Some thoughts on Seattle’s offensive tackle situation

Bradley Sowell could be Seattle’s starting left tackle in 2016

Bradley who?

It’s a fair question. A franchise that enjoyed twelve years of Walter Jones and replaced him with a #6 pick in Russell Okung could be starting an undrafted 27-year-old with 12 career starts in four years. All of his starts came in 2013 for the Cardinals, where he gained the following review:

“Levi Brown and Bradley Sowell combined to hold down left tackle for the Cardinals in 2013, but they acted as more of a turnstile than anything else.”

The alternative is Garry Gilliam manning the blindside (he received mixed reviews during training camp) and J’Marcus Webb starting at right tackle.

It’s hardly a glamorous proposition either.

That said, the Seahawks aren’t alone here. The entire NFL has an offensive tackle problem.

In the NFL Network’s top-100 players for 2016, only four tackles were listed:

#23 Joe Thomas (Cleveland)
#42 Tyron Smith (Dallas)
#45 Trent Williams (Washington)
#67 Andrew Whitworth (Cincinnati)

15 edge rushers were listed in comparison. This truly is the age of elite, athletic pass rushers vs overmatched offensive linemen.

Eric Fisher was drafted first overall in 2013 because of his fantastic athletic profile. Despite a bang average career to date, Kansas City recently gave him a four-year contract extension with $40m in guarantees.

Why?

Because guys like Fisher are like gold dust and worth persevering with.

Brock Huard recently offered some thoughts on ESPN 710 detailing Seattle’s desire to just get big bodies at tackle. If they can’t line up with a Tyron Smith style athlete, at least obstruct the path to the QB. Russell Wilson did a much improved job getting the ball out in the second half of the 2015 season so this is a combination that could work at least for one year.

Damage limitation. Most of the league is taking this approach. You have to work around the problem. Edge rushers in this era are much quicker, faster and more athletic than the edge blockers. The best athletes in High School are choosing to play defense and colleges are accommodating their wishes to land the top recruits.

Who can blame these young kids when they see how much Olivier Vernon is getting on the open market?

It’s still a manageable situation.

According to Football Outsiders, these were the top ten teams for pass protection in 2015:

1 St Louis/Los Angeles
2 Baltimore
3 New York Jets
4 Oakland
5 Arizona
6 New York Giants
7 New Orleans
8 Pittsburgh
9 Atlanta
10 Washington

Of that group, one team benched their left tackle during the season (Baltimore), the Giants started a rookie, Pittsburgh started Alejandro Villanueva and the Jets had a player (D’Brickashaw Ferguson) who was touted as a cap casualty before he retired.

Only Washington fielded an elite tackle in Trent Williams.

The four offensive tackles starting in Super Bowl 50 were Michael Oher, Mike Remmers, Ryan Harris and Michael Schofield.

They’re all kind of like Bradley Sowell.

Indeed the Panthers had a mean, productive, nasty O-line last year built through the interior. While there are question marks about Seattle’s tackle situation — the trio of Glowinski, Britt and Ifedi are drawing rave reviews at guard and center.

This is crucial for Seattle’s run-game (the heart and soul) but also vital for Russell Wilson. Teams want to contain Russell Wilson by having their edge rushers sit. If the pocket collapses, Wilson will try to scramble and it’s an easy sack for the DE just anticipating the move. If they can protect inside to force teams to attack the edge — it not only keeps the pocket clean but it gives Wilson a better chance to improvise because the edge rushers are committed.

If they can stop the pocket collapsing inside and give Russell Wilson enough time to make a good, quick decision — this line can succeed in pass protection. Even without elite tackles.

54 Comments

  1. Nathan_12thMan

    It’s wild how things turned out. So different than I was expecting. Who saw Britt taking huge steps in improving his technique this off-season to the extent that he actually looks like a good center and Pete is talking about how the improvements he has made would show up even had he stayed at guard, however he looks so comfortable at center they feel like they should have put him there from the start.

    Who saw Gilliam, the guy who was being hyped as a LT with no ceiling holding him back, the guy who could maybe be our long term LT, disappointing it seems (Cable said he was moved to RT to get his timing back) and being moved back to RT?

    Who saw the LT Sowell wowing in camp and looking like a starting LT who can handle his own after hearing AWFUL things about him non-stop from Cardinals fans (he was basically their Britt, utter turnstile) and some awful film? Who in the world saw that coming?

