For the first half of the NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks meant to air it out, and so they did. Sam Darnold was quieting many critics who believed he couldn't replicate his success from last season with the Minnesota Vikings, but the veteran QB had other plans.
Instead, he, and with the help of Seahawks' Offensive Coordinator, Klint Kubiak, seemingly looked even better than last year, and the numbers showed it. Before long, Seattle's offense was one of the best in the league — elite, explosive, and dangerous.
That said, one offensive element was missing, and it was covered up by Darnold and the passing attack. Kenneth Walker III was hardly a factor until it became clear the Seahawks had to start using their rushing attack more, while Darnold began to struggle. Seattle's mid-season shift to its running game put Walker on pace for a career season, and it was going nowhere before that shift.
Seahawk's mid-season offensive scheme shift put Kenneth Walker III on pace for a career year
About four weeks ago, Mike Macdonald acknowledged that Walker was playing well enough to be used more. So, in turn, Walker was used more from that point on, and the Seahawks have unquestionably benefited from it.
For the first half of the season, Walker was barely on pace to reach 1,000 yards from scrimmage, but that storyline has flipped, and going into Week 15's game against the Indianapolis Colts, Walker has 936 total yards on 191 touches (running the ball and catching). This has him on pace for over 1,200 yards for the season, which would surpass his rookie season benchmark of 1,224 total yards from scrimmage.
Walker's best rushing season was also his rookie year, when he reached 1,050 yards, but that mark is one Walker will likely not reach this season, with just 762 yards and four games remaining on Seattle's schedule. It will be Walker's total yards that will propel him to a career-best season, and considering how the year started for him, this would be quite the accomplishment.
What has worked in Seattle's favor from an offensive perspective is that they haven't leaned on Walker in one single facet; they have also used him in the passing game. Walker has 21 receptions for 174 yards, and in the last four games, Darnold has targeted him 14 times, compared to just 12 targets in the first nine.
All of Walker's touchdowns (4) have come from the rush, but he has still stamped an impact receiving-wise on Seattle's offense when Darnold has gone to him. It's beginning to look like a significant turnaround for Walker, and if he ends this season with his career-best, it should instill the right amount of confidence for next season.
It should also convince the Seahawks coaching staff that it may be better to start next season relying equally on both offensive attacks.