Seahawks interior OL most explosive in the NFL?

Mark Glowinski could be the most explosive starting guard in the league

The weighted TEF formula we studied during the 2016 draft paints a very positive picture for Seattle’s new interior O-line. It also partly explains why they’ve been so productive during pre-season.

Weighted TEF combines size and explosive physical qualities to determine an overall individual grade. For a more detailed explanation, click here.

From the 2016 draft class, WTEF ranked Germain Ifedi the third most explosive lineman available (behind Jason Spriggs and Connor McGovern). His score (96.1) was significantly higher than other notable prospects:

Ryan Kelly 87.0
Jack Conklin 85.0
Le’Raven Clark 84.1
Taylor Decker 77.3

Here’s how his score compared to several of the top D-line prospects:

Joey Bosa 88.6
Sheldon Rankins 103.3
Vernon Butler 101.1
Jonathan Bullard 89.0

And for arguments sake, Aaron Donald scored a 101.7 and J.J. Watt a 110.9 (!!!).

Ifedi’s combination of size, length and explosion is impressive — but it’s even more impressive when combined with the scores of the two guys next to him.

Mark Glowsinski was one of the most explosive players in the 2015 draft and WTEF graded him at 101.1. Justin Britt tested better than a lot of people realise before the 2014 draft and scored a 97.5.

I haven’t tallied the scores for all starting NFL interior linemen — but this trio could, possibly, be the most explosive guard/center combo in the league. It’ll take something special to beat it.

49 Comments

  1. Scraps

    Wow, intriguing!

  2. Nathan_12thMan

    Where does Odhiambo rank? Looking forward (stupidly) to 2017 I wonder about moving Ifedi to RT. People will question it if it happens because it is likely that one of the highlights of our upcoming season will be our interior OL play.

    In 2017 we’ll likely move Ifedi out to RT to see how he looks and move Odhiambo in to LG to see how he looks. If both look good then our OL will look like this:

    LT: ??? (Gilliam? Sowell? Webb?)
    LG: Odhiambo
    C: Britt
    RG: Glowinski
    RT: Ifedi

    • Rob Staton

      Odhiambo’s injuries prevented him from doing the necessary pre-draft drills to calculate a score.

      • cha

        Wish Sokoli and his 107 TEF could get on the field

        • Jarhead

          Don’t give up hope yet, brother. He has looked like an animal this preseason even if he isn’t getting a decent look with the 2’s. His combo blocks are vicious! I am hoping he will still surprise us this year

        • James

          Our lad, Sokoli, is in a tenuous position. There is still a window for him, if the Seahawks waive Evans, Lewis and Poole, and keep Webb, Odhiambo and Hunt as the backups. That leaves one or two positions, that could go to Fant and Sokoli. The advantage Sokoli has is that he could play center in a pinch, making him a more valuable backup to be active than Odhiambo or Hunt. Hunt, if he makes the team, will certainly be inactive on game day, since he cannot swing between center and guard. Hunt would only be activated if Britt could no go. The two active backup OLs would, therefore, probably be Webb and Sokoli.

  3. Volume12

    Wow! IDK what his TEF or WTEF will be, but I’ll be shocked if TC doesn’t like this kid.

    Oregon St LT Sean Harlow- 6’4-6’5, 300-305 lbs. I’m not sure the description of nasty does this kid justice. Glass eater? Head buster?

    And I’m not sure if he’ll play LT at the next level, maybe more RT? Or even just a versatile backup.

    Watch Harlow vs Wazzu and vs Stanford. Plays like an angry SOB.

    • Volume12

      I’ve yet to figure out how to copy and paste on my new tablet of else I woulda put those links in.

    • Rob Staton

      Will check him out

      • Volume12

        Nice. I’ve only watched a couple games of his, and by no means do I think he’s a 1st round talent, but could be a very good late 3rd-early day 3 selection.

        Have you gotten the chance to check out ND OT Mike McGlinchey at all? Would like to see more play strength from him, but he’s another guy whose on field demeanor I like and possesses alot of good traits, even if he is a little raw.

