Tag: Austin Blythe

Even with Evan Brown, Seahawks need more depth on offensive line

The Seahawks signed center/guard Evan Brown to the roster but coach Pete Carroll admitted more depth is still needed on the offensive line.

The Seattle Seahawks had been in need of a center since last year’s starter Austin Blythe announced his retirement this offseason. Fortunately for Seattle, the Seahawks were able to acquire center/guard Evan Brown during the first week of free agency.

“I think it was a really good signing for us,” coach Pete Carroll said this week in Arizona. “It was very strategic in that we wanted to see if we could find a guy that’s been doing some playing, that’s got some background and really good communication skills, because of what we got from Austin last year.

“And so Evan is the guy that we think is going to be able to carry that on – he’s got a battle with our guys that we have.”

Brown originally entered the league with the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He then had stints with the Dolphins and Browns before playing the last two seasons in Detroit. He adds depth and the flexibility to play both center and guard.

“The position of the offensive line I think is very secure right now,” Carroll continued. “It’s not as deep as we need it to be, but it is very solidly situated. We’ll have as much continuity, save losing the center, but if we can get that transition to fit well with the guards, really counting on Phil (Haynes) to do a big job for us. (Damien Lewis) and the tackles, they’re going to grow enormously, probably as much as anybody in our program.

“So it feels very connected and so I’m really looking forward to it.”

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Seahawks agree to terms with former Lions C Evan Brown

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Lions center Evan Brown, according to a report by Aaron Wilson.

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Lions center Evan Brown, according to a report by Aaron Wilson.

Brown (6-foot-3, 320 pounds) played his college ball at SMU and then went undrafted. He’s put in time with four different NFL teams, including one-year stops with the Browns, Dolphins and Giants and a three-year stint in Detroit. All together he’s appeared in 32 pro grames, including 24 starts.

For what it’s worth, last year Brown earned a solid PFF grade for his run blocking (69.5) but a poor one for pass protection (45.5), coming out to a 64.8 overall grade.

Brown fills an immediate need for Seattle in the middle of their offensive line, where 2022 center Austin Blythe just announced his retirement. Signing Brown doesn’t necessarily rule out the Seahawks from drafting a center, though. Word is they are very-much interested in Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz, the No. 1 prospect at the position in the 2023 NFL draft.

Seattle may also see Brown as a guard. He spent most of the 2022 season at right guard in Detroit after exclusively playing center his entire career up until that point. The Seahawks have Phil Haynes on deck there, though – and the greater need is at center at least for now.

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2023 NFL draft: Consensus big board top 25 interior offensive lineman rankings

Here are the top 25 interior offensive linemen in this class, according to the consensus big board.

The Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line will likely be replacing at least two starters this offseason. First of all, 30 year old center Austin Blythe announced his retirement earlier this week. Also, the size of Phil Haynes’ new contract likely means veteran right guard Gabe Jackson will be a salary cap casualty. Even with Haynes taking over there, Seattle will need more depth behind him as well as a full-time replacement for Blythe.

So, let’s take a look at some of the top interior offensive line prospects in the 2023 NFL draft. Here are the top 25 interior linemen in this class, according to the consensus big board.

Former Rams OL Austin Blythe retires from NFL after 7 seasons

Austin Blythe is retiring from the NFL at the age of 30, announcing the news on Tuesday

Austin Blythe is calling it a career. The former Rams offensive lineman announced on Tuesday that he’s retiring from the NFL after seven seasons, the most recent of which was spent as the Seahawks’ starting center.

Blythe was with the Rams for four years from 2017-2020, starting at both right guard and center. He was part of the team that reached the Super Bowl in 2018, becoming an important part of the offensive line in his second season with Los Angeles.

He left in free agency in 2021, signing with the Chiefs that offseason. He only played four games for Kansas City before joining the Seahawks last offseason. Blythe started all 17 games for Seattle in 2022.

You can read Blythe’s full retirement announcement in the Instagram post below, thanking his coaches from high school to the pros, as well as his wife for the support.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOIGClOLKF/?igshid=YTgzYjQ4ZTY%3D

Seahawks center Austin Blythe announces retirement from the NFL

Seahawks center Austin Blythe has anounced his retirement from the NFL.

Seahawks center Austin Blythe has announced his retirement from the NFL. Blythe shared the news in a post on Instagram.

Here is the complete text from his message:

“I always told myself I wouldn’t do some long winded retirement post, but I’m not sure how to leave behind a game that’s afforded myself, and my family, so many opportunities without giving it at least some words. The last 7 years have been nothing short of amazing. For a short, unathletic, undersized kid from Iowa, I’ve played a lot of football, met countless coaches and teammates that I can call friends, and made enough memories for myself and my family to last a lifetime. I am so grateful, and extremely blessed, to have played the game for any amount of time, let alone 7 years. The game has been a huge part of our lives for the last 12 years, dating all the way back to college. For everything the game has taught me about life, I will cherish it forever. To all of the people who helped me achieve everything I could have dreamed of, thank you. I cannot express enough what each of you mean to me. From high school coaches, college coaches, NFL coaches, each organization I was lucky enough to play for, friends, family….I could not have done anything without your support. Again, THANK YOU!”