    Then there is Webb, a guy I personally have been defending because I took the time to watch his last three games at RT for the Raiders in ’15 and my analysis was that he played really well. Gave up like one sack, minimal pressures and was good enough in the run game. Granted he’s having injury issues but analysis out of camp is that he has looked awful. That Poole looks better than him at RT.

    This preseason has been wild. I’m just so happy about our interior OL, especially Britt taking huge steps forward with his technique and looking (so far) like he could be our franchise center. I really want Gilliam to work out as our long term left tackle but IF the best five on the field means he’s at right tackle and Sowell is at left then I can live with that.

    • Nathan_12thMan

      Also yeah, I buy 100% that what Russ needs (like probably all QB’s) is interior OL protection. Pass rush all around has gotten better but as you mention on the outside it is so fast and athletic and offensive linemen athletically just can’t keep up. But with a mobile QB they are used to contain more. Interior D-line pass rush is dominant and if a D-line can get pressure up the middle it ruins even the quick passing game (what so many teams are doing to combat quick pass rush).

      By having a solid interior OL Russ can be confident that if pass rush is coming it’s from the outside and he can climb the pocket and make the throw. All the tackles have to do is slow down the defensive ends, just don’t get beat and allow free rushers.

      Interior OL: Be good
      Exterior OL: Just don’t be bad

      That pretty much sums it up.

    • AlaskaHawk

      It’s been a high draft price for that interior line. The idea of picking an offensive linemen in the first round is that they can play offensive tackle – the premium paying spot. If they don’t play that position then they just aren’t worth as much in real dollars or in draft value. In other words you can find an interior offensive linemen in later rounds. Seems like Seahawks are trying to flip that around but it leaves them with a giant hole at left tackle.

  2. Ukhawk

    First pre-season game is no real indication; I’m holding off initial judgement til after week 2. Then expect to wait another half season for things to really click. Fortunately this year the defence will keep us in the divisional hunt.

    • daniel

      good point. we’re really only basing all of this praise on a couple of series’

  3. cha

    What has Sowell done in camp that has the coaches so enthusiastic about using him at LT?

    Better system fit? In better physical shape than previously? Over nagging injuries? Cable Coaching Caché ?

    • Seahawk in LA

      I don’t think it’s that Sowell has set the world on fire, rather he’s just the best of a couple of kinda crummy options…

    • CharlieTheUnicorn

      It is about the atrocious RT play in practice.. and WEBB being injured.
      They swapped a better player at RT back into the spot and are trying to find a functional LT…..
      is Sowell the answer, who knows.. bu the same OL is starting week #2 of preseason…. already ahead of the curve established in 2015.

    • C-Dog

      Cable mentioned something a couple months ago about Sowell saying he’s a better fit for the Seattle scheme than than what they do in Arizona. Also, last week, I believe, it was reported by a few sources that he was able to stop Mike B almost stone cold on 1 v 1 pass rush drills, which is pretty impressive. Right now, it seems like he is the most functionally sound option for LT. Still early in preseason, but I’d take these as encouraging signs.

      • bigDhawk

        Cable mentioned something a couple months ago about Sowell saying he’s a better fit for the Seattle scheme than than what they do in Arizona.

        Must mean he’s a better run blocker than pass blocker. Run blocking at LT in our scheme broke Okung. If Sowell can stay healthier than Okung as a run blocker and at least be a speedbump in pass blocking, then more power to him.

        • C-Dog

          I think he eluded to the athleticism of Sowell being a better fit here, which makes sense with the zone blocking, but it sounds like his pass blocking in camp has been a pleasant surprise. Carroll mentioned today that they like the way he finishes. Going Thursday against Everson Griffen will be a great test for his pass pro. If he looks good against Griffen, that might really start to warrant some genuine excitement.

  4. Nathan

    At least for this year, we’re dealing with stud defensive tackles, moreso than great edge rushers.

    So if the middle has been shored up, we may just be OK.

    • James

      …agreed. DTs like Aaron Donald, Kawann Short, et al, are who killed us. Speed DEs, though problematic, can more easily be dodged by Russell than a charge right up the middle that forces him to turn into the outside rush. Who will be the first in the NFL to respond to this latest development by adapting to speed with speed? How far away are 6-4, 275 OTs who can move well enough to stay in front of the DEs?

  5. Kenny Sloth

    A fine read, Rob. Your insight continues to be head and shoulders above American media.

    This disparity in the trenches is something you’ve been talking about for years and I feel it’s more true now than ever.

    Team’s are reaching for OL and they are never realizing their potential. It’s starting at the HS level. Our OL coach was a former RB coach.

