Aidan Hutchinson Quite Familiar with Seahawks' Running Backs
Before becoming one of the most popular members and leaders of the Lions' defense, Aidan Hutchinson earned his stripes playing at the University of Michigan.
While with the Wolverines, Hutchinson gained a reputation for being a relentless worker and a highly productive pass rusher.
Additionally, he had the opportunity to play with ex-Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet and against former Michigan State Spartans star back Kenneth Walker. Today, Walker and Charbonnet are the top two backs for the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit's opponent on Sunday at Ford Field.
Charbonnet played with Michigan during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, accumulating 168 carries for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns. He transferred to UCLA at the conclusion of the COVID-shortened '20 campaign.
Meanwhile, Walker, after being at Wake Forest his first two collegiate seasons (2019 and 2020), starred at Michigan State. In his lone campaign with the Spartans (2021), he rushed 263 times for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns, and finished sixth in the Heisman voting.
“They’re both great backs, and Kenneth is elite, man. And, Zach ‘Charbs’ is up-and-coming. He’s going to be dangerous. So, we’ve got to do a good job against these backs,” Hutchinson said of facing Walker and Charbonnet. “They’re both big threats in the run game. So, we’ve got to be good.”
Walker finished with a game-high 64 yards on the ground in Seattle’s 30-13 season-opening loss to the L.A. Rams. Additionally, Charbonnet contributed 11 rushing yards (on three carries).
Hutchinson is expecting the Seahawks to place a heavy emphasis on running the football in Sunday’s contest.
“We’ve got to stop the run, man. It’s stuff we couldn’t do last year, and we’ve got to do it this week. So, it’s huge, man,” the former Michigan EDGE defender told reporters Thursday. “It’s going to be the story of the game – whether or not we stop the run – because you know, with a couple of injuries on their O-line (left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abraham Lucas), you know they’re going to be more on the side of running the ball. We know what we’ve got to do.”
A season ago, the Lions gave up 48 points in a Week 4 loss to the Seahawks at Ford Field. In the contest, Detroit allowed a staggering 235 yards on the ground, including three rushing touchdowns.
Rashaad Penny, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, was the biggest beneficiary of the Lions’ porous rush defense. He amassed a game-high 151 yards and two scores via the ground.
Meanwhile, Seattle veteran passer Geno Smith threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns on an efficient 23-of-30 passing, while also contributing another 49 yards and a score with his legs.
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn understands that it will be paramount to stop not only the Seahawks’ rushing attack, but also the arm of Smith in the Week 2 tilt.
“Well, I know this head coach well (Pete Carroll), and the one thing that they’re going to try to do – they’re going to try to run the ball. I mean, that’s his background. That’s who he is,” Glenn expressed to reporters Thursday. “So, the same thing that I talked about last week we’re going to have to do this week, is we’re going to have to really commit to stopping the run, because they will run you out of the stadium if you don’t. We also have to be able to stop these explosive passes, because they have receivers that can take you down now. So, we have to do a good job with that.
“And this quarterback, man, I thought he’s been playing really, really good. And, I was with him in New York (with the Jets) when we drafted him. So, I know him fairly well. So, I’m proud of how he’s operating right now, but I want to beat him, bad.”
