Tag: Zach Charbonnet

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Vikings in Week 16

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Vikings in Week 16

The Seattle Seahawks are facing a difficult Week 16 matchup against a Minnesota Vikings defense that’s allowing a fourth-best 18.0 points per contest. Ryan Grubb’s offense is looking to bounce back despite the sizable challenge after scoring 13 points and totaling just 208 yards of offense in a blowout primetime defeat to the Green Bay Packers. We’ve compiled three “Bold Predictions” for Sunday’s regular-season home finale versus the Vikings.

Geno Smith plays a turnover-free game

Starting quarterback Geno Smith threw a costly interception into the end-zone versus the Packers. The veteran quarterback has now thrown 14 touchdowns versus 13 interceptions, but Seahawks fans should appreciate him more after watching Sam Howell play in relief. Smith should be healthy enough to play on Sunday, and he’ll be placing extra emphasis on protecting the football against an opportunistic Vikings defense.

Zach Charbonnet plays, thrives

Kenneth Walker III was a full participant in Thursday’s practice. Meanwhile Zach Charbonnet was an unexpected addition to Wednesday’s injury report with an oblique issue. Friday afternoon’s practice and media session should deliver more clarity regarding Charbonnet’s game-day status. If Walker III has to carry the workload, expect the ex Michigan State standout to pick up where he left off as he prepares to return from a two-game absence.

Sataoa Laumea bounces back

Rookie right guard Sataoa Laumea really struggled versus the Packers. Pro Football Focus credited him with allowing an unfathomable 10 pressures in pass protection and one sack. The sixth-round interior offensive lineman should bounce back. The Vikings aren’t as deep at defensive tackle as the Packers are.

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Zach Charbonnet joins Seahawks’ injury report, creates new problem in backfield

Zach Charbonnet joins Seahawks’ injury report, creates new problem in backfield

Seattle Seahawks starting running back Kenneth Walker III has missed two consecutive games with an ongoing calf injury. Backup Zach Charbonnet has done an admirable job filling in for Mike Macdonald’s bellcow. A new problem arose on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s Week 16 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings. Charbonnet has joined the injury report with an issue in his oblique.

Charbonnet was outstanding against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14. The former UCLA Bruin rushed for an astounding 134 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an explosive 6.1 yards per carry. Charbonnet added 59 receiving yards through seven catches to his offensive totals. Against the Packers, he totaled 66 yards of offense and scored a touchdown via just nine touches, averaging 7.3 yards per touch.

Walker III appears slated to miss his third consecutive contest. He’s certainly trending in the wrong direction. It’ll be worth monitoring Charbonnet’s status at Thursday’s and Friday’s practice sessions. If both Walker III and Charbonnet are sidelined, the Seahawks could be dealing with a real issue against the Vikings.

Sophomore seventh-rounder Kenny McIntosh and rookie ball carrier George Holani are the other running backs on the Seahawks’ 53-man roster. McIntosh has earned 14 carries for 63 yards and 4.5 yards per carry this season. The ex Georgia standout has accumulated just 37 offensive snaps. Holani has played five snaps, logging three carries for 10 yards.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Packers in Week 15

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Packers in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks will host the Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field on Sunday Night Football in Week 15. Mike Macdonald’s squad is coming off a terrific 30-point showing in a comfortable victory over their NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals. We’ve compiled three bold predictions for the offense versus the Packers.

Zach Charbonnet shines again

Starting running back Kenneth Walker III missed his second consecutive practice on Thursday with an ongoing calf injury. In relief of Walker last Sunday against the Cardinals, Zach Charbonnet rushed for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns via 22 carries. Charbonnet could impress for a second consecutive week in a lead-back role.

DK Metcalf leads the passing offense

DK Metcalf has taken a backseat to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in recent weeks. JSN has been serving as Geno Smith’s go-to receiver in a breakout sophomore season. Metcalf has remained a steady performer, recording 49-plus receiving yards in five consecutive appearances. DK hasn’t scored a touchdown in four straight games, however. He’s due for a big-time showing.

Sataoa Luamea plays a quality game

Sixth-round rookie Sataoa Luamea will start his third straight game at right guard in place of the injured Anthony Bradford. The former Utah standout was steady in pass protection versus the Cardinals, allowing zero sacks and just one quarterback pressure. Luamea is attempting to continue his level of play against a Packers defensive line posting a 26th-ranked 35% pass-rush-win-rate (PRWR), per ESPN Stats & Info.

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Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Cardinals on offense in Week 14

Pro Football Focus’ 3 highest-graded Seahawks vs. Cardinals on offense in Week 14

The Seattle Seahawks strung together a complete performance in Sunday’s 30-18 Week 14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. The offense produced more than 400 yards of offense and completed nearly 50 percent of their third-down attempts. Analyzing the advanced metrics, these were Seattle’s three highest-graded players on offense, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 84.1

Jaxon Smith-Njigba continues to be Seattle’s most effective wide receiver this season. JSN caught a first-quarter touchdown on the next play after linebacker Ernest Jones IV intercepted Kyler Murray. All in all, Smith-Njigba totaled a team-high 82 receiving yards and a score via five receptions. He averaged an explosive 16.4 yards per catch.

