Byron Murphy II Flashes In Seahawks’ 16-3 Preseason Win Over The Chargers

1. Preseason or not, that was a very encouraging start for the defense.

The Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald to be their head coach in no small part because he is one of the best young defensive minds in football. And while it’s way, way too soon to make any definitive statements about Macdonald’s defense in Seattle, that unit got off to a great start in its preseason debut.

Yes, it was only the preseason, and yes, Chargers starting quarterback Justin Herbert didn’t play, but even with those caveats out of the way, it’s hard not to be encouraged by what the defense showed on Saturday.

Seattle’s starters, minus linebacker Jerome Baker, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, played two possessions, both of them Chargers three-and-outs. Not much changed when the Seahawks brought in their backups, with the No. 2 defense forcing another three-and-out, then getting an interception on L.A.’s fourth possession. That turnover, which featured a huge hit over the middle of the field by safety K’Von Wallace to set up a Coby Bryant pick, gave the offense a short field it was able to take advantage of, with rookie George Holani scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run.

The Chargers finished the first half with just three first downs, the first of which came with under five minutes to go in the half, and started the game 0 for 8 on third down before getting their first conversion late in the third quarter.

In addition to forcing eight punts and a turnover, Seattle’s defense also got sacks from Derick Hall, Jon Rhattigan and DeVere Levelston, and held the chargers to 198 yards and a 2 for 13 conversion rate on third down.