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Kenneth Walker III didn’t make his biggest point about the Seahawks offense with a touchdown quote.
He made it with an offensive line compliment, and it came with a little pressure baked in.
Coming off Seattle’s dramatic 38-37 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams, Walker said the thing that “really popped out” on film was the effort of the O-line, and he singled out the mindset of backup tackle Josh Jones stepping in after Charles Cross went down. Walker made his comments as part of an exclusive interview with Heavy, where he talked about the Seahawks latest partnership.
With the Seahawks heading into Week 17 at 12-3 and traveling to Carolina on December 28, any sign that Seattle can survive injuries up front is the kind of detail that changes how fans should see their playoff ceiling.
Seahawks RB Spotlights the O-Line After Rams Comeback
Walker said some fans miss what happens before the highlight. In the Seahawks thrilling 38-37 win over the Rams, Walker rushed 11 times for 100 yards and a touchdown.
“I really want to speak on the effort of the O-line,” he said, pointing to specific plays where linemen executed and sprung him for explosive gains, including his big run where teammates “sprung me loose.”
That tracks with what Seattle put on tape. Walker ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run against the Rams, one of the defining plays in a game Seattle absolutely had to have.
“No Drop-Off” Claim Adds Pressure to Seattle’s Depth
Walker’s most direct statement came when he talked about Jones filling in after Cross went down.
“You never know when your number is going to be called,” Walker said. He praised Jones for staying assignment-sound, playing physical, and added: “There was no drop-off at all.”
That’s a big statement late in December, because Seattle’s postseason hopes are tied to whether the offense can stay functional under stress, especially if the line is juggling bodies.
(And the Rams game was stress: Seattle trailed by 16 in the fourth quarter and still found a way.)
What It Means for the Seahawks Run Game Under Klint Kubiak
Walker also explained what’s changed schematically under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who joined the Seahawks in January 2025.
Walker said Kubiak is focused on getting the ball into playmakers’ hands and creating explosives, with the biggest change being Seattle’s use of a wide zone scheme.
That matters because wide zone success is married to timing and trust, backs pressing the aiming point, linemen reaching landmarks, and the entire unit seeing the same picture. Walker said he’s developed in the scheme through reps and film, and he believes there’s still “more to come” from the run game.
He also described Seattle’s identity goal in tight fourth quarters: they want opponents to know the run is coming, and still get run over anyway, including in four-minute offense.
The Week 17 Context Fans Need
Seattle faces an 8-7 Panthers team this weekend with real NFC implications on the line.
If Seattle’s run game keeps leveling up and the line holds together, it’s the kind of formula that travels, and it’s the kind of formula that turns late-season hype into January wins.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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