Seahawks film review: Zach Charbonnet fights for more prominence in 2025

Charbonnet had more carries in his second season than his first, but how much improvement did he show?

The 2024 season was a mix of technical consistency and volume limitations for Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet. In his second year in the NFL, Charbonnet showed maturity in understanding the offensive system and versatility in using running techniques, but he also faced challenges such as sharing touches with Kenneth Walker III and a lack of explosiveness on long plays.

It is worth remembering that due to injuries to Ken Walker, including the fact that the RB ended the year on IR, Charbonnet had to be the RB1 of an anemic Seahawks running game in 2024.

Could he have a more prominent role in 2025?

Charbonnet 2023 vs Charbonnet 2024

Charbonnet had a subtle increase in volume and participation in 2024, but his total production did not increase significantly.

In 2023:

• 16 games, 2 starts; 108 carries;
• 462 rushing yards;
• 4.28 yards per carry;
• 1 rushing TD;
• 33 receptions;
• 209 receiving yards;
• 0 receiving TDs;
• 141 touches;
• 671 total yards;

In 2024:

• 17 games, 6 starts;
• 135 carries;
• 569 rushing yards;
• 4.2 yards per carry;
• 8 rushing TDs;
• 42 receptions;
• 340 receiving yards;
• 1 receiving TDs;
• 177 touches;
• 909 total yards;

Patience and Vision

He was lethal on runs like inside zone and duo, where his reading of blocks shone.

Pharaoh Brown, who should be a blocking TE, allows a quick infiltration. Charb cuts to the outside and finishes the run with physicality. According to PFF, his average of 3.35 yards after first contact put him in the top 10 among RBs with at least 100 carries.

Seattle’s OL can’t create space. Notice that both LBs (Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr) are in position to defend their gaps, since neither OL has managed to get to the second level. He can see that RG Anthony Bradford has a slight advantage, and so, allows the cut. Then he wins the 1v1 against the LB and scores his TD.

The Seahawks call a Duo and Charb manipulates the LB to gain yards. Notice that he makes the correct read of No. 44 (Jamien Sherwood), threatens the cut to the OL’s right side and takes the LB out of the play. He finds space on the opposite side and has another good run.

He improved a lot in this in his second year. At times he seemed rushed. On this play, he waits for Connor Williams’ block to move forward so he can explode.

Good call and fantastic blocks by Jalen Sundell and Sataoa Laumea. Charbonnet waits for the blocks to happen. At the end of the play he still threatens to cut inside, creating a better angle for Sundell.

Here it wasn’t on a run, but Charb shows his vision by finding spaces to gain yards on this screen.

Fullback Project?...