Seahawks Jordyn Brooks playing Cardinals Kyler Murray in college is important

The Seahawks may have drafted Jordan Brooks to stop the Cardinals Kyler Murray.

Jordyn Brooks will be available to play for the Seahawks on Sunday against the Cardinals. Brooks is Seattle’s 2020 first round draft pick. He was taken because he is fast and a tackling machine. Maybe more like a young Bobby Wagner than a K.J. Wright. And he played against Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in college. That is important.

Seattle might need a spy on Murray on Sunday. Arizona’s quarterback isn’t the best quarterback at throwing the ball but he isn’t bad. But Murray is great at creating havoc with his legs and most teams don’t have the personnel to stop that. Seattle might. And that person might be Jordyn Brooks.

In 2018, Brooks was part of a Texas Tech team that lost to Murray’s Oklahoma Sooners team but it was close. And Brooks made 9 tackles in the game. Brooks has the speed to keep up with Murray and is bigger.

While a fairly NFL-inexperienced Brooks might have difficulty at this level of matching Murray, it is also unlikely that any Seattle defensive player knows Murray better than Brooks. Or can match Murray’s speed as well as Brooks. Linebackers K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner are very good but neither at this point in their careers can run with Murray.

Brooks also has the speed to cover sideline to sideline and not just straight on rushes. Keeping Murray from breaking outside, keeping containment, is just as important as trying to keep Murray in the pocket.

The issue with Brooks trying to shadow Murray

Brooks can’t and won’t slow Murray all on his own. In fact, Brooks might not play the majority of snaps. Slowing Murray means longer third downs (hopefully) and more nickel packages. Brooks wouldn’t be involved in this. But a good Brooks on early downs would force Murray to be uncomfortable on later downs.

Of course, if Brooks does try to shadow Murray and isn’t very good then the Cardinals will have tons of room to run. Instead of 11 on 11 football, Brooks’ lack of impact would mean Arizona has a chance at explosive plays and could simply outscore Seattle.

The Seahawks drafted Jordyn Brooks in the first round for a reason, though. He is their star linebacker of the future if all works out and that excellent future could start in week 7 of the 2020 season. Brooks has played Kyler Murray before and he knows what to expect. Now he just needs to execute on Sunday.