Newsletter

2010 Offensive Line Analysis - Seattle Seahawks

2010 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Russell Okung
Left Guard: Ben Hamilton
Center: Chris Spencer
Right Guard: Max Unger
Right Tackle: Sean Locklear

2009 Injuries:
T Sean Locklear: Weeks 3-9
G Rob Sims: Weeks 5-6
C Chris Spencer: Weeks 1-2

2009 Statistics:

Overview:
After making the playoffs for five straight years from 2002 to 2007, the Seahawks won only nine games in the past two seasons in large part due to this offense which ranked 25^th in points in each of the past two seasons. Injuries and inconsistency on this offensive line were a big part of the problem but things should change this year.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Russell Okung with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and are hoping that he will successfully replace Walter Jones for years to come. The 6’5 and 310 lbs tackle has the strength, footwork, quickness and awareness to have success at the left tackle position in the NFL. He will probable have to continue building up his strength in order to be effective in run blocking but he should be an above average pass protector in his rookie year. Although Okung is a step behind recent early first round picks Joe Thomas and Jake Long, he should still be a solid starting left tackle, even in his rookie year. Sean Locklear will move back to right tackle after starting ten games on the left side in 2009. He was a third round pick in 2004 who spent most of his career on the right side but was forced to move to left tackle in the past two years to replace the injured Walter Jones. He is average in run blocking but his pass blocking abilities are above average for a right tackle. The downside with Locklear is that he has missed at least five games in three of the past four years. The top backup at tackle will be Ray Willis who started all 16 games on the right side last year. Despite having a pretty good season, Willis remains a below average tackle but he has the versatility to play guard and will be a good backup.

Ben Hamilton was acquired in the off-season, to replace Rob Sims, after spending his first nine seasons with the Denver Broncos. Hamilton is a very small guard at 6’4” and only 290 lbs and he struggled with the Broncos last year because of the new scheme used by Josh McDaniels. Hamilton was one of the best guards in the NFL in 2008 and one of the worst in 2009. Hamilton had success in Alex Gibbs’s run blocking scheme in Denver in 2002 and 2003 and is hoping to have success under Gibbs again. He will be 33 years old when the season begins so he has probably lost a couple of steps but the zone blocking scheme is a perfect fit for him. Max Unger, second round pick in 2009, started all 16 games in his rookie season. Unger has good size at 6’5” and 310 lbs and has the versatility to play guard or center. Not only does he have a good combination of strength and quickness but he also has surprisingly good technique for a 24-year old lineman. He is much better in pass protection than run blocking so may be a better fit at center in the long run but he is still a decent starting guard. Mike Gibson and Mansfield Wrotto, who each saw action in three games last year, add depth at guard.  

Former first round pick Chris Spencer will return as the starting center for the fourth consecutive season. Spencer has pretty good strength for a center which leads us to believe that he may be more effective at guard with Unger at center but it doesn’t seem like Gibbs will go that route. Spencer is an average starting center in both pass protection and run blocking and should continue to be solid for a few more seasons.

2010 Outlook:
The Seahawks offensive line has struggled in the past two years but a lot of that was due to injuries. All five starters missed at least two games in 2008 and, last year, Walter Jones didn’t play at all and three other starters missed time. With Locklear, Sims, Spencer, Unger and Willis in the line-up for the final eight games of the 2009 season, the running game averaged an impressive 4.5 yards per carry and Hasselbeck was sacked 21 times. If we compare that group with this year’s line, Hamilton should be similar to Sims, Okung will be an upgrade over Willis and Locklear will be better as a right tackle. The good news for the Seahawks is that their top backup Ray Willis is a very capable starter and has the ability to step in at either guard or tackle. Locklear has the ability to move to left tackle and Unger has the ability to move to center so as long as they don’t have two injuries at the same time, they will be just fine. Overall we expect this line to continue performing like it did in the second half of the year in run blocking and pass protection will be improved with Okung stepping in at left tackle.

See all of our 2010 Offensive Line Analysis Articles