Could Zach Charbonnet really take the starting job from Kenneth Walker? Or will it be Walker RB1, Charbonnet RB2, or a 1a/1b type of split?
Well, heck. Here we are in the doldrums of summer – officially the dog days – all sweltering around in our own little swelter puddles, dripping onto our keyboards and spouses. The time is now for our incendiary imaginations to burn – to ignite the wildfires of abandon and imprint fever dreams onto the playing fields of the future.
So, let’s speculate wildly. Could there really be a starting competition between Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker? On July 9, Brock Huard and Mike Salk had a quick discussion about the “24th most intriguing Seattle Seahawk of 2024.” In it, they allowed themselves to question whether or not Zach Charbonnet could steal the starting position from Kenneth Walker. Salk posed the question: “Should Zach Charbonnet be in the running to be the number one running back on this team?” To which Brock replied: “Yes. Why not? Give me any reason why not?” and a number of dams broke along the Green and Stillaguamish rivers – washing chilly Northwest sports writers and YouTubers over Brock and Salk’s wildfires with further thoughts and speculations. I wear their ramblings like water as I jump in with cool feet and hot head. One of the analysts was Tyler Jones of Chat Sports – who weighed in on the matter by saying: “I think both guys are very good, but I’d give a slight edge to Kenneth Walker.” Then he went on to say that a committee would be the best-case scenario. On the same day, Corbin Smith over at SI.com talked about our overall rushing woes: “… the Seahawks finished last season with a dreadful 28th-ranked rushing attack. They also ranked outside of the top 20 in the NFL in yards per carry, expected points added, and rushing touchdowns, failing to come close to meeting expectations with a struggling, injury-marred offensive line largely being the culprit.” Nick Lee at SI.com whipped out a crystal ball and was a little clearer: “Charbonnet should get much more than 108 carries this season. He should push towards 150, or maybe even more.” Nick had a lot more to say than that, but I appreciated the specific prediction. We’re all excited for something Seahawks-related to think about right now – but is there really something there? Let’s have a look at last season: Kenneth Walker in 2023: Played in 15 of 17 Games 219 Carries 905 Yards 4.1 Avg 8 TD 29 Rec for 259 yards Zach Charbonnet in 2023: Played in 16 of 17 Games 108 Carries 462 Yards 4.3 Avg 1 TD 33 Rec for 209 Yards Charbonnet logged just under half the amount of carries that Walker had. Walker went down in Week 11 against the Rams with an oblique injury. He missed the next two games, with Charbonnet starting both. Charbonnet had 33 receptions last year. In his final year at UCLA, he had 37 receptions for 321 yards. Watching his tape, it’s clear that Charbonnet is not a route runner, necessarily, but more that he’s physical and has great hands. Physical. Watch for that word again. In 2023, Charbonnet had a slight edge in Yards Per Carry with 4.3 to Walker’s 4.1. Charbonnet and Walker are both second-round picks, and both are 23 years old. Charbonnet is a bigger 6’1 and 215 lbs to Walker’s agile 5’9 and 211 lbs. Both guys look absolutely jacked , but it must be said that Walker has some lingering soft tissue concerns that may or may not limit him at some point this year. An improved offensive line would certainly help. Walker had 550 yards after contact, and Charbonnet had 271 yards after contact in 2023. That’s well over half of their total yards. Running hard – and running through people – has been an absolute necessity for any Seahawks running back since around the time that Walter Jones left. Zach Charbonnet appears to be up for the challenge. Against the Panthers in Week 3, Charbonnet absolutely obliterated 6’3, 210 lb Sam Franklin Jr – launching him 10 yards into the end zone from the two-yard line. As his carries ramped up later in the season, we continued to see it from Charbonnet – time and time again lowering his shoulder and inviting contact - never allowing himself to simply be brought down. If Walker has speed, vision, agility, and burst, Charbonnet has physicality, vision, agility, and burst. And hands. New offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is no stranger to sure-handed running backs, having Wayne Taulapapa and Dillon Johnson available for pass-catching duty at Washington in 2022 and 2023. Grubb’s appreciation for the versatility of pass-catching backs could certainly play into Charbonnet’s favor as training camp progresses. Now that we’ve gotten through all of that, it is my journalistic duty to point out that Kenneth Walker happened to be on the Seahawks in 2022. And he balled. Walker obtained the most votes for Offensive Rookie of the Year but somehow lost to Garrett Wilson . Here are Walker’s rookie year stats: Kenneth Walker in 2022: Played in 17 of 17 Games 228 Carries 1050 Yards 4.6 Avg 9 TD 27 Rec for 165 yards Walker didn’t have Charbonnet poaching from him in 2022 – and he didn’t miss two games . Even though he had a higher YPC Avg in 2022 – when he was on the field – there was no drop in Walker’s play in 2023. It’s been hot. The heat, traditionally, makes people do and say crazy things. Just ask David Lee Roth or Stella from A Streetcar Named Desire. But I’m not gonna claim crazy here. I see a real opportunity for Zach Charbonnet this year. There should be no running back controversy going into camp, but coming out of preseason might be a different story.
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