The Seattle Seahawks let reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leave in free agency, knowing Zach Charbonnet wouldn't be ready for the start of the campaign after a season-ending injury. That's why they took Notre Dame speedy back Jadarian Price with the final pick of the first round.
However, like Charbonnet and fellow offseason addition Emanuel Wilson, Price is nursing an injury that sidelined him for the preseason opener versus the Dallas Cowboys. George Holani took the bulk of the starter's reps in that one.
While that may have been accidental and a product of circumstances, it doesn't mean Holani won't have a featured role in the offense. In fact, he may have locked in the RB2 spot in Charbonnet's absence with this performance.
The Seattle Seahawks must give George Holani a role
Behind a shaky offensive line, with backups, and with Brian Fleury getting his first taste of NFL action as an offensive play-caller, George Holani was arguably the lone bright spot in the offense. He wasn't explosive or overly efficient, but that said more about the line than about him.
Holani turned 12 carries into 42 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per attempt. He shook off some tackles, fought through contact, and stayed on his feet for positive plays, proving that all the training camp noise wasn't a fluke.
Holani has had to fight for his roster life in every season, and it definitely doesn't seem that will be the case this time around. Even if Wilson had been available for this game, he would've probably been ahead of him in the pecking order.
Of course, Jadarian Price will get the bulk of the work once he's healthy enough to play, but he's still a rookie. He's turned heads in practice and has breathtaking breakaway speed, but he needs to work on his ball security and pass protection, two areas where Holani is already ahead of him.
As things stand now, Holani might be the team's poor man's Zach Charbonnet. He's sturdy, physical, has steady hands, and looks tailor-made for a pass-catching, change-of-pace, short-yardage situation. Having him play should allow this team to take things slowly with their injured veteran.
More than that, Charbonnet is entering a contract year, and given the way general manager John Schneider usually deals with his running backs, he's a clear-cut candidate to be shown the door. If Holani keeps trending up, that decision will be much easier.
New offensive coordinator or not, the Seahawks will stay committed to the run. The first-team offensive line should be much more efficient at creating gaps for guys coming out of the backfield, but Holani did a more-than-decent job in unfavorable circumstances.
The Seahawks might err on the side of caution with their prized first-round rookie. Mike Macdonald said the injury wasn't long-term, but they might hold him out for the second and maybe even third preseason game.
With that, there should be another heavy dose of George Holani, and he'll have enough opportunities to not only secure his spot on the 53-man roster but also double-digit touches every week.
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