Seahawks Position Battle: Offensive Line

The Seahawks do not feature what one would call a premier offensive line. This unit has been unstable since the departure of All Pro G Steve “Poison Pill” Hutchinson following 2005’s Super Bowl season.

In addition to the retirement of Pro Bowl C Robbie Tobeck (2006), and the expected retirement of G Chris Gray. The three aforementioned players were starters on the 2005 Super Bowl team; during which the Seahawks fielded perhaps the best OL unit in the league.

Every single starter on the Seahawks OL finished the 2008 season on IR. The backups came close to beating the New England Patriots, losing 24-21. They beat a playoff hopeful New York Jets at home 13-3 in Week 16. In that game the makeshift line did not give up a sack in the beloved walrus’ last game.

The Seahawks had an impressive free agency and drafting period. To shore up the OL, they traded up to grab C/G Max Under with the 49th pick. They re-signed promising 26-year-old T Ray Willis to a two-year, $6 million dollar contract. Willis could have landed a starter job on the open market; the Seahawks were smart to retain him.

Along the OL, the two locked positions are future Hall of Famer LT Walter Jones and RT Sean Locklear. Both are bouncing back from season ending injuries: shoulder, and toe respectively. Locklear has been labeled as the heir apparent to Jones’ LT position when he retires.

Rob Sims will likely be getting the nod at LG after former starter Mike Wahle retired after a failed psychical. He has been solid but largely unimpressive. He does not carry the bust label as Spencer does among Seahawks fans. He was a fourth round pick and was not hand fed a starter position like Spencer.

A new zone-blocking scheme should give these two underachievers a fresh opportunity to prove they can make an impact at the NFL level.

C Chris Spencer has a lot to prove. The four year pro was GM Tim Ruskell’s first ever pick for the Seattle Seahawks. He has battled mediocrity and injuries for the duration of his career (missed 14 games in four seasons). He has not even come close to fitting into the shoes of former C Robbie Tobeck.

Practice squad C Steve Vallos started in relief of Spencer's injuries, and put on a blocking clinic while playing at C. Spencer is an impending free agent after the 2009 season; this will likely be his last audition to prove he is the Seahawks' future at C.

Newcomer C/G Max Unger will be the starting RG with Sims' moving over to the left side after the retirement of former starter Mike Wahle.

Promising T Ray Willis will certainly be prominent factors in the starting discussion. Willis started ten games in 2008. Unger could very well supplant incumbent C Chris Spencer as well.

He started 52 consecutive games for Oregon, and was one of the top three interior lineman available in the 2009 NFL Draft behind Centers Alex Mack and Eric Wood. He will also give Rob Sims a battle to keep his starting RG spot.

Barring any bust potential, we will see Unger at the G position this season and could slide in at C in the future if Spencer does not step it up this season.

Ray Willis also has a chance to slide in and take Sims’ "vacant" G spot. He proved he can be a competent starter, playing effectively in his 10 starts last season.

When Walter Jones retires, Willis appears to be the choice at RT when current starter Sean Locklear shifts to LT. This appears to be the plan unless something new develops in future offseasons.

The T positions appear set but the inside is up for grabs. It will be a five-man scrap for the three interior positions. A fierce scramble will ensue for the C and G positions.

Competition can only be healthy for a team coming off of a 4-12 season. There can be no feeling of complacency and contentment on this roster. There needs to be a hunger unlike any recent season and a drive to make 2008 an aberration; restoring some pride to the nation's most miserable sports scene in 2008.