  4. The Hawk is Howling

    Yeah I’m feeling good about this interior O-line as well! Like alot of you I think it’s more important for Russell to have protection up the middle because He’s so elusive that he can beat the outside pressure easier because it takes a little more time to feel the heat from the edges. I am so pleased especially with the play of Justin Britt, for it is not an easy task transitioning to Center with all the added pressure of line calls and snapping. I’m super stoked!

    Go Hawks!

    • Volume12

      Yeah, not only are they highly athletic, the interior, but these dudes are huge! Makes it all the more impressive for me.

      • CharlieTheUnicorn

        If WEBB could nail down the LT position…. might be a top 3 sized (length and weight) OL in NFL.

  5. Jonathan

    I’m curious if explosiveness for interior lineman can be more predictive of success than for tackles. Just a thought that being able to go head to head against explosive defensive tackles like Aarond Donald and Kawaan Short. Going against speed edge rushers might require a different type of physical attributes? Just a thought.

  6. 503Hawk

    If we can make it to the bye week at least 3-1, going against the likes of MIA, LA, NYJ D-lines, I’ll be happy. Later in the season we would still have LA, ARZ (twice), BUF, TB & CAR fronts to contend w/.

    I do worry about the continued lack of pressure and turnovers. Someone mentioned earlier about the lack of play making ability at SAM & CB opposite Sherman. I too see theses as weaknesses on an otherwise stout defense.

    • Rob Staton

      Part of the issue with turnovers is teams aren’t taking many chances vs this defense any more. They challenged Sherman to the tune of eight picks in previous years when he was an up-and-comer. Now? They pick their poison and try to find match-ups.

      And while there has been a gradual decrease in turnovers, they’ve maintained their position as the #1 scoring defense in the league. So if teams are taking less chances, they’re not scoring more points as a consequence.

      • Jarhead

        That is exactly it. Our D almost never gets challenged. The couple of plays that fantastically against this defense are the two plays that we most lament: the TE seam, and the dink and dunk. We see those always working against us becausr our scheme allows for that and then tighten up in the redzone. Teams aren’t challenging us over the middle or in the outside thirds because they know that is where we are the strongest. It’s frustrating, but the NFL figures everybody out eventually. I would hold on to the historic scoring defense stat that we have set to show how great this defense works, as opposed to turnovers at this point

    • Bird

      I think another factor in the lack of turnovers, though hard to quantify, is the number of slow starts from the offense. When the opponent is not playing from behind they don’t have to make higher risk passes and the number of picks goes down.

  7. CharlieTheUnicorn

    Here is what is scary. Normally, the OL and the rushing attack will be a bit slow starting for an offense. They normally pick-up steam in the second half of the season. If the Seahawks OL already looks decent rushing the ball, watch out regular season. The pass protection has not been too shabby as well.

    Are they the top OL in the NFL, nope. But can they be a top 15 unit, possibly. If they get to the ~15th ranked unit. Seattle is in the SB.

  8. EranUngar

    Last year we had Britt and Sweezy playing guards. Both are very explosive but failed to have a positive impact.

    Here is something very interesting that PC said about Britt:

    Pete: It’s a very technical part of it, it’s how you sit down in your stance, you don’t sit back and then lunge getting your weight out in over your toes and you miss things. He’s not missing very much at all. He came off the J.R. Sweezy school of go knock the hell out of everything that’s moving and he wanted to be like J.R. and those two guys were those kinds of players and we were unable to get J.R. to sit like Britt made the change. It’s a beautiful thing that’s happened.
    I believe this information is very important going forward with our team (barring injury) to have Britt starting at center. I absolutely loved hearing it. It is fascinating to hear that J.R. was likely a bad influence on Britt. Or do you think it’s a coincidence that Britt wants to be like J.R. and works with him in the off-season then plays like he does (mauler but sloppy technique)? Then J.R. leaves and Britt works with Glowinski all off-season (the guard called “the technician” multiple times by Pete and Tom last year) and then he shows up and is finally technically sound. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence.

