A look at the stats shows a number of Seattle Seahawks who played key roles in the team’s 26-20 season-opening victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Lumen Field.
“We didn’t flinch”: Big opening statement from the Seahawks defense
Performances that stood out in the game report include Kenneth Walker’s 103 rushing yards and touchdown, Julian Love’s 12 tackles and an interception (most on the team), and Boye Mafe’s two tackles for loss and a sack.
But the stats don’t always tell the truth, and a Seahawk whose name only appears among downs played was an unsung hero of the Week 1 win, according to former NFL quarterback and college football analyst Brock Huard.
“AJ (Barner) blocked well, man,” Huard said of Brock and Salk during Blue 88 on Monday. “I think there was one block he was upset with himself about. Late in the fourth quarter, they threw a third-down bubble (screen) to (Zach) Charbonnet with a pretty cool little move, and that was probably the only block I think he got beat on. He sealed the edges, he got over the line of scrimmage on a bunch of their zone stuff and was just a willing hammer pounding into a bunch of nails.”
Barner, a rookie out of Michigan who was drafted in the fourth round, was thrust into a more prominent role as the No. 2 tight end in the opening game because veteran Pharaoh Brown was unable to play due to a foot injury suffered in training camp. Barner, 22, appeared in 32 snaps (48% of Seattle’s 67 offensive plays), according to Pro Football Reference.
“I thought he did a great job in his first game despite his injury situation and was more than capable,” Huard said.
“He has juice”
Barner didn’t put up outstanding receiving numbers for his position in college and was viewed more as a blocking tight end in the NFL. The Seahawks used him that way against Denver because the rookie had neither a target nor a receiver despite running nearly 50% of the team’s offensive plays.
But Huard has heard that the organization greatly values Barner’s contribution.
“People have talked about him a lot,” Huard said. “Maybe not quite as much about the coaches, but people in the program that I trust say, ‘Yeah, man, that AJ has it. He’s got it. It’s not too much for him.’ And to come right in as a rookie and just do a phenomenal, unsung job in that running game, I thought AJ played really, really well.”
Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or find the podcast in the Seattle Sports app.
More on the Seattle Seahawks season opener
• Seahawks RBs decisive in second half victory over Broncos
• Seahawks have injury problems in the offensive line after victory in Week 1
• Seahawks immediate reaction: assessment of the 26-20 victory over the Broncos
• Rost: The Seahawks’ season-opening victory is a give and take
• Observations on the Seahawks: What stood out in the 26:20 win against the Broncos
