VANCOUVER, B.C. - He can run the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds, has legs the size of tree trunks and, having played collegiately at Nebraska, knows how to win - assets any running back would love to possess when trying to break into the NFL.
But for everything rookie Ahman Green has going for him in his bid to earn playing time with the Seattle Seahawks, one aspect of his game needs to be fine-tuned: His hands. Just ask Pete Kendall.
"Ahman just needs to hold onto the ball," said the Seahawks' starting guard, now in his third year. "Obviously he's got a ton of talent, so if he can hold onto the ball he'll continue to be part of this offense."
Through Seattle's first two preseason games, Green has indeed been a part of the offense, rushing a team-high 30 times for 155 yards. Unfortunately for him, what most people had noticed in those contests against Dallas and Indianapolis was his inability to tuck the ball away, as evidenced by three costly fumbles.
On Saturday night in the American Bowl, however, the Seahawks' third-round pick in April's draft clutched the pigskin firmly against his side en route to an 11-carry, 49-yard performance in the Seahawks'24-21 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers at BC Place.
"I thought Ahman Green did some really good things running the football," Seahawks head coach Dennis Erickson said. "He's got some talent-we all know that. He held onto the football and wrapped it up pretty good inside. There was great improvement from him."
Green, who now leads all preseason rushers with 204 yards, agreed. "I was a lot better tonight," he said. "I just went out there and did my job. I held onto the ball, caught a couple of passes out of the backfield and stuck in there for my team."
In the second half, Green stuck it to the 49ers. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder touched the ball 13 times on three Seattle drives - the last of which culminated with Green launching himself over the San Francisco defense for a l-yard score.
Such a strong offensive showing, however, wasn’t enough to make Green feel as though his role on the team will change anytime soon.
"Right now I see myself as a big special teams guy - and then probably a third or fourth down back," Green admitted. "Spelling Ricky Matters) is what I see myself doing."
Chances are, he wont see himself doing that for long, though - especially if he continues to make taking care of the ball his top priority. "I had to adjust (to fumbling) in college the same way," Green said. "My freshman year I had a couple of fumbles real early in games and the guys in front of me told me to forget about it.
"Ricky has said the same thing to me here. He told me to put it behind me because if I leave it on my mind I'll keep doing it and make other mistakes."
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