It is time for the
experiments on the Seahawks offensive line to stop. We know that Pete Carroll,
John Schneider, et al are football geniuses. They can spot talent that no one
else can. They have proved it time and time again. However, not everyone can get
it right every time and when it comes to the offensive line the Seahawks
coaches have got it all wrong.
Currently the
Seahawks have three players (Nowak, Sweezey, and Gilliam) starting on their
offensive line who didn't play
offensive line in college. The Seahawks decided that the raw athletic
talent that these three guys possess was enough that they could turn them into
NFL level lineman. The coaches thought they could mold them into competent
starters and get great value at expensive positions. If it had worked this
would sure be a great success story, but instead it has been an utter failure.
On every single
offensive play the Seahawks Russell Wilson is put at an increased risk of
getting injured because his linemen are unable to even slow down the opponents
pass rush. Wilson has already been sacked 18 times in only 4 games. At that
paces he will go down for a loss 72 times in 2015. That is a ridiculous amount.
His previous season high for being sacked is 44.
Also all those sacks
don't count all the other hits Wilson is taking. Sacks aren't recorded when
Wilson throws it away right before getting drilled, which is happening a lot.
Even though the stats don't show it, Wilson body is still feeling it. He can't continue
to take this punishment forever. His play is going to suffer. If he somehow
manages not to get injured he is sure to get gun-shy. The constant beatings add
up.
The Seahawks are
lucky they have Wilson. Without him they would probably be 1-3 and none of
those losses would have been close. A slower less mobile QB wouldn't even stand
a chance back there. Think of Carson Palmer or Tom Brady. Guys like that would
never even get a pass off. Instead we have Wilson who is able to evade
onrushing defenders and throw complete passes on the run. His skill and
athleticism is saving the Seahawks from humiliation.
As I have repeated
stated, the Seahawks offensive line is terrible. That is entirely on the
coaching staff. They chose to trade away Pro Bowler Max Unger and let quality
players like Chris Carpenter walk without bringing anyone competent in to
replace them. It isn't Gilliam, Nowak, or Sweezey's faults they were thrown
into NFL games to play positions they don’t understand. Taking a gamble on one
guy being able to successfully convert would have been worse the risk, but
attempting the conversion on three guys is irresponsibly risky. Pete Carroll
should have seen this awful mess coming. Everyone else in Seattle did.
With their current
offensive line the Seahawks coaching staff has been a complete failure. Their
attempt to find market inefficiencies and succeed by saving money on the line
by converting players to the position has been a failure and is putting their star
QB at risk for injury. Seahawks are playing with fire and if they don’t change
something soon they are going to get burned.
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