Obviously this means the Seahawks will be in the market for a new starting center in 2023.

If Seattle wants to replace Blythe with another veteran, this is a pretty good year to do it. Several high-end centers will be hitting the market two weeks from tomorrow when the new league year begins.

They could also choose to wait for the 2023 NFL draft, where the top-ranked center in this class is John Michael Schwartz from Minnesota.

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Seahawks unrestricted free agent crop ranked No. 9 in NFL

Inching closer to the start of the new league year, the Seattle Seahawks free agent crop is ranked No. 9 by Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports.

The Seattle Seahawks could see some changes to their roster once the new league year officially kicks off next month. Seattle has some potential unrestricted free agents who could be attractive to other teams – quarterback Geno Smith, running back Rashaad Penny, defensive tackle Poona Ford and guard Autin Bylthe, to name a few.

Jeff Kerr over at CBS Sports took a look around the league to rank which clubs have the best free-agent crops heading into March.

“Smith is one of the top quarterbacks available — assuming the Seahawks don’t franchise him,” Kerr writes. “He was a top 10 quarterback in the game last season and will be in demand if he hits the open market. The Seahawks would like to keep Smith, but how much is he worth?”

“Penny will be one of the most intriguing players in free agency, as he’s averaged 6.8 yards per carry and has 1,017 rushing yards in his last 10 games,” Kerr continues. “Health is the only thing preventing Penny from being one of the best backs in the game. Ford is a good nose tackle while Blythe is a solid start that can play guard and center.

“If Penny could stay healthy, this free agent crop would be one of the best in the league.”

The new league year officially begins on March 15.

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2023 NFL free agency: Ranking 6 offensive line options for the Seahawks

As it happens they all play center, or at least have some experience doing so. 

In 2022 the Seahawks offensive line was weakest on the interior, where starting center Austin Blythe struggled more often than not. Finding an upgrade with either a better vet or a highly-ranked rookie to lead this unit should be a priority this offseason.

Let’s start with the free agent options. Here are six potential offensive line targets for Seattle this year. As it happens they all play center, or at least have some experience doing so.

Seahawks C Austin Blythe near the bottom of PFF’s center rankings for 2022

Here’s all 38 centers they ranked for the year.

The Seahawks signed Austin Blythe to a one-year deal last March with the intention of him taking over as their starting center after letting Ethan Pocic walk. The results weren’t great. Blythe posted an average pass protection grade and a poor run blocking grade for the year, winding up at 51.2 overall at the end of the season.

That put Blythe near the bottom of Pro Football Focus’ rankings for the position. Here’s all 38 centers they ranked for the year.

Seahawks getting healthier entering 2nd half of season

The Seattle Seahawks are on the mend and expecting a number of injured players to return heading into the second half of the season.

The Seattle Seahawks have won three games in a row to lead the NFC West with a 5-3 record on the year. Coach Pete Carroll provided some additional good news during his Wednesday press conference – the team is getting healthier and should see the return of a number of players to start the second half of the season.

“We’re bouncing back here,” Carroll told reporters. “Cranked to get going here and I can feel a couple guys coming back to us. Hopefully, we can keep working on the health of the club and all.”

Carroll mentioned wide receiver Penny Hart and center Austin Blythe, in particular.

“There’s a chance that Penny Hart gets back out there and that’s a good boost,” Carroll continued. “Austin looks like he can work today so that’s a real positive for us. So we’ll see if we can keep building and get ready for a championship opportunity going down there in Arizona.”

In addition, cornerback Tre Brown has returned to practice and is expected to be activated back to the roster in the near future.

The first official practice report of the week will be released later this afternoon.

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Pete Carroll updates Seahawks injuries heading into Week 9

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll provided a number of player injury updates entering Week 9 ahead of the matchup against the Cardinals.

The Seattle Seahawks inked an impressive win over the New York Giants on Sunday to improve to 5-3 on the season. Coach Pete Carroll provided a number of player injury updates on Monday heading into the new work week.

Center Austin Blythe (knee): “He’s a little sore today,” Carroll told reporters. “I can’t tell what it’s going to be for the week, I don’t know.”

Wide receivers DK Metcalf (knee) and Tyler Lockett (multiple): “We will go one day at a time here, we will have to see how they do tomorrow in their workouts,” Carroll said. “We will know more on Wednesday. We will start with the walkthrough and see what happens from there.”

Linebacker Darrell Taylor (groin): “No, no update,” Carroll confirmed. “He wasn’t any worse, he just couldn’t go. He tried, he was very optimistic and hopeful, and all of that. I think he had four plays and said, ‘I can’t push off the way I need to.’ He didn’t re-injure himself.”

Safety Ryan Neal (hamstring): “He had cramps, he had both hamstrings cramped up,” Carroll said. “He went back on the field like he was going to be the hero, but he couldn’t even make it to the numbers. It was a nice try, good effort, we are proud of you, but get your butt out of there.”

The Seahawks return to practice on Wednesday to prepare to face the Cardinals next weekend in Arizona.

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