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The Seattle Seahawks are preparing for an intense “battle” for the main running back role on their offense, as rookie Zach Charbonnet will go head-to-head with last season’s standout Kenneth Walker.
Head coach Pete Carroll updated fans about the offense during a recent appearance on Seattle Sports 710.
#Seahawks rookie RB Zach Charbonnet will "battle" RB Kenneth Walker for their role in the offense, per Pete Carroll (@DDMon710)
Walker ran for 1,050 yards as a rookie while scoring 9 TDs. pic.twitter.com/qb1ThFExU6
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 2, 2023
Walker had a phenomenal debut season in the NFL, running for over 1,000 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. He was one of the frontrunners for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but ultimately lost out to Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Despite his impressive performance, Walker struggled in his pass-catching duties, ranking tenth among qualifying running backs for yards per route run according to NBC.
Charbonnet, on the other hand, was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft after a successful college career at UCLA. Carroll praised Charbonnet’s versatility and receiving skills, stating that the rookie will “fit in and be a great addition” to the team. The Seahawks are eager to see how far Charbonnet can take his receiving abilities, which were a key factor in the team’s decision to draft him.
With both players possessing impressive skillsets, Carroll anticipates a fierce competition between the two running backs. “We’re gonna find out how far he [Charbonnet] can take it in terms of the receiving part of it. We know he’s really good at it. But so is Kenneth, so those guys will be battling,” said Carroll.
In addition to Walker and Charbonnet, the Seattle Seahawks also drafted Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh in the seventh round and have veteran DeeJay Dallas on the team as a reserve option. The team will have plenty of depth in the running back position, but it remains to be seen who will emerge as the lead back in the upcoming season.
The Seattle Seahawks will undoubtedly have a tough decision on their hands when it comes to selecting their lead running back. With Walker’s impressive performance last season and Charbonnet’s promising potential, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top. Regardless of who takes the lead role, the Seahawks can be assured that they have a talented and competitive group of running backs in their arsenal.