    All over the NFL you’re seeing odd coaching fits like this so you have Tackles blocking like TE’s and Guards blocking like FB’s

    • Kenny Sloth

      My Center was a back-up corner smaller than me!!! xD

      Needless to say we didn’t win many games

  6. line_hawk

    Its an awful situation. Who will be the back up LT? Will Gilliam move to LT if Sowell goes down?

    • C-Dog

      I think here’s still a wee chance Gilliam could compete for LT with Sowell, if Webb suddenly takes off at RT, although that’s looking fairly slim these days. Also, Cable said to Softy Malher yesterday on the KJR Radio that Gilliam didn’t look as comfortable at LT as he did at RT. So yeah, Gilliam would probably be the backup at LT to Sowell if this continues to play out this way. If they keep Webb, he could provide depth at RT and guard. My hunch is that they want to see what they have in Webb.

      Honestly, I don’t know if this is as awful as this sounds. I think the best way to get Russell off his game is to get inside pressure. Outside pressure he can elude pretty well. If the strength of the OL is the guards and center, that’s probably not a bad thing. In 2013, we went more than half the season without Russell Okung starting and had slow footed guard playing LT during that stretch. As Rob pointed out, it’s kinda league wide. CFB just isn’t producing the players for the OL like it once did.

      • Volume12

        The more practice time is limited, how physical you can be, limiting 2 a days in CFB, will also lead to the struggles of O-lineman.

        Rob, touched on the main points why. But, I’ll say it again. Pass protection is the hardest, most awkward thing the human body does when it comes to football.

        Your asking 300-300+ pound men to move backwards while trying to stop a smaller, quicker, more agile guy from moving forward. Especially OTs. They aren’t in a doorway or phone booth. Basically they’re on an island in space. It plays a part in why Seattle drafts elite athletes at the position

        Good Online play is a tradecraft. We hear it all the time. How do you perfect a craft? Repetition and hours of honing it.

        Why is TC regarded as a great O-line coach? He can get mid-rounders, UDFAs, converts, throwaways up to speed when it would take others years. And with limited time comes sacrifice.

        • C-Dog

          Great points. Also lends to the what Cable said on the radio about Gilliam not feeling as comfortable on the left side. He was raw coming into the league and his first year starting, played solely on the right. With these limits in camp, it stands to reason they don’t want to experiment as much this year, and just the five best guys ready, asap, seemingly Gilliam being the best option at RT and Sowell being the best option for LT.

        • line_hawk

          Yes, its a league wide problem but its exacerbated by years of ignoring the O-line over skill positions. The money and picks that went to Cary Williams, Percy Harvin, Jimmy Graham could have easily gone to O-line. But, they gambled on Cable turning cheap projects into starters and it back-fired. Having said that, there are so many unknown players on the team, its possible and am hopeful someone might emerge. However, its hard not to place at least some blame on the front office and brush it off as a league wide problem.

          • STTBM

            I howled when they traded so much for a midget headcase like Harvin (esp. since we already had Tate). I was pretty irritated when repeated the same mistake in a way by trading so much for Graham, then tried to pound a square peg into a round hole by making him block. But to say Seattle would have spent that money and draft capital on O-linemen is a huge reach.

            Many times on several blogs I have detailed how Seattle dumped a TON of draft capital on the O-line since a couple years before Carrol arrived, and since Carrol they have spent about the same draft capital as Dallas–just to far poorer results. I dont think you can say for certain Seattle would have spent that money/cap/draft picks on the line. They seemed to be frustrated with how much they gave Cable and how little return on investment was provided.

            They still think they can get nearly the same level of play as a unit without spending high draft picks and loads of cash and cap on several stud players. More than likely, SOME of the money/draft picks would have gone to the line, but not all of it. They would have spent it on so-called “skill positions” or positions they value highly, not the O-line.

            However, they did finally break down and spend another first on Ifedi, and two more picks on linemen this year, including a third on Odhiambo. So they arent totally married to one strategy for years, they are adjusting as needed. Lets all hope they figure it out right sooner rather than later, and their gamble on Sowell, Webb, Gilliam doesnt blow up in their face.

            • C-Dog

              I think the way Seattle prefers to spend it’s cap dollars is mainly to reward its core players, most of which is on the defense, offensively the QB and now Baldwin. I honestly find it hard to fault them for trading for an all-pro pass catching TE. As for the line, they’ve shown they will not overpay for players often injured (Okung and Carp), or mediocre (Breno and Sweez),and Unger was reported to have potentially been a causality if not for the Graham trade.

