Before their Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Seahawks were otherwise firing on all cylinders. Or, were they? Yes, their offense was, and still should be, lethal. Their defense? The very same, if not better. However, one element of Seattle's offense wasn't up to par.
Thanks to Sam Darnold and the Seahawks' explosive passing game, it covered up a rather unimpressive, even non-impactful, running game. Seattle jumped out to a 7-2 record before dropping its third loss of the season to the Rams. They got that without a strong rushing attack.
Well, there is always the aftermath of a tough, brutal loss for all teams. For Seattle, that aftermath involves one potential significant switch-up in the game plan, and head coach Mike Macdonald hinted at such this week as he prepares his team to face the Tennessee Titans this coming Sunday.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald hints at plans to use Kenneth Walker III with more urgency
For the majority of this season, the Seahawks have gone with a dual rush attack, switching between Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. Walker has rushed for 606 yards this season on 136 carries, including four touchdowns.
Of course, 606 yards with seven games remaining in the season should get Walker over the 1,000-yard mark, which, as a running back — a starting running back — should be the goal every year.
Walker is on that trajectory, yet in 10 games this season, he has rushed for over 100 yards in only one. Now, whether that has to do with the game plan or with Seattle choosing to rely on Darnold significantly more is something to discuss. Nevertheless, Walker has not been used as much as he could be.
After the Seahawks went down in LA this past weekend, it would appear that Macdonald is beginning to shift his thinking on how Seattle should use Walker. Judging by his comments this week, it sounds like he intends to use Walker more, starting against the Titans this weekend.
“I think Ken’s showing the abili — you know, he’s showing that he’s earning more opportunities to get the ball,” Macdonald said.
Now, Macdonald was more vague than direct in his statement. That said, even in his detail-less comments, it does sound like he wants Walker more involved. The question is, why now? Macdonald had plenty of time before now to incorporate a more pointed running game into Seattle's offensive scheme, but he and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak have stayed away from it.
Again, this likely has much to do with Darnold and how well the passing attack has lit up opposing defenses this year — a killer rushing attack hasn't necessarily been needed. Still, Walker is no scrub, and he's certainly capable of a heavier workload. How much more dangerous could Seattle's offense be if its run game were as threatening as its pass game?
We'll find out this weekend just what Macdonald meant and whether he truly intends to lean more on Walker going forward. The Seahawks would do well to have a plan B in their back pockets offensively should Darnold struggle again, as he did against the Rams last weekend.
Then again, their defense is plan B, which would make a more dangerous run game plan C. Either way, utilizing Walker more is probably a good thing.