Seaside Joe 1157: After proving to be a recruiting steal for Wake Forest a year earlier, Walker sets himself apart from other ACC running backs right of the gate
Amazing talent, his first touch for Michigan state is a 96 yard touchdown. As Kenneth will attest I am a big supporter of runninbacks. The courage of a prize fighter is needed, the vision of a Longhorn sheep hunter and the football IQ of person in mensa. Marshal Falk knew every play in the Colts playbook. He knew what each players assignment was. He taught Payton Manning the offense. When he went to the Rams he made them the best show on turf.
A pre sorry for bragging, I played elite level rugby, and my position controlled and called all set plays. Having watched KW3 a fair bit, before the draft and much more since, he posses one quality that very few do. KW3 is able to side step without losing speed. Sidestep is a rugby term for a faint a deke. Only the most gifted runners can bob and weave while still accelerating. In order to pull off this move you need to make your defender move the way you want him to, which is no easy trick. His size is optimal, not to tall, I believe 5ft 9, 211 lbs. He presents a small target but carries a huge punch. His ability to hide behind blockers and then spring into action is elite.
I dare any anylist to explain to me why a game changing player is somehow bad value to draft in the second round. I have heard so many talking heads give Seattle a C on KW3 draft position, because they should have taken a quarterback. There will be one quarterback from this draft that will have a good NFL career, I am not sure who, maybe Picket as he is going to a good team. Does anybody think Derick Henry was overdrafted in the second round, or Stewart from the Colts. The pure laziness to not know, or care that Chris Carsons career maybe over, I hope not. To not know or care that Pete Carroll wants to run to set up the pass. Bucky Brooks was excited about Seattle's pick, as was Chris Simm's. Those are two men who know football.
If you just watch KW3 at Michigan St. think of about his side step, you can't teach that, you are born with it.
You make the key point: SEA drafted a player they see as game changer first and as a running back second. Pete Carroll will go for that regardless of position.
Man, he'll fit right in. He even arrives expecting bad run blocking. I do jest though. Our run blocking really came together late last year. That was with Duane Brown holding down the left side...
May 7, 2022·edited May 7, 2022Liked by Seaside Joe
Good on you Ken !! Your in depth write up on Walker's style of running, covers allot that other analyst overlook or just don't take the time to do their homework. Look forward to watching the two workhorses, Penny and Walker stampede thru the defenses this season !!
Your substack is quickly becoming one of my favorite reads on the Seahawks! Thanks for sharing your passion for writing, the Seahawks and humor with us all.
After seeing Ken's (his preference) first press conference at VMAC after day one of rookie camp, I'm sold. Easy smile, articulate, no bravado. Match this up with his film and development through the collegiate system and it looks like we have ourselves a guy.
Pete says he shows good hands too. Honestly can't wait to watch him push Penny through camp, and see if his skills translate to special teams. As an aside, it will be interesting to see if AP is still around this season. Can't imagine a better fellow to coach the RB room.
With the first round of team media from camp now digested, I'm both pleased and reassured about the first four picks from this year's draft. I find it's always instructive to observe a players first presser. It's our first real look at the "intangibles" that teams often mention.
From where we now sit, hindsight will probably view this rookie class as a success if those two new offensive bookends work out as well as they ideally should. The weeks ahead will surely begin to answer the question, if still far from conclusively.
In the realm of gut instinct, my player radar picks up serious "alpha warrior" vibes radiating from Cross, Lucas and Mafe -- yet each also demonstrated humor and humility in what felt like genuine doses. Despite Jen lobbing in some really pretty slow-pitch rainbows.
The furor over whether to draft a running back in the 2nd round is a proxy for the debate over the role of analytics. If you think that analytics is *the* strategic tool for roster building, you’re never going to be convinced that any back should be taken before the 3rd-4th round. Walker could rush for 2000 yards as a rookie and the quants will still claim that he was overdrafted.
Good on you. I'm learning to do the same. I was very excited for this pick and have wasted time I could have been doing something (anything) else more productive than trying to change strangers on the internet's minds that of all things, they might be pleasantly surprised with this kid.
I expect it on Twitter, but on Fieldgulls and such where I feel like we "know" one another and are a community, is where I've failed and spent an hour just finding links and so forth. Never again. Be happy and wait and see.
Curious - who did they miss out getting because of the order they made the picks? I don't know how much buzz KW3 was generating throughout the league, but Pete and John do.
Good question. There was some sneering that they should have taken a QB—Ridder, Willis, or Corrall, I guess. It beats me as to why a team would use a 2nd round pick on a player they didn’t was any good. You could make a case for Jurgens, although it should clear by now the PCJS don’t value centers.
Amazing talent, his first touch for Michigan state is a 96 yard touchdown. As Kenneth will attest I am a big supporter of runninbacks. The courage of a prize fighter is needed, the vision of a Longhorn sheep hunter and the football IQ of person in mensa. Marshal Falk knew every play in the Colts playbook. He knew what each players assignment was. He taught Payton Manning the offense. When he went to the Rams he made them the best show on turf.
