play me, my job is to take my opportunities and make the most of them, and that's what I plan to do. You have to compete. Spots aren't given, they have to be earned, always. There's a great group of guys here and I just want to fit in and do my role."
Lacy joins the Seahawks very familiar with his new team having faced Seattle three times over the past three seasons—he missed last year's game due to injury—including the Seahawks' memorable NFC championship victory over the Packers at CenturyLink Field.
"This is a very physical team," Lacy said. "Defensively, those guys play with a lot of heart and a lot of passion, and they get that energy going. Hopefully I can add that on the offensive side and it can all come together and we can be one explosive team."
Take a look back at running back Eddie Lacy's first four years in the NFL.
Alabama's Eddie Lacy arrives on the red carpet before the first round of the NFL Draft, Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.(AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) runs for 1st down in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and The San Francisco 49ers Sunday September 8, 2013 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco Ca. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 34 - 28. (Ap Photo/ Bill Nichols)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy before NFL football training camp Saturday, July 27, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy rides a bike to NFL football training camp Saturday, July 27, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Seattle Seahawks Friday, Aug. 23, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) warms up before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) in action during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers game Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013 in San Francisco, CA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) carries the ball during an NFL week 7 football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, October 20, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 31-13. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) looks on during an NFL week 10 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, November 10, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. TheEagles won 27-13. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) carries the ball during an NFL week 10 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, November 10, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis. TheEagles won 27-13. (AP Photo/David Stluka)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) celebrates his touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) celebrates his one yard touchdown run during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, December 15, 2013 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Packers defeated the Cowboys, 37-36. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Oakland Raiders Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) runs the ball during an NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes for a gain during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, October 26, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans won 43-22. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) celebrates during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, October 26, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans won 43-22. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes for a gain during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, October 26, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans won 43-22. (AP Photo/Aaron M. Sprecher)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) does the Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014 in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game 53-20. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes for a gain during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field on Sunday, November 30, 2014 in Green Bay, WI. The Packers beat the Patriots 26-21. (AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) heads downfield during the NFC Championship game against Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle, Wa. The Seahawks won the game in overtime, 28-22. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes for a gain during an NFL divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Sunday, January 11, 2015 in Green Bay, WI. The Packers beat the Cowboys 26-21. (AP Photo/Todd Rosenberg)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) rushes for a gain during an NFC divisional playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Sunday, January 11, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Cowboys 26-21 to advance to the NFC Championship game. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) celebrates following an NFC divisional playoff football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Sunday, January 11, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Cowboys 26-21 to advance to the NFC Championship game. (AP Photo/Perry Knotts)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy warms up before the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) runs past Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) in the first quarter of the pre-seaon NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) runs between San Francisco 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite (57) and linebacker NaVorro Bowman (53) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) walks onto the field from the tunnel before the NFL regular season game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 in Denver. The Broncos won, 29-10. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) walks to the huddle against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini)
Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy runs during the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
