Analysis

3/13/23

6 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: Seattle Seahawks

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected at pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SF | TB | WAS

Seahawks RB Prototype

GM John Schneider (2010 - Present)

Sample size: 20 NFL running backs

• Schneider was hired as the Seattle Seahawks' general manager in January 2010, one week after coach Pete Carroll was hired.
• Schneider has established himself as a prolific offshoot of the Ron Wolf coaching tree.
• Seattle invested Round 1 and Round 2 draft picks at running back in two of the last five seasons, but Schneider has a long track record of finding quality backs on Day 3 and with undrafted free agents. 
• Schneider started his tenure with a pair of trades, acquiring fifth-year running backs Leon Washington, who was a second-team All-Pro kick returner (2010), and Marshawn Lynch. 
• Schneider has not traded for a running back since, optioning to acquire depth via free agency.
• The tables below show Schneider’s preferred running back athletic archetypes based on data from 2010-to-present day.

• From 2012-to-2013, Seattle committed to the traditional running back prototype, drafting three players standing exactly 5-foot-10 and weighing 220-to-228 pounds.
• Alterations to the formula were made in 2016 (height, weight, broad jump and the vertical jump) and 2017 (three-cone drill). 
• From 2010-to-2015, Seattle running backs averaged 5-foot-9.7 in height and 216.8 pounds. Since 2016, those averages shifted to 5-foot-10.6 and 214.2, respectively.
• Schneider also accepted less spring in exchange for more burst. The vertical-jump average ticked down from 36.3 inches to 35.0, while the broad jump elongated from 9-foot-11.3 to 10-foot-1.9.
• From 2010-to-2016, Seattle rostered just one running back who produced worse than a 7.10-second three-cone. 
• Four of 11 running backs had even run a 7.00 or better. 
• Chris Carson was drafted in 2017’s seventh round after running a 7.53 three-cone drill. 
• Since 2017, four-of-nine running backs chose not to participate in the three-cone drill. 
• The three-cone drill appears to have been removed as a prerequisite.
• Two apparent threshold-breakers, Alex Collins (28.5-inch vertical jump) and Thomas Rawls (1.69-second 10-yard split), improved their respective marks to 32.5 inches and 1.63 seconds on their pro days, likely salvaging their opportunities to join the team.
• Kenneth Walker III’s 4.38 40-yard dash beats the field by 0.5 seconds, and his 1.50 10-yard split leads by 0.2. He is one of just three Seattle running backs to run better than a 1.56. 
• At 209 pounds, Walker is one of just six Seahawks running backs to weigh less than 215 pounds.
• The upcoming draft may provide clarity as to whether changes were made to the straight-line speed and weight thresholds.
• Schneider has an affinity for long arms.

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Physical Traits Seahawks Will Target

• Roughly 5-foot-10.6
• Roughly 214 pounds
• A Roughly 35-inch vertical jump but a significantly higher vertical is not a deterrent.
• Roughly a 10-foot-2-inch broad jump
• Likely a sub-1.60 10-yard split, but there has been wiggle room previously. Walker III’s blazing speed could signal a threshold change.
• At least 17 bench-press reps.
• Arms measuring at least 30.25 inches.

Potential 2023 RB Targets

Players with strong archetype correlation are asterisked

• *Bijan Robinson, Texas: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 1.52-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-4 broad jump, 37-inch vertical and 31.125-inch arms. (scouting report)
• Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: 6-foot, 214 pounds, 1.54-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-2 broad jump, 37-inch vertical jump, 18 bench-press repetitions and 32-inch arms. (scouting report)
• Tyjae Spears, Tulane: 5-foot-10, 1.57-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-5 broad jump, 39-inch vertical jump and 30.75-inch arms. His weight (201 pounds) could be an issue but Schneider accepted Travis Homer (201) in 2019, likely due to his 10-foot-10 broad jump and 39.5-inch vertical jump. (scouting report)
• Chase Brown, Illinois: 1.53-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-7 broad jump, 40-inch vertical jump, 25 bench-press repetitions and 31-inch arms. His size (5-foot-9.5 and 209 pounds) is closer to their prior 2010-2015 thresholds but elite athleticism can keep him relevant. (scouting report)
• Kendre Miller, TCU: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds and 32.375-inch arms. He skipped NFL Combine drills. (scouting report)
• Roschon Johnson, Texas: 6-foot, 219 pounds, 32-inch arms, 1.52-second 10-yard split and a 10-foot-2-inch broad jump. Johnson’s (scouting report) 31.5-inch vertical jump falls below the threshold but subpar verticals did not disqualify players like Rashaad Penny (32.5 inches, 2018) and DeeJay Dallas (33.5 inches, 2020) 
• Evan Hull, Northwestern: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, 30.625-inch arms, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-3 broad jump, 37-inch vertical jump and 21 bench-press repetitions
• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 6-foot, 216 pounds, 31.25-inch arms, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 35.5-inch vertical jump

Measurements for Seahawks' RB

Athletic Testing for Seahawks' RBs

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.