It is time for a change for the Seattle Seahawks. The team isn't afraid to make such changes, of course. In the last two years, Seattle has changed head coaches, changed offensive coordinators twice, traded valuable players, and made many other moves.
But one aspect has remained the same. When healthy, each week Kenneth Walker III starts at running back. He was exciting and explosive as a rookie in 222, but each year since, his average yards per rush has gone down by about half a yard. He had three runs of 60-plus yards in 2022, and none since.
He hesitates at the line of scrimmage, looking for a gap in the line to break off a long run. This means he gets stuffed far more than he should, and he doesn't seem to know any other way to be. The Seahawks keep chances right along with Walker, and the gamble isn't paying off.
Kenneth Walker III needs to move to RB2 for the Seattle Seahawks
In Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers, Walker ran 10 times and gained 20 yards. That isn't winning football. To compound the problem, while backup Zach Charbonnet wasn't amazingly productive, it was clear he was the more consistently positive back, and he scored a touchdown.
He gained a few tough yards simply by attacking the line of scrimmage and creating a bit of room. Walker waits, and then gets tackled for a loss when nothing happens. Mike Macdonald isn't in charge of the offense. Klint Kubiak is. But Macdonald is Kubiak's boss and has watched Walker for two seasons.
The Seattle Seahawks need a mandate that Kenneth Walker will get his carries every game, but the vast bulk of the load and the starter duties need to go to Zach Charbonnet. What the offense doesn't need is a back who can have an explosive play every few games, but one who picks up first downs every game.
Walker is always going to be the kind of player who looks fantastic in practice. His speed is impressive. It is in the real games when the issues occur, and cannot continue to happen. He is hurting the offense by waiting to attack.
In other words, he is like a batter in baseball who only swings at pitches that he thinks he can hit a home run with. Otherwise, he simply strikes out while waiting for his pitch. The Seattle Seahawks shouldn't go with a home run-only threat that is Kenneth Walker III. Zach Charbonnet needs the ball.