              So where does that leave us? Carroll had stated a few times, even in his rookie year, that they see the potential of trying Britt at center. Glowinski was thought to be a solid 3rd round pick as a strong athletic guard, Ifedi is a freak athlete best suited for guard,and Gilliam ended up playing decent RT at the end of last year. Sowell now seems to be perhaps the best option at LT. If 3/5s of the OL are trending towards becoming long term fixtures, that’s not bad.

              Again, I think what has been experienced in Seattle with the OL is a bit of a league wide problem. I think I would rather see them continue to reward the players who are their best core talent regardless of position group and use the draft to develop around. If to two to three years they have to cut big checks to Glo, and Britt because they earned it, good on them.

            • Nathan

              They may not have necessarily used those picks on the line, but there are domino effects of these trades.

              The percy Harvin trade forced the reach on Britt, as we needed a tackle and had no 3rd round pick.

              We also may have picked De Andre Hopkins instead. We may have won the SB and not reacted with that trade for Graham.

              We’d still have Unger maybe.

              These are the players that went off the board between our first rounder(that we would’ve had, had we not traded it) and our next pick

              2013: Travis Frederick
              2014: Joel Bitonio
              2015: Mitch Morse

              At present we have Paul Richardson and Jimmy Graham(and to be fair, Nick Vannett as we picked him up with the broncos pick) to show for our trades.

              Did we win or lose on that?

  7. Cysco

    I’m cautiously optimistic. Most of the caution comes from having Britt at center. When I first heard they were trying him there it smelled of desperation. Trying to make something from nothing. It’s hard to accept that he can do well there because of his last two seasons of being a train wreck. But, if by some miracle Britt can hold his own at C then they leave Gilliam at RT and you’ve got 4/5 of your O-line set for years. I’d take the scenario over what we had last year any day.

    If 4/5 of the line is serviceable to good then finding “a dude” to take up space on the left side should be good enough.

    • RWIII

      Before I make any comments on the Seahawks offensive line I will wait until after the Viking game.

      • STTBM

        Excellent point. Griffen is an absolute monster vs both the run and pass. He will be a tough test.

  8. Kenny Sloth

    “The Seahawks are just bad at drafting offensive tackles”

  9. vrtkolman

    So, last preseason the big takeaway was how bad the O line was. It was only preseason and all that, but it definitely spilled over into the regular season. If the O line looks good tonight, can we infer it might be decent going into this season? We’ll get our best look at the O line tonight against a legit defense.

    Linval Joseph is as good as Dontari Poe, if Britt and Ifedi have success again I will be hyped to full. The most interesting matchups will be Sowell and Gilliam against Everson Griffin and Danielle Hunter. Both of those ends are twitchy, highly athletic pass rushers. Last week Sowell matched up against Frank Zombo, the defense end version of himself. I’m not expecting him to shutdown Griffin and Hunter, but I will be feeling good if he can at least slow them down on the edge.

    • cha

      Agree. It kind of works out nicely to have the first two preseasons games be vs tough DLs.

      Might as well take your lumps now. Dolphins, Rams, Jets in the first 4 weeks all have good DLs, so saddle up, boys.

  10. STTBM

    Im cautiously optimistic thus far. BUT…Poe Preseason Game One is not Midseason Form Poe…nor were Hali nor Houston playing, nor did KC use a ton of tricky delayed blitzes, long the bane of Seattle’s overmatched G’s…

    Minny will be a good test. But we wont really know what we have till after we face Miami and the Rams. If our line can allow the offense to move the ball on them and score more than 17 points, I think we will know we have a real competitive group to move forward with.

    • C-Dog

      If they come out of tonight’s game looking good against the Viking’s DL, I think it’s okay to start getting a bit more fired up for these boys, for sure.

    • CharlieTheUnicorn

      What I saw was the 1st team OL knocking the KC defense back on their heals along the DL….. I can;t recall seeing this happen with any sort of frequency since 2005 TBH… the Jones and Hutch glory days.

  11. STTBM

    One thing I remember was a year or two ago, Obrien Schofield was “unblockable” through training camp. Even the reporters thought he was about to break out. Instead, he looked slow all year, made perhaps one sack all season, and it became very clear very quickly that it wasnt that Schofield was good, it was that our offensive line was that awful.

    This year doesnt feel that way. Unless Bennett lost more than a step, this offensive line is light years ahead of last years line in both physical and mental aspects of line play.

