Amid growing fan frustration, Mike Macdonald explains Seahawks' RB workload plan
Despite growing frustration among the 12s about the high reps and low production from backup running back Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks' head coach Mike Macdonald said the team plans to continue a system which amounts to an NBA-like "load management" system for starter Kenneth Walker.
Walker has gotten the bulk of Seattle's carries during its 4-2 start, with 78 attempts to Charbonnet's 60. The production, however, is eye-popping disparate. Both backs have three rushing touchdowns, but Walker is averaging 4.7 yards per run and Charbonnet only 2.6.
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The UCLA alum is the Seahawks' short-yardage back, so at times the yards are tougher. But he has the position's third-worst explosive play rate at 1.7%, the NFL's highest rate of runs for 0 or negative rushing yards at 31.7%, and his 2.6 yards per carry is dead last among all running backs.
It's gotten so bad that the 12s let out a collective moan when Charbonnet enters the game, much less takes a hand-off.
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"We take stats into account, but ... we have a plan on how to use our guys and both guys are playing high-level football for us," Macdonald said this week. "Both guys have things they need to work on. But we love both guys, and they're both going to keep playing for us."
With Walker having missed six games last season with an injury and all of training camp with lingering football problems, it's obvious the Seahawks are being efficient with his workload so he's healthy for a potential playoff run late in the season.
The Seahawks host the Houston Texans Monday night at Lumen Field.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara makes public decision that most other NFL players don't even think of as NFL trade deadline approaches
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara has done what many players never do around the NFL. He's basically removed his name from the rumor mill, just weeks ahead of the trade deadline. With the Saints expected to trade away some notable players, the running back does not plan on heading elsewhere right now.
Alvin Kamara says he doesn't want to go anywhere at trade deadline
The veteran running back for New Orleans isn't trying to "ring chase" at this point in his career. Instead, Kamara is accepting where the Saints currently are as a team and wants to stick around in the city and with the organization. In an era where plenty of proven stars look to join a contender during this part of their career, Kamara is turning down that sort of opportunity.
"But I don't want to go anywhere, and l've said it countless times. Y'all know that, I think everybody knows that, the fan base knows that. At the end of the day, it's business. I don't go upstairs, I don't have an office upstairs, … so I don't really sit in those meetings, I don't know what happens up there. I've just got to keep my head down.
If I was a GM, I guess I would go to the player and say, 'Hey, we're trading you, just so you know. So if Mickey comes down and says that, I'm going to go drink a piña colada somewhere." -- Alvin Kamara via Luke Johnson
There was a recent report from Ian Rapoport that confirmed this sort of belief from the experienced RB. Rapoport noted that Kamara wanted to remain with the team after signing a contract extension last year. That was not a short-term decision, but instead, he is committed to New Orleans.
“Sources say Kamara told Saints general manager Mickey Loomis that he’d like to remain with the franchise through the rest of his career, which was the goal when he signed a two-year, $24.5 million extension last October. Kamara is signed through 2026 and will have a decision to make prior to next season about if he wants to continue playing.” — Ian Rapoport
Fans may feel different ways regarding this news. Some may have hoped that the veteran running back would go to a team with better chances to win a Super Bowl in the coming years. For the Saints, they're in the middle of a rebuild, and there are plenty of long-term questions still to answer for Kellen Moore.
On the flip-side, plenty of other Saints supporters will applaud Kamara's incredible loyalty. Even with multiple opportunities to ask out, he's sticking it out and trying his best to help the Saints get back to a place where they want to be as a squad. Really commendable.
