The Chargers’ defense on Sunday was underwhelming to say the least, as they surrendered 38 points to quarterback Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
Despite the outcome, there was a bright spot for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s unit, with that being rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray.
Murray was stout against the run, amassing 10 tackles on the afternoon. Along with that, he held his own in coverage, only allowing less than 25 yards on five targets.
#Chargers LB Kenneth Murray has been a refreshing addition to the defense. Murray is a fast-flowing player who consistently rallies to the ball with aggressive intentions in pursuit. pic.twitter.com/5rc4FBbWsf
— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) October 7, 2020
Murray, the team’s first-round pick, has been a refreshing addition to the linebacker group and defense as a whole. He has embraced his role as the MIKE linebacker and has done a fine job picking up the slack in the absence of Drue Tranquill.
Through four games, Murray has 33 tackles while playing 97% of the defensive snaps. According to Pro Football Focus, he is third-best rookie linebacker.
He isn’t perfect by any means, as he still has overaggressive tendencies which can lead to him not making heads up tackles and over-pursue shifty running backs. But the flashes are legit and Murray will only get better with more reps.