  12. DC

    This may be the year where the Seahawks offense eclipses the defense and also where the passing game eclipses the running game. We are loaded now like I have not seen in my entire history of Hawkdom. The O line is the only major question in my eyes and there are things happening that will buoy that line. Russ’ processing speed has reached the next level and he’s shown no sign of anything other than continuing improvement. Combine a quicker release with what we hope is at least slightly longer interior protection and you get a deadly mix for defenses. Vet receivers, depth at RB and TE. If health was a given I expect this to be the best Seahawks offense that we have ever seen by regular season’s end. When this all comes together it is going to be beautiful.

  13. Sea Mode

    Hey, guys. Sort of off OL topic but at least it has to do with UDFA’s, which we also have on the OL.

    Just saw this really cool, hand-written pitch from John Schneider to Doug Baldwin after the 2011 draft. Have a look:

    http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/08/17/john-schneider-doug-baldwin-seahawks-letter-interest

    Of course you hit on some UDFA and miss on plenty others, but for me it’s just awesome to see how the whole team-building philosophy they committed to from the start has made our Seahawks the team they are today, and they knew it even before the rest could see it.

  14. Rik

    It will be interesting to see what the Hawks do as other teams start to trim their rosters. I fully expect us to grab another left tackle. It may be a veteran cap casualty or a promising rookie, but I don’t see us going into the season with Sowell at LT and nothing much behind him. The Evans signing confuses me, because it doesn’t seem like we need bodies at guard nearly as much as we need them at tackle.

  15. CharlieTheUnicorn

    Who are the players you guys/gals are looking forward to seeing tonight?

    • cha

      The whole DL. Looks like Hill is starting, but Jefferson, McDaniel and Reed should get playing time.

      Webb is listed as the #2 RT so hoping he gets some action to see how he looks.

      https://twitter.com/bcondotta/status/766421463993753600/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

    • Volume12

      Very good question. I love these.

      Great ‘convo’ starters. Nice job Charlie.

      Britt, Sowell, Ifedi, and C-mike for me offense.

      Defense? Hmmm… Marsh, Clark, Powell, and I’m looking for this defense to set an edge. Particularly at SAM, or else Minnesota will trap them in the run game like Harbaugh and the Niners D did to teams.

      Is this why they signed McDaniel? Looking for a versatile, big, strong, 5-tech with great length?

      • Volume12

        *O

    • CharlieTheUnicorn

      Top 2 for me

      Boykin
      Collins

      Others
      Powell
      Britt

  16. Volume12

    For as bad as Seattle’s picks on the O-line and former O-line supposedly is and was, they sure get paid and find plenty of playing time when they’re cut or hit the FA market.

  17. East Side Stevie

    Antwan Goodley!!! Lighting it up.

  18. Volume12

    RW has got to cut that one read ish out. If that read isn’t there, he’s in trouble.

    And the spin move don’t work on premier D-lineman.

    • Forrest

      Yeah, at least two of the sacks were his fault. Really my takeaway from the game was everything looks good, but nothing looks great. Penalties on defense seemed to be the biggest issue tonight.

      • Volume12

        That’s one reason he has to get the ball out quick. Struggles to go through his progressions.

        Run D was phenomenal, as was the run blocking.

        Clark, Reed, and Jefferson are young studs. Jefferson needs to improve his conditioning, but that can be an easy fix.

        It’s funny. Seattle takes 3 RBs in the draft and an UDFA, Pope, could turn out to be the best of the bunch.

        Yup. Penalties and throws to the TE. It’s the only way to move the ball on this defense. Dump offs, checkdowns, and down the seam to opposing TEs.

        Shead played very well too. Lane looks off man.

        • Volume12

          C-mike too. All the little that things are starting to click for him. Once the game and he himself slows down, dude could be upper echelon. He might have the best burst and first step of any RB not named Dalvin Cook or Chris Johnson (in his younger days).

          And I’m sure we’ll hear ‘Boykin sucks!’ So similar to RW. Ballsy, gritty, the stage ain’t too big for him, plays really well when it matters.

          He’s got some things to clean up, but for an UDFA developmental QB, I like this kid more and more.

  19. Coleslaw

    You don’t realise until you’re in person how quick Frank Clark is getting to the QB, I mean he just flies right out of his stance so smooth, his burst is staggering. Same with Marsh, and surprisingly Brandin Bryant flashed (to my eye) elite explosiveness, I swear he could play Mike linebacker. But if there’s one guy who sleeper who really caught my eye it’s Antwan Goodley. He had a solid game on special teams, made some big catches, and blocked his guy 25 yards downfield (clean, no flags). He’s a baller and should get more snaps after his perfomance tonight. He could really compete for that 5th spot.

