Tag: Brandon Shell

Duane Brown a virtual leader for Seattle’s new look offensive line

Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown is doing his best to virtually help Seattle’s young offensive linemen get ready for the 2020 season.

At 34 years old and entering his 13th NFL season, Seahawks left tackle Duane Brown is the unquestioned leader of Seattle’s rebuilt offensive line.

The team lost three starters from last year’s team – Justin Britt, D.J. Fluker and Germain Ifedi – as well as sixth lineman/tight end George Fant.

Mike Iupati is the only starter re-joining Brown in 2020, and he will have to compete with Phil Haynes to even get his old starting job back.

All this means Brown, who has taken on a leadership and mentorship role for the Seahawks the past three years, has his work cut out for him – not just with a plethora of new faces, but with a global pandemic making it far more difficult for him to impart his wisdom and help build team chemistry ahead of Week 1.

“Good offensive line play, a major factor is chemistry and continuity,” Brown told reporters over Zoom on Wednesday. “We lost a big chunk of our starting pieces this offseason. We’ve got some new faces, we’ve got some guys who have been in the system, we’ve got some guys who haven’t been here, so just getting to learn each other, learning the terminology, communication, just learning how we do stuff here, all of that stuff is important.”

“I’m doing what I can now, virtually, over texts, phone calls, just to try to build as much chemistry as possible until we’re able to meet and physically go on the field and do stuff,” Brown continued. “Once that happens, we’ll have a small window to try to build each other up as much as possible until the season starts… I’m going to do what I can to try to fill them in as much as possible on what to expect when it’s time to go.”

Most of the offensive line positions are wide open at this point, although free agent pickups B.J. Finney and Brandon Shell are expected to start at center and right tackle, respectively, with third round pick Damien Lewis expected to replace Fluker at right guard.

The team has plenty of others who will fight for starting jobs as well, including Joey Hunt, Ethan Pocic, Chance Warmack, Cedric Ogbuehi, and Jordan Simmons – among others.

Brown is working hard to help the young guys who are new to the team, since they have not had an opportunity to work on the field during either rookie minicamps or OTA’s, which has hampered their development and ability to learn the playbook.

“For the young guys who haven’t been a part of this team, I’m doing my best just to try to talk to them to tell them what to expect,” Brown continued. “We’re going over our playbooks, any questions that anyone has, I’m answering for them. Whenever we’re up and going, we just have to try to shorten the learning curve as much as possible to get that continuity. Again, we have a lot of guys that were in the system last year, so it probably won’t be as drastic as it seems. But it still takes a little bit of time just to get that going, and OTAs and minicamp and things like that are essential. We’ll make it happen.”

The Seahawks made a lot of changes to their offensive line, but it remains to be seen how exactly the unit will come together in 2020 – and it may be a while until we can see them all together on the field.

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3 biggest winners for Seahawks after 2020 NFL draft

The Seattle Seahawks added eight new players via the 2020 NFL draft, and that was really good news for some of their current players.

The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, and the Seattle Seahawks came away with eight new players to compete for jobs on the 53-man roster during training camp.

A pair of edge defenders and a pair of tight ends highlight the class, but the team also added a run-stuffing linebacker, a slot receiver, a third down running back and a mauling right guard – an eclectic group of talented players, many who have battled adversity in their young careers and are ready to come in with a chip on their shoulder and immediately make an impact on this club.

Adding eight new players creates some competitive positional battles in camp, and while that will certainly create some tough roster decisions for Pete Carroll and John Schneider – that’s exactly how they prefer it.

While a few players will be sweating their job security, the Seahawks had a trio of obvious winners on their current roster after the draft was over.

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Seahawks approached free agency looking for ‘grown men’ on o-line

Seahawks GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll spoke about the four additions to the offensive line this offseason, giving them 18 total.

No position on the Seattle Seahawks roster has undergone more changes than on the offensive line.

Two stalwarts from the past few seasons, right tackle Germain Ifedi and tackle/tight end George Fant, have signed elsewhere, while the team has brought in four new players to compete for jobs across the line.

Those four new players, B.J. Finney, Brandon Shell, Cedric Ogbuehi, and Chance Warmack, will compete with the 14 other offensive linemen on the roster currently, a number that could increase even more after the 2020 NFL draft.

The Seahawks dished out respectable contracts for all four of their new additions, maintaining the team’s status quo about not spending big money during free agency.

