Jadarian Price and the Outside Zone: Why Seattle's Rookie Class Has Legs

The Seahawks wrapped their two-day rookie minicamp on Saturday, May 2, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, and there's already some intriguing stuff brewing in the backfield. Rookie running back Jadarian Price is fitting perfectly into the outside zone scheme that offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is building, and that's exactly the kind of early indicator that gets you excited about a player's future in this system.

Building Block for the Run Game

Price's skill set matches what Seattle wants to do on the ground. The outside zone scheme relies on backs who can follow their blocks, plant and cut upfield quickly, and make defenders miss in space. From what we're seeing at rookie camp, Price has the footwork and instincts to thrive in that role. When you're talking about fitting a young player into a scheme this early, and it clicks this clean, that's noteworthy. Head coach Mike Macdonald wrapped up the minicamp saying "This was a great rookie camp," and Price's performance was a big part of why the team hit its goals over those two days.

Defensive Backs Showing Out Too

It wasn't just the offensive side making noise. Rookie defensive backs Bud Clark and Julian Neal brought contagious energy to the field, the kind of thing that gets noticed in a competitive environment. When new guys come in hungry and bring that spirit, it changes practice tempo and pushes everyone around them. That's the vibe Macdonald is building.

The Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl championship, which means the bar is set ridiculously high. Every rookie who walks into that Virginia Mason facility knows what the standard is. Early camps like this tell you whether the new blood can handle it, and right now Price and these defensive backs are sending the right signals. Watch for Price to get reps with Sam Darnold and the offense as we head into the offseason and eventually training camp. If he keeps fitting this smoothly into the outside zone concept, he could be a legitimate piece of the running game puzzle.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.