Zach Charbonnet | 80.4

Zach Charbonnet received an opportunity to lead the backfield after Kenneth Walker III was ruled out with a lower-leg injury. The former UCLA Bruin took full advantage of his opportunity, rushing for a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns. Charbonnet was impactful in all phases, adding seven receptions for 59 receiving yards to his offensive totals.

Geno Smith | 79.2

Geno Smith was the architect of Seattle’s stellar offensive performance. The veteran quarterback was efficient, completing 24-of-30 passing attempts for 233 yards, one touchdown, and zero turnovers. Smith pulled the strings for a Ryan Grubb-coached offense that was firing on all cylinders.

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Watch: Zach Charbonnet scores 2 touchdowns in the first half

Watch: Zach Charbonnet scores 2 touchdowns in the first half

The Seattle Seahawks went on quite a tear in the first quarter, thanks to a pair of interceptions from Ernest Jones IV and Coby Bryant. Seattle took full advantage of both turnovers. After the first, Geno Smith found Jaxon Smith-Njigba 19 yards down the field in the end zone on the next play.

On the second, it took the Seahawks a little longer to score… all of five whole plays this time! What stood out is how creative the play design was at the goal line to get running back Zach Charbonnet into the end zone. Seattle’s short yardage offense has struggled this year, but kudos to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb for thinking outside the box on this one.

But Charbonnet was not done. He enjoyed the taste of the end zone so much he wanted another bite of the apple, and he took a big one. Leading 17-10 in the waning moments of the second quarter, Charbonnet took the ball and was off to the races as he sprinted 51 yards down the field for his second touchdown of the afternoon.

There is plenty of game left, but I have a strong feeling who is going to make the Studs list today.

Be sure to follow @TheSeahawksWire and @KoleMusgrove23 on Twitter today for more live updates, analysis and highlights during the game.

Can RB George Holani make an impact for the Seahawks?

Can RB George Holani make an impact for the Seahawks?

The Seattle Seahawks were dealt a brutal blow on Saturday when it was announced running back Kenneth Walker III was ruled OUT. Seattle will have to compete in the Week 14 rematch without their best ball carrier. With Walker no longer active, filling his place is rookie running back George Holani, who was elevated off the practice squad.

Holani turned plenty of heads this preseason, when he rumbled his way to 66 total yards on 17 carries in his three games. He even managed to find the end zone twice, including the first touchdown of the exhibition season for the Seahawks. The question now shifts to Week 14 – can Holani make an impact for a Seattle offense struggling to run the ball?

The Seahawks have not had more than 285 total yards of offense in four of their last five games, and are really struggling getting anything going on the ground. The main culprit of this problem is of course Seattle’s atrocious offensive line. Surely backup Zach Charbonnet will get the lion’s share of carries in Walker’s absence, and I would not be surprised if third-stringer Kenny McIntosh gets some looks as well.

However, I don’t think Holani should be ignored from the game plan. He has only suited up in one game this year, a Week 2 road trip to play the New England Patriots. The Seahawks, at times this year under Ryan Grubb, have abandoned the run far too early. Yes, they struggle to get things going on the ground, but there are other times where they move off the run when they do not have to do so. Perhaps Holani can provide a bit of a spark to a Seahawks team that are underdogs for an eighth-straight week.

 

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Cardinals in Week 14

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Cardinals in Week 14

The Seattle Seahawks face a critical matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Sunday’s Week 14 game. It’s a potentially decisive NFC West rematch after the Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 16-6 two weeks ago. Sunday’s outcome will have a drastic impact on the standings and postseason odds. Despite picking up the win, Seattle’s offense struggled against Arizona  in Week 12. We’ve compiled three bold predictions for the offense in Week 14.

Seahawks score more than one offensive TD

In the Week 12 victory over the Cardinals, the Seahawks offense took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter via a three-yard passing score from Geno Smith to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That would be Seattle’s lone offensive score of the afternoon. Coby Bryant returned an interception for a 69-yard pick-six for Mike Macdonald’s second and final touchdown. Look for the Seahawks to enjoy more offensive success this time around.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the WR room again

The Seahawks have won three consecutive games and Jaxon Smith-Njigba has led the offense in receptions and receiving yards in all of them. Superstar wide receiver DK Metcalf missed Thursday’s practice with a shoulder injury. With Metcalf’s status for Sunday legitimately hanging in the balance, expect JSN to continue operating as Smith’s go-to target.

Zach Charbonnet thrives

Running back Kenneth Walker III also missed Thursday’s practice with ankle and calf designations. Change-of-pace back Zach Charbonnet ranks second on the offense in touchdowns this season with six. Charbonnet took advantage of an expanded role versus the Cardinals if Walker is absent or even limited.

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Zach Charbonnet continues to be underrated member of Seahawks offense

Zach Charbonnet continues to be underrated member of Seahawks offense.