A pre sorry for bragging, I played elite level rugby, and my position controlled and called all set plays. Having watched KW3 a fair bit, before the draft and much more since, he posses one quality that very few do. KW3 is able to side step without losing speed. Sidestep is a rugby term for a faint a deke. Only the most gifted runners can bob and weave while still accelerating. In order to pull off this move you need to make your defender move the way you want him to, which is no easy trick. His size is optimal, not to tall, I believe 5ft 9, 211 lbs. He presents a small target but carries a huge punch. His ability to hide behind blockers and then spring into action is elite.
I dare any anylist to explain to me why a game changing player is somehow bad value to draft in the second round. I have heard so many talking heads give Seattle a C on KW3 draft position, because they should have taken a quarterback. There will be one quarterback from this draft that will have a good NFL career, I am not sure who, maybe Picket as he is going to a good team. Does anybody think Derick Henry was overdrafted in the second round, or Stewart from the Colts. The pure laziness to not know, or care that Chris Carsons career maybe over, I hope not. To not know or care that Pete Carroll wants to run to set up the pass. Bucky Brooks was excited about Seattle's pick, as was Chris Simm's. Those are two men who know football.
If you just watch KW3 at Michigan St. think of about his side step, you can't teach that, you are born with it.
You make the key point: SEA drafted a player they see as game changer first and as a running back second. Pete Carroll will go for that regardless of position.
Man, he'll fit right in. He even arrives expecting bad run blocking. I do jest though. Our run blocking really came together late last year. That was with Duane Brown holding down the left side...
Great writing, got me pumped!!
Marshan Lynch with more speed.Great pick. Steal at 41!
Good on you Ken !! Your in depth write up on Walker's style of running, covers allot that other analyst overlook or just don't take the time to do their homework. Look forward to watching the two workhorses, Penny and Walker stampede thru the defenses this season !!
Your substack is quickly becoming one of my favorite reads on the Seahawks! Thanks for sharing your passion for writing, the Seahawks and humor with us all.
After seeing Ken's (his preference) first press conference at VMAC after day one of rookie camp, I'm sold. Easy smile, articulate, no bravado. Match this up with his film and development through the collegiate system and it looks like we have ourselves a guy.
Pete says he shows good hands too. Honestly can't wait to watch him push Penny through camp, and see if his skills translate to special teams. As an aside, it will be interesting to see if AP is still around this season. Can't imagine a better fellow to coach the RB room.
With the first round of team media from camp now digested, I'm both pleased and reassured about the first four picks from this year's draft. I find it's always instructive to observe a players first presser. It's our first real look at the "intangibles" that teams often mention.
From where we now sit, hindsight will probably view this rookie class as a success if those two new offensive bookends work out as well as they ideally should. The weeks ahead will surely begin to answer the question, if still far from conclusively.
In the realm of gut instinct, my player radar picks up serious "alpha warrior" vibes radiating from Cross, Lucas and Mafe -- yet each also demonstrated humor and humility in what felt like genuine doses. Despite Jen lobbing in some really pretty slow-pitch rainbows.
Agree - he's got the Seahawk spirited personality and smarts. Very impressive young man.
The furor over whether to draft a running back in the 2nd round is a proxy for the debate over the role of analytics. If you think that analytics is *the* strategic tool for roster building, you’re never going to be convinced that any back should be taken before the 3rd-4th round. Walker could rush for 2000 yards as a rookie and the quants will still claim that he was overdrafted.
I steer clear of this stuff because there’s no point in arguing with true believers.
Good on you. I'm learning to do the same. I was very excited for this pick and have wasted time I could have been doing something (anything) else more productive than trying to change strangers on the internet's minds that of all things, they might be pleasantly surprised with this kid.
LOL! Trust me, I had to go through the same process!
I expect it on Twitter, but on Fieldgulls and such where I feel like we "know" one another and are a community, is where I've failed and spent an hour just finding links and so forth. Never again. Be happy and wait and see.
Curious - who did they miss out getting because of the order they made the picks? I don't know how much buzz KW3 was generating throughout the league, but Pete and John do.
Good question. There was some sneering that they should have taken a QB—Ridder, Willis, or Corrall, I guess. It beats me as to why a team would use a 2nd round pick on a player they didn’t was any good. You could make a case for Jurgens, although it should clear by now the PCJS don’t value centers.
He reminds me of Percy harvin
Without the red flags!
When it comes to sports, I don't care if people engage in spurious argumentation. Or do I? Does it spread like a contagious disease?
Wasn't Dee Jay Dallas supposed to be this good too?
Nope.
Here’s the nfl.com pre-draft scouting reports for both:
Dallas: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/deejay-dallas/32004441-4c41-5290-528d-2115c573d8ed
Walker: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/kenny-walker-iii/32005741-4c39-1813-7d3e-48047712136d