It's a broken record that continues to get repeated week after week after week, but the Seattle Seahawks and their dominant defense are one of the NFL's best for a reason, or several reasons; therefore, the broken record carries weight.
Seattle has received contributions from all over its defense, from every position, especially from its linebackers, corners, and safeties. Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, and DeMarcus Lawrence, for instance, have held the line down in the middle all season. Rookie Nick Emmanwori, Riq Woolen, and Josh Jobe have held their ground further back.
Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is also part of this group and is having an outstanding season, which is why Seahawks' defensive coordinator Aden Durde called out the second-year standout recently for his impact on this year's defense. Murphy was fresh off an impressive performance in Week 15.
Seahawks' coach Aden Durde hypes up Byron Murphy II for his elite production
Most of the NFL world, fans outside and those within, know very well who Klint Kubiak is, the son of former Houston Texans and Denver Broncos head coach, Gary Kubiak. It's a well-known name within the league. That said, the Seahawks' coaching staff has another name that perhaps many aren't familiar with: Aden Durde.
Durde doesn't spend much time behind the press conference podium, but he did appear there this week as the Seahawks prepare for a Thursday Night Football showdown with NFC West division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams. Durde is preparing his defense to stop Matthew Stafford and the Rams' electric offense.
But Durde has been prepared all season, and he's coached Seattle's defense to a top-ten group in the league. Durde runs a defense that excels with veterans and younger players, so there is no shortage of leadership and players willing to glean from it.
Murphy is just one of the Seahawks players who has only just started his NFL journey within the past few seasons, but judging by his play this season, he's beginning to look like a seasoned veteran. Durde recently praised Murphy for his elite impact this season and detailed why he's been so good
"I think Byron's playing at an elite level," Durde responded when asked about Murphy's impact. "Sometimes on the third down, he's got to keep pushing to get his wind so he can play in all these downs and these situations at an extremely high level. When he's on, he's pretty much unblockable, and I thought, both of them, him and Leo [Leonard Williams] played at an extremely high level last week."
Durde was speaking of Murphy and Williams in Seattle's win over the Indianapolis Colts this past weekend. Murphy has posted 52 total tackles this year — 19 solo and 33 assisted. He also has 7 sacks, a jump from last year, when he had 0.5. Murphy's second year in the NFL is proving why he is a legitimate piece in Seattle's defense for years to come.
They have struck gold with him, and it's paying off, and furthermore, making Durde look exceptional, which could make his future in Seattle questionable once teams start looking at him as potential head coaching material.