LOCALS IN THE NFL
Huard: Seahawks’ Blair Can Be ‘Kryptonite’ For Opposing NFC West Offenses
Sep 3, 2021, 2:21 PM
Strong safety Marquise Blair #27 of the Seattle Seahawks warms up prior to the game against the Denver Broncos at CenturyLink Field on August 8, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, Wash. – One player who saw their stock rise up in the Seahawks’ preseason finale was defensive back Marquise Blair, who’s looking to make a major impact after missing most of 2020 with a torn ACL.
Blair didn’t play in Seattle’s first two preseason games due to a minor knee injury, but he made a big impact early on for the Seahawks.
On the Los Angeles Chargers’ first possession, linebacker Cody Barton blasted quarterback Chase Daniel in the backfield, forcing a fumble, which Blair scooped up for a touchdown.
MARQUISE BLAIR ‼️
Gotta love a defensive touchdown 😏 pic.twitter.com/4lqdoL1wEf
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 29, 2021
Blair wound up with two tackles in addition to the touchdown, but he made a big impact by lining up all over the field and even causing some pressure and havoc on designed blitzes.
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Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard was a big fan of Blair’s performance against the Chargers, and he explained earlier this week on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Blue 42 segment why that brief outing showcased something very important for the Seahawks’ defense.
“I liked him (Saturday)… and this was some of the plan last year before that torn ACL, they were really going to try to be I think in some ways ahead of the curve – not even outside the box but ahead of the curve with the systems that they’re facing,” Huard said. “The (Kyle) Shanahan system, with Deebo Samuel, with all the jet sweep, with all the little Rams guys that bubble screen and jet sweep you and little option routes, I think there was a belief from (head coach Pete Carroll) and his staff that Marquise Blair was that system’s kryptonite.”
Last year, Blair won the starting nickel cornerback job and was slated to have a key role in Seattle’s defense, especially against the team’s NFC West rivals. Instead, he tore his ACL in Week 2 and never got to play any divisional games. Huard broke down how exactly Blair can make an impact against the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals.
“(He’s) physical off the edge. OK, you want to run jet sweep? Run right into this guy that will absolutely tear your head off,” Huard said. “(He’s) twitchy enough in space to cover little option routes and long enough, as well, at 6 foot 2, 6 foot 3. And then finally, just explosive. Just able to cover, able to hit, able to finish, able to have a presence on the edge at that kind of big nickel position as he would be. And then unfortunately all of that derailed with a significant ACL injury.”
“This will be 100% about his health,” Huard later added, “because if he is healthy, I can’t wait to watch that dynamic play that position against this kind of offense in this division.”
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