Seahawks Player Profile: Germain Ifedi

Germain Ifedi was taken by the Seahawks with the 31st pick in the draft. Is he the savior the offensive line desperately needs?

I’m not saying necessarily that the Seahawks need a Jesus-like savior for the offensive lines to redeem them for their sins of failing to protect Russell Wilson in many stretches last season. In many ways, they already have a savior. Former Oakland Raiders head coach and current offensive line coach Tom Cable has somehow put together decent offensive lines with replacement-level talent in recent years.

Last season was Cable’s best work, believe it or not. Despite dealing with constant injuries to Russell Okung and others, Cable managed to keep Wilson from getting killed and never let the awfulness in pass protection at times undermine an otherwise solid rushing attack.

Cable and company’s adjustments midseason led to the best roll that Wilson, or any NFL quarterback ever, has had in his career. And while the offensive line once again let the team down for a half against Carolina in the Divisional Round, getting to that point while starting Garry Gilliam on the line for much of the season is an accomplishment.

More from Seattle Seahawks

• Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
• Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
• Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks: Four Takeaways from Week 14 21-7 victory
• Seattle Seahawks: Three Takeaways from the Week 13 43-16 victory

Imagine if Cable had a few linemen with top-notch abilities. Close your eyes for a moment if you have to. Imagine Russell Wilson sitting in the pocket, waiting for downfield routes to develop.

Germain Ifedi, the Seahawks’ first first-round pick in three years, seemed to me a project player at first glance the Hawks overpaid for. I even called the pick controversial on this site. The Seahawks draft differently than other teams. They value and trust their developmental system. So if a player, like Ifedi, has some instances of getting chewed up in pass protection because of mistakes in his footwork, instead of dismissing him as a possible first round pick, they instead look past the tape at the physical and mental attributes of the player to see if they can mold him into a good player.

More from Emerald City Swagger

• Seattle Seahawks: To rest or not to rest, that is the question
• Washington State Football: What you need to know for 2018 Alamo Bowl
• Washington Basketball: 3 takeaways from Huskies win over Sacramento St.
• Seattle Seahawks: 12s still waiting to exhale
• Seattle Seahawks: 4 Takeaways from 26-23 Loss to the 49ers

There’s an old saying in baseball (that I got from watching The West Wing): “Which player would you take, the one with the perfect form who gets down the line fast, or the one with flawed form who gets down the line fast?” The correct answer is to take the one with the flawed form, because if you teach him the right form, he’ll be faster than all the other players with perfect form already. The Seahawks appear to be taking that approach with Germain Ifedi.

Germain Ifedi is huge and strong. He posted good combine numbers, stands 6’6″, and weighs 324 pounds. It’s unclear whether the Seahawks plan to use him at guard or tackle, but it makes more sense at this point to assume he’ll in the mix for a guard spot. Ifedi will need some coaching. He lunges at defenders too much and will get flagged for holding if he uses his hands like he did in college. His moves weren’t yet fluid at Texas A&M, but if there’s one thing Tom Cable can’t teach, it’s size, and Ifedi has plenty of it.

Next: Player Profile: C.J. Prosise

Once training camp begins in earnest for the Seahawks and we start seeing and hearing reports about Germain Ifedi, we’ll start to learn how he’ll fit into the offensive line scheme. Until this, we’ll have to satisfy ourselves with watching him lob first pitches at Safeco Field.