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Why Seahawks picked RBs Jadarian Price, Rashaad Penny in first round
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- Why Seahawks picked RBs Jadarian Price, Rashaad Penny in first round
The Seattle Seahawks have shown a willingness to spend first-round picks on running backs in the last decade, drafting Rashaad Penny 27th overall in 2018 and taking Jadarian Price 32nd this season. Why were these the two they ended up with in that span, as opposed to other possibilities? Let's compare them and discuss the overlap.
At first glance, Penny and Price are actually quite similar in their frames, measuring within a half inch of each other's height, hand size, and arm length. They differ greatly on how much weight they carry on it, though, with Penny in the 81st percentile for weight and Price in the 40th. Price actually looks better on Bench, though, ranking in the 78th percentile compared to Penny in the 18th. Despite weighing 17 pounds less, Price benched 225 pounds 8 more times than his counterpart.
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The one clear non-negotiable for the Seahawks here, though, was straight-line, home run speed. Both backs were 85th percentile and above in the 40-yard dash, and that's the only clear strength they share. Although they're both Seahawks first-round backs who are described using the same jargon- "explosive" backs, "big play" backs, or "home run hitters"- they earn it in different ways.
Price would be the more explosive of the two in the weight room and in a more systemic way on the field. He's got the functional strength and less weight on his frame. It shows in his better broad and vertical jump. Penny has a slight edge on long speed and can also break tackles, but did more on long plays than in between the tackles where Price makes his money.
With new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury aiming to implement the same principles of zone running that have succeeded in San Francisco under Shanahan, Price fit his needs now and will make the impact he's looking for, in the vein of a Raheem Mostert. Penny fit the needs of then-offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, but it's safe to say Price is the better fit for the modern team.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks draft: why Seattle picked RB's in first round
