Seattle is in line to have a strong backfield in 2023 after supplementing starter Kenneth Walker with rookies Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh. That trio is likely to be joined by DeeJay Dallas, giving the team a number of decisions to make with respect to how each back is used. 
All four players, to varying degrees, have shown an ability to produce in the passing game at either the NFL or college levels. That could lead to a notable increase in passing plays out of the backfield this season, ESPN’s Brady Henderson notes. Charbonnet (a second-round selection) and McIntosh (seventh round) in particular helped their draft stock with notable pass-catching seasons in 2022.
Walker stands to serve as the undisputed starter after he finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. His success made it little surprise when Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer departed in free agency, creating the vacancies filled by Charbonnet and McIntosh. Their roles will likely involve signficant pass-catching duties, especially if the Seahawks elect to use a committee approach.
“Yeah, they’re catchers, for sure,” head coach Pete Carroll said of Seattle’s RB room as a whole. “Kenny is a really natural athlete, you can just see it in everything that he does. Zach does everything well… He’s already shown his understanding and his instincts about blocking in the passing game – not the physical side of it, but his assignments and his footwork and stuff like that. We’ve just got to throw them out there and start handing the ball to them, see what happens and see who produces and all.”
As his last remark confirms, little is known at this point with respect to the pecking order behind Walker on the depth chart. Heavy involvement in the passing game out of the backfield could help Seattle’s rookies see the field right away, though the team’s receiver trio of D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba figures to limit the amount of targets available at the RB position.
As Henderson notes, Carroll has not traditionally favored using Seattle’s backs prominently in the passing game. Given the skillsets available to him now, however, it would come as little surprise if that philosophy shifted in 2023 and the years immediately following this season.
I’ll say this about Pete, he is a firm believer in a strong running game and solid D. Old school mentality. Go with an accurate QB that doesn’t throw picks to drive the engine on O. Reminiscent of Joe Gibbs back in the Redskins’ heyday.
I don’t think Pete is particularly happy with a defense that ranked 28th last season. The run game is solid as you mentioned and could even be better if the Hawks weren’t next to last in time of possession.
Of course he wasn’t..who would be happy.They made some great additions to the defense in the offseason. Much better pass rush..which makes dbs better. Will help with time of possession.
Zach is gonna be good until they run the kid to the ground. Loved him last year for UCLA
Given that Walker will get the majority of touches, I’m not sure how they’d run Charbonnet into the ground.
Perhaps after Walker is run into the ground by midseason, work will begin on Charbs. Nope not, though it’s possible.
I don’t envision either being ran into the ground, it’s the whole point of having two viable backs.
Walker should go craazy because teams can’t stack the box cause of d.j, lock, jax.
Offense should be fine, now let’s see how that d does, though..