Seattle Seahawks sophomore running back Zach Charbonnet entered Sunday’s Week 13 contest versus the New York Jets having scored five touchdowns this season, second-most among all Seahawks skill players. Charbonnet has been extremely useful to Ryan Grubb’s offense this campaign. He made another big-time impact in the come-from-behind victory over the Jets.

The Seahawks once trailed 14-0. Entering the fourth quarter down 21-16, a Jason Myers field goal narrowed the Jets’ advantage to 21-19. On the next possession, Grubb’s offense put together a 12-play drive that started with a Charbonnet run. A horse collar tackle later extended the drive, and Charbonnet concluded Seattle’s comeback efforts with an eight-yard TD run.

Charbonnet’s game-winning TD was featured on Brian Baldinger’s social-media-famous “Baldy’s Breakdowns.”

Charbonnet has now rushed for 266 yards and five touchdowns via 75 carries this campaign. He’s been a useful resource behind No. 1 running back Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet has also added 29 receptions for 204 yards and one additional touchdown to his offensive totals.

Charbonnet earned just four carries versus the Jets, but he averaged 7.0 yards per carry, his second-best average output of the season. Walker was his typical workhorse self, but struggled to consistently find running room, gaining 49 yards on 16 carries (3.1 YPC). Charbonnet will continue maximizing his opportunities.

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Seahawks escape from New York with a 26-21 win over the Jets

Seahawks escape from New York with a 26-21 win over the Jets

The Seattle Seahawks just escaped from New York in one of the most bizarre, sloppy, and confusing games we’ve seen in quite some time. But as I’ve always said, style points don’t matter in the NFL… only wins do.

The Seahawks are now 7-0 when playing at MetLife Stadium, which has become a home away from home.

It certainly was not easy for Seattle to get this win. The Jets may have been only a three-win team, but they put up a fight, especially in the first half. Thanks to special teams miscues by the Hawks, New York capitalized for 21 points. But the Seahawks defense clamped down after intermission and suffocated the life out of the Jets. New York only had four possessions, and they went as follows:

  • Punt
  • Fumble
  • Punt
  • Turnover on downs

Part of the limited opportunities for the Jets in the second half was the fact the Seahawks controlled the clock to close out the game. They had drives of 12, 10 and 9 plays. Their first drive of the second half ended in frustrating disaster. After eight tries at the goal line, Geno Smith’s sack on 4th and goal turned the ball over on downs and Seattle came away with nothing. Thankfully, the Hawks forced a fumble which was recovered by rookie Tyrice Knight.

Smith then marched the team 39 yards to connect with another successful Jason Myers field goal to cut the lead 21-19.

However, the true miracles took place on the next possession. Trailing by two points, it was happy hour at the Last Chance Saloon for Seattle. It likely should have been lights out for the Seahawks, but the Jets continued to give Seattle more and more opportunities. New York was flagged four times on the Seahawks’ game winning drive – three of which were on 4th downs where Gang Green actually had Seattle stopped. The Jets were flagged 12 total times – 10 of which were in the second half alone.

The Hawks took advantage of those continued opportunities and capped it off with a go-ahead touchdown run by Zach Charbonnet. After Aaron Rodgers’ pass on 4th-and-15 fell incomplete, Seattle officially completed the comeback and Geno Smith earned his 11th game-winning drive since the start of 2022.

Aaron Rodgers was held in check, completing 21-of-39 passes for only 185 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Meanwhile his counterpart on the other sideline, Geno Smith, was his usual efficient self, completing 64% of his passes for 206 yards and a touchdown.

The Seahawks are now 7-5 and extended their lead in the NFC West thanks to Arizona losing to Minnesota 23-22 earlier in the afternoon. Seattle will once again take on the Cardinals next week, but will do so in the Valley of the Sun.

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3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Jets in Week 13

3 Bold Predictions for Seahawks offense vs. Jets in Week 13

The Seattle Seahawks will face the New York Jets in Sunday’s Week 13 contest. Starting quarterback Geno Smith will return to MetLife Stadium for the first time since his messy breakup with the franchise that drafted him. We’ve conjured up three bold predictions for Seattle’s offense on Sunday.

Geno Smith throws 3 TD passes

Smith downplayed any revenge-game discussions earlier this week, but the ex-Jet is undeniably motivated to show-up the franchise that gave up on his development. Smith has enjoyed just one three-TD performance this season. It was accompanied by three interceptions in an overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. Look for the former West Virginia standout to play a cleaner game while throwing three scores.

Zach Charbonnet catches a TD

Look for No. 2 running back Zach Charbonnet to be on the receiving end of a Smith touchdown pass. The backup to Kenneth Walker III has scored five touchdowns this season, second-best among all Seahawks skill players. Charbonnet has been extremely useful to Ryan Grubb’s offense this campaign.

DK Metcalf surpasses 100 receiving yards

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been Seattle’s most productive receiver in recent weeks. That makes typical go-to wideout DK Metcalf a candidate for a late-season breakout performance. Metcalf hasn’t topped 100 receiving yards in a single contest since a late-September loss to the Detroit Lions. Look for that drought to end versus a disappointing Jets defense.

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