Seahawks: State of the Offensive Line
By Ben Renner
Various writers (mostly me) have prattled on in this space about the Seahawks offensive line and how it can be improved from 2015. Let’s take a look at the presumptive starters at this point in offseason workouts.
First of all, the starting offensive line is nowhere near set. Offensive line coach Tom Cable hasn’t started full contact drills with the pieces he has at his disposal at this point in the offseason workout schedule. What we do know is the Seahawks plan to move several players to new positions and find a way to get rookie OT/G Germain Ifedi in the lineup. I just don’t see his giant frame wasting away on the bench after the Seahawks made him their first first round draft pick in four seasons.
So let’s take a crack at how the line is shaping up so far in this early offseason stage for the Seahawks and try to find reasons to hope for a more consistent performance from the unit in 2016.
Left Tackle: Garry Gilliam. Gilliam’s move to blindside protection for quarterback Russell Wilson is what scares me the most about the 2016 offensive line. His play as the starting right tackle last season was replacement-level at best and nearly got Wilson killed at worst. Cable and company appear to have more faith in Gilliam than I, but moving a struggling right tackle to the most important position on the offensive line doesn’t sound like a winning move to me. But I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong before…
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Left Guard: Mark Glowinski. The little-used left guard figures to move up to the starting role after the departure of J.R. Sweezy. It’s tough to grade Glowinski because he hasn’t many real game snaps, but the coaching staff seems encouraged by his progression since being drafted in the fourth round last season.
Center: Justin Britt. Britt was actually mostly solid for the Seahawks last year, and as one of the most experienced members of the line, he’ll likely be shepherded into the starting center position by Cable and coached up. Let’s hope he can make the adjustment.
Right Guard: Germain Ifedi. The rookie may end up becoming the Seahawks’ most valuable offensive lineman by season’s end. His raw physical ability is bolstered by how quickly he’s reportedly picking up the playbook, something that several Seahawks offensive linemen struggled with at times last season.
Right Tackle: J’Marcus Webb. Webb is actually injured at the moment, but for lack of better options, the former Raider could end up being the starter by Week One. Webb has long impressed scouts and coaches with his physical ability, but he has made too many spacey plays and lazy efforts to garner too much excitement for me. His job as the nominal starter on the line is probably the one at the most risk right now.
Next: Who Will Replace Bruce Irvin?
As the Seahawks’ workout plans progress this offseason, the offensive line will be under a microscope. Will Cable be able to put together a cohesive unit without a huge infusion of talent over the offseason as a whole?