BROCK AND SALK

Huard: Seahawks DE Darrell Taylor’s ‘play of destruction’ a ‘huge moment’

Sep 14, 2021, 2:33 AM | Updated: 11:21 am

Seahawks Darrell Taylor...

Colts QB Carson Wentz tries to throw the ball away while under pressure by Seahawks DE Darrell Taylor. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

There were a number of standouts for the Seahawks in their 28-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, with many of the team’s star players performing well.

Clayton: Seahawks look like Super Bowl contenders in Week 1 win

Quarterback Russell Wilson threw four touchdowns, three of which went to Pro Bowl receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, and perennial All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner led all players with 13 tackles.

But there were also some fairly surprising standouts as well.

Defensive end Rasheem Green was one of the stars of the game after getting a sack and dominating at the line of scrimmage, but he wasn’t the only young pass rusher to cause some havoc.

In his first NFL game, Darrell Taylor, Seattle’s second-round pick a year ago, made quite the impact.

After missing all of 2020 with a shin injury, Taylor started his pro career with a bang, recording a sack and two quarterback hits while coming off the edge Sunday.

His fourth quarter sack as well as an additional hit of Colts quarterback Carson Wentz were standout plays, but he made a tone-setting play on the Seahawks’ first defensive drive of the game. On Monday, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard joined The Mike Salk Show on 710 ESPN Seattle and broke down that play and its importance.

“Darrell Taylor, I think, had one of the biggest plays of the game,” he said. “Indy drives right down the field, and they’re 7:30 into that opening drive and they have first-and-goal inside the 10. That first play, they try a run at Darrell Taylor and he decimates the edge. He had two of the biggest ‘wow,’ ‘juice,’ plays of destruction that anybody had on that defense.”

On that play, the Colts ran right at Taylor with second-year back Johnathan Taylor from the 9-yard line. The play went for just two yards as Darrell Taylor blew it up. The next play, Benson Mayowa recorded a tackle, and on third down Seattle kept the Colts out of the end zone to make them settle for a field goal.

“If (Taylor) gets sealed on that play – and (the Colts) were super efficient on that opening drive – and (Jonathan) Taylor bounces it out and all of a sudden he gains 4 or 5 yards and they’re at the 2- or 3-yard line, they’re going to score a touchdown,” Huard said. “And just the complexion of the game, just that moment (prevented a feeling of), ‘Oh my gosh, we just gave up a nine-minute touchdown drive and couldn’t get off the field again.’ That was huge.”

With it being Taylor’s first NFL game, Huard was especially impressed.

“Put a little gold star by that one in that game because that was a huge moment for him – and I’m going to call him a rookie because he didn’t play last year – for that rookie, for that defense,” he said. “And (that play) really allowed Seattle to make a couple explosive plays (on offense) and jump up 14-3.”

Listen to the full conversation between Huard and Salk at this link or in the player below.

Follow Brandon Gustafson on Twitter.

Pete Carroll Show: DL shines, injury updates | Fast start in new offense

Brock and Salk podcast

Brock and Salk

Seattle Mariners 2B Nico Hoerner...

Zac Hereth

Two potential Mariners infield trade targets to watch

How San Francisco Giants first baseman Lamonte Wade Jr. and Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner would fit the Seattle Mariners.

26 minutes ago

Seattle Seahawks Tyrel Dodson San Francisco 49ers 2024...

Cameron Van Til

NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah reacts to Seahawks cutting Tyrel Dodson

Are the Seattle Seahawks in a rebuilding year after releasing starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson? NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah gives his take.

5 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks TE K'Keal Harry...

Zac Hereth

Huard: Why former first-rounder was worth a look from Seahawks

Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard weighs in on the Seattle Seahawks signing N'Keal Harry to their practice squad.

6 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah gives #Seahawks coach Macdonald mid-season grade

Is Daniel Jeremiah (@movethesticks) accurate in his assessment of Coach Macdonald and John Schneider at the halfway point of the Hawks season? Subscribe for more videos & visit SeattleSports.com for all your Seahawks coverage.

7 hours ago

...

Seattle Sports Video

Video: NFL Analyst Daniel Jeremiah shares his mid-season #Seahawks grades after roster moves

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah joins Brock Huard & Mike Salk to share his half-way point grades for #Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and General Manager John Schneider, as well as focus on what the roster moves are saying about the state of this team. 0:00 – Mid-season grades for coach Macdonald, John Schneider 0:50 – Why […]

8 hours ago

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith...

Zac Hereth

The other change Huard expects Seahawks to make coming out of bye

Former NFL QB Brock Huard explains why he thinks the Seattle Seahawks will run more of their offense from under center after the bye week.

1 day ago

Huard: Seahawks DE Darrell Taylor’s ‘play of destruction’ a ‘huge moment’