Seahawks Angry RBs? Ken Walker Excited to 'Run Mad' With Zach Charbonnet
RENTON, Wash. - Holding four selections in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to the Russell Wilson trade one year earlier, the Seattle Seahawks had several significant needs to address on both sides of the football.
But with Kenneth Walker III, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, emerging as one of the NFL's best young ball carriers eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards and finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year balloting, running back wasn't viewed as one of those needs. And yet, with only two backs on the roster heading into the draft, general manager John Schneider opted for the best player available approach, investing the 52nd overall selection in UCLA standout Zach Charbonnet.
In addition, Schneider doubled down on backfield reinforcements on day three, stopping Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh's free fall in the seventh round.
Some backs may have been irked by the decision to draft two players at the same position, especially in the case of Charbonnet being selected so early. However, after being mentored by veteran Rashaad Penny last season, Walker has embraced his new running mates with open arms, looking to pay it forward taking the youngsters under his wing as the leader of a new-look backfield stable.
"I kind of feel how [Rashaad] Penny felt about me," Walker told reporters on Wednesday. "He always wanted to see me do well. Zach [Charbonnet] got here and K-Mac [Kenny McIntosh] got here, I want to see them do well and help them the best I can.”
Dealing with a groin injury for most of training camp until recently returning to action, Walker hasn't been able to lead much by example yet. From an individual standpoint, he has been focused on getting his body right for the regular season rehabbing and adjusting his diet to get back to rocketing past linebackers at the second level or making defenders miss in space as he did so frequently last fall.
But while recovering from his injury and doing "a lot of work behind the scenes," Walker has taken the torch passed onto him by Penny, who signed with the Eagles in free agency. Doing his best to teach what he has learned in his brief NFL career to Charbonnet and McIntosh, he's paid close attention to their performance on the practice field with the goal of lending advice any way he can.
In particular, with McIntosh nursing a knee injury of his own since going down in Seattle's mock game on August 4, Walker has been impressed by what he's seen from Charbonnet, who fires him up with his "mad," aggressive running style.
“He's great," Walker said of his initial impressions of Charbonnet. "He came in and it seemed like he was on top of everything. He knows his plays, he knows what to do, he runs hard and that’s exciting. He gets me excited when I see him run. I'm excited for this season to see what he does.”
Following a surprise playoff berth last season, the Seahawks enter 2023 with far loftier expectations and goals. With reigning Comeback Player of the Year winner Geno Smith back under center, an exciting trio of receiving weapons in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and an underrated tight end group at his disposal, they boast an offensive arsenal that has a chance to be one of the NFL's very best this season.
But for Smith and Seattle to truly soar and compete for an NFC West title, a run game anchored by Walker and Charbonnet behind an offensive line breaking in two new starters will be critical for the team's chance at a prolonged playoff run in January. A strong ground attack would work wonders taking pressure off the quarterback and help sustain drives, an area where the team struggled last year.
Comparing and contrasting their running styles, as long as they can stay healthy, Walker and Charbonnet should complement one another quite well as a one-two backfield punch for the Seahawks, giving the offense the type of balance coach Pete Carroll covets.
More of a pure home run threat with elite burst and acceleration, Walker finished 10th in the NFL with 29 runs of 10 or more yards as a rookie, including a 74-yard touchdown run in a road win over the Chargers. Per Pro Football Focus, he also finished tied for third in designed runs that netted at least 15 yards on the ground, with only Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley ripping off such explosive runs more often.
Now with a year under his belt, Walker expects to be better in every facet of his game, a scary prospect for opponents who struggled to contain him as a rookie.
“I’m comfortable with everything now. I feel good," Walker remarked. "It’s a big difference between year one and year two. I know they said that a lot, but I didn’t believe it. I’m real comfortable now. I don’t have to think as much and it’s coming easier to me now.”
As for Charbonnet, the 214-pound back brings a battering ram to Seattle's backfield arsenal with underrated speed and explosiveness. According to PFF, among backs with at least 159 carries last season, he finished fourth in the nation averaging 4.15 yards per carry after contact, tied for fifth with 44 carries of 10 or more yards, and also ranked fourth in designed runs of 15-plus yards.
While fans will likely have to wait until September 10 to see Walker back in game action, Charbonnet has already flashed his dynamic playmaking ability in limited preseason snaps. Setting up a Jason Myers field goal in last week's win over Dallas, he broke loose for a 29-yard run that could have potentially gone the distance if he was able to maintain his balance tip-toeing the sideline and cut back inside.
With Walker already a known commodity, Charbonnet teasing his big play potential, and DeeJay Dallas and McIntosh providing starter-caliber backups behind them, Seattle has stockpiled as much talent at running back as any team in the NFL. Of course, at a position with the highest attrition rate and shortest shelf life, such depth is imperative over the course of the season.
But even with running backs continuing to be devalued by most of the league, the Seahawks have zigged while everyone else has zagged, as evidenced by drafting two backs with second round picks in consecutive seasons. Excited to see what he and Charbonnet can accomplish along with the rest of their backfield corps, Walker views them as a key piece of the puzzle to meet their goals as a contender in the NFC.
“I expect us to go far, we got a team, we got the people and players to do it," Walker said. "I feel like we just have to execute and take it one game at a time.”
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