Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has long preached the importance of continuity and communication up front on the offensive line.
However, after another subpar year in the trenches, the Seahawks set out to make massive changes to the line this offseason. Center Justin Britt and right guard D.J. Fluker were both cut to save cap space, while reserve tackle George Fant and right tackle Germain Ifedi signed with the Jets and Bears, respectively, during free agency.
They will be replaced by a handful of free agent additions, including B.J. Finney, Brandon Shell, Chance Warmack and Cedric Ogbuehi, as well as third rounder Damien Lewis, all who will compete with returners Jamarco Jones, Jordan Simmons, Phil Haynes, Mike Iupati, Ethan Pocic and Joey Hunt.
A combination of mostly inexperienced returners fighting for playing time against five newcomers will be difficult to turn into a cohesive unit, even with left tackle Duane Brown still on hand as a vocal leader.
Making it even more difficult is the lack of preparation time together on the field. No minicamp and the possibility of a shortened training camp, and two less preseason games, will make it all the more difficult to get this unit all ready to go at the same time when the season kicks off in early September.
“I think that may be the area that takes the biggest hit because of the intricacies and continuity of it,” Carroll said of the offensive line. “I have learned that that will be an area of great focus and concern when we come back, just recognizing and respecting that that may be the last group to really get tied together. So we’re really going to have to do a great job in that area.”
Carroll referenced the 2011 lockout, which also had a work stoppage up until training camp, recalling how the offensive line was the biggest area of concern leading into the season.
Now, with at least three new starters up front – and possibly a fourth, if Haynes beats out Iupati at left guard – this team will have a lot of work to do to ensure continuity in front of Russell Wilson, and not nearly as much time as usual to get it done.
For this unit to be effective, coach Mike Solari is going to have to work overtime from now until September.
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