So, remember watching Jadarian Price rip off those sick runs in his debut against New England? Yeah, us too. If you were scratching your head wondering why our rookie first-round draft pick barely touched the ball after averaging 8 yards per rush early, especially after Sam Darnold got hurt just five plays into the season, turns out it was all by design. This wasn’t some sideline blunder, it was Seattle’s plan for their new lead running back, the man drafted to replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. Wild, right?
Fleury’s “Caution” Means Priceless Patience
Offensive coordinator Brian Fleury dropped the truth bomb Thursday, explaining why Price only saw seven carries through the Seahawks’ first 36 plays into the fourth quarter. “We were very deliberate about the reps that he was going to get and how he was going to be used,” Fleury said. Think about it: Price didn’t play in preseason, then his first NFL game was on a huge stage at Lumen Field. The word from the coaching staff was clear: they wanted to be cautious with his workload. He finished his NFL debut with 52 yards on 10 carries, including those early runs of 13 and 12 yards. But here’s the kicker, folks: he only rushed on consecutive plays once in the first three quarters, even when Seattle was scoreless and down by 10 points deep into the third quarter. Backup quarterback Drew Lock had to come in cold, without practicing the game plan all week, and Price was still limited. It’s a ramp-up plan, Fleury added, “Not for anything physical. It’s just, being a rookie.”
The Rookie Learning Curve, Darnold’s Injury, and Holani’s Grind
Being a rookie means hitting the books on the NFL pass game, especially pass blocking. Pro blitzes come from everywhere, way faster than what Price saw as a backup at Notre Dame. That’s where George Holani, an undrafted free agent from 2024 who made the Seahawks three years ago, comes in. Holani stuck around largely because of his pass blocking skill. He even played 23 snaps against New England, just one less than Price’s 24. And remember that play where Darnold got hurt? It was Holani who got plowed through by New England’s blitzing linebacker Robert Spillane, pushing him right into Darnold as he tried to throw. Right tackle Abe Lucas had Jones blocked during the play design, but that blitz from Spillane was the problem. It highlights exactly what Price needs to master.
So, what’s next for our rookie phenom? Fleury said Price “obviously earned more reps moving forward” and they’ll “continue to bring him along and develop him in the right way.” That better be true, because this Sunday, the Seahawks face their first NFC West game of the season against the 1-0 Arizona Cardinals. The 12s need to see what Price can really do. Let’s see if that ramp-up plan finally gives him the green light to explode against a division rival.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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