Things That Make You Go... Huh?

They mixed up the OL combinations. The one I described was one they used, but sounds like they tried some other things. And Locklear is getting work at guard too. Heard Walter Jones looked good in the individual stuff.

the team website has a good write up on the first day of camp, especially on nate doing a good job catching passes from matt. also carlson gets an honorable mention for a good first day.

Re: Burleson, according to Eric Williams, Burleson looked good making an athletic catch over Lucas today.

Carl,

"The Seahawks' first-team offensive line, left to right, featured Sean Locklear, Rob Sims, Chris Spencer, Mansfield Wrotto and Ray Willis."

Quoted directly from Sando's NFC West Blog with the link provided in the article. I was just reporting it the way he reported it. I'm sure the Seahawks will try a lot of different combinations since they have multiple offensive linemen who can play more than one position to see what works best as the training camp progresses. I hope they find one that works.

I know what you were doing, also what you were trying to say.

I quoted Sando specifically on from his comments over at FieldGulls. While going off of only the limited info from his blog would likely make one go "huh?" is understandable, once you get some more nuggets like he provided at FieldGulls, you get a more complete pictuer.

Not gonna lie thats a pretty scary (for Hass) lineup... Hopefully we get this line looking at least like a shadow of its former self. I see hope however as I feel Spencer really played well towards the end of the season and Unger was the top guard in the draft. not too worried about pass protection but hopefully Solari and Knapp can get our running game going.

After reading all the accounts of the first day of practice I could find, I've come to the conclusion that the Seahawks intend to find the best 5 offensive linemen and that's who will start. At times today they had Wrotto playing center, Locklear playing guard as well as left tackle, and Willis playing at both right tackle and guard. The current depth chart shows almost all the offensive linemen backing up at different positions than where they're listed on the roster (like Wrotto at center and Locklear at guard).

I could see a starting lineup of Jones, Sims or Wrotto, Spencer, Locklear, and Willis if thats where the players show the best overall result. The zone blocking system might change everything as far as where we have traditionally figured our guys would play. Any of the players could end up anywhere depending on where they play best or what combination plays best together. Stay tuned.

I love this approach. It is what this team sorely needs. Finding out what talent you have and the best way to utilize it rather than forcing them into a pre-concieved notion that forces them to play at odds with their natural abilities. This will get the most out of the team and you could end up with (gulp) a real offensive line if you're not careful.

(quote)

Locklear, Sims, Spencer, Wrotto, Willis

wouldn't leave any opponents shaking in their boots according to Mike Sando.

(end quote)

Dunno but the prospect leave ME shaking in my boots...

Now that we have Lucas and Jennings seems expendable (if Tru is OK), what are the odds we could trade Jennings for a lineman?

Maybe there's a team out there loaded with linemen who need a fast corner and would make a deal.

Radem

We may be able to trade Jennings to Baltimore. They seem to have a pretty deep group of OL and I'm sure their secondary is hurting because the lost all pro McAllister and a few others. If a trade were to happen I'm thinking its with them.

Call me crazy but I kind of like Wrotto and Willis on that right side, that could stick for years.

Agreed on the other 3 spots however..hopefully we see a healthy Jones and the emergence of Unger

I am not thrilled with the idea of moving guys to opposite sides of the line, or trying to field the "best 5 lineman". That has been tried before, by Holmgen, a couple years ago, and it was a disaster. Let guys play the position or positions they are natural at, and DO NOT, under any circumstances, move players to the other side of the line unless disaster strikes!!

And I have to say, while I am cautiously optimistic about the improvements the ZBS will bring to our lineplay, I really cringe at the constant gushing over it, as if the ZBS is the silver bullet for any and all woes with our O-line. Im sorry, but the ZBS is not so basic that it will make Spencer and Sims smart enough to play like Pro Bowlers: the ZBS isnt going to take guys who couldnt hack it in their old positions, and suddenly make them good at a brand-new position.

I surely hope the line settles down, and they quit moving people around. Isnt continuity supposed to be all important?! How is this constant shuffling supposed to help with that?! How FREAKING hard can it be to find a starting G and C who can play at an average NFL level?!!

STTBM,

Even though you seem to have a Ruskellesque type of hate going on for Sims, it was noted that even though Mebane is showing up like quite the beast this season as an interior pass rusher playing the three tech, Sims has stopped him cold in pass protection every time. Let me say that again. Mebane can't get around Sims to the QB and he's the best pass rush we have in the middle. So far anyway.

