The Seahawks say they want to be tough and physical up front, win in the trenches and be a team nobody wants to play against.
If they get the opportunity, they should put that into action this week.
I say ‘if they get the opportunity’ because it’s never as simple as having a desire to do something. It doesn’t matter how much you want a great offensive line, an elite edge rusher or a franchise quarterback. The players have to be there.
It’s possible on Thursday the options aren’t there. Plenty of tuned-in media types are reporting a potential run on offensive lineman. Grey Zabel, the player most tipped to be Seattle’s pick at #18, has been connected to the Dolphins at #13 and even the Cowboys at #12. The Cardinals at #16 are also a team to watch.
If he joins Will Campbell, Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks Jr in leaving the board before pick #18, the Seahawks could face a dilemma. They’d have to decide whether they want to go O-line anyway and take someone like Donovan Jackson or Tyler Booker. Or they could pivot to another position, which might be the better move in that scenario. There are really good high-character, highly talented players at other positions.
You also have to be ready for players who drop unexpectedly and for non-medical or character reasons. It happened a year ago with Byron Murphy. Could it happen with Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland this year? I highly doubt it but it would be a situation you probably couldn’t pass up.
There are two prevailing thoughts I have:
— After not signing a single interior offensive lineman in free agency, I have to believe they’ve had a plan. All along, I think they knew there were going to be options at #18 that they really liked. They know they have to fix the O-line and to be so restrained during free agency suggests they knew reinforcement were coming in the draft.
— If Zabel lasts to #18 he could and probably should be Seattle’s choice. He has excellent tape showing clearly his fit in a zone blocking scheme. He can pull with ease, he reaches up to the second level comfortably, his combo-blocking is good, he subtly shifts defenders to open running lanes and he targets second-level defenders well when on the move. His PFF zone-blocking grade was an 84.8.
He has the exact same explosive testing score (TEF) as Creed Humphrey (3.25). He’s a shade below Cam Jurgens, Zach Tom and Frank Ragnow — all players who have excelled in the pro’s.
From a character stand point he’s considered an A+. He can help set the tone in Seattle and create a new O-line identity.
When the Seahawks pass on players like this, people tend to complain. A lot. Taking Zabel and just feeling good about it would be a step in the right direction. He can operate at left guard as a rookie and fill the gaping hole left by Laken Tomlinson (who needed upgrading anyway).
If Zabel isn’t available, to develop the thought of the Seahawks having a plan, perhaps this is a solution? I put a lot of faith in explosive traits translating to success at the next level. Look at the list in this article. Almost all of the top O-liners in the league have explosive testing results.
Donovan Jackson’s TEF score of 3.19 is highly impressive and only a notch below Zabel. Given Seattle’s need to fix the O-line, I do think they should just consider pulling the trigger on Jackson if ‘Plan A’ isn’t available. I would also consider Tyler Booker still, given his 4.65 short shuttle offsets some of the weirdness about his appalling testing everywhere else. But he’s not explosive. Zabel and Jackson are.
There are also a bunch of tackles who could be moved inside to guard.
If the O-liners are coming off the board quickly in round one, I’m not sure you can afford to wait this out. This isn’t reaching for need. So many of these players are going to be grouped together closely. It’s possible Zabel, Jackson and others are going to carry grades similar to players taken at #14 and #40.
I wouldn’t stop there.
At #50 and #52 I would seriously consider drafting Tate Ratledge or Jared Wilson if they are available. I tweeted immediately after the combine that it’d be quite a thing to have Zabel and Ratledge at guard. That would revolutionise your line. You’d be bigger, tougher, more explosive, more athletic and the attitude of the entire unit would jolt into life. With Abe Lucas at right tackle too, you’d have a legit tough-guy approach up front. It would feel positively Eagles-esque.
Wilson could be an alternative. His testing profile is so reminiscent of Erik McCoy’s you’d be foolish not to consider bringing him in, given how well McCoy played for Klint Kubiak and John Benton in New Orleans.
Two high O-line picks. A statement of intent. You want to be tough and physical up front? This would be it.
With the other pick in round two I would consider being aggressive. Can you move up from #50 to the 30’s to land one of the top-four tight ends (Elijah Arroyo or Mason Taylor)? Do you move up for a defensive lineman — tackle or edge — to further bolster the other side of your line?
You’ve got to come away with a bolstered offensive front, at least one dynamic target needs to be added to the offense (tight end or receiver), they should take advantage of the deep D-line class and use depth at other positions to fill out their roster. For example, there’s enough safety depth in this class to feel like you can find a Tyrice Knight-type starter later on.
It all starts in round one with a move up front though. If Zabel’s there, take him. And then seriously consider one more high pick — Ratledge or Wilson — to make the O-line a focal point of your roster.