“You know that we are not break-the-bank free agency people,” general manager John Schneider commented during a press conference on Tuesday evening. “We look for commonalities and fits, and what’s important for our quarterback. We love our quarterback. We want to keep him. We want to have as many grown men in front of him as we possibly can. It was important for us to be able to identify some people early on and quite honestly, we hit in our mind what was 1, 2, 3 in free agency.”

Although it wasn’t specified, it’s likely Schneider was referring to Finney, Shell and Ogbuehi and one, two and three – although the order is anyone’s guess.

Shell and Ogbuehi will compete to start at right tackle in Ifedi’s absence, while Finney could be an option to start at center if the team ends up cutting Justin Britt to save room against the salary cap.

“We still have a lot of tough decisions ahead of us,” Schneider continued. “But you know, this is an area where we felt like we could make a difference in free agency playing by our rules and what our philosophy is and trying to protect the quarterback in the best fashion that we possibly could.”

The Seahawks will likely roll into 2020 with Duane Brown, Mike Iupati and D.J. Fluker all starting again, and Britt would start as well if he is not cut.

However – the four new additions as well as some of the younger linemen on the squad, including Phil Haynes and Jamarco Jones, should make for a fun training camp competition while giving the Seahawks incredible depth up front.

“We have some young guys coming up that we are really excited about and feel like we are going to have maybe the best depth we’ve and particularly the most competition we’ve had,” coach Pete Carroll said on Tuesday. “So with that thought, the ability to add some guys with experience that have been there to make sure that we shore up and we can come right back and play really good football, but we are not just trying to get along. We are trying to keep moving and stay as high-tech as we can with our ball, and that’s going to call for the guys to be able to be fluid and well-versed and confident in all of that.”

The Seahawks may look to add even more competition to the o-line room starting on Thursday when the NFL draft kicks off at 5:00 p.m. PT.

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Ranking the Seattle Seahawks’ offseason acquisitions so far

The Seattle Seahawks have acquired nine new players this offseason. Here’s a ranking of each of them, and how they might contribute in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks, as of this writing, have acquired nine new players heading into the 2020 season.

With more additions to come, during both free agency and the draft, it’s hard to know exactly what impact all the newcomers will have on this year’s squad.

However – we can take some guesses based on their history, Seattle’s typical use of players, and various other factors.

The following is a ranking of Seattle’s nine new players, with analysis on their potential impact on the team in 2020.

This list is not to be taken as an order of talent, but rather the best fit for the team, based on the current roster construction and expected use.

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Brandon Shell could be starting right tackle for Seahawks in 2020

Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Brock Huard joined 710 ESPN Seattle to say that Brandon Shell could be the team’s starting right tackle.

Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Brock Huard recently joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant and stated his belief new team acquisition Brandon Shell will have the biggest impact of all new additions to the team’s offensive line.

“I think Shell is going to get first crack at that right tackle spot,” Huard said. “I think he’s a guy who likes to be physical and get his hands on people and drive people and he fits and they paid him accordingly. They paid him the most of any of those guys.”

Huard said the other offensive line signings in Chance Warmack, B.J. Finney, and Cedric Obghuehi will have less defined roles, while Shell could already be viewed at the starting right tackle slot because of his experience there.

“I would think he’s the first one to really project as your right tackle who’s started as a right tackle in this league and I think you’re really hoping he ascends into that role,” Huard said. “I think the rest, you’re trying to find a role.”

The Seahawks will need someone to step up at right tackle following the departure of Germain Ifedi in free agency. That player could very well be Shell, who is 28 years old and signed a two-year, $11 million contract with Seattle this offseason.

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Why Seahawks could still take an offensive lineman in 1st round

The Seahawks already signed four offensive lineman this offseason, but drafting USC’s Austin Jackson in the first round still makes sense.

On paper, it looks like the Seattle Seahawks have done enough to shore up their offensive line heading into the 2020 season.

Four new signings; Brandon Shell, Cedric Ogbuehi, B.J. Finney and Chance Warmack, replenish depth at all five positions along the line, and the team also offered restricted free agent Joey Hunt a tender and is planning to bring back guard Jordan Simmons as well.

However – there is plenty of reason to believe more will happen along the offensive front, and it remains a distinct possibility the Seahawks look to upgrade their offensive line in a big way during the 2020 NFL draft.

Germain Ifedi and George Fant are both gone, signing with the Bears and Jets, respectively, and left guard Mike Iupati looks unlikely to return as well.

Additionally, both Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker are potential cut candidates to save salary cap room, which opens up two more starting spots.