Sims is showing himself to be a very very good pass blocker so It's definately worth the effort to try and get his run blocking skills up to a level that makes him a viable starter. His pass protection has been noted before in fact, he was called an elite pass blocker as a rookie and coming out of college. Maybe you need to cut him some slack as he's had nothing but glowing reports so far. He got one of Ruskell's gold stars handed out the first day.

The 2007 offensive line sucked from one end to the other with both tackles playing hurt and ineffectively as far as run blocking was concerned. Sims didn't play well either but how could anyone play well in that mess? Neither did Willis, Wrotto, or Womack. Last season he didn't play. He's only got 22 starts in three seasons. That's not even a season and a half's worth. He's still got the game experience of someone in the middle of his second year. Don't you think he's due a little slack and at least a chance to show he's worthy? Solari's giving him kudos. Mora's giving him kudos. Why aren't you again? Oh yeah. He played poorly along with virtually every other offensive lineman in 2007 run blocking (the only year he's played except his rookie year). Maybe there were other factors. Ya think?

Ray Roberts still thinks Sims could be a pro bowler. At least let him screw up good before continuing your tirade against him. I spoke against Sims in the off-season but ever since he's been doing much better in the OTA's and now training camp, I've lightened up and now I'm hoping he'll become an all pro this season. Go Sims! What? You want him to fail and become a weak point on our team? I want to see him realize the promise he showed as a rookie.

OK, OK. I'm stepping down off the soapbox and I'm placing the megaphone on the ground and putting my hands above my head. I'm like a mouse.

Relax, Billt--that post was actually more on point and less personal that the last few you directed at me, and I have no problem at all with it.

My problem with Sims is he was so bad his second year that Jones wouldnt even speak to him or help him any more, he was THAT disgusted with Sims play. ALso, I watched Sims carefully, as I did Womack and Spencer and the others. And what I saw made me sick.

WOmack actually played very well when given the opportunity the last two years, and last year he played out of position and was still a fine player. I was sick when we let him go.

IF Sims can play at even an average level at G this year from game one, not just in pass pro, no one will be happier than I. I am done cutting guys slack that havent shown any promise in three years. Spencer I have even less faith in than Sims, and I cant wait to see Unger at C and Sims playing for someone else like the Lions...unless he steps up and plays well from the get-go.

Solari surely isnt going to come out and say Sims or anyone else sucks and the ZBS wont help them...And we all know that being a practice or preseason or training camp stud often doesnt translate to real games.

After four years of watching a very good team with all the money in the world fall apart in the playoffs due to simple player talent evaluation, and GM Hubris (again, the 0-and D-line and small DB theory) , I have no patience left whatsoever. I am sick unto death of watching the WORST offensive lines I have ever seen Seattle field struggle year after year...I want that line fixed YESTERDAY!

I dont have any hatred for either Ruskell or Sims--I just dont want to watch the line suck another year, and I dont have any faith in Sims. RUskell has done some excellent things, but for christsake, give him some deserved blame when his decisions blow up in his face. I hammered Holmgren for years for his Ego and stupid mistakes (dumping Sam Adams AND Phillip Daniels--Daniels over a measly 500k over 4 years--, dumping Jay Bellamy for no good reason, keeping K-Rob way longer than necesary, cutting Winston Moss due to weight issues and destroying our run defense, etc etc), so my pointing out RUskells mistakes that piss me off no end is not a sign of hatred at all, merely my take after analyzing the state of the team.

It doenst have to be a Holmy vs Ruskell thing anymore--in case y'all havent noticed, Holmy is gone. Now, RUskell and his pet theories have been shown to be mortal, and hopefully he's learned from those mistakes like Holmgren learned from his. Now we get to see what Ruskell can do now he has a coach who sees eye to eye with him.

And now that Ruskell has finally given up on his idiot D-line notions and gone back to the beef, the one unit that is still a mess is the offensive line...which is what I am worrying and obsessing over.

Holmy showed us that we dont have to be a 9-7, 7-9 doormat team ever again. We can be winners. We have an owner who allows our cap to be maxed out every year, so theres no excuse for continued mediocrity. I dont know about you, but I cannot stand the idea of falling back into football mediocrity again, not after tasting success. But if this offensive line doesnt get fixed pronto, its back to 7-9, 9-7 seasons for us for years to come...

Which is why I am freaking out about our line...it shouldnt be this poor after three years of tinkering...

PS Thats awesome that Sims is handling Mebane. If he can do that consistently this preseason, I will begin to trust Sims a little more. If he comes out and plays like that in the regular season, I will be freaking ecstatic!

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