  20. Kenny Sloth

    Brandin Bryant looked good. Bigger than he did in college.

    Will Pericak looked like the best OL of the 2/3’s at RG

    Pope showed decent wiggle and vision to get to the edge. Almost all of those chunk plays are TFL’s versus one’s. Too small without the burst to make up for it.

    I think the FO are noticing Collins’ lack of burst

    McEvoy showed the same rawness from the first game.

    Antwan Goodley might have had the best game of anybody.

    Quinton Jefferson is a grown ass man.

    Marcus Burley looked great. Tye Smith not so much.

    Ok. Montario Hunter has dropped 4 punts/kick-offs this pre-season by my count. Makes me sick

  21. East Side Stevie

    Montario is trash it was frustrating watchin him he looked sluggish and heavy feet when returning not to mention the botched punts I also so him fumble around with punts in the game against the chiefs

  22. East Side Stevie

    saw

  23. HD

    Rees O is slowly becoming a presence on the O Line. He appears to be working as a swing guy at both positions (g/t). Many thought he would have been a much higher draft pick, if it wasn’t for his injury history. Sowell is looking better thus far than he ever did in Arizona, and Gilliam took a lot of flack last year but by the last five games of last season was rated in the top 10 at RT. I still think he could be a plus at LT as well as right. Fant is surprising considering he has almost no experience. I believe Seattle could hide him on the PS this year and he could be a contributor next year. Webb is probably a one and done, and a backup at that.

  24. James

    The move of Gilliam back to Right OT must be “permanent” or they would not have wasted a very important two weeks of practice for him at Left OT, unless of course Tom and/or Pete have been bitten by the South American skeeter that makes coaches insane when it comes to the OL. To start Webb at RT and move Gilliam back to LT at this point would be ruinous, and the sort of decision that would normally get someone fired. Unless, the grand scheme all along has been to acclimate Ifedi to the NFL at RG, and then move him to RT, but I doubt it very much, for that is too much for a rookie coming from a loathsome college spread offense, and again it would reflect wasted development time for Gilliam at LT.

  25. C-Dog

    WAY too early simulated mock draft.

    30: R1P30
    OT ADAM BISNOWATY
    PITTSBURGH

    62: R2P30
    EDGE DEVONTE FIELDS
    LOUISVILLE

    94: R3P30
    WR RICKY SEALS-JONES
    TEXAS A&M

    135: R4P32
    CB CHIDOBE AWUZLE
    COLORADO

    146: R4P43
    EDGE TACO CHARLTON
    MICHIGAN

    176: R5P30
    RB DE’VEON SMITH
    MICHIGAN

    212: R6P29
    G ISAAC ASIATA
    UTAH

    249: R7P30
    FB FREDDIE STEVENSON
    FLORIDA STATE

    251: R7P32
    TE JOHNNY MUNDT
    OREGON

    With so much devotion to the interior of the OL and DL this year, I’m kinda hedging that Seattle might devote high draft capital to perimeter and edge talent.

    Since OL seems to continue being the major topic with the team with fans, I devote the first pick to an OT that might be suitable to LT, but might also project better as a guard, if they want to kick Ifedi to tackle.

    My hunch is Seattle will look to the draft for a quick edge talent to fill long term at SAM. While they might incorporate some aspects of a death backer role, Pete is firm that his defense is a 4-3 with 3-4 principals, Leo and Sam are interchangeable.

    Hawkblogger wrote recently about how good Seattle was at deep contested balls downfield in 2012 and 2013 when they had Golden Tate and Sidney Rice, both targets Russell trusted to fight for the jump balls. If a player like that doesn’t emerge this season, I can see Seattle looking for that.

    I could see corner being a position we might draft higher than usual.

    Taco Charlton is the player I am highly intrigued with. He will be an interesting player to watch with that size length and speed. My early take on Quentin Jefferson is that he might ultimately find his home at 3 tech. Last game, I thought he and Reed looked really good together. A player like Charlton gives the team a 5 tech with upside and uniqueness with that long active body. Might be an ascending talent in 2016.

    A lot of Michigan players I’m interested in this year on the OL and DL, but running back De’veon Smith is also someone I’m intrigued with.

    TE could be a higher than we think target. So might FB.

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