Ted’s Talk: Predicting Zach Charbonnet’s rookie season with the Seahawks

For the second consecutive draft, the Seahawks bolstered their backfield with a second-round operating again by deciding on UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet at No. 52 general. Whereas he’s not as explosive at Kenneth Walker, Charbonnet is an enormous, productive RB each operating the ball and catching passes out of the backfield.

Athletic Profile/Comps

Relative Athletic Rating (RAS)

Mockdraftable

Charbonnet ran a good 4.53 second 40-yard sprint, however lengthy velocity isn’t his finest trait. His 10-yard break up is excellent, which implies he’ll rise up to prime velocity rapidly to assist get by the holes. That’s one trait that stands out about Charbonnet – he could not have many 30+ yard runs, however he’ll hardly ever lose yards.

He’s additionally an achieved receiving again with 75 catches in his faculty profession for 589 yards so the opposing protection gained’t have the ability to promote out in opposition to the run when Charbonnet is on the sphere. Oh, and good luck making an attempt to maintain him out of the tip zone, as he averaged practically a landing per recreation with 39 TDs in 40 video games performed.

The comparisons of Bijan Robinson and Todd Gurley are thrilling, however let’s examine the RAS scores for Charbonnet and the final energy again Seattle had – Chris Carson.

They’re comparatively (pun supposed) shut in fairly a couple of classes. Neither Charbonnet nor Carson are burners, however they’re constant and all the time appear to make one thing out of nothing to get the robust yards. Charbonnet has glorious imaginative and prescient and showcases the flexibility to learn blocks, arrange defenders, and break tackles. Critically, he’s robust to convey down and has a knack for staying on his ft by contact. Consider Charbonnet because the thunder to Walker’s lightning, which ought to make for a implausible pairing. Only one extra spotlight as a result of I can’t resist.

He does have a little bit of Chris Carson to him, doesn’t he?

Intestine response to the decide

Some individuals apparently hate operating backs drafted earlier than the seventh spherical. I hate to disappoint these of you who subscribe to that line of considering, however that’s not me in any respect. I like operating backs and will give a rat’s a— the place they have been drafted or how they have been acquired in the event that they may help the Seahawks win video games.

Seattle likes to run the ball and solely had Walker and DeeJay Dallas on the roster going into the draft. They wanted one other RB to pair with Walker, so I wasn’t stunned in any respect when Charbonnet was picked. He’s a wonderful complement to Walker since he has a distinct talent set and can see loads of snaps this season.

Charbonnet was extensively thought of the third-best operating again within the draft and was as soon as once more chosen within the vary he was anticipated to go. Don’t overlook how snakebitten the Seahawks have been with accidents on the RB place. Keep in mind when Tony Jones Jr needed to play vital snaps in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams? I’d prefer to keep away from a state of affairs like that this season. Whereas there have been later spherical choices that I additionally favored similar to Roschon Johnson, I used to be greater than happy with the Charbonnet decide.

Rookie season prediction

Charbonnet will instantly step right into a platoon position with Walker and see a wholesome dose of carries. I nonetheless count on Walker to get probably the most reps within the RB room this season due to his explosive potential and skill to take it to the home on any given play. Walker will nonetheless want a blow each infrequently, and the sport state of affairs may additionally dictate which RB will get to tote the rock. I’d slightly have Charbonnet on the sphere to grind out a win, for instance, since I belief that he’s going to interrupt tackles and get the robust yards. His move safety remains to be a query mark – prefer it was with Walker – so Dallas or one other RB we’ll get to down the road should be utilized for two-minute and third down alternatives.

Barring accidents, Walker will likely be RB1 and may have one other 1,000 yard season. I’m not loopy, so I gained’t predict two 1,000 yard rushers on the identical crew though I’d like to see it. Consider this pairing like what the Seahawks envisioned after they drafted Rashaad Penny to enhance Chris Carson besides flipped in that the explosive Walker is RB1 and the hammer Charbonnet is RB2. I may see Charbonnet being a little bit of a TD vulture within the pink zone. I’m going to guess someplace within the vary of 100 carries for 500 yards, 15 catches for an additional 100 yards, and 5 complete TDs.