A new Seattle Seahawks season begins this weekend, followed by many interesting storylines.
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How the Seahawks deployed the run tandem of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet will be one of the most engaging viewers.
Walker is a fourth-year pro in the final year of the rookie trade, bringing his electric running style with speed and effort saving, making him a homegrown threat in every game. He has accumulated nearly 2,000 yards on the ground in his first two seasons, but the injury has limited Michigan State product to a huge 2024 campaign.
Third-year professional Charbonnet brings a contrasting style as a punishment for downhill runners. UCLA's offering is limited to more free characters behind Walker until six chances a season ago, including a 134-rushing yard lead in the Seattle best last season.
Both are expected to play a major role in Seattle as it updates the Shanahan-style offense against new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, known for its extensive area blocking plans.
How should Seattle balance its use of Walker and Charbonnet? Seahawks radio network analyst and former NFL offensive winger Ray Roberts answered the question Thursday as he joined Seattle Sports’ bumps and Stacy.
Purposeful plan
When a team takes a committee position in a two-sided or committee manner, one method that can be used is pre-planned, for example, each player will be like an alternating series. But what Roberts wants to see is a clear motivation for why each run is used in the situations they ask for.
“I think they all have some skills in different situations, and I think you have to play that way,” Roberts said. “I think you have to plan out the situation, it's Charbonnet's time, plan it's Ken Walker Time's situation, and then sprinkle it in some other people. Then, obviously, if you get a guy who gets a hot hand, you have to roll with him.”
Roberts also pointed out how the rotation of running back affects the offensive line.
“I think if you only have some type of game, for me, as an offensive winger, you lose the rhythm from the people you're blocking because they're running so differently,” he said.
Ultimately, Roberts believes that Walker and Shabonnath's contrasting style may present challenges against defense.
“I do think it's probably an asset for two teams with a completely different type of style,” Roberts said. “I want to try to solve the difference between one Ken Walker and trying to solve the Charbonnet. With one, you might lose your shoes and jock straps, and the other you might fall. So you have to be ready for all of that.”
Listen to the full conversation in this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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