Seahawks Uncover a Rare Gem: The ‘Hard-to-Find’ Talent Making Waves

Seahawks Uncover a Rare Gem: The ‘Hard-to-Find’ Talent Making Waves

The Seattle Seahawks are back on top of the NFC West with a 4-3 record, and there’s a notable trend in their four victories: rookie defensive tackle Byron Murphy II was available to play in each of them.

 

 

When Murphy, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is on the field, the Seahawks win; when he’s not, they lose.

While this is a simplification of their success, it highlights the importance of Murphy’s impact—a point emphasized by football experts and former NFL players, including ex-Seahawk analysts Brock Huard and “Big” Ray Roberts.

 

 

 

 

At 6 feet tall and weighing 306 pounds, Murphy has become a challenge for opposing offensive lines. Roberts, who played on the offensive line for Seattle and Detroit, offered particular praise for him.

“He’s really tough to block,” Roberts said during his appearance on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “He has an advantage in leverage because he’s shorter than most of the players he faces, and he maintains that leverage through contact.”

 

 

 

 

 

Murphy’s unique combination of size and skill allows him to do what many defensive tackles struggle with.

“Some guys lose their leverage and can’t counter double teams effectively,” Roberts explained. “But he can split double teams, evade blockers, and chase down the ball carrier, which is quite rare. When offensive linemen engage with him, it’s not just a battle between the two; he’s focused on getting to the running back.”

 

 

 

 

“It’s like, ‘We’re going to tussle for a bit, but my real goal is to get to the guy with the ball.’ As an offensive lineman, it’s tough when you’re 6-6 to maintain leverage against someone so low, powerful, and quick who’s always in motion.”

Block Destruction: Unleashing Dominance on the Line

 

Later on Tuesday’s show, FOX football analyst Huard expanded on Roberts’ insights.

“I tweeted last night, ‘Byron ‘Block Destruction’ Murphy,’ because he’s not just there to go through the motions,” Huard explained during his Blue 88 segment. “When you watch the tape, many D-linemen seem to just dance around, engaging with blockers without truly breaking free. As Ray mentioned, they often find themselves caught up in battles with two blockers, just trying to hold their ground. That’s the reality for most defensive tackles.

 

 

 

 

Huard compared players like Murphy to Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk.

“The difference-makers at defensive tackle are akin to Marshall Faulk,” he said. “Faulk would say, ‘I’m not just focused on the first gap; I’m looking for the safety.’ Elite defensive tackles aren’t worried about merely fighting off blocks—they’re intent on getting to the quarterback or stopping the running back.

 

 

 

“That’s what sets apart the difference-makers. The 16th pick in the draft brings that kind of impact. The 90th, 150th, or 200th picks might be big and strong, but the true ‘block destructors’ are the ones who can disengage from blockers and reset the line of scrimmage. Those players are truly hard to find.”