It may look like the team has clear cut starters in place, with Shell likely to take over for Ifedi and Ogbuehi likely to fill the sixth lineman role Fant held the past two seasons. However, Jamarco Jones will likely slide into Iupati’s role at left guard, which means this team will be hurting for depth at the tackle spots.

Enter USC tackle Austin Jackson. Jackson frequently finds himself on mock draft boards near Seattle’s first round pick, No. 27 overall, and it would make sense for the Seahawks to snag him.

He’s a bit raw, and most of his experience is at left tackle, but he is expected to be an NFL starter within a year or two, and he would be a great long-term replacement for Ifedi at right tackle.

Shell is more than capable of filling in for the 2020 season, but Jackson would give Seattle an anchor to build a young offensive line that could include Jones, Phil Haynes and Ethan Pocic in the near future.

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A look at Seahawks’ offensive line after Week 1 of free agency

The Seattle Seahawks overhauled their offensive line this offseason. Here’s a look at each position battle as the roster comes together.

The Seattle Seahawks used the first week of free agency to shore up a handful of positions of need, including adding a wide receiver and bringing back an old friend on the defensive line in Bruce Irvin.

However, most of the overhaul has been done on the offensive line, where the team has signed four new players and let two players, George Fant and Germain Ifedi, leave via free agency.

Although there are likely still moves to be made, including potential cuts, more signings and of course the NFL draft, we are going to take a look at how things project out on Seattle’s offensive line as of now, and what they could look like come September.

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Former Seahawks tackle Germain Ifedi reaches agreement with Bears

Germain Ifedi has found a new team, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, where he could play guard instead of tackle.

The Seattle Seahawks signed four new offensive linemen in the first week of free agency, likely signaling the end of tackle Germain Ifedi’s tenure with the team.

That became a reality on Wednesday morning, when NFL Insider Ian Rapoport tweeted that Ifedi is signing a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears.

Terms of the contract were not announced.

Ifedi may get a chance to play some guard in Chicago. He played guard early in his career with the Seahawks, but spent the past few seasons exclusively as a right tackle – his more natural position.

A fresh start will be good for both Ifedi and the Seahawks. Ifedi’s tendency to get called for penalties and his poor performance as a pass blocker had worn out his welcome with many Seattle fans, and it allows the team to explore one of their newcomers – likely Brandon Shell or Cedric Ogbuehi – as a starter next season, if they don’t find a potential starter in the 2020 NFL draft.

Ifedi was a first round pick by the Seahawks in 2016, and will head to his first new team in the NFL after Seattle did not pick up his fifth-year option, which would have paid him $10.3 million in 2020.

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Seahawks officially announce signing of tackle Brandon Shell

The Seattle Seahawks have officially announced the signing of tackle Brandon Shell, who will provide much-needed depth on the roster.

News of the Seattle Seahawks’ free-agent signings has been coming fast and furiously now that the contracts have become official. With all the precautions being taken as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, deals are not being announced until the paperwork has actually been signed.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Seahawks confirmed the addition of offensive tackle Brandon Shell, who had agreed to terms with Seattle last week per a number of reports.

Shell was originally selected by the Jets with the 158th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. For New York, Shell started 37 of 41 games played over the last three seasons at right tackle.

Shell is the third of Seattle’s offensive linemen signings this free agency period, joining former Steelers center/guard B.J. Finney and former Jaguars tackle Cedric Ogbuehi. Finney and Ogbuehi were both inked to the roster on Monday.

Be sure and follow all the latest reported and official signings on our live, free-agent tracker.

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Seahawks agree to terms with guard Chance Warmack

The Seattle Seahawks continue to collect free agent offensive linemen, agreeing to terms with Chance Warmack, a former first round pick.

The Seattle Seahawks have added another offensive lineman into the mix, agreeing to terms with former first round pick Chance Warmack, according to his agent Ron Slavin and confirmed by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Warmack did not play in 2019 due to injury, but he has 51 career starts to his name, almost all of them coming at right guard.

He was a first round pick in the 2013 NFL draft after an accomplished career at Alabama, going 10th overall to the Titans. He spent four years in Tennessee before playing two years in Philadelphia with the Eagles, appearing in 20 games but only starting three.

Now, he’ll join B.J. Finney, Brandon Shell and Cedric Ogbuehi as newcomers on Seattle’s offensive line in 2020. With Mike Iupati and Germain Ifedi both free agents, and George Fant already gone, this team will have a very different looking offensive unit next season.

Warmack, 28, is likely just a depth signing and a potential camp body, although his pedigree makes him a worthwhile gamble on a team filled with inexperienced guards.

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