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Bumpus: What to expect from Seahawks RB Walker in NFL debut
The Seahawks’ Week 2 damage report was a brief one, and it was lacking a really notable title in rookie operating again Ken Walker III.
Seahawks Damage Report: Ken Walker III set to make debut vs 49ers
Walker, one in all two second-round picks the Seahawks chosen this yr, didn’t play in Week 1 – or within the crew’s closing two preseason video games – resulting from a hernia surgical procedure. However the younger again is ready to make his NFL debut on Sunday towards the San Francisco 49ers.
However how a lot will Walker be used off the bat? And what ought to we count on from him when he’s on the sphere? Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus broke it down on Friday throughout conversations on the Seattle Sports activities airwaves with Mike Salk and Stacy Rost.
Throughout his morning discuss on Brock and Salk, Bumpus pointed to the Seahawks having Rashaad Penny as a motive to mood expectations for Walker’s Week 2 utilization.
“I feel Penny simply needs to be the precedence,” he mentioned. “I imply, it’s good to have Ken Walker. You may have a younger buck again there who may give Penny some aid. However precedence is ensuring Penny is nice to go and that he does discover his rhythm.”
That rhythm is necessary as Penny, when wholesome and at his greatest, can break off lengthy runs for large beneficial properties as we noticed on the finish of final season when he was the league’s best again the final month of 2021. And Bumpus has heard Penny say it takes him 5 or extra carries to get right into a rhythm.
“I’m not saying you simply go 10 straight carries and also you don’t let (Walker) work,” he mentioned. “However I feel that you just emphasize getting Penny the rock. After which he’s gonna want a blow now and again … As soon as he has a kind of huge runs or possibly has three or 4 consecutive runs, then you may get Ken Walker within the sport and also you see what the younger man can do. However I feel you prioritize Penny and also you simply be certain Walker’s prepared. Bear in mind he nonetheless is a rookie … We need to see him carry the rock, however he’s acquired to attend his flip. He’s there to backup Penny, to not essentially take over.”
If Penny will get the majority of the workload out of the backfield for the Seahawks, what number of touches ought to we count on from Walker in his first sport? Bumpus shared his ideas on Bump and Stacy.
“I feel we’ll get six carries 30 yards 25 yards,” he mentioned.
“You must ease him into this. He had a hernia-type deal occurring. You don’t simply need to throw him on the market and say ‘Alright, let’s see what you are able to do,’” Bumpus later added. “You need to permit Rashaad Penny to interrupt the ice and you then slip Ken Walker in there. I feel you’ll get sufficient to see the potential on this younger man, however not his full potential. You don’t need to power this example. Watch out with him.”
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