Seahawks: Five Players Under the Most Pressure in Camp

Jul 30, 2016; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with general manager John Schneider (right) during training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2016; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with general manager John Schneider (right) during training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 30, 2016; Renton, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle George Fant (74) talks with a teammate in-between training camp drills at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

George Fant

Offensive tackle George Fant was exposed many, many times last season, and looked like a basketball player trying out for football, which of course he was. This season, Fant is supposedly the one “in the best shape of their life” player that inevitably shows up to camp every year. Fant has indeed bulked up this offseason, but if he can’t block in training camp, he won’t make it even to Tom Cable’s line again.

The coaching staff still thinks there’s a place for Fant on the offensive line. But with new additions Luke Joeckel, Oday Aboushi, and Ethan Pocic, there is also plenty of competition. On a roster built on competition, Fant could be left out.

There is the consideration that Fant could start on the line during the season if other offensive linemen struggle. Cable and company are willing to throw as many darts at the board as possible to create some kind of functional protection for Wilson.

Winning time on Cable’s line seems to come down to run blocking. Germain Ifedi and Fant, two of the worst offensive linemen in football last season, ranked higher on run blocking grades than pass blocking grades. Anyone who watched a Seahawks game last season could see that. So Fant will have to show improvement, particularly as a run blocker, to earn playing time out of the gate. And if there is a better player on the roster ready to make the Seahawks’ run-first attitude a reality, the coaching staff won’t be shy about inserting him into the lineup over Fant.