Injuries forced the Seahawks to rotate through several different offensive line groupings in 2024. By the end of the season, they had surrendered the third-most sacks in the NFL while generating the fifth-fewest rushing yards.
Seattle will be hoping for a healthier, more consistent season from the unit in 2025, starting with stability at offensive tackle. Charles Cross is entering his fourth season as the team’s starting left tackle while Abraham Lucas seems to have put his knee issues behind him on the right side.
First-round pick Grey Zabel “appears a sure thing” at left guard, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. He took all the first-team reps next to Cross during spring practices, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Selecting the North Dakota State standout with the 18th overall selection in April’s draft was a clear sign that the Seahawks envisioned him starting as a rookie. The only question was where after Zabel primarily lined up at offensive tackle in college with some time at guard and Senior Bowl reps at center. He has landed at left guard in Seattle with minimal competition for the starting gig, as 2024 sixth-rounder Sataoa Laumea has been working with the second-team.
The Seahawks’ starters at center and right guard remain up in the air. In spring practices, Olusegun Oluwatimi split first-team center reps with Jake Sundell, though the former should have a leg up on the latter. In 2024, Oluwatimi started Seattle’s last eight games at center, while Sundell only played 57 offensive snaps all year as an undrafted rookie.
New offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak called the right guard battle “wide open” (via team reporter John Boyle). First-team action in the spring was split between last year’s Week 1 starter Anthony Bradford and 2024 third-rounder Christian Haynes. However, head coach Mike Macdonald indicated that Sundell and Laumea could factor into the right guard competition depending on how other spots shake out.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a two-man race right now,” said Macdonald (via Condotta). “It’s more open.”
As always, OTAs and mandatory minicamp offer a strong idea of what a team is planning for the season, but as Macdonald noted, the real test will be when pads come on during training camp. That will give the several players competing for the center and right guard jobs a chance to separate themselves as starters heading into the season.
The OL has been a mess for awhile. This is no secret. Part of the problem is Geno held onto the way too long scrambled way too much. When he was inside the 20 held the ball scrambled then threw across his body across the field. What happens then usually?
You can blame it on the OL but not looking at the whole picture isn’t fair. Also just time in the pocket is not totally fair. Making the wrong choice like stepping left into the rush instead of right into open space. The OL was struggling but the QB didn’t help much.
Going back to Wilson he used to always spin and roll left. Teams finally caught on and he had to change which he did at times. Geno seemed to always choose the wrong move. Am I being tough on Geno maybe but Las Vegas get ready to pull your hair out. The guy will make you crazy.
Geno going the wrong way and Pete has not learned how to coach in this NFL. He was behind the times in Seattle and I doubt a year has changed much. I love Pete he brought us a SB win and some great years. He also destroyed the team in the SB loss. I blame Wilson more than Carroll for the loss but you have your mind made up. Which is fine we can both have an opinion.
So what gets the win in the SB? Was NE really better than Seattle?
Run with the D stacked on line? Let Russ call off the play for his own? Throw the ball to the corner away from Browner and Butler?
Seems it was just the perfect storm of everything going right for NE and wrong for Seattle.
NE was just a tiny bit better than Seattle when it needed to be.
I do agree, that loss probably destroyed the team.