How will Seahawks split the carries between Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet?

Effectively, heck. Right here we’re within the doldrums of summer season – formally the canine days – all sweltering round in our personal little swelter puddles, dripping onto our keyboards and spouses. The time is now for our incendiary imaginations to burn – to ignite the wildfires of abandon and imprint fever goals onto the enjoying fields of the longer term. So, let’s speculate wildly. Might there actually be a beginning competitors between Seattle Seahawks operating again Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker?

On July 9, Brock Huard and Mike Salk had a fast dialogue concerning the “twenty fourth most intriguing Seattle Seahawk of 2024.” In it, they allowed themselves to query whether or not or not Zach Charbonnet may steal the beginning place from Kenneth Walker. Salk posed the query: “Ought to Zach Charbonnet be within the operating to be the primary operating again on this staff?” To which Brock replied: “Sure. Why not? Give me any purpose why not?” and various dams broke alongside the Inexperienced and Stillaguamish rivers – washing chilly Northwest sports activities writers and YouTubers over Brock and Salk’s wildfires with additional ideas and speculations. I put on their ramblings like water as I leap in with cool toes and scorching head.

One of many analysts was Tyler Jones of Chat Sports activities – who weighed in on the matter by saying: “I feel each guys are superb, however I’d give a slight edge to Kenneth Walker.” Then he went on to say {that a} committee could be the best-case state of affairs. On the identical day, Corbin Smith over at SI.com talked about our general dashing woes: “… the Seahawks completed final season with a dreadful Twenty eighth-ranked dashing assault. In addition they ranked exterior of the highest 20 within the NFL in yards per carry, anticipated factors added, and dashing touchdowns, failing to come back near assembly expectations with a struggling, injury-marred offensive line largely being the offender.”

Nick Lee at SI.com whipped out a crystal ball and was a little bit clearer: “Charbonnet ought to get way more than 108 carries this season. He ought to push in direction of 150, or possibly much more.” Nick had much more to say than that, however I appreciated the precise prediction.

We’re all excited for one thing Seahawks-related to consider proper now – however is there actually one thing there? Let’s take a look eventually season:

Kenneth Walker in 2023:

Performed in 15 of 17 Video games

219 Carries

905 Yards

4.1 Avg

8 TD

29 Rec for 259 yards

Zach Charbonnet in 2023:

Performed in 16 of 17 Video games (Began 2)

108 Carries

462 Yards

4.3 Avg

1 TD

33 Rec for 209 Yards

Charbonnet logged slightly below half the quantity of carries that Walker had. Walker went down in Week 11 in opposition to the Rams with an indirect harm. He missed the subsequent two video games, with Charbonnet beginning each. Charbonnet had 33 receptions final yr. In his last yr at UCLA, he had 37 receptions for 321 yards. Watching his tape, it’s clear that Charbonnet just isn’t a route runner, essentially, however extra that he’s bodily and has nice arms. Bodily. Look ahead to that phrase once more.

In 2023, Charbonnet had a slight edge in Yards Per Carry with 4.3 to Walker’s 4.1. Charbonnet and Walker are each second-round picks, and each are 23 years previous. Charbonnet is an even bigger 6’1 and 215 lbs to Walker’s agile 5’9 and 211 lbs. Each guys look completely jacked (thighs!), however it should be stated that Walker has some lingering comfortable tissue issues that will or could not restrict him in some unspecified time in the future this yr. An improved offensive line will surely assist.

Walker had 550 yards after contact, and Charbonnet had 271 yards after contact in 2023. That’s effectively over half of their whole yards. Working exhausting – and operating by folks – has been an absolute necessity for any Seahawks operating again since across the time that Walter Jones left. Zach Charbonnet seems to be up for the problem. In opposition to the Panthers in Week 3, Charbonnet completely obliterated 6’3, 210 lb Sam Franklin Jr – launching him 10 yards into the top zone from the two-yard line. As his carries ramped up later within the season, we continued to see it from Charbonnet – time and time once more reducing his shoulder and alluring contact – by no means permitting himself to easily be introduced down. If Walker has pace, imaginative and prescient, agility, and burst, Charbonnet has physicality, imaginative and prescient, agility, and burst.

And arms. New offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb isn’t any stranger to sure-handed operating backs, having Wayne Taulapapa and Dillon Johnson out there for pass-catching responsibility at Washington in 2022 and 2023. Grubb’s appreciation for the flexibility of pass-catching backs may actually play into Charbonnet’s favor as coaching camp progresses.

Now that we’ve gotten by all of that, it’s my journalistic responsibility to level out that Kenneth Walker occurred to be on the Seahawks in 2022. And he balled. Walker obtained probably the most votes for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months however one way or the other misplaced to Garrett Wilson (resulting from him receiving extra second-place votes [what?]). Listed here are Walker’s rookie yr stats:

Kenneth Walker in 2022:

Performed in 17 of 17 Video games

228 Carries

1050 Yards

4.6 Avg

9 TD

27 Rec for 165 yards

Walker didn’t have Charbonnet poaching from him in 2022 – and he didn’t miss two video games (as he did in 2023). Though he had the next YPC Avg in 2022 – when he was on the sphere – there was no drop in Walker’s play in 2023.

It’s been scorching. The warmth, historically, makes folks do and say loopy issues. Simply ask David Lee Roth or Stella from A Streetcar Named Want. However I’m not gonna declare loopy right here. I see an actual alternative for Zach Charbonnet this yr. There must be no operating again controversy going into camp, however popping out of preseason may be a distinct story.