    I love the size and strength we have inside. I just hope that they show the rest of the “little things” that make it effective. So far, its way better than expected.

    • C-Dog

      Great points. I caught Carroll’s comments on the JR influence as well, and found the highly interesting.

      • Volume12

        Very interesting stuff indeed.

  9. The Hawk is Howling

    In years past bands like “Aaron Donald and the Donaldet’s” beat us with that quick up the gut penetrating sound. Now they got to go against “The Brittet’s” with Germain on lead guitar. Have fun getting through that wall of sound y’all. Metaphorically speaking of couse.

    Go MF Hawks !

    • Volume12

      Don’t know if your fan of hip-hop, but how about I’fedi’ Wap?

      • The Hawk is Howling

        I absolutely Love everything and anything you say Volume 12! You are the Man!!! Also you’re super clever, at a boy!!;

  10. The Hawk is Howling

    From now on please everyone say “Go Hawks” after they write. It’s infectiously contagious thanks to the awesome man named “Wilson” who changed Seahawks culture along with Pete “The Dad you wish you had” Carroll. I have an amazing Da too!

    Go Hawks!

    See, that was so easy!

  11. KD

    Here’s a random thought that I had.

    I don’t think Pete Carroll ever anticipated having and elite QB like Wilson. I think he wanted to basically create the NFL version of Alabama. A defense that could smash opponents in the mouth, a run game that the rest of the NFL would have a hard time defending, and a QB that could just manage the offense. Then Russell Wilson happens and the whole situation changes.

    Wilson created a new dynamic that I think was never anticipated by Carroll, and he forced a shift in how this team needs to be built.

    • Volume12

      I think you may be right.

    • EranUngar

      When you consider that Manning, Brady, Brees and Big Ben have all been drafted over a decade ago, you can count the truly game changing top franchise QBs drafted in the last decade on one hand with fingers left…

      Hence, basing your master plan on getting one of those is not the safest way to go.

      It’s clear that the Seahawks were built to win without an elite QB. Finding one, in the 3rd round, was a huge stroke of luck that will affect the franchise for the next decade.

      Once you found one, you need to adapt your plan to cater for him but it is a problem every GM would love to have.

    • The Hawk is Howling

      Good points and it does make since. You just forgot one little titbit.

      GO HAWKS ! DAMN

    • C-Dog

      This is a great point. I think it brings up another reason why Pete is absolutely one of the best coaches in all of football; his willingness to adapt and adjust to fit his players’ strengths. His philosophy won’t change, but he will definitely add in new wrinkles when there’s that kinda opportunity.

  12. Cysco

    really interesting comments above from PC about Britt’s bad habits that he might have learned from J.R. Sweezy.

    I think we nailed it with wTEF this past offseason and am very confident seattle uses something very similar to identify the type of physical ability they want at OL.

    Given Pete’s comments, if you’re going to make it as a Seahawk’s OL player, you need to satisfy the wTEF metric, but you must also have the intelligence/ability to learn/follow the techniques needed for our scheme to work.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if seattle weighs in some intelligence metric into their picks as well. Perhaps wonderlic score or maybe college gpa. (Britt was part of the Academic All-Big 12 team, not sure what his final GPA was, but the dude’s smart and I believe Ifedi is a pretty bright guy too)

    • EranUngar

      I agree.

      There is a lot more that goes into those picks than just wTEF. It’s clear that they will look for a WTEF + the extras when they invest a day 1-2 pick. Later on they will either gamble on wTEF without the extras (Sokoli, Sweezy) or someone with extras and no wTEF (Hunt).

      Sweezy and possibly Britt have been good examples to help them retool their criteria.If Glow proves as good as we hope he will be, “Technician” may rise on the list of positive attributes.

    • Sea Mode

      Hats off to Rob and Cysco (and everyone else who pitched in in some way) on the wTEF formula. I wasn’t totally convinced at first of Sysco’s modification, but the proof of the formula is that it works and the Seahawks seem to follow something pretty close to it. I was off, you guys were right on. Glad to be a participating member of this awesome blog!

