I like Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet. He is a quality NFL running back, capable of doing the three main tasks you ask of a runner. He can run. He can catch. He can block. If you have a sound defense and a balanced offense, you could go pretty far with Zach Charbonnet as your RB1.
But if you have a healthy Kenneth Walker III, you can go to a championship. Walker reminded Seahawks’ fans of that fact as he led them into Pittsburgh for a 31-17 victory over the Steelers on Sunday.
Not many analysts thought Seattle could pull off this win. This was Aaron Rodgers’ first time starting for the Steelers at home. The terrible towels were coming off an exciting win over the Jets in Week 1, and even though they surrendered 32 points to a Justin Fields-led offense, word had it that the Steelers had a new Steel Curtain defense ready to ruin Sam Darnold’s day.
Darnold, Klint Kubiak, and the entire Seahawks’ squad had something else in mind.
Kenneth Walker reminded the 12s why he is the Seattle Seahawks' RB1
A lot of Seahawks players and coaches came up big on Sunday. The line blocked better than they had in Week 1 against San Francisco. Cooper Kupp proved he isn’t done just yet. Kubiak was sharp. Darnold made plays. JSN was the stud he always is.
But no one was bigger than K9. To a large extent, no one had more to prove.
When Charbonnet stepped in for an injured Walker last season, he ran well. He continued looking good over the offseason, while Walker was slowly recovering from injury. The common refrain became “Charbonnet is a better fit for Kubiak’s offense.” Fans were clamoring for the backup to take over.
What they were really saying was “we don’t trust that Kenneth Walker can stay healthy enough to carry the offense.” Because if he is healthy, Kenneth Walker can do things that Zach Charbonnet cannot manage.
Stats can lie sometimes. On Sunday, they didn’t. The two backs split snaps, mostly alternating series. If one player was on the field for more than five or six plays in a row, the other tended to spell him.
Charbonnet ended up carrying the ball more – 15 carries to Walker’s 13. But the former Wake Forest/Michigan State star outgained Charbonnet 105 – 10 in rushing yards, and threw in another 13 on his one target in the passing game. That’s 8.4 yards every time he touched the ball. Charbonnet averaged under a yard per touch.
Walker also found the end zone one. More on that in a moment.
Walker got the start, and his first carry was ugly. No one blocked linebacker Patrick Queen or sealed T.J. Watt on the backside of the run. Therefore, when Walker attempted to cut the run back, he was swarmed. This is the kind of play that had fans calling for Charbonnet.
It would basically be the last poor play Walker had the entire day. The next time he ran, with fullback Robbie Ouzts leading the way and the entire line blocking down perfectly, the cutback lane was open and Walker hit it for a quick 13 yards.
He would do versions of that play all day. Often, Ouzts would lead him, while Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, and Abe Lucas would crash from the right. It created cutback lanes on many of Walker’s run.
But even when the blocking wasn’t perfect, as when defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale had a clean shot in the backfield, Walker showed his power by breaking the tackle and muscling his way for a first down.
On the first series of the second half, Walker did the heavy lifting in setting up AJ Barner’s touchdown, breaking off four runs for 34 yards. On his next series, he rumbled for 20 yards behind a crushing block from Ouzts that took out two Pittsburgh defenders. It resulted in a field goal, giving the Seahawks a lead they would never relinquish.
Then came the backbreaker. Seattle was up one touchdown with about half the fourth quarter remaining. It was Chabonnet’s turn in the backfield. He carried three times for one yard. Then Walker came in on third and goal from 19 yards away.
Seattle was playing for a field goal when Darnold pitched to Walker, running left. K9 sprinted around Payton Walker and Logan Lee. He rounded the corner and turned on the jets. Charles Cross and Grey Zabel threw key blocks near the goal line, and Walker got in the end zone.
The game was effectively over at that point. It seems obvious to say it out loud, but Kenneth Walker scored that touchdown because is faster than Zach Charbonnet. That’s why Walker needs to be the Hawks’ RB1. That speed, combined with his toughness and contact balance, make him a threat to score every time he touch the balls.
Until he proves he can stay productive for an entire season, there will be questions about what Kenneth Walker III can do. If “what he can do” adds up to another glorious day like he managed against the Steelers, then Seattle‘s offense is finally going to catch up with their defense. That team, with Kenneth Walker III running all over the field, will make for a very exciting season.