The Seattle Seahawks rookies combined for 183 snaps in the 30-18 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Two of them remain starters: linebacker Tyrice Knight and right guard Sataoa Laumea, and two have a good number of snaps in their sectors, DL Byron Murphy II and TE AJ Barner.
All data used in this article was taken from [PFF](https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641882&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpff.com&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fieldgulls.com%2F2024%2F12%2F10%2F24317756%2Fseattle-seahawks-all-22-film-review-rookie-performance-vs-cardinals-laumea-barner). Let’s get to film review of the rookies from Seattle’s fourth straight win!
**Byron Murphy II, Defensive Lineman (38 snaps)**
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The Seahawks defense against the run game had its ups and downs. This will even be a point of analysis in Wednesday’s general article. However, in basically all of the unit’s good plays against the run game, Murphy was present.
I understand that choosing a DT in the first round for him to contribute mostly as a run stuffer can be seen as a problem. I see Murphy evolving as a pass rusher and he has a high ceiling in that regard. As he develops, he contributes a lot to the team in a spot that has been problematic for the defense for most of the season.
On this play, LG Evan Brown tries to slow Murphy down to help LT Paris Johnson. However, Murphy and his speed prevent the LT from getting there in time and the DT arrives to stop the run.
What Murphy did on this play may go unnoticed by the eyes of someone who is not paying attention, however, it was a great play. He shows knowledge of the game, anticipating the pull and the type of block that the center will try to make on him. He escapes with speed and will help make the tackle near the goal line. He showed his physical talents and growth in reading the game. Great snap.
Despite not having any sacks or hits, he led the team in pressures with 4 hurries.
He uses a stutter step to make the RG commit more to the B gap. He, instead, attacks the A gap to generate pressure on the QB.
**Christian Haynes, Offensive Guard (0 snaps)**
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Seattle didn’t draft Haynes thinking about what he could become in two years. With a wealth of college experience, the team thought he could be used immediately. High floor and low ceiling.
With each passing game that passes and he sits on the bench, this complicates his future.
**Tyrice Knight, Linebacker (58 snaps)**
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He was one of the best players in the game. He dominated the running game with 12 tackles, leading the team in the box score. Keep in mind that he was left out in dime packages, giving space to Rayshawn Jenkins.
In modern football,, LBs are lighter than they used to be. Therefore, it is a challenge to escape OL blocks at the second level. Since OLs would have an advantage in a physical battle, one way to win is with speed and anticipation. This is one of Knight’s skills that I like the most as a rookie. He navigates the backfield well, avoiding blocks and making tackles.
However, Knight’s contribution wasn’t limited to the running game. He deflected two passes, one against Trey McBride and another against Marvin Harrison Jr. in the slot.
He also continues to make an impact as a blitzer. The idea here was to let Trey McBride block so that he could escape the Seattle defense. Knight arrives very fast on the blitz, but realizing that he wouldn’t be able to get the sack, he reads the pass perfectly and deflects it.
The [Seahawks](https://www.fieldgulls.com/) are defending in the zone and that leaves Michael Wilson against Tyrice Knight. A good matchup for the QB and WR. Wilson runs a whip route, but the LB is marking tightly and the pass is incomplete.
Another snap from Knight marking a WR in the slot. This time it’s the fantastic Marvin Harrison Jr. The WR runs a simple slant, Knight anticipates and deflects the pass.
**AJ Barner, Tight End (24 snaps)**
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It was another game in which he didn’t shine in terms of stats. His snap count was also impacted by the return of Noah Fant (37) and now the battle with Pharaoh Brown (16) is much closer.
He contributed a lot in blocking. On the creative play for Zach Charbonnet’s TD, he made a key block for the RB to reach the end zone.
On this play the Seahawks call the good old Power Run, with Laumea being the puller. Barner advances to the second level making a good block on the LB, using the correct technique and guaranteeing leverage.
He only had one reception, as a checkdown. With the deep reads marked, Geno Smith turns to the TE and he simply trucked the defender Mack Wilson and got the first down.
**Nehemiah Pritchett, Cornerback (0 snaps)**
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He was inactive in the last few games but had a chance to be among the active players with Tre Brown’s injury. He only helped on special teams.
Something that always made me curious is that when he was drafted, his potential as a receiver was highly praised (even in Madden he is my main returner, haha). Even with the cuts of Laviska Shenault and Dee Williams, apparently, he didn’t even get returns in practice.
It could be a way for him to start carving out his space.
**Sataoa Laumea, Right Guard (63 snaps)**
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It was a second start with some good and some bad for Laumea. However, something to be expected for someone who was out of rhythm and played in a problematic unit like the Seahawks’ OL. PFF gave him the worst grades on the team in Pass Block and Run Block at 30.8 and 37.2 respectively. He may not have been fantastic, but I don’t think he played as poorly as those numbers indicate.
Pass blocking is not really Laumea’s greatest asset. He only gave up one pressure, a hit on Geno that made the QB throw the ball away and caused an intentional grounding (quite debatable).
He has been slow to react to stunts and blitzes. This is a general problem for the OL, but Laumea also faces this challenge on his own.
This snap really encourages thinking about Laumea’s future. He manages to mirror the defender well, stays engaged and prevents any type of counter move.
Seattle had its best performance all season in the running game, with 176 yards on the ground. We’ll talk more about this in tomorrow’s article, but Laumea was a key player with his physicality in the counter treys that worked. On this play, he simply bullied the defender on the play that ended in Charbonnet’s TD.
**Mike Jerrell, Right Tackle (0 snaps)**
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No snaps.
**Final Thoughts**
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Sataoa Laumea had a huge impact on the good running game, which was something the team had a lot of problems with. The impact of Byron Murphy and especially Tyrice Knight on defense was also fundamental. The team had a rookie on each side of the ball as the best on the field or at least one of the best.