In recent years Seattle Seahawks fans have expressed more angst over the offensive line than any other position group, and it seems the trend is continuing.
With Seattle opening training camp Sunday, this week’s Seattle Sidelines poll asked about the Seahawks’ most pressing issue as they enter training camp. Based on the response in the poll, is seems fans continue to have the offensive line on their minds:
POLL: With Seahawks training camp starting Sunday, what's the biggest issue facing the team? Full context here: https://t.co/Y00s1zl0rE
— Nick Patterson (@NickHPatterson) July 24, 2017
In total, the offensive line received 80 percent of the votes, so this one was a blowout.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Last year the Seahawks had by far the cheapest and least-experienced offensive line in the NFL, including finishing the season with George Fant — an undrafted rookie who was a basketball player in college — starting at left tackle and protecting quarterback Russell Wilson’s blind side. The issues on the offensive line no doubt contributed to Seattle’s offense finishing in the middle of the pack in yardage and 25th in rushing.
And it seems we’re in for another year of flux on the offensive line, as heading into camp Seattle has just two members of the offensive line starting in the same position they played last year.
Let me just add that while I know there’s a certain amount of condescension when it comes to kickers in the NFL, I think the kicking situation is sneaky important for the Seahawks. Steven Hauschka was one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL the past six seasons, and in Blair Walsh Seattle is replacing Hauschka with a player who was released midseason last year and not picked up by anyone else. The Seahawks had five games that were decided by three points or fewer last season, so the value of having a reliable kicker can’t be dismissed.
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