      And I can’t wait to see the comparison across the entire NFL whenever one of you has time to put it together!

    • Kenny Sloth

      When I dug up the 31-27-9 quote on which TEF is based I noted that Cable

      wanted intelligent guys first. He said he wanted bright guys first. Brains is

      number one for them. And it shows up, too. Okung tried to be his own agent.

      Germain helped build the stadium he played in Last year. Joey Hunt and Britt are constantly praised for their high level of intelligence.

      • Volume12

        Combination of 4 things.

        Football IQ, battle hardened tough guys, something about their character or personality, and athleticism or TEF. And not in any particular order, or if it is we’ll never know.

        I just hope that people don’t make the mistake of thinking if a guy/prospect doesn’t meet the TEF or WTEF that he’s a bad football player.

        • Kenny Sloth

          There was a flurry of that but I think it’s becoming a solid metric for explosion at least in the Seahawks Draft community.

          I think you’re right about grit. They love the personalities of these guys.

          Okung had a great demeanor in their predraft screening at a bowling alley.

          Odhiambo has a very persevering backstory

          I think that’s the biggest thing really.

          • Kenny Sloth

            Cable said Ifedi never backed down during his pre draft workout

            John Schneider has said many times that they draft for their coaches in Seattle.

            I think it will be important to monitor coach movements during the college season and draft process.

            • Volume12

              Oh I agree that it’s a great tool and guideline for explosion. I’d be willing to bet they do use some form of it. And I’m pretty convinced that we as a community know better than to assume if an O-lineman is drafted and doesn’t meet the WTEF criteria, or some of it, that it automatically makes him a bad player. But, some fans that aren’t a part of SDB or don’t understand the TEF thing may think so.

              Yes, monitoring who coaches work out, pro days attended, interviews at all-star games and the combine is very important.

              While it’s not a lock nor will it be the case year in and year out, last year every selection Seattle made in the draft, they scouted at least one of those team’s games.

  13. Jarhead

    Glowinski and Britt have really looked good the preseason. They make a solid combo and look really comfortable out there. I quite frankly wouldn’t mess with it. Ifedi has looked how I expected, he has bad hands and doesn’t punch well (hence the couple of holding calls this preseason, as his hands were always too wide on the defender’s frame in his college tape) but he is athletic and a large body. So it will be har for d lineman to penetrate him.

    • Jarhead

      Oops… Anyways, if he continues to develop he could become a more athletic version of James Carpenter (with the requisite holding calls each week), which is what I always saw as his ceiling. I think he would be best kept inside because he is the perfect package to stop slicers liek Aaron Donald and Geno Atkins. Out in space at T, you will see him get abused because he will greatly have to improve his hands and his size will become a less distinct advantage. Let him be who he is, a big bodied athletic guard and

      • C-Dog

        Yeah, I kinda agree with this. If he shows solid results against the Donalds and Shorts of the NFL, why mess with a really good thing and put him at tackle? Especially when interior pressure has been the way to get at RW. Personally I think he can become an all-pro guard.

  14. Volume12

    Who do you guys think are the veterans Seattle cut today?

    • Kenny Sloth

      #firebevell2016

      >

      >

      >

      >

      Loljkjk

      • Volume12

        I was gonna say, ‘oh great. Here we go AGAIN.’

    • JakeB

      Cohen seems to be speculating Browner was one.

      http://m.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seattle-Seahawks-cuts-preseason-9189482.php

      • Volume12

        Hmmm….Thanks for the link.

        Browner and Sokoli were the surprise names on there. At least for the 75 man cut down.

        Also should be interesting to see what RB makes the PS. Brooks, Farmer, or Pope?

        • JakeB

          I’d like any of them just fine for PS, but I think I might be a little more intrigued by Pope’s or Farmer’s upside.

    • Kenny Sloth

      Pete said they’re waiting for Tuesday morning

      But I think Patrick Lewis is on the outs for sure

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